GERT HELLMUTH

18K Yellow Gold Ring, Earrings and Bracelet
with Diamonds from Croco Collection

Located on the southwest border of Germany in the Vosges Mountains is the Moselle Valley.  

The area is widely known for its white wine, and 13^th century castles that include Burg Bischofstein, and Burg Pyrmont.  Germany is also home to featured jewelry designer Gert Hellmuth.

PETRI KYMLANDER

18K Gold Dumortierite Pendant
with Diamonds

Espoo, Finland is a city highlighting activities to satisfy the adventure seeker, the nature lover, and the history buff. 

The Serena Water Park offers fun in the sun with water slides and swimming pools while the Marketta Park is Finland’s “largest permanent garden.”

Lastly, the Gallen Kallela Museum is the quintessential setting for the bookish type.  Finland is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Petri Kymlander.

ANDRE RIBEIRO

Black Rubber & Diamond Small and Large Hoop Earrings
and Stud Earrings

If you want to see incredible Gothic architecture then look no further than France’s Reims Cathedral.

Built during the 13^th century the magnificent structure highlights “medieval statues,” “sculptured arches” and “rose windows of stained glass.”

France is also home to featured jewelry designer Andre Ribeiro.

OLGA NORONHA

Wrist Restriction (left): and Front and Back Views of
Cervical Collar made from Laminated Resin, Plastozote, Gold,
Plated Silver and Leather (left and right photos)

The town of Evora, located in the Portuguese province Alentejo, is a region filled with historical monuments.

Amidst the locale’s “wide plains” is the 2^nd century landmark Temple of Diana as well as the Palace of Vasco da Gama.  Portugal is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Olga Noronha.

POONAM SONI

Ruby Bracelet

The city of Jodhpur, located in Rajastha, India, is a rousing location filled with stunning attractions built during the 15^th century.  

The Umaid Bhawan Palace and Osiyan Temple are a sampling of the remarkable architecture of this storied city.  India is also home to Poonam Soni.

CUBIC ZIRCONIA | AN INFERIOR DIAMOND SUBSTITUTE?

The highly dense and refractive cubic zirconia (or CZ) has been a strong competitor to the well-loved and ubiquitous diamond for a little over three decades and counting.  

Unfortunately, however, this flawless isometric crystal has been marred for years by a derisive reputation.  This edition of Splendor Sidebar will explore the origins of this misunderstood man-made gemstone.  

JANINA DIZON HOSCHKA

Multi-Colored Stingray Cuff Bracelets

The Philippines’ Chocolate Hills, located in the Central Visayas region, is an area consisting of nearly 2,000, naturally occurring hills and is one of the country’s most popular destinations. 

The mounds are widely believed to be a combination of marine limestone overlaid with clay and depending on the season they transform from green to brown.  The Philippines is also home to featured jewelry designer Janina Dizon Hoschka.

BRIGITTE SALOMON

Today we are overwhelmed by the unmistakable majesty of Raton Castle in the Loire Valley of France. The landscape surrounding it is equally breathtaking with the ground's blooming array of perennial flowers and gardens; but once we step inside the castle our knees buckle somewhat.

The finely furnished citadel houses paintings and antiques, sitting rooms, more than one kitchen, and resplendent bedrooms. France is also home to featured jewelry designer Brigitte Salomon.

TANISHQ

Today we travel along Apollo Bunder's waterfront in Mumbai, India to pass through the arch known as the Gateway of India.

With architecture influenced by Hinduism and Islam, the arch is made of reinforced concrete, and yellow basalt. It stands 85 feet high, and the central dome is 49 feet in diameter. India is also the home base for featured jewelry brand Tanishq.

LOELLA MEDINA

I love a beach setting and today we are soaking up the tropical, natural beauty of Saona Island in the Dominican Republic.

Our surroundings are breathtaking and include blue skies, shade from palm trees, and the clear, blue-green waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.  

The Dominican Republic is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Loella Medina.

GEMSTONE OF THE MONTH | DIAMOND

Many times, I forget that gemstones and precious metals are just minerals dug up from the earth. I just don't think about that whenever I see all of that natural beauty.

When I think of diamonds, I think of diamonds are a girl's best friend. Diamonds and pearls. Diamonds are forever. To live and let die-mond. Okay, I made the last one up but diamonds are very real.

Aside from being the birthstone for the month of April, diamonds are the most unyielding of the precious stones and come in various colors. Diamonds form deep within the Earth, at least 120 miles below the Earth's surface and are millions of years old.

Volcanic eruptions expel these precious gemstones to the Earth's surface to later be discovered by overjoyed diamond diggers. The most prevalent clear, white diamonds are predominantly used in engagement ring settings. However, their colors can range from pink, yellow, brown, green, and even blue.

One of the most well known and rarest blue diamonds is also one of the largest (45 carats), the beautiful Hope Diamond (see above photo). Over the years, diamonds have come to symbolize purity and loyalty. According to folklore when combined with other gems, diamonds have the ability to supplement other stones' healing properties.

Click here to see a short video of the Hope Diamond currently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

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Photo (top left): Hope Diamond