DANIELLA KRONFLE

Showing posts with label birthstone. Show all posts

Hello my gems and July birthday babies! Hope you had a great holiday, and are enjoying the summer. For this month's birthstone we have the ruby and all of its super interesting myth and power, which were actually very influential to me when I was choosing my jewelry look for my wedding a month ago.

For this special ocassion I wore a ruby and diamond choker worn as a crown around my chignon, and diamond solitaire earrings. I went with rubies because they are the gem of passion and love, and because the ruby is the most prized gem. Here is a close-up of the gems I chose for wedding look and everything you would ever need to know about the "king of gems", the ruby.

Pigeons blood rubies in diamonds in
perfect harmony in this gorgeous choker by
Daniella Kronfle Jewelry

These "Illusion" diamonds studs
are the best complement for the choker.

Aren't they all sooo gorgeous? Loved having this special gem on such a special day. This is one of the reasons I love jewels. We can remember meaningful time we have had by the jewels we had on, or given as a gift they can be a forever reminder of a beautiful experience. But now back to one of my favorite gems to work with, the ruby, which was the only gemstone I could use when I was designing these glamourous pieces below.

Gorgeous pieces in rubies and diamonds:
These beautiful earrings and drop style
necklace are handmade in 18kt white gold

The history of Ruby mining dates back more than 2,500 years ago. The most beautiful crystals are thought to be from Burma, but quality Rubies are also found in India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.

Ruby from Tanzania

The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red. It is a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock. Corundum is the second hardest mineral, after Diamond. It comes in a variety of colors, and is considered a Sapphire in any color except red, which is designated as a Ruby. Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red in color. Large sized Rubies are very rare and valuable.

Called the "Rajnapura" or King of Gems by ancient Hindus, July's birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history. The Ruby was considered to have magical powers, and was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil. It was thought to grow darker when peril was imminent, and to return to its original color once danger was past—provided it was in the hands of its rightful owner!

Ruby engagement ring. Very in right now.

Rubies were thought to represent heat and power. Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for blowguns, and it was said that a pot of water would boil instantly if a Ruby was tossed into it. Ground to powder and placed on the tongue, this crystal was used as a cure for indigestion.

It has been said that the Ruby's red glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love. With its hardness and durability, it is a perfect engagement gem. And if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the Ruby will bring good fortune to its wearer, too! Like a perfect red rose, the Ruby's rich color speaks of love and passion.

Fabulous earrings in rubies and
shiny diamonds. Handmade as
always in 18kt white gold

I love working with rubies because today they are not used very often, making them very special and unique. For those of you born in July, this gemstone represents devotion, integrity, courage and happiness. It is also supposed to signify vitality, confidence and strengths, all great qualities to have a jewelry piece.

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

Nothing says classic elegance more than a single strand of perfect pearls, and nothing is as timeless or a covetable as my fabulous strand of pearls finished with a "diamond pearl" shown throughout. This month is all about pearls since they are the birthstone of the lucky ones born in June. Here is some of their myth and history.

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 next type of pearl, South Sea, are the rarest and most expensive of all cultured pearls. Because they look exactly like natural pearls (you can only tell the difference by X-ray), South Sea pearls are not enhanced in any way, and are only polished to bring out their natural glow. Their most common color is white, but they are also found in silver/white, pink and gold. As far as shape, they are available in the same shapes as the Akoya, with the addition of button, ringed, semi-baroque and oval shapes. Their size ranges from 8 to 22 millimeters, with the average being 15.

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.

When purchasing pearls, I suggest you keep in mind that rose and silver/white pearls look great on fair skin, while gold and cream colored pearls look best on olive skin and darker complexions. Also 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

I have been working with an amazingly uncommon gemstone called Paraiba lately. This stone, a form of tourmaline, is the rarest in the world and it is not hard to see why.

Paraiba comes in eye catching hues such as neon blue, turquoise, blue green and even hot pink. This lovely gem takes its name from the northeastern state of Paraiba in Brazil, where Paraiba is mostly found. Discovered in the 1980's, this wonderful gem has just now made a splash in the world of fine jewelry, and I've fallen in love with it all over again. Just look at this fantastic ring below, completely inspired by the cabochon cut Paraiba I found. Isn't is perfect?

As you can see, the Paraiba has a natural neon glow that seems to shine from within the gemstone. This glow is attributed to the presence of the element copper. But copper is not the only metal in Paraiba. The German Foundation for Gemstone Research has also found traces of gold in this stone. It is the presence of these, and other elements that bring us the different colors of Paraiba found in nature. Here are some extraordinary examples...

But let's get back to my ring. Because Paraiba is very fragmented, it is very rare to find a solitaire this size and quality, and a cabochon cut one to boot. When I received it I was so excited I planed out many designs. I thought first of a pendant or to even include it in one of my tiaras, but soon enough, after much deliberation, I decided that it belonged in one of my signature statement rings, where it could easily be admired with every gesture of an elegant woman.

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.

Paraiba is both prized for its beauty and for its rarity. This magnificent gemstone, along with its healing and magical attributes, is gorgeous enough to be my sole inspiration. When I created this lovely ring, I took everything about this stone in consideration, as well as the profile of the Daniella Kronfle woman. Hope you love it just as much as I do.

Love Always

Dani K

She who from April dates her years,

Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears

For vain repentance flow; this stone,

Emblem of innocence, is known.

Gorgeous diamond bracelet, lovingly
hand made in 18kt white gold.

Winter is definitely over and warner months are up ahead. To celebrate Spring, April brings us everyone's favorite gem, the diamond. Used for centuries in jewelry design, this classic stone, never falls short of spectacular. Wether you are wearing hoops or rings or a bangle-style bracelet like the one above, diamonds are the perfect stone to complement any design.

Beautiful diamond hoops in 18kt white gold. Super!

Diamonds get their name from the Greek word for unbreakable for a reason. They have the highest degree of hardness and thermal conductivity of any bulk material, making them an excellent gemstone for a jeweler to work with. Their ability to disperse light so beautifully does not hurt either. This characteristic is called luster. Even before it is polished, and in a raw state, like the diamond shown below, it still is an eye catching wonder.

A diamond in its natural state.

For years diamonds have been considered the most popular gemstone available, but did you know that a diamond starts out as an allotrope of carbon? Most natural diamonds are formed at high temperatures and depths of over 90 miles in the Earth's mantle. They are brought closer to the surface by volcanic eruptions, and were first discovered and mined in India over 6,000 years ago.

A beautiful pair.
Classic diamond hoops and a shiny, sparkly bangle.

Used in crowns , tiaras, and even swords, diamonds have been revered for their strength for centuries. Ancient civilizations were known to be fascinated by diamonds, and ask any woman what she would prefer in her jewelry collection, and I bet 90% would answer the same: diamonds.

Gorgeous diamond ring in white 18kt gold.

Fabulous chandelier style earrings in shiny white diamonds,
and handmade with love in 18 white gold

Diamonds are not only beautiful, but they are also a sign of everlasting love. A gift of a diamond sometimes express so much more than words can say, and there is no more convincing a promise to an everlasting relationship than April's birthstone.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend, and that you have a great month ahead. Stay tuned for a post on the Miss Universe crown this week. It was truly amazing.

Love Always

Dani K

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Bling of the Month: Rubies

Under the Sea: Pearl Solitaires

Bling of the Month: Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

Hot New Stone: Paraiba

Bling of the Month: Diamonds