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.

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.



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 all set in a beautiful design inspired by my signature tiaras. To finish my creation, I set the entire thing in 18kt white gold to complement the beautiful blues, and also to make these precious gems stand out and sparkle and shine even more.



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

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!

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.

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.

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.