DANIELLA KRONFLE

Showing posts with label black diamonds. Show all posts

I have written about pearls, their history and magic many times, yet pearls, are a gem I keep coming back to. Today I'm going you show you some of my most recent designs, this time using Tahitian black pearls as the starting point for these two very different but very beautiful earrings.

I designed these beautiful pieces with the the city of Florence as a background and inspiration. I was there recently, and fell in love all over again with the churches and the piazzas an and all of the city's Renaissance charm. The black pearls reminded me of all of the masterpieces I saw and the city with all of its intricate and irregular designs. When I was staring at the beautiful grey stonework and marble everywhere, I had to find a way for a woman to carry such beauty around town herself. That is when the idea to use black pearls came about. The black and white diamonds were an obvious complement and the rest is jewelry history.

People have been making jewels from pearls for centuries. They are after all, the oldest known gem. I keep the on the top of my list because due to their beauty and value, they have been able to transcend the test of time. In the 1900's pearls were so rare and valuable, that famed jeweler (and idol of mine) Jacques Cartier purchased the property for his store on Fifth Avenue by exchanging the property for two pearl necklaces.
Black pearls come in a range of colors such as peacock, dark blues and greens, to even multihued. All are super chic and unbelievably gorgeous.The shape of the earrings was also a direct reaction to the elongated and irregular silhouette of the churches, especially il Duomo, which I could not escape while I was there since it's such a landmark.

The pearl and white diamond drop-style earrings above are very avant garde, very modern, much like Firenze herself. What makes them even more compelling is the perfect balance of all the elements. The white and the black, tle light and the dark, the round and the elongated What do you think of my Florentine inspired gems?

Tahitian pearls, or black pearls as they are commonly known, are almost twice the size of the Akoya. These large, dark beauties are treasured for their rarity and exotic color and luster. Year after year, Tahitians increase in value, making them an amazing investment. These pearls are worshiped for their almost metallic color, which varies from light grey to dark grey. In addition to their dark color, Tahitians are favored due to their ability to display different shades of shine on their surface. The most desired are peacock and and cobalt blue colors, but aubergine, magenta, greens, golden-orange, and lemon are also available.

For these earrings I chose black gold because it would make the beautiful and shiny diamonds really stand out. I also went with black because it was super chic like the city it inspired, and looked beautiful against the pearls.

When purchasing pearls, remember that even though the size of a pearl does not determine its quality, it does matter when it comes to price. Because its very hard to grow a larger pearl, usually the bigger the pearl, the higher the price it will fetch.

I love working with pearls and have used them since I began designing jewelry. Due to their amazing characteristics and popularity with my clientele, they are always present in my collections. A pearl can be a symbol of love or a good investment. To me, they are a spectacle of nature and a world or inspiration. 'Till next time.

Love Always

Dani K

Inspiration can come in many ways, and sometimes it can be from something unexpected like a great meal, a beautiful opera or even an engaging conversation. I have been into white agate lately and my inspiration for this very special piece, the "Gio" ring, comes from the milky color and smooth texture this fabulous gem exudes, as well as the clean lines of the geometric shapes of my childhood.

I went with the name "Gio" as a play on word in relation to the geometric shapes that inspired this design. Circles and triangles and squares all came together in my mind and this design was born. Since black and white is the hottest trend in fashion right now, I thought it would be an appropriate combination for my newest statement ring, and boy was I right. Just look at how the white and black contrast emphazises the clean, crisp lines in the design. Stunning!

I love working on pieces solely made with black diamonds, but I also am very fond of using them as a complementary element in my designs, like I did with this ring. Black is the perfect companion to any opaque gemstone, because it brings out the smooth nature that most opaques are coveted for, and adds the sparkle and shine element that keeps it interesting.

As you know I always have something to say about the properties of all the gems I work with, and as far as magical properties go, agate is the must have protection stone. It protects from stress, from bad dreams and is said to even protect children from danger. It enables the wearer to distinguish between false friends and true ones. It brings prosperity and creates an appreciation of nature.

Agate derives its name from the river Achates in Sicily. Greek philosophy described this gem as early as 300 B.C. It was the stone of warriors in ancient times. The famous ancient Egyptian scarabs are made of agate. Agates come in many forms and colors and are among the earliest stones used for healing and bringing good luck.

For healing purposes, agate is used to treat dizziness, headaches, as well as skin problems. It is essential that the stone should be in contact with the skin near the organ that needs healing.

This is why jewelry is so great. You can have and wear something beautiful, which is also beneficial. Tired or inflamed eyes may also be alleviated by applying a disk of agate to them. Agate has also been used for countless decades to lessen discomfort experienced during certain days of pregnancy.

Like white agate, black diamonds are also a very special gem with their own set of magical properties. I have always loved the exotic magic and allure that black diamonds invoke, and I have worked with them for years in most of my collections.

A lot of people worry that black diamonds won't be as valuable in the future or that they are too trendy. I say, together with the celestial white agate, that they are pure magic. Scientists even attribute to them extra terrestrial qualities because some of their geological material is only found in space and meteorites. They have even found that black diamonds were formed in a carbon rich supernovae explosion before the formation of the Solar System!

Hope you enjoyed reading about the "Gio" ring, as much as I love sharing with you the history of what I do and the materials I use.

Love Always

Dani K

Hello my gems! June is almost over, but there is still some time left for pearls. Today on Dani K Style, we will delve into se subject of pearl statement rings and here are my top picks for today:

My first two, are big and bold, as a statement ring should be. If you are confused to what a statement ring is let me share with you this hilarious quote from the New York Times by way of A Way With Words:

statement ring
n.— «They call them statement rings, in the typically kooky parlance of the fashion business, as if the wearer’s hand had been asked to give a deposition. The term I personally prefer is knuckle-duster, slang that a friend came up with to describe what was once also known as a cocktail ring and worn primarily, it seemed, by women who had perhaps failed to score that more aggressive statement of arrival, a band on the left hand.» —“With One Hand Over the Top” by Guy Trebay New York Times Nov. 23, 2006.

What a funny way to put it! Bravo! However, my own description is quite simply a ring that makes a statement. Or a ring that cannot be ignored. A statement ring is not just any ring, it is the one the entire look can be built upon, or the last and final detail, the cherry on top if you will, that makes the wearer look polished, finished and ready to take over the the world.

Since June is all about pearls, I went into my studio and scanned my pearl section and these three came to mind. All of them make a statement, but the first two (above) are making it with their unusual size and exquisite beauty. The "Fleur" ring is one of my classic designs, updated by the use of a black pearls and black gold. As you know, if you are following this sort of thing, black and white is all the rage, and this ring is the perfect example that black and white can be feminine and elegant without being graphic. What is more, the "Fleur" is one of my top sellers and celebrity favorites. This year, it was worn by my lovely friend Dr. Karent Sierra to the Billboard Awards. Here is the jewelry look I created for her...

And here she is looking splendid on the red carpet with her dress by Emilio Uribe...

The second pearl statement ring, my Gigi ring, is another celebrity favorite. This ring, although floral in its motif, reminds me of that wonderful classic movie Gigi with Leslie Caron. Here are a few shots of Gigi in her famous white dress and wearing pearls.

Like the Fleur, my Gigi ring is very popular, even making an appearance in a fashion editorial a few months ago. Here are some of the shots by Ricky Cohete and Jonathan Gant. I just love how the ring completes each of these high fashion looks.

So you have have seen the first two and learned about a bit of their histories, so lets move on to the last ring, the "Ariella" statement ring. This ring is not quite as big as the rest but it still is considered a statement ring because, in black gold and champagne diamonds, it still packs a punch and commands your full attention.

Just look at the tentacle detail of the setting. Can you tell I was inspired by the sea? It is so beautiful it takes my breath away. Technically considered a solitaire, the "Ariella" is a perfect stand alone ring. With a pearl like this you might not need any more than a simple pair of diamond studs or pearls of any color. Notice that when I was designing this piece, I included the colors of the other types of pearls (black and gold) to make them easy to wear and versatile beyond belief.

Hope you enjoyed this fabulous rings and their stories. I love to design pieces that are not just decoration but have a bit of history and myth attached to them, even if it is just my own interpretation.

Don't forget that June is the month of pearls and brides. Nothing looks better on a bride than pearls and nothing says I care about your birthday like a gift of a birthstone.

Love Always

Dani K

When we think in terms of solitaires, speaking of jewelry of course, the image that comes to mind is that of diamonds, sapphires and even rubies and emeralds. Even though that is the popular and common imagery, there are other types of solitaires, and today I want to focus on pearls, used in these uber-chic rings, as the main focus of the piece.

Since June's birthstone is the pearl, I think it's a great idea to focus on nature's first gemstone. Historically, pearls have been used as an adornment for centuries. They were one of the favorite gem materials of the Roman Empire; later in Tudor England, the 1500s were known as the pearl age. Pearls are unique as they are the only gems from living sea creatures and require no faceting or polishing to reveal their natural beauty.

It is due to their rich history and great myth that I love working with pearls. Pearls are also a great complement to all varieties of gold and diamonds as well. When I was coming up with the designs you see in this post, I was directly inspired by the sea, the legend of Neptune and made a great effort to keep this ocean and seaside quality in the execution of each piece.

The first two rings are engulfed in what I envisioned as diamond algae and coral, just like it would be if they existed alone in the bottom of the sea. I also envisioned octopus tentacles, jellyfish and other sea creatures, and the results are the two beautiful creations you see above, one in white diamonds with a spectacular white pearls solitaire, and the other in mixed colored diamonds, rhodium and a grey pearl solitaire.

My next piece is a double solitaire, one white and one black pearl. For the setting I went a more simple route, since there are two pearls instead of one. Both of these pearls are of exceptional quality so I used a simple diamond "tentacle" to highlight each of the pearl's perfection, always keeping alive the under the sea imagery, which was my inspiration in the first place.

For this ring, I used white gold and white diamonds, and like with all of my pieces, it is handmade by the world's best artisans, using the best materials available, always hand selected by me. It is this attention to detail and commitment to quality that has been important to me from day one.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, with my "under the sea" inspiration. Pearls are a great present from anyone born in June, and also quite apropos for any June bride, since they have been traditionally used in weddings for centuries as a signal of good fortune and purity. Nothing looks more classic on a bride than pearls.

Love Always

Dani K

I have said it before and I will say it again, the Cannes Film Festival is the best red carpet and the one of the most important when it comes to setting trends. This year's festival was no different with new trends and emerging fashion stars. The jewelry, especially, had a moment because there was not one, but two, jewelry heists, and, it was the anniversary of Elizabeth Taylor's "Cleopatra," which of course is a vehicle for jewelry.

Mi first pick for best jewelry look is Jessica Biel in a Bulgari necklace in their classic serpent design. For her husband's premiere Jessica chose a Marchesa Fall/Winter 2013-2014 silk bustier gown with feather embellishment, paired with the white gold diamond pavé Serpenti necklace by Bulgari, featuring two pear-cut diamonds and emerald snake eyes.

My next pick is of course Jessica Chastain in those oh so magnificent jewels. Chastain brought a little Elizabeth Taylor spirit to the red carpet in the form of the Bulgari deep blue sapphire pendant given to her in 1972 by Richard Burton, for her 40th birthday. Jessica paired it with the Bulgari Trombino ring, for the presentation of Cleopatra, digitally restored to mark the film's 50th anniversary.

Next is Ines de La Fressange in yet another serpent inspired piece; it is, after all, the year of the snake. The oriental-inspired white gold Boucheron Python bracelet was the perfect accessory to her Chanel Paris-Bombay dress. She also wore the label's Cinna Pampilles earrings to match her diamond-studded bracelet.

Another look I loved was Emma Watson's minimalistic and age appropriate simple pieces and black and white column dress. Known for her role in the Harry Potter series, Watson who took a good-girl-turned-bad role for the movie, ditched The Bling Ring’s skin-tight dresses and skyscraper heels to show her true Cannes colors in a Chanel haute couture gown from Spring/Summer 2013. To elevate the dress further, she reached for two of the Repossi house’s most coveted pieces, including the Berbère ring and a white gold and diamond multi-piercing earring.

Also in the earrings category is the wonderful star of Abdellatif Kechiche's Blue is the Warmest Color, Léa Seydoux. Lea chose a black Armani dress for the film's screening accessorized simply with a pair of magnificent 24 carat emerald Chopard earrings. Maybe they were a good luck charm because the film won the Palme D'Ore, the festival's highest honor.

Next up is emerging starlet Claire Julien who made her film debut alongside Emma Watson in Sophia Coppola's The Bling Ring. Claire walked the Cannes red carpet wearing a made to measure dress by Emilio Pucci. The dress' powder pink color went perfectly with the rose gold and diamond Allegra bracelet and Gypsy earrings, both by De Grisogono. Like Watson, she gets bonus points for keeping things modern and age appropriate.

Proving that age is really just a number, Jane Fonda killed it on the red carpet. Here she is in Chopard. For the red carpet for Jimmy P. the face of L'Oréal Paris Jane Fondawowed the crowds in her diamond necklace with incredible 123 carat ruby, from Chopard's Red Carpet collection. I'm not sure what's more amazing, Fonda or that crazy gemstone.

My last pick is red carpet legend Sharon Stone. For the screening of Behind the Candelabra, Stone wore a diamond and emerald necklace and earrings from the new De Grisogono collection, in honor of 20 years of the jewelry house. Her emerald and diamond pieces are just divine, and Stone, like Fonda, is further proof that age means nothing if you have style and grace.