Archive for July 2012

Home Archive for July 2012

Gorgeous 18kt rose gold tiger bracelet,
with diamonds and ruby eyes.

Rose gold is White Hot this season. Even though I have been using it for years now, suddenly it's everywhere. When my clients come into the store they all fall in love with my rose gold pieces, but they all have the same questions on their mind. What is it? How is it made? What exactly is Rose Gold?

Celestial bangles in yellow, white and rose gold.

Another view of my celestial bangles,
this time showing the fabulous baguette cut diamonds.

This metal is actually quite beautiful, and even though it sounds very romantic, in reality there is no such thing as pure rose-colored gold, red gold or pink gold as it is also known. Pure gold (a noble metal) is always yellow, because it absorbs the violet and blue light and reflects yellow and red light. However, in its purest form, it is really too soft for use in practical applications, such as jewelry or gold coins, therefore it must be mixed with other metals for strength and durability.

One of my most popular sets:
rose gold, tiger's eye and pink sapphires
come together to bring you these amazing earrings and ring

So how exactly do jewelers create colored gold? When they refer to colored gold, they are actually talking about colored alloys, which are added to the gold to make it stronger, for use in rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and coins. Even the pure gold color that most people prefer, is really a combination of gold and other metals, usually copper and silver. These are used most often because there is a metallurgical affinity existing within these metals. More interesting to me and my clients, is that they blend well and form jewelry that will withstand the test of time.

Rose gold "Fleur" earrings, with onyx and diamonds

Yellow gold old is known as Au, for the Latin aurum, and when mixed with copper, produces a metal with a reddish color. Adding a very small amount of copper will give you a pink, or rose colored gold. A larger amount of copper will produce a slightly deeper shade of red. In the past, goldsmiths often used more copper than silver in the mixture, copper being much less expensive than silver and producing a more reddish color. It is a simple matter of adjusting the proportions of the gold, silver and copper and you will get everything from a very pale yellow to a deep red, or a deep gold.

From my Fall 2012 collection, three gold colors:
white, rose and of course yellow gold earrings
(only one is shown) sprinkled with white, shiny diamonds

Through the years, jewelers have discovered that by adding iron (a heavy metal) to the gold, they can produce a blue color. Substituting aluminum (a poor metal) will give a purple tint to the gold, and the addition of platinum (a transition metal) gives us the white gold color that is also very popular in jewelry. The white gold can also be made by adding nickel, zinc and palladium. They can even produce a black gold simply by adding natural bismuth (a poor metal) along with a silver alloy to the gold. By leaving the copper out of the alloy mixture, and having only the gold and silver, it will produce a kind of greenish yellow color. Jewelers have discovered that the green gold is still rather soft for their purposes, but can be used for decoration on hand-made pieces of jewelry.

Phenomenal statement ring in
rose and yellow gold, with white diamond pavee.

While all gold is yellow, a little mix of gold with a variety of other metals, will produce beautiful hues, including the coveted rose gold, adding to the beauty, strength and durability of the your jewelry. So, in conclusion, rose gold might not be pure gold, but it is beautiful and it is durable. As you can by all the pictures above, rose gold makes for a perfect choice for all kinds of pieces. Especially those which I have designed with a specific contrast in mind.

Love Always
Dani K

Happy Saturday my gems! I had a great week and wanted to celebrate with an amazing ring I just got in. Take a look...

Above is the phenomenal leaf ring from my upcoming fall collection. Talk about a statement!

The leaf ring is a very special ring. It was inspired above all by nature and of course the falling autumn leaves in my all-time favorite city, Paris! With expertly laid diamond pavee, it looks like this might be a heavy ring, but it actually is quite light and comfortable to wear. I created this ring because I wanted to use a combination of rose and yellow gold, the two most common colors of the leaves in autumnal Paris. I am so excited, and I am certainly loving this piece.

But why a leaf you might be asking yourself. Well, historically, herbs and leaves are associated with many magical and healing qualities, just as all the gems that I use in my collections are. Like gems, leaves are harvested from nature, and have been used as jewelry since ancient times. For example, Greeks and Romans used to award victors with crowns made of laurel leaves. In the 17th century, bay leaves, which are similar looking to ones on the ring, were said to ward off evil spirits.

Leaves in jewelry are not new. Botanically inspired jewels and crowns are among the first jewels created, and I have been using them for inspiration since I started out in this business. In jewelry design, leaves happen to be the representation of life, vitality and family trees. Depending on which kind of leaf you use, leaves also represent creativity, success, friendship and even good memories.

This ring is not just full of colorful history and magic; it is also a super versatile piece and a great addition to your jewelry collection. It is very wearable and versatile, and is a fun piece to wear with jeans or a little black dress. The two tones of gold complement any skin tone, and the diamonds are always everyone's favorite. This is why this fabulous creation is my piece of the week. Till next time!

Love Always,

Dani K

By now you guys already know I find my inspiration in many places. You also might know that I love fashion and that I have a long list of Icons that I turn to for encouragement. One of these is the amazing Alexander McQueen, who was taken from us much too soon.

According to Bio.com, fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen was born on March 17, 1969 to a working-class family living in public housing in London's Lewisham district. His father, Ronald, was a cab driver, and his mother, Joyce, taught social science. On their small incomes, they supported McQueen and his five siblings. McQueen, called "Lee" by his friends for most of his life, recognized his homosexuality at an early age and was teased extensively about it by schoolmates.

McQueen for Givenchy, 1997

At age 16, McQueen dropped out of school. He found work on Savile Row, where he worked first with the tailor shop Anderson and Shephard, and then moved to nearby Gieves and Hawkes. Once he decided to further his clothes-making career, he moved on from Savile Row and began working with theatrical costume designers Angels and Bermans. This marked an amazing creative period for him, and the dramatic style of the clothing he made there would become a signature of his later independent design work.

Theatrical designs by McQueen

McQueen then left London for a short stint in Milan, where he worked as a design assistant to Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli. Upon his return to London, he enrolled at Central Saint Martin's College of Art & Design, and received his M.A. in fashion design in 1992. The collection he produced as the culminating project of his degree was inspired by Jack the Ripper and was bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow the well-known London stylist and eccentric who became a long-time friend, as well as an advocate for his work.

Alexander McQueen and best friend and muse Isabella Blow

Soon after obtaining his degree, Alexander McQueen started his own business designing clothes for women. He was greatly successful, and after only four years of being out of design school, McQueen was named Chief Designer of Givenchy. Although it was a prestigious job, McQueen took it reluctantly, and his tenure there (from 1996 to 2001) was a tumultuous time in the designer's life. Even as he was pushing the limits of fashion, McQueen felt he was being held back. Even through his disappointment with Givenchy, McQueen won British Designer of the year in 1996, 1997, and 2001, all during his time there.

Alexander with Prince Charles in 2001,
after winning British Designer of the Year

In 2000, Gucci bought a 51 percent stake in Alexander McQueen's private company, and provided the capital for him to expand his business. He then left Givenchy shortly thereafter. In 2003, McQueen was declared International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and A Most Excellent Commander of the British Empire by the Queen of England. He also won yet another British Designer of the Year honor. Meanwhile, McQueen opened stores in New York, Milan, London, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. With the help of Gucci's investment, McQueen had become even more successful than he was before. Already known for the flare and passion of his shows, McQueen produced even more interesting spectacles after leaving Givenchy. For example, a hologram of model Kate Moss floated ethereally at the showing of his 2006 Fall/Winter line.

Kate Moss hologram at McQueen show circa 2006

In 2007 his dear friend and supporter Isabella Blow commited suicide. The designer dedicated his 2008 Spring/Summer line to her. Just two years later, on February 2, 2010, McQueen's mother died. One day before her funeral, on February 11, 2010, McQueen was found dead in his Mayfair, London apartment. The cause of death was determined to be suicide.

Alexander McQueen's rise from lower-class high school dropout to internationally famous designer is a remarkable story. His bold styles and fascinating shows inspired and wowed the world of fashion, and his legacy lives on. Longtime co-designer Sarah Burton took over the still-operating Alexander McQueen brand, and McQueen's contribution to fashion was honored by a 2011 exhibition of his creations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. According to those who knew him closely, McQueen was proud of breaking the traditional mold of a successful designer.

Love Always

Dani K

I wear turquoise every summer, and this year is no different. This last couple of months I have been in love with my new "Turquese" cocktail ring, which brings the smooth and cool turquoise to a more polished, sophisticated level. Check it out!

New Classic:
Turquese ring by Daniella Kronfle Jewelry

As you can see the ring is a cabochon cut mega gem, surrounded by deep blue sapphires and shiny white diamonds. It is expertly set in 18kt black gold to make the diamonds and sapphires stand out, while the actual band of the ring is made out of 18kt yellow gold. Like I said above, I can't get enough of this ring and have been wearing it everywhere lately.

When I was choosing the gemstones for this particular ring I was struck by how beautiful the "robin's egg" turquoise cabochon was. This particular type of turquoise is the most coveted because of its strong color and rarity. I could not take my hands off of it, so I knew it was destined to be always in someone's hand. How perfect! I love turquoise because it is still a pretty new gem in high jewelry. Most of the time you find it in lower end pieces because it takes a real artist to make it a true couture piece.

Since ancient times, turquoise has been used by indigenous people of Mexico and the U.S.. Worldwide, turquoise has been coveted for thousands of years, and it is believed to be one of the first minerals ever mined. It is often noted that turquoise has healing properties and a deep metaphysical meaning. People also believe that this gem can reveal the physical and emotional well being of the wearer by the way it changes hues.

Turquoise has also inspired many other mythological properties through the centuries. For example it is believed to ward off the evil eye, and protect the wearer from falling or a fall. Some people believe it can help cure depression. Whatever the reason you choose, make sure you buy it from a reputable jewelry dealer. Because it is a popular gem, it is also one that is often imitated.

If you already have turquoise jewelry or are thinking of spoiling yourself with a ring like the one above, make sure you care for it adequately. Even though it is a summer gem, make sure you don't expose it to direct sunlight for too long. This might actually discolor and dehydrate the turquoise, making it brittle. Perfume, sunscreen and cosmetics can also attack the finish of turquoise, so watch out! Take extra care when wearing this or any other type of gemstone.

Hope you are as in love with my "Turchese" ring as I am. More on turquoise coming soon. Look for it coming this winter, as it is not just a summer gem, but also the bling of the month in December.

Love Always
Dani K

Here is a little piece that Shopaholic 305 did on me. Check it out!

UN DÍA CON DANIELLA KRONFLE

05/18/2012

Hoy fui a la joyería de Daniella Kronfle a buscar mi regalo del día de las madres que ya estaba listo. Pasé toda la mañana metida en la joyería hablando con ella y una amiga. Nos divertimos muchísimo… Dani es un amor y tiene un gusto divino!

Daniella ha estado involucrada en el mundo de las joyas desde que tenía 10 años, cuando su madre abrió la primera Joyería Marge en 1986 en Guayaquil, Ecuador. En el año 2003, Daniella abrió las puertas de Daniella Kronfle Jewelry en Miami, donde ahora diseña y exhibe sus exclusivas creaciones elaboradas en oro de 18kt y platino. Usa combinaciones de piedras preciosas, semi-preciosas, perlas y otras gemas. Daniella ha participado en importantes eventos internacionales del mundo artístico y moda en los cuales sus diseños son siempre reconocidos. Sus creaciones pueden ser vistas en los red carpet de los premios Oscar en Hollywood, los Emmy, en el Miami Fashion Week, en Premios Lo Nuestro, los Latin Grammy’s, los Billboard Latinos, y en el Harper’s Bazaar por sólo mencionar algunos. Sus diseños han sido publicados en varias revistas de renombre entre ellas: Vogue, Baazar, Vanidades, People en español, Quién, Caras, Venue, Two Mundos, Cosas, Just for Brides, Hogar entre otras.

Tuve la oportunidad de hacerle una pequeña entrevista, para así ponerme al día con el mundo del fine jewelry. Me contó que las piezas más vendidas ahorita son las argollas! También me habló un poco de las piedras que estarán trending este summer, entre ellas están: la agatha blanca, la turquesa y el coral. Y que el oro del momento es el pink gold. Ya saben, anoten el dato! Ya sea que estén buscando un regalo de aniversario, cumpleaños, navidades, día de las madres o cualquier ocasión especial. Les aseguro conseguirán algo que les guste.

Aquí les dejo varias fotos de su mercancía y un look for day and night. Espero que lo disfruten!

Day and night:
Solitaire diamond hoops, in 18kt white gold
Black diamond hoops in 18kt black gold

Sapphire and turquoise chunky hoops, in 18kt white gold
Ombre hoops in champagne diamonds, yellow diamonds,
chocolate and black diamonds in rose gold

Beauty in Black:
Onyx and pink sapphire ring and matching earrings.
Handmade in 18kt white gold

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Hot Right Now: Rose Gold

Piece of the Week: Leaf Ring

Get The Look: Anne Hathaway

Fall Preview: Black Pearls

Icon: Alexander McQueen

Summer Favorite: Sophisticated Turquoise

Press: Shopaholic 305

UN DÍA CON DANIELLA KRONFLE