pearls

Emerald and Pearl Earrings

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:22:00 +0000

I just got back from Bangkok, Thailand. My partner and I spent the holidays there, as we were both in need of an escape from the chaos and grime of Kolkata. If you've been to Bangkok then you might be raising your eyebrows right about now thinking, "an escape from chaos and grime?" Yeah, it's all about perspective.

The Emerald and Pearl Earrings from Udon Thani-based Patch First Shop, well, aren't _really _made of emerald. They're made from green Swarovski crystals nestled against silver diamante rondelles and white pearls, which are held together by a tiny 18K gold-plated stud so that the earring dangles barely a half inch away from the ear lobe. The finished product is inexpensively elegant—not the cheapy hippie-cum-hipster-traveler kind of thing you'd see in the tourist ghettos of the Thai capital city. (Although mine did arrive in a very cute purple velvet bag with a pink snowflake embroidered on the side.)

I'm usually pretty averse to cookie cutter tourist spots, but a year and a half of Kolkata had me craving Mexican food and Guinness, so Khao San Road hit the spot after the two and a half hour flight to Bangkok. A few drinks into dinner, my partner and I started to ponder the success of the Thai economy, the second biggest in Southeast Asia. Tourism is an obvious, and increasing, source of upping the GDP, but Thailand's export-dependent system is at the center of automotive and electronic goods manufacturing. The Thai economic stability acts as an anchor for its developing neighbors—Laos, Burma, and Cambodia.

Patch First Shop may not be rapidly growing the Thai GDP, but it is fulfilling one woman's passion to support herself through her creative endeavors. She envisions your wearing her jewelry at your wedding, but I'm more a fan of wearing it on the day to day. Prices are low ($10) and shipping is free (!), so take advantage of global capitalism via Etsy, folks.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, January 25th 2010

Black Lip Mother of Pearl Round Earrings

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:58:00 +0000

By Zeba

Today is Black Friday, the mother of all shopping days in my country of origin where business profits turn from red to black and bank accounts from black to red. Someone in the mid-sixties must have had one hell of a sense of humor to time this day to fall directly after Thanksgiving. One day Americans join with their families in (mock) appreciation of their conquested homeland and the next they begin an altogether too similar conquest, only this time it's consumer goods they're after instead of arable land. During the year's most populated shopping extravaganza, malls across the nation flood at the crack of dawn with parents who are so under the influence of the holiday spirit that they'll fight to the death over the year's Tickle Me Elmo equivalent. Karl Marx was right about history repeating itself.

After working for a year slinging ice cream and coffee, I got hired at sixteen to sling records—well, cassettes and CDs—in a seasonal position at my mall's Sam Goody. The immovable start date was Black Friday. After the holiday stint was complete, I was granted a permanent place in the glow of florescent lights and Top 40 hits, which led to my working at a snarky, indie record shop—think High Fidelity—through college and the subsequent solidification of a certain hipster snobbery. Try as I might to be aesthetically accommodating, I am very hard to please.

Pleasantly nontraditional, Zeba's well-crafted handmade jewelry is made in Detroit for finicky people like me. No doubt this is, in part, because the pieces' design influence comes from Sholeh Mesbah's fourteen years of diverse artistic experience. From water color to stained class to architecture to metal working techniques, Mesbah brings a variety of skills to her eclectic array of (mostly) one of a kind pieces.

Having already fallen for one pair of stunning pearl earrings, I am now experimenting with polyamory in the wake of the addition of the Black Lip Mother of Pearl Round Earrings to my jewelry box. A smooth ring of smokey pearl with just a hint shimmery gleam is attached to a silver ear wire with Bali spacer beads to complete a look that is straightforward and versatile. The sturdily crafted circular pair are so light that I frequently forget I am wearing them until I hear the ubiquitous gasp followed by, "I love those earrings!"

Although typically given to modesty, I have no problem promoting the work of others, so I confidently reply, "They're great, right?! And with the holidays coming up..." I know, the "sell" might be a little much, but in this corporate dominated scene, feminists have got to give props where we can to talented entrepreneurial women who are out there doing their thing.

Listen, skip the one-stop shop this year and personalize your gift selections from the comfort of your own home (or work) computer. The new Norah Jones album isn't all that great anyway, and neither is a visit to the mall.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, November 27th 2009

Freshwater Pearl and Blue Topaz Earrings

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:58:00 +0000

By Amy Holton Designs

I’m going to my first Indian wedding this December, a celebration I am enormously excited about because of the sheer enormity of this type of event. Indian weddings are multi-day festivities filled with family, friends, fun, and (best of all) food. The wedding I will attend will be a particularly exciting culinary event; it is sure to include a sampler of delicacies from West Bengal, the Punjab, and Burma, a feast that is a reflection of the multiple and overlapping ethnicities of the bride and groom.

Now, I’m not a wedding kind of gal. I didn’t have one myself, and I’ve deftly avoided being in them, but this is an altogether different kind of affair than the cookie cutter wedding industrial complex in the States. Indian weddings are a community experience; families parade in the streets playing music, dancing, singing, and making all kinds of merriment. To attend an event that involves this degree of fanfare, you know a girl’s got to be dressed to the nines.

While I haven’t yet chosen a sari to wear—an apparent requirement for weddings and another first of mine—I have selected the earrings: Freshwater Pearl and Blue Topaz Earrings by Amy Holton Designs. The choice for ear decoration was an obvious one. Resembling a tiny bunch of grapes, this group of freshwater pearls hangs from a sterling silver hook above one solitary blue topaz briolette whose color is so subtle it could by mistaken for clear. I envision a light blue raw silk sari embroidered with a cream colored thread would match this pair perfectly.

But don’t let my pomp and circumstance fool you. The Freshwater Pearl and Blue Topaz Earrings aren’t too fancy for the every day. It’s just that my taste is a little non-traditional, and pearls feel a bit more elegant than my own drab daily attire permits. If you favor a classical vibe, the Freshwater Pearl and Blue Topaz Earrings will add a bit of subdued sparkle to your day-to-day ensemble. For me, I’ll keep them around for the more celebratory occasions.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, September 27th 2009

Lean and Sexy Stiletto Green Pearl Earrings

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:22:00 +0000

By Zeba

Most of the time pearls remind me of housewives circa 1950. Well, maybe into the '60s too. I just started watching the first season of Mad Men, and pearl jewelry seems to be a common gift guiltily given to the suburban, home-bound wife after returning from an afternoon in the city with the bohemian, Beat-loving mistress, or to the sexy secretary banged by the boss. Perhaps this much-lauded show about an ad agency is actually covering a covert marketing scheme to revive these somewhat retro gems. Okay, so maybe not.

If Mad Men is creating a market for pearls, then Zeba should jump on that bandwagon quickly. The Michigan-based, woman-owned company produces pearl jewelry that is spectacularly twenty-first century. Though many of their affordable offerings are of the classic variety, the Lean and Sexy Stiletto Green Pearl Earrings provide a somewhat modern twist on an old staple. On this pair, a lone green freshwater pearl dangles from a two-inch sterling silver chain, which is attached to a sterling silver earwire. As I'm not the kind to go for an overstated adornment, the simple design suits my fancy.

My first impression of the earrings was that they appear quite delicate and formal. But you know what they say about books and covers and deception of appearance. Though I would be less inclined to wear them with a ratty t-shirt and jeans, Lean and Sexy Green Pearl Earrings are perfect for an ensemble that's a bit more snazzy or one that is absolutely magnificent. The name may make this statement redundant, but if you're going for sex appeal, these certainly have it—all the seduction of stiletto heels without the destroyed feet.

Perhaps you're more of a Betty Draper type who presents like a Norman Rockwell painting, then snag the version with a more traditional look. If, however, you find yourself to be more like Joan Holloway, a more contemporary pearl design will give you more of the attention you seek. Aren't you glad women have so many more choices in these modern times?

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, August 28th 2009

Pearl Earrings with Mother of Pearl Accent

admin — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:22:00 +0000

By Designs by K

One of the best fashion tips that I’ve ever received is: "Don’t waste money on real pearls. They are easily destroyed by perfume and makeup and the average person can’t tell the difference between fakes and the real thing." That’s one of the reasons that I selected a pair of inexpensive, handmade pearl drop earrings crafted by Designs by K. I was yearning for a classic pearl look, and the price was right.

When you think of handmade, you may think, "Expensive!" Although the handmade pearl earrings looked great on the website, I cynically figured that I’d probably receive some cheesy looking pearl earrings that would make a Target special look like Saks Fifth Avenue. After all, what could I realistically expect from a pair of earrings that cost less than an average visit to the neighborhood Starbucks? Well, I was wrong! It really is possible to purchase adorable handmade jewelry without breaking the bank.

When I received my order, I was delighted to find a handsigned (!) thank you note from the designer along with the lovely (not cheap looking) pearls. Of course, the oversized white pearls aren’t real—but who is going to know? The $6.99 earrings are not too large or too small; they add a dash of stylish elegance to casual blouses and are an ideal accent for a basic black dress. They work as well with a funky blouse as they do with more mature fashions, and their classic design will never go out of style.

K—also known as Kristin—offers a gorgeous two-strand matching pearl bracelet for $19.99 as well, which means that if you buy the earrings and bracelet together you’ll get lots of stylish mileage for less than $30. Designs by K convinced me that it really is possible to buy affordable handmade and stylish jewelry that won’t fall apart after one wearing.

Written by: Rachelle Nones, January 1st 2009