ALAN VALLIS | OXO

Sterling Silver Symbol Earrings (left); and
18K Gold Stud Earrings with Flat Button Pearls (right)

The city of Liverpool, England is known the world around as the “birthplace of the Beatles.”  In fact the museum Beatles Story holds the band’s top collection of memorabilia.

However, Liverpool is also known for the centuries-old Croxteth Hall and Country Park, a historic hall and estate with amenities still intact.  England is also home to featured jewelry designer Alan Vallis.

JENNIFER FISHER JEWELRY

14K Gold Bruce, Levi, Tess and Max Charm Sets

Established in the late 19^th century New York’s Central Park, located in the borough of Manhattan, attracts a whopping 35 million visitors a year.

Its 843 acres encompasses popular sites like ice-skating rinks, the Central Park Zoo, and the Delacorte amphitheater.  New York is also home to featured jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher.

MELINA WOLRD JEWELLERY

18-Karat Gold Concho Shell Charm

Meteora, Greece is the location of some of the country’s incredible landmarks: numerous monasteries poised atop rock formations. 

Many of these religious establishments house treasures and relics and the Megalo Meteoro monastery sits on top of the tallest rock formation in Meteora.  Greece is also the home base of featured jewelry brand Melina WorldJewellery.

HOVEY LEE

Though spring, summer, and autumn are the best seasons to visit China’s Baishui Terrace, inclimate conditions do not detract from the marble terraces’ stunning beauty. China is also the ancestral home of featured jewelry designer Hovey Lee.

SATYA JEWELRY

Built over a century ago by Captain William Smith, the sloop/boat Christeen has a long history of sailing on the waters of New York and Connecticut.

Once used to harvest oysters, the renovated boat now rests in Oyster Bay, New York serving as a museum ship. New York is also the home base of featured jewelry brand Satya Jewelry.

DAVID WEITZMAN

Today we'll rent a small, motor boat and slowly coast along the still waters of Yarkon River, which is smack dab in the middle of Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Having the distinction of being Tel Aviv's largest public park, Hayarkon Park possesses plenty of interesting, and fun activities.

We could try our hand at miniature golf at Sportec, or ride the roller coasters at Lunapark. Israel is also the birthplace of jewelry designer David Weitzman.

TEMPLE ST. CLAIR

I love the smell of roses and as we stand in The Rose Garden of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Virginia, the aroma of over 1,800 roses overcomes us.

From here, we venture to The Sunken Garden where we will find a Roman-theme environment with flowing water and dry-laid stone walls. Virginia is also the birthplace of jewelry designer Temple St. Clair Carr.

AZZA FAHMY

Andalusian Garden is tucked away from the noise and buzz of the nearby city, Cairo, Egypt.

Amidst the lush, beautiful gardens and landscapes, we'll take a quiet walk along the banks of the Nile River and marvel at the scope and magnificence of the garden's terraces, Egyptian statues, and palm trees.

Here is where we'll visit with featured jewelry designer Azza Fahmy.

TIFFANY & CO.

What better lead-in than diamonds to talk about today's featured jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. (Tiffany's).  Like the majority of people, I know Tiffany's for, of course, their spectacular diamond ring settings and timeless charm jewelry. What came as a surprise is that the company, when founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in 1837, initially sold stationery and silverware.

It was not until after Charles Tiffany took full ownership of the company, sixteen years later, that the company expanded into designing and making jewelry.   This decision quickly led to everyone from Hollywood actresses to royalty requesting and wearing Tiffany’s diamond jewelry.

The Tiffany Yellow Diamond, discovered in 1878, is among one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world. The diamond was a hefty 247 carats when initially found in South Africa's Kimberley Mine.  The diamond has since been cut into a cushion shape at 128 carats.

The Tiffany Yellow Diamond has only been worn by two women, one of whom was the late Audrey Hepburn who starred in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which featured the brand’s iconic New York flagship store.

Other interesting details is during the Civil War, Tiffany's supplied the Union Army with surgical implements, flags and swords. In 1919 the fine jewelry brand also revised a rare Medal of Honor design at the request of the United States Department of Navy.

Among Tiffany's featured designers are Frank Gehry, Paloma Picasso, and former model Elsa Peretti, who has designed the company's trademark simple, elegant pieces since 1974.

Be sure to mark your calendars in May 2013 you will get a chance to ogle official jewelry Tiffany's created for Baz Luhrmann's remake of The Great Gatsby.  Fabulous platinum, diamond and pearl jewelry will be featured on the entire cast including the male and female leads of the film Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Isla Fisher.

For more on the brand’s designs be sure to check out WatchMojo.com's video interview with Vesna Tabah of Tiffany's concerning the Return to Tiffany Collection.

_____________
Photo 1 (top center): Jean Schlumberger's Bird on a Rock Brooch
Photo 2 (bottom center): Actor Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby  wearing jewelry by Tiffany & Co.