DANIELLA KRONFLE

Showing posts with label black pearls. 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

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

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.

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 was watching the closing ceremony for the Olympics yesterday and I was very amused by the reunion of 90's super group and queens of girl power, the Spice girls. Their performance was great, too. What I was more surprised about was seeing the unthinkable: Victoria Beckam back to her (much despised I believe) alter ego Posh Spice. Amazing.

I really did get a little excited when I saw the girls back together because I really never expected that to happen, mostly because as all of the members, except for Victoria Beckam, have continued to pursue their singing careers, she had chosen fashion and never again hit the stage. I guess that explains why she was a little wooden compared to the rest, who really did seem like seasoned performers. But that's because they are.

Anyway, all of this Spice Girls fandom got me to thinking, is there anyone else today who exemplifies modern glamour and minimalism more than the former Posh Spice, a.k.a. Mrs. David Beckham? She might have some competition in Tilda Swinton, but seeing that Swinton's thing is more of an androgynous style, the answer is no. So let's crown her, at least today, the day after her return to the stage via Olympic closing ceremony, the minimalism empress.

Posh Spice started out her mini empire by collaborating with designers and posing in fashion ads with her hubby. She got to know a lot of a the business and a lot of they key players in fashion. She made it to the front of the shows and became a sort of post 90's icon, from WAG to Riches, always dressed by the best and looking fierce. After her reputation was established, she launched her dresses, that are pretty much made for her, and the rest is fashion history.

VB, after one her of fashion shows

Her very English style is also very feminines and elegant, and her choice of jewels and accessories is always flawless. Here is her signature emerald ring, which she has worn numerous times on the red carpet.

If this a look you are into check out my citrine solitaire ring below, which is also surrounded by diamonds and makes just the right amount of noise, for day or night.

Gorgeous citrine solitaire ring, in18kt yellow gold
and surrounded by beautiful white diamonds.

Flawless is definitely an great way to describe her unique style. Even though I do love a girl that wears a of jewelry, I also admire someone who wears only the essentials because choosing this look can be very complicated. Her restricted jewelry statements are even more of a way of saying something, of complementing a dress in a chic and unobtrusive way, than about the jewels themselves.

Victoria is often photographed wearing beautiful and big solitaire diamond earrings. She is quite petite so this suits her phenomenally. Nothing is worse than a woman who lets the jewels wear her and not the other way around.

I think in order to keep things clean and unobtrusive, her rings have become her one elegant signature statement. It's important to note that even though her clothes are quite modern her jewelry (other than some McQueen costume jewels she often wears) is all very traditional and very complementary to the architectural lines of the clothes that she wears and designs. Here is her other signature ring, this time in sapphire.

Here is my interpretation of this fabulous look, but this time in the world's rarest gem, Paraiba tourmaline.

Daniella Kronfle statement ring in
cabochon cut Paraiba solitaire, surrounded by
diamonds and aquamarines, handmade in 18kt gold.

Although I would love to see her in more daring pieces like my black onyx statement ring, or my brand new Vipera ring, which are all very minimalist in their design. I understand that VB has found her style and she has made a commitment. And that is the thing about style. Once you find what works for you, then you make it your own and stick to it.

Black onyx statement ring from my Wanderlust Collection,
in rose gold, champagne diamonds and white diamonds.

Diamond Vipera ring, with emerald eyes, and
handmade in 18kt gold.

Hope you had a great time and enjoyed the Olympic events and ceremonies with your nearest and dearest. I did, and it was exciting, exhausting and campy all at the same time. Till next time.

Love Always
Dani K