Jewelry to Accent Wedding Dress Trends for 2014

We found an awesome blog post describing upcoming trends in wedding dresses and thought it would be fun to match some of our jewelry with the looks from the post. No matter what style you love, our experienced sales staff can help you pick the pieces that will best compliment your vision of the big day. Feel free to let us know what you think of our pairings.

PLEATS - With a gown showcasing such elaborate details, simple works best. This dress features a larger shoulder accent that would overshadow a necklace and earrings. A statement bracelet is the perfect way to add even more drama to such a strong gown.

BUTTONS DOWN THE BACK - This dress has a traditional feel that lends itself to pearl jewelry. The neckline begs for a gorgeous pair of drop earrings. Add a little sparkle and you have the perfect accessory for a classic look.

GATSBY-INSPIRED SILHOUETTES - Art Deco designs are experiencing a resurgence in the fashion world. Thanks to the upcoming movie The Great Gatsby and the popular show Downton Abby, 1920's style has been introduced to a new generation. Taking a cue from the styling in the photo, we picked a couple of bracelets that would look great with this gown. Another option would be a really long, multi-strand pearl necklace. 

PRINTS - Every bride wants to look incredible and a printed gown is one way to create an outstanding style for your special day. We thought this sapphire set would compliment the color in the dress and add some shine to give the look more depth. With such a bold print, make sure that your jewelry is just as unique as your dress.

LACE - Lace gowns are another classic style undergoing a modern update. This particular dress has a fantastic neckline that you would not want to detract from. A beautiful pair of diamond earrings is all you need to complete this look.

Original blog post:

 http://www.onewed.com/blog/show/5-wedding-dress-trends-for-2014

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Happy Birthday - April!

First I'd like to apologize for the absence over the past several months. I had a baby boy in December who arrived 2.5 months early. Everyone is doing well and now I'm back to work full time. Thanks for visiting our blog and stay tuned for more regular updates!

April's birthstone is DIAMOND.

These are just 3 of the designs that caught my eye in our showroom. All are by Allison-Kaufmann, a relatively new company for us. Their striking designs really grab your attention! Fashion trends are leaning back toward yellow gold for the upcoming season. 

If you are interested in diamond lore, check out last year's blog post about diamonds: http://mcgeejewelers.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

October Birthstone Spotlight

October’s birthstones are OPAL and PINK TOURMALINE!

Found in Australia, Mexico and the U.S., opals symbolize hope, innocence, and purity. This symbolism influenced the belief that opals aided children, encouraged friendships and feelings, and supported those in theater and amusement professions. Opals have been used as a talisman against evil spirits and one medieval belief said they could render a wearer invisible when needed.

Opals come in two varieties; white opal has a light body color with flashes of many colors and black opal has a dark body with flashes of red, pink, and bright green.

Opal is a fragile gemstone and care should be taken to protect it against scratches and hard blows. Avoid using household cleaners and extreme temperature changes. Clean only with a soft cloth and never use an ultrasonic machine or jewelry cleaner.

An alternate, but accepted, birthstone for October is pink tourmaline. It has the widest range of colors of any gemstone. Tourmaline can be found in reds, greens, blues, and all sorts of combinations of those colors.

Tourmaline is believed to be a healing stone and when worn as an amulet, it will bring you friends and lovers.

To clean your tourmaline, use lukewarm soapy water and a small bristle brush. Do not use a home ultrasonic machine. Be sure to remove your tourmaline jewelry before engaging in housework, gardening, or sports to protect it against sharp blows and scratches. 

September Birthstone Spotlight

September’s birthstone is SAPPHIRE! 

Ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on an enormous blue sapphire, and its reflection caused the blueness of the sky. Sorcerers used sapphires to interpret oracles and foretell the future. For centuries, sapphires have been seen as a symbol of truth, a talisman of protection and guardians of love.

As well as being the birthstone for September, sapphires are also the traditional gift for couples celebrating fifth and forty-fifth anniversaries.

Sapphire is one of two varieties of corundum and can be found in any color except red. The red variety is a ruby. Fancy colored sapphires include pink, green, orange and golden yellow.

  

Although sapphires are one of the most durable gemstones, they should be protected against hard blows and scratches. With proper care, your sapphire jewelry can be an heirloom for generations. 

Stop in to see our selection of sapphire jewelry!

August Birthstone Spotlight

August's birthstone is PERIDOT!

The history of peridot [per-i-doh] dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, who called it “the gem of the sun.” It is now believed that Cleopatra wore peridot gems, having mistaken them for emeralds. The color range for peridot includes bright green, yellowish-green, and olive hues.

After the Crusades, soldiers brought peridot back as spoils of war. Once in Europe, the gems were set in a variety of religious objects.

Traditionally found in Egypt and Burma, more recent sources include the U.S. (mostly Arizona and Hawaii), China, Brazil, Pakistan, Australia, and Norway. Peridot can even be found in some meteorites!

Peridot is said to protect from nightmares, fear, and the evil eye. This protection made peridot a favorite among pirates. A healing stone, it aids in reducing stress and digestive problems. Peridot supposedly stimulates the mind, opens the door for opportunity, and accelerates personal growth. It also is known to attract love and calm anger, appropriate for the traditional stone for the 16^th wedding anniversary.

Avoid sharp blows and scratches, household chemicals, as well as drastic temperature changes. Remove your peridot jewelry before housework, gardening, or active sports. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner on peridot. 

July Birthstone Spotlight

July’s birthstone is RUBY!

Known as “Lord of the Gems,” rubies are steeped in lore and history. The name ruby is derived from “ruber,” the Latin word for red. Myth says rubies were created upon their release from a dragon’s magical egg.

Said to have protective powers, rubies have adorned everything from thrones around the world to Dorothy’s iconic slippers. The ruby has long been used as an amulet for passion and healing due to the belief that it helped its owner avoid all kinds of misfortune. To intensify the Ruby’s powers, set in jewelry and wear on your left side.

Ruby’s lore for passion is aptly applied as the accepted gemstone for the15th and 40^th anniversaries. 

Like its sister the sapphire, the ruby is a variety of corundum. These gems rate a 9 on the Mohs scale, placing them as the second hardest known material, just behind diamonds.

As always, avoid sharp blows and scratches to protect your ruby jewelry. Stop in to see our ruby selection or bring your ruby jewelry by for an inspection and cleaning. 

June Birthstone Spotlight

June’s birthstone is PEARL!

The oyster uses nature’s most wonderful defense mechanism. When a grain of sand or other irritant becomes lodged in an oyster, it surrounds the foreign substance with a nacre coating. This forms a pearl. When the irritant is introduced by man, the result is a cultured pearl.

Pearls can be found in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and luster. All of these attributes affect the value of a pearl. High luster, perfectly round, large pearls are the most valuable. The pearl’s natural colors include white, cream and gold, grey, blue and black with shades of rose, purple and green. Other colors can be created by dyeing, bleaching, and chemical treatment.

A romantic gem, pearls have long been associated with lovers. They have seen centuries of use in love potions and were believed to turn your dreams into true romance if you wore them during sleep. Pearls have come to symbolize a successful marriage and are now recognized as a traditional gift for brides and in celebration of the third and thirtieth anniversaries.

Pearls are delicate and demand gentle care. Store them in a protective fabric pouch or wrap them in tissue paper. Avoid household chemicals, hairspray, cosmetics and perfumes, as these will affect a pearl’s luster. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Only use a soft damp cloth, mild soap and water to clean your pearls. With the proper care, your pearls can be an heirloom piece to pass down through the generations.

Stop by to see our huge selection of pearl jewelry!