Thanks to my new collection, the last couple of weeks have been very productive, and I have new pieces to share with you. Today I have, not one but two fabulous and fresh versions of my super popular Papillon ring.
This first piece in black gold and black and white diamonds is very different and super edgy and fresh. This version is a departure from my romantic papillon ring, and that was the entire point. When I am designing I am always try to keep classic pieces such as this one one step ahead of the trends. Here are a few shots of the ring to show you what is looks like from every angle.
The craftsmanship in this piece is superb; just take a look at the back of the ring, it is flawless and ergonomic to boot. The small perforations are there to keep it light and wearable. Many times jewelers go to heavy and the pieces are cumbersome and hard to wear. This is never the case with any of my jewels, as my goal is to make every piece to feel part of the wearer as if she was not wearing anything at all.
For my second version I went more traditional, and designed the wings of the butterfly in pink tourmaline, and white and fancy diamonds. The body of the insect is a diamond solitaire and it is all handmade in 18kt rose gold.
If you look closely you can see my intricate design, which matches that of a true papillon. Diamonds are always beautiful, and add value to a piece of jewelry. They also add powerful mythology and history, as diamonds have been known for centuries for their extraordinary strength. Most importantly they are associated with true love and eternal commitment. They are also said to bring courage and strength to the wearer, while bringing clarity and balance to the relationship.
The butterfly appears historically in art and jewelry, and consistently in my designs. Yes, it is a beautiful creature, but I love it because it is also one of nature's biggest holder of lore and mysticism. When I design a piece it has to not only be stunning, it also has to have meaning. The suggestion of transformation behind the butterfly is a very powerful theme, and one I love to design around. My papillon ring for 2013 is the epitome of this belief.
For ages this natural wonder has symbolized faith, transition, resurrection lightness soul and celebration in many cultures. In China, a butterfly means a long life. In Japan they are symbolic of marital bliss, young love or young womanhood. Germans have a very cute myth for butterflies, as they are usually found fluttering about milk pails or butter (butterfly, get it?) churns. They associate them with witches or spirits coming to have some cream, while Greeks link butterflies directly to a person's soul.
Women in general go through many changes (teen years, college, motherhood), and I think that a butterfly amulet is the perfect accompaniment to any of them. This gorgeous and symbolic ring is meant to encapsulate just that, the incredible power a woman has for transformation and change. I like to imagine that a gift like this can be symbolic of a change in someone's life, much like the little caterpillar's journey.
From caterpillar, to egg, to larvae to cocoon, the butterfly emerges with it's new, delicate wings, in full, unfurling glory. The energy it takes to change, and her acceptance of this change, is what is most amazing about this creature and why I like to include it in my designs year after year.
Love Always
Dani K
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