On my daily newsletter from Design-milk in came a beautiful idea to display jewelry in the studio (or a tradeshow for that matter) called the Showcase Mirror .
The concept is simple, interesting and modern. How come nobody did this before? The genius behind it are the Studio Thier&vanDaalen based in the Netherlands.
Here's some of the things we've been working on. Hearts have been on the workbench but a lot of other new pieces are being done :)
We know that winter is still here, but we are longing for long days, warmer temperatures and an excuse to get out of the black and grey. These earrings with amethysts and blue topaz can do the trick. Up on the site next week.
Here's to a happy new year that starts with lots of new projects.
One of them, and one that I'm particularly excited about, is to one of a kind ACFJ pieces available exclusively at the beautiful Eloise store in Charlottesville. Not only is this store a staple of exquisite taste in Cville, it's a wonderful home to my jewelry and a heaven of good taste and inspiring contemporary brands. So you already know, if you're in the area make sure to visit them. Otherwise you can always shop online.
Eloise
505 west main street
charlottesville, virginia 22903
t: 434-295-3905
f: 434-295-3152
info@shopeloise.com
mon – sat: 10am-5pm
http://shopeloise.com/collections/ana-cavalheiro
Cleaning up before starting new projects. And a lot of new projects are coming this year!
Late to the game but still wishing everybody a wonderful year ahead!
A quick visit to NYC is always a quick fix for seeing friends, taking care if business, try a new restaurant and soak up on some art. Here's to a wonderful couple of days.
I was going through photos of jewelry I did in the past and came across some fun photos. What a pleasure to see some of the jewelry I did in 2006 and 2007 when I was just out of jewelry school.
From an idea to final result. A sterling silver necklace set with Turquoises, rainbow moonstones and peridots. The perfect necklace for spring.
After some years of bare necks and shy earrings on the red carpet, last Sunday Oscars showed us some serious bling. Not over the top, but playful and sexy jewelry adorned some gorgeous women and matched the dresses perfectly.
Ear cuffs, very edgy and fashion forward were worn with some serious dresses. Lupita Nyong'o, Emma Watson and Sandra Bullock rocked some beautiful earrings.
Long, dressy earrings never fail to impress as Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie and Olivia Wilde showed. Never mind the dress, tell me who made your earrings.
And after going MIA some serious fine jewelry bling necklaces came back to the red carpet. The big jewelry houses finally had a chance to get them out of the safes and into some pretty necks.
Lupita Nyong'o in Fred Leighton jewelry
Gorgeous Charlize Theron in Harry Winston
Angelina Jolie in Robert Procop
Cate Blanchett in Chopard
Penelope Cruz in Chopard
Naomi Watts in Bulgari
Emma Watson in Repossi
Jessica Biel in Tiffany & Co.
Olivia Wilde in Lorraine Schartz
Jennifer Lawrence in Neil Lane
Sandra Bullock in Lorraine Schwartz
I never tire of looking inside jewelry studios. Here's a sneak peek inside these XVII century goldsmith workshops. Gravures by Etienne Delaune and Tommaso Garzonni.
From wax carving to setting the stones and polishing the rings. A gorgeous 4 stack that went to a gorgeous client.
Who is JAR?
There has been some buzz about him lately with his exhibition at the MET. But who is he?
I like to think of him like some kind of jewelry hero. He doesn't follow the rules of the jewelry business and he does whatever he feels like. Oh, the dream...
JAR stands for Joel Arthur Rosenthal, an american jeweler born in the Bronx (NY) who moved to Paris many years ago. He has a shop at the Place Vendome in Paris but no sign outside, just a tiny window that never displays jewelry, if anything at all. You only go pass that door by invitation, i.e., if he likes you he will let you in. And that does not mean he will let you take a look at all of his pieces or even buy them.
There are no collections, only one of a kind pieces. There is no haggling or price discounts otherwise you'll be shown to the door, never to come back. There are huge gemstones, most of them considered "semi-precious gemstones" to the jewelry world, like tourmalines, spinels or topaz. There are also not so "noble" materials, like aluminium, silver, bronze and rock crystal. And then, there is color, size and unbelievable technique and craftsmanship. This man is a genius.
Ok, are you interested already?
If you are anywhere near NYC please take the time to go the MET Museum and take a look at the biggest exhibition on his work. The jewelry is impressive. Not only for the type and size of the gemstones but for the amazing technical work behind each piece. And the size of the pieces is just outrageous. I knew they were big but I was still surprised to see how big they were. And yes, it's true, It is absolutely impossible to select a favorite piece of jewelry.
I was on my knees trying to see the back and the bottom of the pieces, amazed with the mechanisms and the lightness of such big statement pieces. The gemstones were unbelievable: in size, in color, in quality. Even in a dark, red velvety room the color pops up and like a kid in a candy store, you want them all. So, if you have a chance, go and see them because the next chance you'll have to see some JAR jewelry is gonna be at a Christies or Sothebys auction...
In the meantime, there are a lot more interesting and outrageous stories about JAR so I would strongly recommend that you read about the jeweler from people who actually met him or are friends with him.
Here are some interesting articles:
- "For a jeweler, all that bedazzles", New York Times, 11/15/2013
- "The Cult of Jar", Forbes Magazine, 9/24/06
- "Lunch with the FT: Joel Arthur Rosenthal", Financial Times, 11/01/13
- "The magic of JAR", Harpers Bazaar USA, 09/04/13
- "The Legend of JAR", Harpers Bazaar USA, 02/27/13
- Jewels by JAR, Exhibition at the MET Museum, Nov 20, 2013 - March 9, 2014
And I can fly away...
