Austin Bling Blog | Discussing Fine Jewelry in Austin, TX | By Calvin's Fine Jewelry

Color of the Year

Pantone has announced what the color of the year is: Tangerine Tango…..a wonderful, bright, warm color that reminds us of good things.  Clothing, phones, paint, furnishings, and most importantly (!) GEMS come in this amazing color: rich, deep tones that can brighten your senses and make your fashions pop with excitement. 

Wikipedia says:  Every year since 2000 the people at Pantone declare a particular color “Color of the Year”. Twice a year the company hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year; for example, the color for summer 2013 was chosen in London in the spring of 2012.^[12] Each color purportedly connects with the zeitgeist; meaning “the spirit of the times” or “the spirit of the age.”

This year the press release stated “The choice is Tangerine Tango which is ‘a vivacious, enticing hue’ that will ‘provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward’”.

                                  i-Phone in Tangerine Tango 4/4S           Padparadscha Sapphire

                                                          

Arts and Crafts Style vs New Style

Edward Oakes. Edward Oakes is considered one of the greatest Arts and Crafts jewelry designers of the first half of the 20th century.  He was also the President of the Boston Arts and Crafts Association among many other distinctions. See further pieces of his work here.

Edward Oakes has designs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many people in the Boston area are still wearing his gorgeous and unique designs today.  Collections are kept and passed down as families are proud to wear his beautiful and recognizable creations. 

 

Two pendants, one in form of lantern tipped with baroque pearl suspended

on simple chain; the other elaborately wrought foliated design on gold base,

suspended on black cord, by Edward E. Oakes (Karnaghan, 1926)

 

Calvin’s Fine Jewelry “old yet new again” Varna Necklace creation in Platinum and diamonds hand chased and carved.

 

 

Earrings To Match

All of us have that special pair of earrings, or the perfect “goes with everything necklace” that you love…..but it is only a costume piece and wearing out fast.  Now what???  Calvin’s Fine Jewelry to the rescue!   Bring in your favorite costume item and we will custom make or find the same item in platinum, gold or silver for you.  We can even find matching items to fill out the set for you! 

Just come in a visit our collections, to see if we already have what you want and if not we will be more than happy to make that perfect jewelry item for you. 

 

 

Wisteria Rose Gold Morganite Tear Drop Earrings

Calvin's Collection

Auction News

A diamond coveted by kings, queens and princes for centuries, used to reinforce alliances between nations and pawned to pay off royal debts, sold for 9 million Swiss francs ($9.57 million) at Sotheby's in Geneva on Tuesday night.  It is named the Beau Sancy Diamond and has an amazing history. 

In 2010 a pink diamond ring of almost 25 carats sold for an amazing $46.2 million at the same Sotheby’s in Geneva, setting a record for any single jewel sold at auction. 

Elizabeth Taylor's astonishing jewelry collection brought a record-breaking $115 million at auction in New York - including more than $11.8million for the famous 'La Peregrina' pearl necklace and $8.8 million for her 33.19 carat diamond ring, both given to her by her husband, Richard Burton.

Jewelry has been worn throughout the ages by all genders and types of people for status, monetary use, to mend marriages, kingdom's or just to hold a cape decoratively. 

 

The Classic Eternity Band

One of the most classic and endearing wedding band styles is the eternity band: diamonds set all the way ‘round the ring.  They can be shaped in princess, emerald, asscher or the classic round brilliant.  Joe DiMaggio gave a stunning emerald cut eternity band to his beloved Marilyn Monroe for their wedding day in 1954.   

They are so versatile that the bands can be channeled, beaded, pave or prong set with all diamonds or some colors mixed in:  then stacked, worn alone or matched with a perfect solitaire diamond ring.  The smooth fit is very good if the bride-to-be wears gloves for her chosen profession …..or his!  Men’s wedding bands also come with diamonds set all ‘round and have just as many options, to match the brides or express his own style. 

There is something very luxurious about a diamond band that continues around your finger, never stopping its brilliant display of flash and beauty no matter what angle is displayed, reminding the wearer of the vows of eternity that the happy couple took on their wedding day.    

 

Congratulations to Us!

 

Calvin’s Fine Jewelry is proud to announce our award:

The Knot Best of Weddings 2012

What set this award apart are the people that vote...Our Customers!   The brides and grooms that were thrilled with not only our beautiful jewelry, but also our stellar customer service:  the individual attention that every single person that comes into our store receives.   Calvin’s Fine Jewelry is first and foremost a family owned and run business, with a few select extra members of our team that help Calvin’s keep topnotch service for all our customers and friends.  Our ‘team’ works as a team to help everyone that comes to visit our beautiful store and see our wonderful selection of designer and quality handmade jewelry have the best possible experience.   We are so proud of our achievement and we thank all our wonderful Brides and Grooms for their votes to make our award possible. 

Thank you!!

 

It’s Baaaaack!!!

Yellow gold has resurfaced its lovely, rich colored head, and we are so happy!   Yellow gold accessories are all over the place:  from designers like Michael Kors with watches, hand bags, shoes and clothes with yellow gold colored accents to designers in our store like Ron Hami, Ila&I, and our new Wisteria Collection by Jackie Smith.  

Cool colored stones like deep Blue Sapphires and icy Aquamarines look their best in white gold or platinum, but the richness of Emeralds and Rubies really shine when paired with yellow gold.  The great part now is that with the resurgence of yellow the choice is yours to make:  what color looks best on your skin, what color you like the best for each individual piece of jewelry, and which color looks best with your outfit.  Gone are the rules of the older generations that dictated wearing only one color of metal at a time, mix and match is the key to making heads turn these days and making your choices personalized to fit your style.   

Try adding some rich yellow color to your outfits with eye shadows, lipsticks, slide on some amazing Zoe Chicco bangles and get ready to make spring and summer fashions pop.  

Calvin's Couture

Yellow Radiant Cut Diamond

Mother's Day Mastoloni Trunk Show

 

 

Chosen “Best in Pearls” again for 2010 by jewelry retailers across the United States, Mastoloni is proud of its reputation as one of the oldest, most reputable sources for quality pearls and pearl jewelry in North America. The Mastoloni family has been selling and designing pearl jewelry with passion, care and craftsmanship for three generations. Browse our beautiful collections of Tahitian, South Sea, Akoya and Freshwater cultured pearls. Not only to see the remarkable creations and the incredible variety of the pieces we offer, but to explore the extraordinary history of pearls and learn more about pearl grading and standards. Take your time… our pearls are meant to last much longer than a lifetime.  Quite simply, no one can claim to know more about pearls. Shop Mastoloni now

 

 

Diamond Earrings……Perfect!

Hair up, hair down, what earrings should I wear with my outfit?  These are all morning ‘getting dressed’ questions that most women ask as they are getting ready to leave the house.  How to make the choices easier??  Diamond earrings!  They go with everything.  But…..hoops, solitaires, dangles, chandeliers???  White gold, yellow gold, rose gold??  There are so many wonderful choices that it seems an entire wardrobe of these essentials are required.   You are so in luck!  There are dozens of styles to pick from so that each birthday, anniversary, or special occasion can be filled over the next year or two with selections from the diamond earrings that we have in stock.  There is the basic and indispensible solitaire earring with a single glorious diamond nestled in delicate gold or platinum, always a good place to start for a first pair.   There is a fairly new type of diamond hoop earring called ‘inside/outside’: incorporating diamonds set down the front of the earring and up the inside back so that the sparkles catch every movement.  Dangle earrings come in all lengths, shapes and colors:  simple and clean lines to exotic, full shapes with briolettes and natural diamonds.  Chandelier earrings are the largest, longest and most elegant of all the styles, usually reserved for evenings and formal affairs.  The options are endless, each choice better than the last.   Let us help you decide what is going to be your morning staple, your ‘go to’ earrings, to make one thing easier in our hectic lives!

           

 

Varna at Calvin's Fine Jewelry

Varna is a family owned company that was started when Garo moved from Bulgaria to the US, bringing with him his talents as a Master Goldsmith, using the techniques of the ‘old world’ and making everything by hand, no machinery or casting, called hand fabrication.  His amazing abilities earned him the title of the “jewelers’ jeweler” and brought Garo recognition for his talents.  These same techniques have been handed from father to son and the tradition continues for incredible design with precision and beauty that is truly unparalleled. 

Varna’s first collection, the Eternal, is a platinum and diamond hand-engraved engagement ring line, with 18k yellow gold filigree accents.  This now-famous collection put Varna on the map of the jewelry world.  There are several new collections that have been added to round out the line with creativity and depth. 

Their creative talents have leant an eloquent edge to our store, with abilities to custom design almost anything that you can imagine for diamonds or colored stones, bridal to fashion and impressive one-of-a-kind creations that are unique and sublime….gorgeous to look at and appealing to wear. 

Varna is also a Green company and helps reduce their Carbon Footprint by using only recycled precious metals and conflict free diamonds and gemstones.  By working together and taking a stand, we can help decrease the demand for newly mined platinum and gold.   Calvin’s Fine Jewelry is proud to keep this tradition growing. 

Shop Varna here