DANIELLA KRONFLE

Showing posts with label Earrings. 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

Summer is almost over, so I wanted to do a post on one of the great gemstones of summer: Coral.

Even though it's not really a gemstone (chemically it is similar to the pearl), coral is the "stone" of the sea. It is also one of the most ancient gems, having been used since prehistoric times. Coral ornaments have been unearthed in tombs dating from 500BC. Ancient Chinese cultures used them to signify wealth and power, and oftentimes the emperors wore red coral in their belts and headdresses. In Ancient Rome, it was a custom to hang red coral from the necks of children to protect them from harm. This is how we get to the coral jewelry we wear today.
Coral comes in a ranges of colors, with red and pink being some of the most popular for jewelry designs. The two pieces I'm showing today illustrate this last point. The earrings are very much pink while the ring is very much orange. It is usually cut into bead or cabochons for use in the jewelry design trade, and its organic characteristics inspire what some call a natural or even summery look.

Although coral has been historically used by many cultures for it's healing properties, it is still used today for the same purposes. It is said to help keep harmony, relieve tension and reduce fear. These are all very good reasons to wear coral jewelry year round, but I love coral because it has, from a design viewpoint, a lot of versatility. Coral can appear, depending on the design of the piece, exotic, elegant, natural, earthy classic or ethnic. In the earrings below, you can clearly see that this is an elegant and timeless piece, with the coral adding a splash of modern color and texture.

If you prefer smaller pieces or are still afraid to wear a lot of color, the ring below is an option so you can at least have some coral in your jewelry box. The coral ties in perfectly with the theme, looking very natural and earthy, without loosing that touch of femininity. The diamonds take this piece from day to night in a flash, making this a very versatile ring.

Coral is much softer than other gemstones, so you do have to treat it with extreme care. Be careful around hot water, perfumes and chemicals, as coral is porous and may change in texture or color. Coral should always be stored properly, and protected from scratches or blows. Cleaning it is very simple, just wipe with a clean damp cloth, dry and store to keep its unique qualities.