GEMALOGUE BLOG

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Jewelry Roadtrip: Pippin Vintage Jewelry

Having lived in New York for quite some time now and I haven't fully explored the gallaries and antique/vintage shops this city has to offer. So today I embarked on a mission to Chelsea in search of antique boutiques. Pippin Vintage Jewelry was one of the many stops on my list. This cute vintage boutique lies in the heart of Chelsea. The outside looks like any vintage stores you'll see in the East Village. However, upon entering the store I felt like I was in a different world. I was happy to know that they were camera friendly because I really wanted to share this place with you.

Even their business card has this personal touch to it. Running my fingers through the textured, cursive "Pippin" imprint somehow brought me back to a different period in time.

Their jewelry displays were so beautiful too. The use of mirrored displays help reflect the light which added more sparkle to the jewelry. Below are some cameo pieces; brooches, bracelets and rings.

This was one of the many pieces I fell in love with. I was under the impression that all the pieces in their store were higher-end merchandise however after speaking with one of the sales specialist regarding this piece below, I was told that it's actually costume jewelry that's gold plated with a jade as the centerpiece. That explains the affordable pricing of some of their pieces. Nevertheless, I love the oceanic vibe of this ring.

Same goes for this ring below. I have a thing for sapphires and diamonds. There's this royalty to it and it reminds me of Kate Middleton's engagement ring. The description states that it's made out of sterling silver.

Even though I didn't end up making a purchase I would definitely come back again and see what new pieces they have in store. If you haven't been to this store, be sure to drop by and take a peep, and see what the owner Stephen and Rachel have done.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Tips you need to know before buying antique jewelry

There are many reasons to love antique jewelry. Myself for example have recently fell in love with antique pieces, however as a antique "noob" it's hard to tell whether the ones I bought are real. They say knowledge is power, therefore I found it important to do some research so I don't end up over paying for something manufactured in the assembly line. Below are some tips I found pretty useful:

Ask the right questions
One thing I found very helpful is to ask how the seller came across a piece. Everybody loves jewelry with a story behind it. Not only that, a good seller are able to provide some information as to where the pieces came from, along with general information on the date and location the piece was acquired.

Check for hallmark
Almost all antique pieces have some form of hallmark behind it. If the piece is said to be made prior to 1950s, be sure to flip it over to check for some kind of mark, such as a small icon or initial. Over time you may start realizing the types of clasps and closures that the pieces should have, so if they are different it may indicate they have been altered. Repairs are usually done on the back, therefore the craftsmanship on the back should be the same level as the front. I came across this antique online encyclopedia which I think is very helpful for beginners.

The hands on phase
Nothing compares to actually getting out into the field and handling jewelry. This part is important because it allows you to put your book knowledge together with your eyes, brain and fingertips. If your area have any auction houses, trade shows...I'll recommend going to them and start talking to the jewelry specialists. If you're shy perhaps you could ask if they have any brochures you could take home and investigate the pieces more.

Never assume
Lastly, never assume that the pieces you find is extremely rare because there are many great pieces out there from different era. You can take a look at the video below to get a brief introduction to the different periods. Humans tend to wear what is considered acceptable, hence if it was a popular item from a period, there's a high possibility there are more of them somewhere. The point is really to do your research well, and go out to fields more, to see more, to talk to people more.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Over The Door Jewelry Armoir

I often spend too much time starring at my storage spaces and thinking of ways to better organize my things. Especially this big bookshelf in my living room with a bunch of stuff just stacked inside. Next is this tray where I store my jewelry pieces, however recently I came across this Mirrored jewelry cabinet and immediately fell in love with it. I have been dying to get a mirror in my house but a mirror + jewelry = a big deal. After browsing through a few sites the prices ranges from $80~ to $100~. So I got mine from Bed Bath & Beyond since that was the cheapest I could find and it's not used.

I got the white one since I think it suits more with my door but most likely I would probably spray paint it to beige. And if you guys are into DIY instead, here is a DIY video you can try at home.

Or if you prefer classic bracelet and necklace holders, here is a DIY video on how you can make them.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Jewelry Trip To Asia

For those of you following my blog, I apologize for the lack of update. I went on a month vacation to Asia to visit different independent jewelry designers. Most of them do customized jewelry, I didn't know that much about the business of the jewelry industry till I met them. Due to copyright issues, I was not able to take that many photos, however I managed to took some with permission from the designers.

My first stop was at Hong Kong. This man right here is Mr. Celso Alejo. He is a graduate gemologist (G.G) of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), he does appraisals and also customized jewelry for high-end customers. His company, D'ALEJO is based in Hong Kong, and most of his clients are expatriates. He spent the whole day walking me through the process of his work which was very helpful. Below is a ring he made for his client, it was an extremely difficult work because of the pave stones and the intricate hollow lace details inside.

My next stop was in Shanghai. Here I met Ms. Eden at her studio for a quick chat. She used to go to school at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in FIT where she studied fashion design. However, after graduation she moved to Shanghai to start her jewelry business. Like Celso, she does customize jewelry. Her style is a mixture of avant-garde and elegance, it reminds me a lot of David Webb's design. Below is me looking through her jewelry sketches and feeling extremely stunned by the detailed drawings. You can take a look at some of her work here.

Lastly, my stop at another jewelry designer really left me astonished. This jewelry designer named Aaron Xu was beyond remarkable (below). His design style carries European characteristics. He told me that his inspirations always come from the aesthetics of Europe, mostly Italy. As someone who does not know how to design jewelry yet, he told me a tip that I still remember. He said whenever I want to design jewelry, I should have the stone first and design around the stone, and not the other way around because it's hard to find a specific stone that would always cater to my design.

Monday, May 11, 2015

ESHVI- With Love From England

If you haven't heard of Eshvi you should definitely check them out. I first came across their jewelry when I was browsing Instagram (as always). Their pieces stood out to me because of their "Robot" collection inspired by Lego and robots. The pieces was designed with many geometric shapes- cubic mostly. The thing with geometric shapes (square, rectangle, triangle) is that sometimes it can make the design look stiff because of it's natural angular designs. However Eshvi pieces are put together so eloquently that it flows as a whole.

Image: Natia Chkhartishvili / Motilo

As quoted from their website, "Eshvi, means ‘fang’ in Georgian and is generally understood to be a good luck charm. This iconic symbol is a distinguishing design detail of the brand and features centrally or subtly in the pieces." Designed by Georgian born sisters-in-law Natia Chkhartishvili and Tamar Svanidze, the London based jewelry brand was founded on the desire to create strong statement jewelry.

Below are some of my favorite pieces from their AW/14/15 "Robot" Collection. As mentioned, this collection took inspirations from robots, Lego and the technological progress presented in our daily lives and inevitably in the future of fashion. The Robot Collection mixes statement pieces with feminine colors and elements to soften angular designs.

Golden Robot ring

Robot Cuff: Yellow gold plated cuff with white marble and moonstone resin cubes.

Pink Quartz Earrings: Rhodium plated earrings mixed with yellow gold, light rose and black Swarovski crystal

Robot Necklace: Yellow gold plated and ring pendant embellished with marble studs.

Robot earrings: Yellow gold plated with white marble resin fangs

Robot Cuff Bracelet: Yellow gold plated embellished with red resin cube

Robot Choker: Rhodium plated necklace featuring yellow, lapis malachite and red coral resin cubes.

Which one did you like?

XOXO,

Tina

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Met Gala- Who Wore What

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, an annual red carpet event that features some of the most memorable fashion moments of all time. Some call it the Oscars of fashion. This year's theme was a celebration of the newly open exhibit of, "China: Through The Looking Glass." It's where the East meets the West, and the scene flooded with bright, bold colors, beautiful embroidery, and exquisite jewelry. Keep reading to see our pick for the best dressed attendees and the jewelry they are wearing.