SOMLUCK KOMOLMITH

Sterling Silver & Amethyst
Falling Moon Drop Earrings

Wat Phra That Lampang is a 7^th century temple located in the Thai province of Lampang.

Its distinctive architecture includes shrines adorned with floral patterns and two Buddha that support the structure’s roof.  Thailand is also home to featured jewelry designer Somluck Komolmith.

KATE ALTERIO

24K Gold and Sterling Silver Standing Out in a Crowd Ring

The “relative isolation” of New Zealand’s Ulva Island makes it an ideal nature sanctuary.

Its 670 acres provide homes to rare, exotic birds including the Island Robin (toutouwai), and the Forest Parrot (South Island Kaka).  New Zealand is also home to featured jewelry designer Kate Alterio.

HOUMAN OMIDIFAR | LUZ Jewelry

18-Karat Yellow Gold Breakup Ring
with Diamonds and Rubies

The Central Bank of Iran holds an amazing display of spectacular, centuries-old regalia known as the Iranian Crown Jewels.

The collection includes tiaras, crowns and thrones from the Safavid dynasty.  Iran is also the birthplace of Houman Omidifar.

GITTE DYRBERG and HENNING KERN | DYRBERG-KERN

Gold Toned Stainless Steel Star
Hoop Earrings with White Swarovski Crystals

Denmark’s chalk laden cliffs, Mons Klint, stand out amidst the greenery of marshes and woodlands.

The powdery white of shell remnants is offset by a picturesque lighthouse.  Denmark is also home to featured jewelry design team Gitte Dyrberg and Henning Kern.

ORIANNE COLLINS JEWELLERY

Today we visit one of Switzerland’s top tourist attractions, the Jungfrau summit.

The Jungfrau is considered one of the most picturesque mountains in the Swiss Alps and its summit was reached approximately two hundred years ago by Aarau resident J.R. Meyer. Switzerland is also home to featured jewelry designer Orianne Collins.

SHAUN LEANE

Touted as one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe, England’s York Minster is also distinguished by its stained glass windows; one of which is 76-feet tall and is considered one of the largest stained glass windows in the world. England is also home to featured jewelry designer Shaun Leane.

MIRIAM CHOR FREITAS | MIRIAM JEWELS

Brazil seemingly has no shortage of ravishing natural backdrops. The tropical island of Fernando de Noronha is one such locale with spectacular beaches and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. Brazil is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Miriam Chor Freitas.

Like her colleagues Ruth Baird (New Zealand), Haruko Sugawara  (Japan), and fellow Brazilian Claudia Lobão, Freitas enlists the painstaking art from of crochet to cultivate exquisite pieces of jewelry fashioned from copper, fine silver and 14-karat gold filled wires.

The California-based Freitas is the progeny of jewelry importers and after devoting her energy and time to a career in child welfare services she chose to make her mark within the industry that ultimately shaped her early life.

Her company, Miriam Jewels, emerged onto the California fashion scene holding within it a study of classic form born from technical complexity.

“We are a unique jewelry studio specializing in hand made crochet jewelry,” says Freitas. “We combine the ancient arts of crocheting, wire wrapping, knotting and knitting with metal wire. Our aesthetic blends the vivaciousness of Brazil with a laid-back California style.”


I enjoy the visual of seeming simplicity offset by the intricacy of the delicate weave patterns. The fashion jewelry collection is a striking combination of clean outlines paired with haute sensibilities that is highlighted in circle necklaces and heart jewelry accented with a lovely array of glass beads, Swarovski Crystallized Elements, seed beads, as well as carnelian, blue topaz, strawberry quartz, and tiger’s eye.

The ethereally feminine interlocking loops of metal wire are reminiscent of chain maille. Freitas’ designer jewelry is unquestionably another fine example that timeless and classic does not have to be bound entirely to convention.

“The highlight of our crochet jewelry collections is the Peruvian Crochet technique for which I traveled to Lima to learn from the experts in the art. This is a flawless crochet technique that creates perfectly symmetrical stitches,” says Freitas. “Our jewelry is bold and lavish yet elegant so that it truly reflects the highly sophisticated taste and sensitivity of every woman.”


With the welfare of children still very near to her heart, Freitas donates a percentage of her company’s profits to the non-profit organization Children in Need Foundation.
____________________
Photo 1 (top right): 14-Karat Gold-Filled Crochet Snake Necklace with Amethyst Beads
Photo 2 (center): 14-Karat Gold Filled Crochet Topaz Ring
Photo 3 (bottom left): 14-Karat Gold Filled Crochet Princess Cuff Bracelet with Seed Beads

IRIS EICHENBERG

Today we are standing at the foot of the Euromast tower in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Sharing a resemblance to Seattle's Space Needle, the Euromast stands over 331 feet tall and we will take a quick ride straight up on its elevator to the Euroscoop platform at the top. The Netherlands is also the home of featured jewelry designer Iris Eichenberg.

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.