Jewelry skinny dipping!

"C'mon in!  The water's fine" - you've heard the line before - the reassurances from someone who has committed to an act while you may remain unsure. You may be sheepishly standing on the dock, not quite certain how to proceed. Maybe you have always been the 'safe' one - not quite willing to make the dive into the water.

Let's take it one step further, eh?  

Maybe it is moon-lit and we are talking about a group of young 20-somethings who have decided to go for a midnight swim! The water is dark and the boldest among you has proclaimed it to be a great night for.... you guessed it ... skinny dipping!

Image credit, Garostation.com

Oh MY!  

Now, not only do you have to convince yourself to step out and join the fun, but you have to do it completely unadorned. 

But wait a minute...

Maybe YOU'RE the person who jumps first, then reassures others that "the water is fine."  Perhaps you are the risk taker - bold and unafraid. Good for you! In this situation you are treading water, laughing, the chill of the lake still settling into your skin as you try to get the others to join you.

Maybe you've been in this situation, maybe not - but it certainly applies to your jewelry, doesn’t it?.  Have you considered taking your jewelry skinny-dipping? 

No, No, No.

Stop. Not LITERALLY skinny-dipping with your valuable gems, but perhaps figuratively? In the comfort of your own safe-places.

Every piece we own draws attention based upon its unique personality. Individually, it has inherent charm, charisma, and beauty. Sometimes, the largest personality in your collection wants to be bold – jump off the dock, as it were, completely naked for the world to see. When you wear it - do you accessorize it?  Is your beautiful wedding ring accompanied by bands on either side?  Do you wear a magnificent pendant surrounded by complimentary chains?

How about putting on some favorite earrings, bracelets and rings... and nothing else?

Image credit, Fashiongonerogue.com

Do it.

Take your favorite pieces skinny dipping.  Unadorned and unaccompanied by accessories or (gasp) any other jewelry? Can you imagine your favorite studs without a necklace, bracelet, or additional jewelry on your hands? What about taking that beautiful gemstone, on a single chain around your neck with nothing else to draw the eye?

Scary? Unconventional?  “Gasp… I would NEVER!” 

Would you? Could you?

Free yourself, and your jewelry... Take a piece skinny dipping soon.

C’mon – give it a try! The water’s fine!

Image credit, AVVO.com

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Arresting jewelry...

Whooop! Whooop! "PULL OVER!" - we hear it frequently on TV and sometimes in our own lives.

Normally, it's accompanied with Red and Blue lights and a sinking sensation in your gut.  Yep - you've been spotted doing something out of line...and the police are pulling you over.

"License and registration, please..."

Image credit, MPR News

Ah, the old, familiar line. Maybe it was a rolling stop. Maybe you failed to signal or maybe you went a tick over the speed limit.  Whatever the case, you are hoping for a quick conversation, a warning (please?) and a nice, albeit slower, continued journey to your destination. The law is pretty clear. Either you followed the rules or you did not.

But what are the laws of jewelry?

We have all been in situations, preparing for a night out on the town or a party, when we agonize over 'what bling shall I wear?'  Are these drop-earring too much?  Would a simple chain and pendant work best, or should I put something more bold around my neck? I'm afraid this aquamarine doesn't go with this top.

The jewelry rules just aren't spelled out like they are when driving down the road. Sure, you can research what's trending, as we presented on this blog a while back. You can listen to experts about what sets off a slender neck, a broad wrist, prominent ears or a slender waist - and there is a great feeling whenever we find a piece that seems to fit 'just right.'

If we had only one outfit to wear or only one event to attend it would be easy - the same flattering jewelry would work every time.  But in the real world (when the world is behaving normally, that is) being out with real people on multiple occasions can make the effort of picking the right jewelry accessories a bit daunting.

Image credit: Tumblr.com

Should it be, though?

How often do you just go for it? How often do you take a chance? Do you ever wear something simply because you like it? Because you think it's neat - even if it doesn't quite suit your attire or even (omigosh) CLASHES with your ensemble?

It's a bit like slowly rolling through a stop, or running a few miles per hour over the speed limit. You know you're rule-breaking there, too. The advantage of jewelry rule-breaking... or "rewelry-breaking" ...is that it's completely harmless.

Breaking the rewels

Sure, you may risk a sideways glance from a family-member, friend or colleague but why let that deter you? In fact, those who conform to what's expected may actually be a bit envious of your choices.

Another great thing when rewelry-breaking is that none of the conventions you're ignoring are ACTUAL rules.  The jewelry police simply don't exist.

So go for it, I say. Be bold, shake-up traditions. Heck, be downright gaudy if you want to. It's your jewelry and no one is going to pull you over. No one is going to ask for your license and registration. You get to drive whatever jewelry-speed you wish! You bought it; wear it!

Break the rewels from time to time, it's okay.

Image credit, eightieskids.com

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Diamond and Jewelry lovers - UNHORSED!

"A horse! A horse! My Kingdom for a horse!"

We have all heard this famous Shakespearean quote penned for King Richard III who - upon losing his horse in battle - falls into a rage, killing everything in his path as he seeks a mount. 

That quote has become a battle-cry of sorts for people who have urgent need of something which  may normally seem insignificant, but suddenly looms large.

In the world of jewelry, as we absorb our transformed world of quarantine and social distancing, these trinkets and baubles that were very important mere months ago have logically taken a back-seat to the more significant topics of basic supplies, finances and family health & safety.

Image credit, Americanmagazine.org

Should we be ashamed to admit that we miss the bling? 

Isn’t one of the attractions of eating dinner in a crowded restaurant seeing the bright flash from a ladies ring, or sparkle from her ear?

Noticing an elegant watch on the man standing at the bar or the stunning pendant adorning the woman crossing the floor. These are seemingly insignificant things that can suddenly loom large when they go absent from your life.

Image credit, Gentlemen's Journal

Sure, we can google images, shop catalogs, go to our favorite online jewelry discussion forums, or even open the cases we have in our homes; these are nice (albeit brief) escapes.

But immersing oneself in the crowd while attending a symphony, or using your opera glasses to surreptitiously snoop on jewelry across the theater, or watching a parade of interesting pieces go by as people board the plane - these little thrills are now missing in our lives.

Yes, it's understood we must prioritize a #slowthecurve reality so these things cannot compare with the truly substantive things that connect us all.  But, given the current state of affairs you couldn’t blame someone for crying out -

“Some Bling, Some Bling! My Kingdom for some Bling!” 

Image credit, Drraylevy.com

We can only hope for a return from our current winter of discontent to something made glorious sooner rather than later. 

In the meantime, find your nicest pieces - and send pics.

Image credit, Nosweatshakespeare.com

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You don’t have to quarantine your jewelry!

It has been several weeks since the government asked us to stay inside, avoiding contact with the outside world.

Our dependence on video conferencing using FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts and other platforms seems to have gone up. Our collective human tolerance for a more "casual" version of ourselves has also risen proportionately. 

It can be nice, even refreshing, for men to go a few days without shaving, and women to eschew the full make-up and carefully chosen outfits they might have insisted on wearing a few weeks ago. A video ‘happy hour’ with friends isn't the dress-up affair it tends to be in public. It's more comfortable in house pants, a sweatshirt and sporting hair that's left tamed, but not styled.

Image credit, Marvel

Now that barbers are closed I have seen scores of men taking shavers to their heads.  Put simply, we've have allowed out true selves to shine a bit more, and the trappings of our existence to matter a bit less. I believe this is a good thing in the long run!

For years we've seen a tendency on social media to put forward the ‘best’ of each person. It can make the observer’s life seem mundane and uninspiring, compared to the glamorous insta, face and pinnings of others.

But, I can’t help but think…maybe our jewelry is getting lonely?

Imagine our every-day bling left in dark jewelry boxes for weeks now. Our fancier pieces lying in the dark, with no recourse but to out-last the quarantine. 

NO! I say.

I'm speaking up for those lovely and valued pieces of our lives.  Find a way, ladies and gentlemen, to make your jewelry feel loved during this time!

Schedule a romantic dinner date, in your house, with your spouse, significant other or roomie.  Insist on dressing-up, wearing your beautiful watches, necklaces, earrings and pendants. Take pictures, post them on social media and recapture a flavor of the finer times of life!

Image credit, Pinterest

If you want to go big: Share recipes and schedule a weekly dinner date via Zoom with friends. Create the same appetizers and entree'. Decide on the same wine and dessert. Put your friends on the table with you... Talk, laugh and exchange stories over your silver and crystal - enjoying the same kind of dress-up company you once took for granted.  Afterwards, be sure to post screenshots and selfies tagging one another.

Image credit, Wall Street Journal

Now, read the comments from those who have left their jewelry hidden away and see if you don't spark a movement.

Yes, we must live with social distancing and limit our exposure to the outside world for a while longer. But, as a jewelry advocate, I implore you - don’t quarantine your jewelry!

Image credit, Studybreaks.com

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