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| 14K Rose Gold & Oxidized Sterling Silver Benevola II Earrings with Rubies |
Kick back and relax while enjoying a cruise along
California’s San Francisco Bay on one
of the boats provided by the historic Red
and White Fleet.
Visitors can view
popular landmarks including the Golden
Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. California is also home to featured jewelry
designer Alix Blüh.
If my memory serves me personalized jewelry like initial and
nameplate necklaces have been around for at least four decades.
Sentimental details such as hand-stamped
inscriptions of children’s names with accents of luminous birthstones are
designs that will not be going away anytime soon.
However, San Francisco-based jeweler Blüh revisits a rare
type of personalized jewelry; the components of which are not just diamonds and
precious metal but miniature reliquaries.
If this sounds a little macabre, it isn’t. These reliquaries are keepsakes to honor and
remember those who have passed on.
Blüh’s aesthetic is an intriguing style of organically
formed 14-karat gold, blackened or white sterling silver complemented with
pocket watch parts or tiny photographs.
The overall visual is moody and rustic as opposed to posh or
ultra-glamorous. It does not go for an
obvious wow factor. Within the dusky,
rough outlines, however is a core of authenticity with a palpable veil of
history.
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| 14K Rose Gold Pebble Ring with Diamonds |
Having been raised in a home filled with different types of
art and music genres, Blüh fully embraced her artistic side. She acquired a Bachelor of Fine Arts in
painting from the University of
Massachusetts and enjoyed glowing recognition for her work.
However, in 1989, while living in London, England she
developed an interest that would ultimately lead to the launch of her jewelry
brand, Modern Relics.
“I started collecting and selling antiques. I became fascinated with time-worn objects
and began creating jewelry pieces that were an extension of that; but I also
wanted to combine these heirloom type objects with cutting edge arts.
In time my design approach evolved and I became captivated
with reliquaries. I developed the idea
of placing traditional relics with relics of nature under crystal which became
my signature concept.
In modern times, especially in western culture, we have removed
ourselves from the process of death. We are so distanced by it and it has
become something to move away from as quickly as possible. That was not the case centuries ago. The Victorians gracefully and artfully
bestowed dignity and beauty to the deceased.
With that in mind I wanted to create heirloom pieces that
are not about fad and fashion but rather sentiment and timelessness.
To attribute an entire genre of art to
celebrate the deceased is a wonderful and fascinating thing that is sorely
missed in our culture. This new
personalization trend is definitely fever-pitched. That says a lot to me what people are wanting
now in their jewelry.”
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| Sterling Silver & 14K Gold Lacie Pendant Necklace |
2013 Jewelry Trend Alert – Blüh’s aesthetic is not concerned with following trends; however her organic, heartfelt jewelry pieces do highlight two of the year’s top style trends: the blush hues of rose gold and cool sterling silver.
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