ELEUTERIO ANTUNES | ELEUTERIO

18K Yellow Gold Earrings with
Rose-Cut Diamonds

The 18^th century structure Casa de Mateus and Gardens is one of Portugal’s stunning visuals.

Located in the picturesque valley near the Douro River the site is known for its lovely, blooming almond trees and wine.

Portugal is also home to featured jewelry designer Eleuterio Antunes.

INSTAGRAM THURSDAY | TODD REED | JULY 2015

See what designer jewelry brands are up to at Instagram in my first Instagram Thursday post!  Today’s feature is 40-year-old, self-taught jeweler Todd Reed.  Reed began creating jewelry 23 years ago and is known for his stunning work with raw, conflict-free diamonds.

Today's cuff stack. Rose gold, sterling silver and diamonds.

A photo posted by Todd Reed (@toddreedjewelry) on Jul 14, 2015 at 11:02am PDT

A photo posted by Todd Reed (@toddreedjewelry) on May 19, 2015 at 9:57am PDT

A photo posted by Todd Reed (@toddreedjewelry) on Jun 25, 2015 at 12:22pm PDT

ALEXEI SOLDATOV | ALEX SOLDIER

Smoky Quartz and Diamond Pendant Necklace

Touted as one of Russia’s major “religious centers,” Suzdal is an 11^th century city that houses spectacular 13^th and 17^th century churches and cathedrals.

Russia is also home to featured jewelry designer Alexei Soldatov.

KATHERINE JETTER

18K White gold Sweetpea Flower Earrings with
Pink Sapphires and Diamonds

Tropical temperatures and an energetic night life characterize Darwin, Australia a small but captivating city with a multi-cultural population. 

Australia is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Katherine Jetter.

JULIA HADI

18K White Gold 3-Wheels Diamond Bracelet

Curious whales and dolphins can be seen during August and September while scuba diving at Indonesia’s Manado Dive Resort. 

The lush locale is a volcanic island with plenty of “fresh fruits and vegetables.” 

Indonesia is also the ancestral home of featured jewelry designer Julia Hadi.

AMANDA JARON | A. JARON FINE JEWELRY

Antique 18K Gold and Sterling Silver
Lush Pendant Necklace with White Topaz
and Black Onyx

After numerous reconstructions by Spanish builders, the Cathedral of St. Augustine located in Augustine, Florida, is presently a U.S. National Historic Landmark.  Florida is also home to featured jewelry designer Amanda Jaron.

LIKA BEHAR

24K Gold and Oxidized Sterling Silver
Moonlight Sonata Pendant Necklace
with Labradorite

Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia (or the Church of Holy Wisdom) is a structure of unparalleled beauty. 

Though presently known as the Ayasofya Museum, the building is a stunning remnant of Turkish architecture.  Turkey is also home to featured jewelry designer Lika Behar.

GREGORÉ MORIN

18K Gold and Paraiba Splendid Earrings
with Spesertite Garnet and Diamonds

The city of Montreal is Canada’s second largest city and there is something here for everyone.  

Montreal provides a great view of the skyline while the Downtown Pointe-a-Calliere Museum offers exhibits and displays that “tell the story of Montreal’s past.”  Canada is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Gregoré Morin.

PALOMA SANCHEZ

18K Gold Carved and Fire Opal on Carved
Black Jade Curl Pendant Necklace

Shrouded in a complex history involving Catholics and Muslims, Spain’s Mezquita of Cordoba (Mosque of Cordoba) is a 10^th century cathedral known as the world’s second largest mosque.  Spain is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Paloma Sanchez.

ILEANA MAKRI

18K Rose Gold Earrings with
Champagne Diamonds

Sixteenth century windmills and stunning villas “perched on rock formations” are a few of the scenic wonders of Mykonos, Greece.  Greece is also home to featured jewelry designer Ileana Makri.

ISABELLE LANGLOIS

18K Gold Earrings with Diamonds, Tsavorites, Sapphires,
Amethyst, Rhodolite and Pink Quartz

You will find a little bit of Rome in France via the Nimes Amphitheatre.

Originally used as a fortress, the marble and limestone structure is now the location for rousing international festivals, circuses and bull fights.  France is also home to featured jewelry designer Isabelle Langlois.

HENRI MARTEAU | GEORLAND

18K White and Yellow Gold Gemstone Stack Rings
from Rainbow Collection

The small town of Riquewihr, located in northeastern France, is a locale that dates back to the 16^th century.  

The town holds a castle-turned museum that contains artifacts and the village is renowned for its wines.  France is also home to jewelry brand Georland.

RAJESH AJMERA and RAJIV ARORA | AMRAPALI

 Sterling Silver and Meenakari Enamel
Nawait Earrings

The East India town of Uttarakhand holds an imposing and majestic mountain known as the Thalay Sagar.  Standing at over 22,000 feet it is one of the most treacherous summits for climbers.  

However, somewhat milder activities including white-water rafting and skiing are alternative thrill-seeking activities.  India is also the home base to jewelry brand Amrapali.

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.

HENRY DUNAY | H.D.D., INC.

18-Karat Gold Opal and Diamond Ring

By the conclusion of the 1800s the location presently known as Times Square was becoming New York City’s heart of social activity.

A thriving theater district, Times Square is populated with plenty of electric billboards that help provide the ambience of the city that never sleeps.  New York is also home to Henry Dunay. 

DANIEL ESPINOSA | DANIEL ESPINOSA JEWELRY

18-Karat Rose and White Gold Bellisma
Double Sphere Ring with Diamonds

The Mexican city of Ixtapa, located northwest of Acapulco, Mexico, is a beautiful beach resort that boasts long stretches of sand and water activities such as snorkeling and swimming.  Mexico is also home to featured jewelry designer Daniel Espinosa.

ANNA HU

One of Taiwan's oldest Buddhist temples, the Lungshan or Dragon Mountain Temple, is world-renowned for its stunning architectural details designed to honor Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. Taiwan is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Anna Hu.

Presently based in New York, Hu's custom-made, luxury jewelry brings to mind the multifaceted, intricate work of fellow Taiwanese designer Cindy Chao.

Like Chao, Hu's pieces highlight elaborate and painstaking artistry with exquisite pavé stone settings of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. It is a stunning visual feast.

A young phenom, at age 14 Hu studied to become a solo cellist at Massachusetts' arts boarding school Walnut Hill. However, four years later, tendonitis in her shoulder would force her to relinquish her dream.

Though heartbroken, the jewelry artist recalled childhood memories of assisting her father, a diamond wholesaler, with his precious inventory. The recollection served as a strong incentive that moved Hu into a new career path.

"I opened the door to my father's workspace and lying there was a pile of raw, rock diamonds," says Hu. "I was eight years old and I fell in love with them the moment my father asked me to sort them according to size and shape. I will always remember that day."

Girding herself with two master degrees--one in Art History, and the second in Arts Administration--and a gemologist degree, Hu developed her craft while working at famed jewelry houses Van Cleef & Arpels, and the House of Harry Winston.


Employment with such large houses confined the greatest extent of Hu's creativity, and she chose to pave a road for herself with the help of mentor Maurice Galli.

Using Viennese paintings, and the lilting melodies of Tchaikovsky as inspiration, Hu creates ethereal items that are both lyrical and whimsical.

Her Butterfly Fairies Brooch is a delicate replication of the insects with beautiful detail. Their open wings laced with dollops of colored gemstones and white diamonds is like a flowing, gentle melody.

The Moonlight Bangle is a blend of pavé set white diamonds and a lovely cluster of muted moonstones that resemble floating bubbles. The Ruyi Cloud Bangle features a gorgeous mosaic pattern of gemstones while the Gershwin Jazz Bangle, with its gem encrusted musical staff and notes, is capricious yet stunning in its intricacy.

Even Hu's streamlined Joking Love Knot Series maintains a level of complexity in its curves and twists. "To me jewelry design is like composing music.

I listen to Rachmaninoff, and Bach when I design. I feel the technical challenge, and like, convert the complexities into the jewelry."

With such immense design detail, it came as no surprise to learn that Hu's custom-designed creations take up to one to two years to complete.

"Each project is very different. I create something organic that harmonizes with the client's personality and style.

I am obsessed with making jewelry. It's not even a passion anymore. I have so many ideas that I even dream about gemstones."

Hu's magnificent pieces are available at New York's Plaza Hotel, and the Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie boutique in Taiwan.
_______
Photo 1 (top right): Leaping Koi Ring
Photo 2 (center): 18-Karat White Gold Knot Ring with Rubies
Photo 3 (bottom left): Moonstone and Pavé Diamond Moonlight Bangle

CARRERA Y CARRERA

The mere sight of Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain sends waves of gooseflesh over us. Completed in 1755 by architect Alberto Churriguera, the exquisite, baroque detailing stuns us, as we feel transported through time.

We stand in the town hall, which once buzzed with the cheers of excited crowds watching bullfights.

We move through the ominous arches that lead into a square holding restaurants, shops, and cafés. Spain is also the home base for jewelry house Carrera y Carrera.