Saturday, September 28, 2013

Get Ready to “Fall” into Color

Pantone has introduced their fall 2013 colors and they are spectacular! Now that there is a chill in the air and leaves are started to change, it's time to incorporate these rich hues into your wardrobe and jewelry!

Color of the year, Emerald continues to blend perfectly with their entire fall lineup. Each of these new individual colors complements the other; giving the wearer a license to experiment with texture, form and shading.

Staying in the same earthy neighborhood is Linden Green, a lush pale green with soft gold undertones and Deep Lichen Green, a very brilliant rich green/gray. Dark gray Turbulence and espresso shaded Carafe are exactly the shades that come to mind when you start shopping for those winter wardrobe basics.

Acai, a color that matches its name is going to be huge! So versatile, Acai can easily be your primary color or worn as an elegant accessory.

Every season calls for a new shade of blue and this year Pantone has voted Mykonos Blue as their fall favorite. A color whose description is a jumble of contradictions, Mykonos Blue is bold but soothing, rich but restorative.

Now let’s move into the fun shades that define autumn. Koi is a dazzling orange that has a burnt shimmering hue. Wearing it reminds you of bonfires, hayrides and the changing of fall leaves. Samba is as sassy and spicy as its name. Your dark neutrals will welcome being paired with this intense dramatic red. And a color named Vivacious has to be awesome! Pantone calls it an “unruly and wild deep fuchsia” and once you see it, you’ll definitely agree. It’s the epitome of sophisticated style!

Need a little help getting into the mood for cooler weather? Click here to see these fabulous shades and be prepared to be dazzled!



Wednesday, September 4, 2013

September’s Birthstone Makes Me Blue/Green with Envy

Oh to have been born during the month of September for no other reason than to be able to claim the brilliant sapphire as a birthstone! These rich stones come in a wide variety of blue/green/violet shadings and look fabulous when surrounded by white gold, platinum, palladium or sterling silver. The most valued stones are those which are a medium to dark indigo or have a slight violet tint. One interesting fact about sapphires is they have the same chemical and structural makeup as the ruby which is July’s birthstone.
Blue Sapphire and White Gold Vine Engagement Ring by Danielle Miller Jewelery
Sapphires have a wide and rich history. These gemstones were discovered on the Greek island of Sappherine and also in what is now present day Iran. During the Middle Ages sapphires were believed to help keep the wearer pure and priests wore them as protection against impure thoughts and worldly temptations. Crusaders made their wives wear them while they were away in battle so they would remain faithful. Lore had it that if the stone was worn by an adulteress, the color would darken.

The British Crown Jewels housed in the Tower of London has one of the world’s most famous stones, the St. Edward’s Sapphire. Given to Edward the Confessor back in 1042, he worn it as a ring during his coronation and then in the early 1800’s the stone was set on the Imperial State Crown worn by Queen Victoria during her reign.

Sapphires are mined all across the world, from Sri Lanka, India, China, Brazil and even here in the United States. Montana sapphires, first discovered in the late 1800's by a gold miners, are the most well known US mined sapphires. However, a huge 9,700 carat stone was discovered in the North Carolina mountains in 1989.

Extremely durable, gorgeous in color and sensational in every setting, a sapphire is the perfect stone no matter when you celebrate your birthday!