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 (both classic and Baroque) as the starting point for a beautiful earring and cocktail ring set. 

I designed these beautiful pieces with the the city of Barcelona as a background and inspiration.  I was there recently, and fell in love all over again with the church of the Sagrada Familia and all of the city's Gothic charm.  The Baroque black pearls reminded me of Gaudi's masterpiece and its intricate and irregular designs.  When I was staring at the beautiful grey stonework, I had to find a way for a woman to carry such beauty around town herself.  That is when the idea to use black gold, and black pearls came about.  The diamonds were an obvious complement and the rest is jewelry history.  




As you can see in the pictures of the fabulous ring below, the black Tahitian Baroque pearl was a stunning choice. 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. Baroque style black pearls are even more unique. They get their name from the irregularities on the surface which include banding, elongated shapes, and off black colors.  It takes up to three years for the mollusk (in this case the pinctada margaritifera or black lipped oyster) to make a Baroque black pearl.  Since this and all Baroque pearls are a special anomaly, they are one of a kind and quite valuable.   




The shape of the earrings was also a direct reaction to the elongated and irregular silhouette of the church.  For the earrings I went with a classic Tahitian pearl.  I saw the smoothness as a great counterpoint to the rough setting.


In keeping with the Gaudi spirit, the pearls rest on an irregular bed of black gold and white diamonds.  I chose black gold because it would make the beautiful and shiny diamonds really stand out.  I also went with black because it was Gothically inspired and looked beautiful against the pearls. 


This beautiful set tells the story of a city.  Both the statemtn ring and earrings are very avant garde, very modern, much like Barcelona herself. What makes them even more compelling is the perfect balance of all the elements.  What do you think of my Barcelona inspired gems?  


Love Always
Dani K 

I love using diamonds since they add to the value and elegance of the piece.  That's why so many of my treasures are so versatile, and can be worn both night and day, and can be formal or informal.  Look at the diamond ribbon detail on the piece above.  It really balances the roundness of the stones, and simply makes the different colors pop.

Everyone of you have already figured out that I love to work very, very hard, and of course I play hard as well. France is a very important place for me because that is where I went to school.  I have wonderful memories of that country, so I go back often.  One of my favorite places for this, especially in the summer, is the idyllic beach resort St. Tropez.   And one of my favorite hotels here is Le Yaca.


Le Yaca is a beautiful place, full of old world charm and tranquility.  The food is divine and the staff is so friendly it makes you wan to live there.  But the hotel is not the only place that is amazing.  So many other things make St. Tropez a fabulous place to take a break.  Here my top 5.

1. Spoon at the Byblos Hotel:  The floating glass spoons are just the beginning. Alain Ducasse 's fun establishment has satisfying food and stiff drinks.  Perfect for people watching, celebrities abound here, an apres plage snack, and chit chatting with the locals.


 2. Le Club 55:  If you like champagne, lounging in the sun and a long relaxed lunch, then this is the place; I love this beach club.  Like Spoon, its a great place for people watching (I once saw P Diddy there), and in my case jewelry watching.  I have never seen so many beautiful jewelry outside a museum or gallery as I did at Le Club!  It was epic.  The crowd is very tan and very chic, very St. Trop, casual and extravagant at the same time.  Hint: if you go, make a reservation and dress the part.  I would wear a colorful sarong, straw hat and some serious jewelry like the pieces below.  Its a very popular place and a very chic scene so it might be difficult to get a reservation without some months in advance.

Gorgeous and fabulous pink sapphire ring and diamond ring, in 18kt white gold.

3. L'Annonciade Museum.  St Tropez does not have a lot of culture like other places like Paris or Rome, but what it does not have in quantity it has in quality.  My favorite little museum to visit there is the L'Annociade Museum.  With great displays of art from the region of Provence and the French Riviera, you can find here works from french masters such as Matisse, Braque, Seurat, Bonnard, etc..  I find it a necessary stop to balance all the glitz and glamour of the St Trop scene.



4.  Maison des Papillons:  This smaller and quainter museum, is set up in a charming old house, and holds a collection of beautifully preserved butterfly species.  My favorite display is the collection of butterfly themed jewelry that they exhibit.  Butterflies have long been a theme in jewelry design, and their delicate wings and feminine attributes are always a great inspiration of mine, as you can see in my piece below, which I even wore to visit this great place.  Very inspiring indeed.

St Trop inspired! J'adore this fantastic papillon statement ring in sliced cut diamonds, orange and yellow sapphires and 18kt gold.

5.  The Citadel:  For a beautiful and historical view of the coast, the Citadel is the perfect place.  An hexagonal structure, with a huge interior courtyard, this ancient structure is truly a thing of beauty. If it's not too crowded it can be very peaceful. An added bonus are the beautiful trees that flank its gardens.

St Tropez is a wonderful place, however if you are looking for a low profile vacation, this isn't it.  It's a scene, a very elegant and glamourous scene that recalls sexy women like Brigitte Bardot,  Penelope Cruz and Kate Moss.  When I'm visiting I always dress to the nines and accesorize to the max.  In my own jewelry of course.  I would recommend pieces with lots of colorful gems and nature motifs, like the Papillon ring above or the Fleur necklace and the graphic bracelet below.

I adore this graphic bracelet reminiscent of the impressionist painters I saw at L'Annonciade. My version of Matisse is in black quartz, navy blue quartz, and purple amethyst, finished in diamonds and 18kt white gold.

Purple reigns! Flower are everywhere in St Trop, so naturally I chose to wear pieces reflective of my surroundings.  This beautiful fleur necklace is lovingly made in18kt white gold, with hand carved amethyst and orange sapphire petals, yellow sapphires, diamonds and rock crystal.

Funky and fab. Lanvin bag and Metier hat.

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