It's not often that one gets to meet an amazing woman like my friend, the beautiful and talented Isabel Bucaram.

My friend Isabel "Chibi" Bucaram and me during a photo shoot for CNN. Super Fun!

Isabel, if you missed out on my earlier post, is the Director of Public Relations, as well as producer of VIP Planification for CNN en Espanol.  She is also a devoted mom to two awesome kids, Isabella, who is 12, and youngest, Francisco, who is nine. Chibi is also a living and breathing example that with hard work and organization you can have it all.

Isabel at home with her kids Francisco and Isabella.

Having learned from her mother that beauty comes from within, Isabel who is beautiful inside and out, has many secrets of how she accomplishes everything, and one of them is having peace and mental tranquility. Isabel practices yoga, which is something we both share in common, and credits it for helping her find inner peace. She also follows a fantastic skin routine which includes oxygenation, exfoliation, as well as products and treatments from Oxygen Spa in Coral Gables.

Official portrait of Isabel Bucaram by Victor Rodriguez for CNN

  

It was during a photo shoot we did a while back that I got to chat with her about all of her insights about life and work and motherhood. We talked about how being a mom changes you for the better and helps you understand yourself more, and how important it is as a mom to make time for yourself and to take care of yourself so you can take care of others successfully. We also talked about the delicate balance of work and family. Her biggest gem was that you do not take work home, or as she put it do not mix business time with family time. Keep them separate and organize your life so that it is so. 

Chibi and me at my show "The Art Behind the Jewels" which was a Gary Nader's gallery in Wynwood

Another topic was her healthy diet, which includes lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as smoothies and a lot of exercise. Isabel loves riding her bike, lifting weights and blowing off steam by kickboxing as well as the aforementioned yoga. I guess you can't look as good as she does without a little hard work. 

Isabel "Chibi" Bucaran at her post in CNN in Espanol

As you can see I love Chibi, so last year I was very excited when she commissioned a special piece, a statement ring, with a very special meaning. Working with friends can be tricky, but when a woman knows exactly what she wants, it is my duty to look to my skills as a designer and give it to her.

Especially made for my friend Chibi, the Vipera ring is exquisite in emeralds, diamonds and 18kt gold

When she came to me, Isabel wanted very clearly to have a ring with meaning. After much research, we settled on a serpent because being one the oldest and most widespread symbols in western culture, it represented to her eternity and renewal. As far as fashion and design, we looked at serpents that have been worn by powerful and successful women like Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba and Rihanna, giving us a great starting point and a little inspiration. 

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.

In many countries around the world, pearls have been incorporated to the mythology of almost every culture that has encountered them. What makes them so fascinating?, you might ask. Well they come from the sea for starters, which is always a source of wonder.


The mythology of pearls goes way back to the origins of history. In Hindu culture pearls represent the moon and were symbols of love and virginity. It's said Krishna discovered the first pearl and gave it to his daughter on her wedding day. Islamic tradition holds pearls in even higher esteem. In the Koran, pearls are considered one of the greatest rewards to be received in Paradise, and in Christianity, pearls are considered a symbol of purity.

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.





Pearls, with their warm inner glow, have always been considered an ideal wedding gift. Sometimes, they are even used as a solitaire in an engagement ring. These lovely, lustrous gems don't only come in virginal white. Depending of where they were "made" pearls come in different colors, ready to satisfy all of my customers desires. Akoya pearls, the classic cultured pearls from Japan, are considered the most lustrous of all. They come in lovely colors such as rose, silver/white, cream, gold, and blue/gray, and are generally found in round, semi-round, baroque, and drop shapes. When it comes to size, Akoyas range between 2 and 10 millimeters, with the average pearl being 7 millimeters round.

The greatest part of my job is working hand in hand with clients to create an original look or piece of jewelry.  A lot of time my clients and friends bring in pictures and even popular fashion magazines, hoping to give me a feel of what they are looking for. Other times they are wanting to re-create a certain celebrity look. In many instances, the pictures are glamourous red carpet looks of popular celebs, and this, actually is how this feature, Get The Look was born. 

As far as the remaining details go, I opted for diamonds, of course, since they are everyone's favorite, and because they always add a touch of sophistication making this ring a bit more polished that it would without them. The diamonds are joined by aquamarines, which are all set in a beautiful design on 18kt black gold, to make these precious gems stand out and sparkle and shine even more. To finish my creation, I set the entire thing in 18kt white gold to complement the beautiful blues. 

Like always, I also want to share with you some of the magical qualities of this gem.  Paraiba is considered, along with the opal, as one of the gemstones of Libras and Scorpios.  It is said to exhibit piezoelectricity, which just means that the Paraiba can become electrically charged when warmed up, having all kinds of effects on the wearer, one of which is the cleansing away of all evil.  Another attribute of the Paraiba is that it helps guard against misfortune and danger, as well as having a positive influence on friendship and love. 

They say two great minds think alike and that there is no new idea under the sun.  I don't know if I necessarily believe it, but what happened recently makes me think.  It's definitely one of those things that makes you go "huh."  Let me explain.

Remember when I did my post on St Barth's?  Well for that wedding I attended during that trip, I styled my dear friend Carolina F (or Caro) in a beautiful turquoise  Chanel dress and these magnificent earrings. Keep in mind this was in May.

Here is the picture of Caro and me in St Barths.  She is of course wearing the infamous Chanel dress and  turquoise flower earrings from my collection.

The wedding came and went and she was very happy with her look at the event.  And  then here's the interesting part.  Months later, in July, Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Whittstock celebrated their nuptials, and as I was looking at the coverage in Harper's Bazaar I see this picture in the best dressed list:


It was the turquoise Chanel Dress, also styled with very similar (I think they are Van Cleef) turquoise clover earrings!  Princes Caroline went with different shoes and a hat, but I think the pictures speak for themselves.

I always knew my friend Caro had amazing style, and now she can say she's fit for royalty.  Do you think Princess Caroline read our blog or is this just a coincidence?

Cheers!

Dani K

After our stop in Capri, we head on to Positano on the Amalfi coast.  Like Capri, Positano is perfect for a spring or summer visit.

This photo by Ludwig Hartman, my dear Ludo. All other pics by me.

Just as sophisticated, but even a little more relaxed than Capri, Positano has beautiful Moorish architectural influences and Byzantine relics.  The best way to appreciate its beauty is by boat.  I took these pictures below when we were doing our expedition from the cruise.



As you can see above, the city was built vertically on the side of a mountain.  Even now, as I look at the people and the colorful vistas, I can still smell the salty sea air, and am inundated by the light aroma of the bougainvillea.  SO many beautiful things to see and be inspired by when I am near the ocean.  It really is natural therapy for the daily stress that can sometimes accumulate from living in such a bustling city like Miami.


Although it was originally known as a fishing village, Positano boasts greats shops.  An all time favorite spot for exquisite clothes and fun accessories is Creazioni Rachele pictured above.  In Positano you can shop by the sea, and have an amazing seafood feast along the Spiaggia Grande afterwards.  I definitely recommend it.



A haven for artists and writers, Positano has always had its share of the spotlight.  Mick Jaegger and the Stones wrote "Midnight Rambler" on the cafes that line the city streets.  There is a reason why this place is so inspirational and it probably cannot be expressed in words, as much as in the magical feeling you get when you are there being a part of it all.



 Lemon trees are abundant on the Amalfi Coast, and like in Capri, limonchello is the specialty drink in this town.   Lemons in general are widely used in the kitchens throughout Positano. You can see above, in two separate establishments, how the lemon is so very important to the regional cuisine.  From an adorable paninoteca to a fancy wine and liqueur shop, the lemon aspect is never missing.  All those lemons in fact make me think of the natural elements that are so vital in many of my designs.  See for yourself below.

Positano inspired. Yellow saphires and diamonds in this gorgeous pair of sexy earrings, as always handmade in 18kt white gold.

Limonchello inspired. YUM! Delicious hand carved natural lemon amber. Complemented by South Sea pearls and yellow diamonds, all handmade in 18kt yellow gold.

Ciao!
Dani K