Jewelry Navigator™ Podcast (Brenna Pakes)

Today’s podcast gives you a snapshot of the partnership and team of Tucson Todd’s Gems, and Mary van der Aa Fine Jewels that resulted in THREE  AGTA Spectrum Awards.

As vendors at the Pueblo Gem Show began packing their wares to return home, I had a few minutes with Mary and Todd. They shared how their gem and jewelry-making talents overlap resulting in award-winning jewelry.

Mary was selected as a winner in three categories for the AGTA Spectrum Awards  - an exceptional accomplishment in the world of fine gems and jewelry.

Have you ever wanted to feel like a celebrity for a special event, like a milestone reunion, a wedding, or an award ceremony? 

Maybe you’d like to experience the feeling of adorning yourself with luxurious or high-end, designer fine jewelry, today’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast guest has the perfect solution!

Tanya Canfield, the founder of Trejours,  provides her customers with fine jewelry selections to enrich life celebrations and important occasions at a fraction of the cost.

From Riviera diamond necklaces to stand-out cocktail rings and iconic designer jewelry, Trejours customers can select up to three items to rent. It’s the perfect way to “test wear” or borrow the perfect jeweled accessory for celebrations, award events, and formal galas. In this Jewelry Navigator Podcast, “Rent Luxury Jewelry Treasures for a Celebrity Level Experience With Tanya Canfield of Trejours”,  Tanya shares her background in jewelry, what inspired her to start Trejours, and how her customers enjoy the benefits of luxury jewelry for special events with options to rent, and even purchase her borrowed treasures.

I hope you’re staying safe and well, and I’m looking forward to when we can return to our places of work, get our hair cut, nails done, and get back to all those services and shops that are part of regular routines.

Part of the normal routine this time of year is shopping for the seasonal celebrations, like Mother’s Day and graduations.

But, shopping from our favorite stores doesn’t have to stop.

This podcast is dedicated to all the small businesses who’ve been doing what they can to serve their customers in spite of “closed doors” and customers sheltered in place.

I know it’s easy to swing by Target or Walmart and pick up what we need, but, small businesses need our support, and many are offering similar, and sometimes better, accommodations with deliveries, pick ups, and custom orders.

Milestones and accomplishments are traditionally celebrated with jewelry and keepsakes. The most unique selections are found in small and independent stores.   The point of this podcast is to encourage you to support the small and local stores near you by reaching out and enlisting their help and services for your gift needs.

But on the flip side, while this may not be the best timing to make a significant purchase, don't forget that most small jewelry stores offer repair services. Many repairs and remakes are reasonably priced options for refurbishing heirlooms and repairing a favorite item of jewelry stashed away in your jewelry box.

Mother’s Day Poem Sharing Support for Small Business and Indie Jewelry Designers

“Days before Mother’s Day, across the land, moms are busy with work at hand.

Many at home, others away, moms need a break on the 10th of May.

A jewel or a trinket in just the right measure, reminds every mom she’s a rare treasure.

Avoid the crowds, but leave us six feet, small businesses make shopping fun and neat.

Online, curbside, delivery or in person - shop small, buy local, mountains to coastal.

Small business is open with wonderful ways to celebrate Mom on the 10th of May!”

• Brenna Pakes

Designers and stores mentioned in this episode:

•  Designers and Small Indie Jewelers:
• Petite Baleine Jewelry (Pam Waill)
• Karin Jacobson
• MINTON (assisting Direct Relief)
• Emily Kuvin Jewelry
• CRASH Jewelry
• Mary van der Aa (assisting - Puppy Love all proceeds going to Best Friends Animal Society)
• Joyce Morton (Mila & Such face masks

Stores and Boutiques:

• Beauty Lounge, Summit, NJ
• Robert Goodman Jewelers  Zionsville, IN

As the start of a recurring series, this podcast focuses on aquamarine and its related gemstone varieties.

Did you know that aquamarine has a famous gemstone “sister”, known as emerald?

If you were looking for a larger gem to set into a fantastic new jewel, would you know which gem minerals to look to first?

In this episode, we explore the beryl family of gemstones, and what makes each variety unique, making beryl a beautiful bouquet of gem options!

 Each month, I will feature a different gemstone, most likely, the featured birthstone of the month, sharing a gemological overview and possible alternative options.

Kelly Juell, Founder of Juell Time, specializes in luxury watches with a different twist.

She customizes luxury watches, like Rolexes with jeweled and specialized alterations, transforming them into distinguished timepieces to complement her clients’ lifestyles.

Her working knowledge and familiarity with fine jewelry, watches, custom design, and jewelry repair provide Kelly expertise and background to succeed in the niche luxury watch market.

Kelly takes pride in the high quality of workmanship her customizations produce, seeking out the most qualified craftspeople who specialize in the high-skill stone-setting and alterations on her clients' watches.

As an advocate for anti-fraud practices, Kelly shares red flags to watch for when shopping for luxury watches in the secondary, or gray market.

Our visit together provided so many great tips and information that I had to split our visit into two episodes!

Other key points Kelly shares on Jewelry Navigator Podcast are:

• When they customize a watch, Juell Time returns all original parts allowing the option to reinstate it to its original factory design.
• How the term "custom" can be misleading and may often mean a significant decrease in value
• How to research top sellers on secondary marketplaces like Ebay

Be sure to listen to both parts of the episode for ALL the details Kelly shares about how the supply and demand of luxury watches has created an entire sub-culture of jewelry businesses.

For questions and help with your own luxury watch, feel free to reach out to Kelly Juell of Juell Time. https://juelltime.com/

Karin Jacobson is a talented jeweler and artist whose open mind and fabrication techniques allows her to interpret visions into beautiful, wearable jewelry art.

Her journey and aesthetic have revealed a unique style that has become unquestionably recognizable as Karin Jacobson Jewelry.

I’ve been a fan of her jewelry for a few years now, and the evolution of her aesthetic has been a joy to watch.

Karin’s stand-out signature aesthetics are hybrid origami halos that bloom from ring wraps, stick pins, earrings, and graceful pendants that drape from neck wires.

The origami features make Karin’s jewelry sculptural, and many of her collectors and clients display them as such in between wear.

Karin has earned many industry design awards, and this year, was only one of three jewelers selected to take part in MJSA’s annual contest, “Mystery Box Challenge”,  a fun, but challenging test to create jewelry using fabrication elements contained within the mystery box.

Her resulting entry reflected her signature origami floral aesthetics. While the copper clay included in the essential components of the mystery box presented a conundrum, how she chose to implement the copper clay is a perfect example of her creative problem solving skills as an innovative artist.

I’ve met Karin twice - both in Baltimore at the American Craft Council Show this year, and last, and count myself as extremely lucky to have enjoyed one of the last jewelry trade and craft shows since the outbreak of COVID-19.

I look forward to seeing Karin and her jewelry creations in person again.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy my visit with Karin Jacobson!

Coping With the COVID-19 Crisis Using Self-Care Strategies With Dr. Dana Busch

Stress. Anxiety. Uncertainty.

These are all dark places that become natural responses to stressful and uncertain times, like the COVID-19 health crisis we’re currently experiencing.  

The reason for this podcast is to invite you to take a step back and use internal cognitive tools and rational thought processes to view this time as opportunity, and how to disarm stress and anxiety.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Dana Busch, my friend, artist, and jewelry designer.

As a former clinical psychologist, Dana shares ways we can tap into what we can do now for ways to move forward.

To access the resources Dana mentioned in the podcast, download the resources, visit jewelrynavigator.com.

RELIEVING STRESS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TIPS AND EXERCISES TO STRENGTHEN AND CALM

Resources, Articles and Videos mentioned in Jewelry Navigator Podcast Livestream with Dr. Dana Busch

RESOURCES

Resources for Resilience

https://www.r4r.support

VIDEOS

Energy Tools To Help You Feel Safer during the Coronavirus Outbreak With Donna Eden and David Feinstein - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSF8z50nz70

Gregg Braden

GREGG BRADEN: CORONAVIRUS TRUTH & FICTION - What The World Needs To Know About COVID-19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eiw2CRdQ98

ARTICLES

“These 6 Simple Habits Can help Calm Your Cornoavirus anxieties, by Stephanie Vozza”, Fast Company

https://www.fastcompany.com/90479841/these-6-simple-habits-can-help-calm-your-coronavirus-anxieties?partner=rss

“Seven Ways to Quell Coronavirus Related Anxiety”, Mashable, Rachel Thompson, March 6, 2020

https://mashable.com/article/coronavirus-health-anxiety/

“The Effects of Toxic Stress On The Brain & Body – How to Heal & Protect “

Posted by Karen Young, Hey Sigmund

www.heysigund.com

“Global Wellness Institute Cautions Industry and Consumers to Sift Fact from Fiction When It Comes to Immunity-Boosting Claims for Coronavirus”, 

https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/press-releases/gwi-cautions-industry-and-consumers-to-sift-fact-from-fiction/

For those who may need financial support for small business, seek out your local Small Business Administration office. 

Often times, these offices are located within or collaborate with colleges and universities.

SMALL BUSINESS

Main website is U.S. Small Business Administration 

SBA.gov

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

An example of a resource in Dana’s area is the 

Colorado Business Committee for the Arts.

You may have a similar resource in your area.

https://cbca.org/2020/03/resources-to-support-the-arts-during-coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR3ZNOxmz2ke6reiwNQK7eyWOtlT0sArYqmBWUZiVO6V6rHNiwxGcqTlrwg

List Of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Relief Programs

https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/03/20/list-of-coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-relief-programs/#17d37d69e89d

Brianna McGurran

Forbes Staff

Advisor

Contributor Group

Personal Finance

Brianna McGurran is the loans editor for Forbes Advis

Did you know that diamond substitutes have been around for centuries? How do you know when a clear gemstone is a diamond?

On this week’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast, Brenna shares the more common diamond substitutes and why it’s important to understand their differences.

As we wrap up Women’s History Month in a couple days, today, I share my visit with Noor Shamma, jewelry designer, single mother, and driven career woman.

Noor is the epitome of self motivation and drive.

She gracefully achieves balance and peace through her persona, jewelry designs, and practices  compassion through it all with sustainable practices in the sources she chooses for her jewelry.

While managing a full time career in marketing and communications with motherhood, Noor stays grounded through the creative processes of her eponymous jewelry collection and business, Noor Shamma.

Inspired by childhood creative passions of needlework, Noor combines detail reminiscent of meticulous needlework with the complexity inherent in architecture as main focal points of her aesthetic.

At the time I recorded my conversation with Noor, she had recently completed several shows and engagements with Noor Shamma jewelry, from New York at Metal and Smith to London Fashion Week.

Between then and now, the COVID-19 health crisis put a screeching halt to any and all gatherings, meetings, and shows.

We look forward to when we can share and see jewelry first hand at shows, but until then, I’ll continue to share the stories of designers and jewelry.

For now, enjoy Noor’s story, where I begin my visit with Noor as she explains that her “day” job is head of marketing and communications for a an exclusive university specializing in AI.

TRANSCRIPT AND RESOURCES

The full transcript of this podcast will be available within a day or so. visit my website, jewelrynavigator.com for the transcript along with photos and videos of Noor’s jewelry.

You can find Noor’s jewelry on her website, noorshamma.com and on her Instagram account, https://www.instagram.com/noorshamma

JEWELRY NAVIGATOR UPDATES

I’m in the process of creating new podcasts and ways to engage and stay connected during this time of quarantine and health alert.

Be sure to subscribe to Jewelry Navigator Podcast and Jewelry Navigator Passport for updates and news, and follow Jewelry Navigator on Instagram at instagram.com/jewelrynavigator

EXPLORING BEYOND THE QUARANTINE

Jewelry Navigator This Week’s Enthusiast of the Week on The Tundra!

On this episdoe, the In-Flight Information Feature breaks in at the 24:54 mark to share an exciting platform of exploration.

The Tundra is a platform featuring curated content from podcasts and other platforms, which is streamlined and featured on the Tundra in specific GROUPS.

I was featured as Enthusiast of The Week on the Tundra, and I am grateful to be the host of a Group within the Gemstones Category of interests as Jewelry Navigator.

I invite you to explore the Tundra’s vast offering of informative and entertaining content on thetundra.com

To visit Jewelry Navigator Group, visit me at https://thetundra.com/interests/gemstones/groups/jewelry-navigator

Until next time, stay safe, well, and cross check your sparkle (with clean hands)!

Welcome back to Jewelry Navigator Podcast!

It's been a few weeks since I last published a podcast episode and the last one was the pre-departure for my Tucson trip and that was in February.

We're rolling into the second week of March, and I wanted to catch you up on what and who I saw in  Tucson.

You can follow along with my Instagram feed as I’ve posted support content that will coordinate with the podcast.

Another thing I want to mention that I'm creating, I'm really excited about, it's sort of like a magazine feature that will be on a devoted page to the Tucson show. I started to create a new category on my website which will be devoted to shows and the designers that I meet and feature from the shows.

02:16 So let's get busy! If you're unfamiliar with what trade shows are for the jewelry industry, they're essentially the same as trade shows and conferences are to every other industry in that they offer a lifeline through which industries can learn the latest advancements and shop the latest products within their industry.

While the cost to attend or exhibit and an is an investment of time and money, trade shows are still a really good way to form a nurture relationships with industry peers and specialists.

I've had the privilege of meeting and getting to know gem and jewelry specialists and by attending these shows and conferences, mostly trade shows. Now the trade shows can be divided in a couple of different ways.

Many trade shows exclusively serve businesses in the trade, so you have to have a business or a business license in order to shop wholesale from these trade shows.

Some of the shows that I attended in Tucson are open to the public, so it's not necessary to have a business license to attend these shows.

Although if you want the, if you want the benefit of being able to shop at a wholesale price, then you have to have a resale license or own a business.

03:48 Okay. Onto my adventures in Tucson!

Tucson, Arizona becomes a Mecca for gem, mineral and jewelry fanatics collectors and buyers.

They all show up in Tucson anywhere from mid January through mid February and the entire downtown region transforms into a blanket of white event tents along with hotels that had been converted into venues for gem and jewelry vendors and a little bit of history for you.

The Tucson gem and mineral show began in 1955 originally it was held and an elementary school and the show was established by the Tucson gem and mineral society. But in 1973 it got too big, so they had to move it to the Tucson community center and by now it's basically taken over the city.

04:54 This was my second year attending the shows in Tucson and after establishing relationships in the past year with a few select designers who were attending Tucson, and also a couple of shows in New York at the New York now show, my focus was narrowed to supporting these designers who were exhibiting in these shows.

If you've been listening to jewelry navigator podcast, you know the dynamics and the purpose of why I share the stories of the designers and the gem information is because I want to bring an awareness and an education that these designers exist and that there are different kinds of gemstones that you can work with and select for jewelry.

I'm always always about supporting the small designer who is doing something different and unique for those people who do want to stand out.

And whenever I can, I visit the designers and feature them on the podcast. And most of the designers that I have featured on the podcast I've ever met, met them at a show or knew them before I started the podcast. So it's just been a delight to share their stories through through the past couple of years. And with this being international women's day just yesterday, but also celebrating it through the month of March. I just want to share a gratitude for the women designers who I have featured on the podcast and you can go through and listen to past episodes. I'm not going to list everybody now because there are close to 70 podcasts now and most of them have had guests and actually most of them have been women.

8:10 The first show I attended while in Tucson was the Select Show at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa.

Debra Navarro

Debra Navarro exhibited at both the Select Show, February 2-3, and the JCK Tucson Show at the JW Marriott Starr Pass, February 5-8.

Debra is always a delight to visit, and is as brilliant and beautiful as the gemstones she selects for her unique jewelry.

On her table, were small white dishes filled with rough gemstones that looked like a courtesy offering of candy to guests.

While Debra’s jewelry is colorful and beautiful, part of her jewelry’s story is all about how the rough gems she uses are traceable, and how they support the people and communities at the sources.

For more on Debra’s exclusive features during my visit in Tucson 2020, visit Jewelry Navigator, and you can visit her website directly at Debra Navarro.

Debra was my guest last year on Jewelry Navigator Podcast in a double episode!

Mary van der Aa

10:30   The second show I attended was the Pueblo Show at the Ramada on Cushing Street to see Mary van der Aa and Todd Wacks of Tucson Todd’s Gems.

I remember first meeting Mary van der Aa and Todd Wacks in 2019 at the Pueblo Gem and Mineral Show, and how excited I was to find them!

I first learned about Mary in Southern Jewelry News in a story about how she created a pageant crown using precious metal and gemstones. While meandering the Ramada hotel grounds where the Pueblo show takes place, I realized Mary van der Aa was exhibiting her jewelry with Tucson Todd’s Gems, and was beyond thrilled!

This year, I did an extensive story with Mary and Todd, and will be releasing it in parts through the next few months as I follow them through their show tour across the country.

All of the stones she uses are fascinated by Todd.

In the webpage dedicated to Mary’s Tucson story on Jewelry Navigator, she shares the story of how Todd found a very rare and limit variety of color change garnet, called pastel pyrope.

Seriously, it's one of the most unique things I've ever seen!

Dana Busch Designs

And the last designer that I supported and did a showcase or some stories on was Dana Bush of Dana Bush designs.

Dana exhibited at the JCK Tucson show, February 5th through 8th. Unfortunately, I had to leave the morning of the fifth to get back to Virginia, so I did as much as I could that morning and I'm so glad I did.

I got a fabulous video of her explaining how she works with her clients, which is really unique and the stones that she uses for her jewelry are just fabulous!

Her artistic superpower is selecting gem materials and metals to compliment or contrast the central stones of her designs and her jewelry.

They often reflects inspiration of nature's landscapes from deserts, mountains, and seaside.

Dana has been featured in several fashion editorial publications as well as recognized as one of 10 standout designers at the 2020 JC K Tucson show.

I was so excited for Dana. She did great and every time I was around her booth she was surrounded by curious people who were so excited to see her, her jewelry and some of the words I kept hearing from attendees were,  “This is so different. It's so unusual. It's so unique”, and what's really cool besides being such a wonderful person that Dana is, is that she will customize collections for you, whether your’re a direct to consumer interest or a store.

If you have a specific color scheme that you want to work with. She will work around that and create beautiful jewelry creations, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, but her specialty are earrings and necklaces. You can hear more about Dana's story on Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

Remote Coverage of NY Now Show

While I was in Tucson, I wanted to support a couple of the designers that I featured on the podcast who were exhibiting and showing in New York at the New York now show, one of whom is Pam Waill.

Pam is the creative force and genius of joyful organic elegance that is Petite Baleine Jewelry.

Her collections are delightful and are unexpected combinations of gems, pearls, metal, and materials that can seamlessly transform from casual coffee to date night out on the city.

Pam exhibited at the New York now show in luxury lifestyle and she graciously shared a wonderful video of her booth so I could be there as well. I've created show pages for each of the designers under a sub category.

On my website there is a menu that you can pull down and it's under shows, jewelry shows, and then it has to sawn and you can find each designer has a highlighted separate page.

Elizabeth Moore

Elizabeth Moore creates jewelry inspired by her southern roots, but grounded by direction in the Big Apple.

Her collections share symbols that celebrate reminders of inner strength using ethically sourced gems, like Montana sapphires, Kingsman, turquoise, pretty pink Opal set in repurposed 18kt gold. ⁣

You can find Elizabeth at elizabethmoore.com and on Instagram @elizabethmoorenyc

Tracy Trainor

The last designer that I featured and talked about (and wore) in Tucson was Tracy Trainor.

While Tracy lives and creates her jewelry in Dublin, Ireland, she was with me in jewelry spirit in Tucson!

Tracy captures subtle movement in nature or animals through her jewelry, and how she interprets it with her wax carving, to the finish and how the textures are positioned.

Gem Show Pre-Departure Lounge 2020

Welcome to the first Jewelry Navigator Podcast episode of 2020!

It’s been a while since you heard from me. I took some time off during the holidays, and now that everyone’s settled back into school and work, it’s time to get down to jewelry business!

Trade shows have been centralized events for various industries to learn about and share the latest resources, network, and celebrate.

The Tucson Gem Show just kicked the jewelry industry trade shows off, and this weekend, in New York City, the NYNow Show is hosting a myriad of luxury accessories and gifts.

As my heart and enthusiasm will always be with gems, I’m choosing to attend the Tucson Gem Shows, which is a conglomerate of many shows held throughout downtown Tucson.

In this podcast, I share a sample of designers who will be exhibiting at either the Tucson or NYNow Shows.

All those featured have been guests on Jewelry Navigator Podcast, and I’m excited to share what’s new with them and continue to tell their story directly from Tucson.

Featured Designers in the Podcast

Mary van der Aa

Exhibiting at the Pueblo Show

Ramada

Room 107

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Dana Busch of Dana Busch Designs

Exhibiting at JCK  Booth 319

TRADE ONLY

JW Marriott Starr Pass

Petite Baleine Jewelry

Pam Waill

NYNow

Luxury Lifestyle Booth 3706

TRADE ONLY

Debra Navarro

Select Tucson

TRADE ONLY

February 2-3, 2020⁠

La Paloma Resort ⁠

Tucson, AZ⁠

BOOTH 101⁠

JCK Tucson

February 5-8, 2020⁠

JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort⁠

Tucson, AZ⁠

BOOTH DC17

Also Mentioned:

Gem Legacy

Tracy Trainor

MINTON

Elizabeth Moore

Nan Fusco’s Versatile Jewelry Designs Redefine  Luxury Jewelry

Like many artists, Nan Fusco didn’t start her jewelry career in gem or design courses.

Nan’s former career and formal training are in graphic design.

Skilled with reading a client’s style and needs, Nan’s ability to design around a concept beautifully highlight the fossils and stones she selects as the focal points of her jewelry.

Making jewelry versatile through aspects of changeability and movement is one of Nan’s superpowers as a jewelry designer.

From her Abacus rings and earrings, to jewelry scarves, and her long necklaces designed with engineering aspects, Nan incorporates appealing design concepts with texture and movement for jewelry creations that are classic fun, and had women buying her creations right off her neck!

We talk about how important it is for designers to educate the boutiques where her jewelry is stocked to the versatility of her jewelry.

We also discuss the necessity and struggles that come with social media and how she’s regrowing her Instagram account after an unfortunate setback.

I recently featured Nan on a Beyond Gems segment on The Tundra, so you can see more of her jewelry on the video story on their platform.

Follow Nan on Instagram @therealnanfusco to see and shop her fabulous jewelry!

As part of celebrating 20,000 downloads of the Jewelry Navigator Podcast, I'm featuring former podcast guests in the Jewelry Navigator™ Gift Guide.

I’m so excited for many of the designers I’ve featured on the podcast who are having record sales this year through their perseverance and collaborative efforts with markets, niche shows, and boutiques.

The Holiday Gift Guide is a celebration of the guests who have made Jewelry Navigator Podcast fun and interesting for 20,000 downloads, 

Below is a list of the jewelers and designers along with the categories in which they're featured in the Holiday Gift Guide.

JEWELRY FOR HER: Mary van der Aa Fine Jewels* Nayla Shami Jewelry* Tin Haus* Tracy Trainor Jewellery* Au Xchange * Dana Busch Designs*

JEWELRY FOR HIM:

Mary van der Aa Fine Jewels* Tin Haus * CRASH Jewelry* Tracy Trainor Jewellery* American Chest

SELF INDULGE:

California Girl Jewelry* Elizabeth Moore Jewelry* Cynthia Renée Jewelry* Au Xchange* Emily Kuvin Jewelry* Debra Navarro*

'TIS THE SEASON:

The Bell Collection (Etsy) Mary van der Aa Fine Jewels* Bowman Originals Coin Jewelry (Etsy) Gallery Byzantium* Mimosa Handcrafted

FUN UNDER $500:

Cynthia Renée Jewelry* Pareure Jewellery* CRASH Jewelry* Petite Baleine Jewelry* Vintage Meet Modern* GMC Designs

JEWELRY STORAGE & CARE:

Heartwood Boxes; Lion Latch; Lavish

SPECIAL FEATURES: MAGICAL SPARKLY TOUR: Mary van der Aa & Tucson Todd's Gems JEWEL WHISPERER: Cynthia Renée Jewelry JEWELRY LANDSCAPE ARTIST: Dana Busch Designs

HHi! Welcome to Jewelry Navigator! I’m your host, Graduate Gemologist,  Brenna Pakes.

Here on Jewelry Navigator, and as a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, and a jewelry professional, I’m in a unique position to share jewelry tips and stories.

More than ever, it’s important to support small, independent jewelry designers and businesses.

It’s my pleasure to guide consumers to smart jewelry choices through an informative and entertaining platform.

For sneak peeks into upcoming episodes and features, follow me on Instagram on @jewelrynavigator

In this relaunch episode, I share my role as curator of content for a weekly video feature on Beyond Gems for TheTUNDRA, an informative platform for enthusiasts and those with a general curiosity for topics, themes, and hobbies.

I share guests featured on Beyond Gems so far. It's been a wonderful way to expand and explore geology, gemology, and other relevant fields of interest.

FYI - to watch the full Beyond Gems episodes, subscribe for a free TheTUNDRA account.

Welcome Aboard, and be sure to subscribe to Jewelry Navigator Podcast on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.

NEW BONUS EPISODES - CARATS AND COFFEE WITH Jewelry Navigator 

THIS WEEK: 5 QUICK SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR JEWELRY BOX AND A SNEAK PEEK INTO THIS WEEK'S PODCAST EPISODE.

Carats and Coffee with Jewelry Navigator is a weekend bonus episode to be live stream recorded on Saturday mornings.

Come with your favorite morning beverage and jewelry questions for quick jewelry updates and news between weekly episodes.

Join LIVE on Podbean Saturday mornings, 8:30 a.m. EST

Jewelry Navigator Podcast celebrates 100 episodes with a two-part feature with special guest, Graduate Gemologist, Adrianne Sanogo.

You’re in for a treat!

As Adrianne shared what inspired her to become a gemologist, our conversation meandered into topics of current interest to trade and consumers alike.

Be sure to subscribe and listen to today’s episode and the continuation later this week with insights into emerald -  this month’s birthstone.

As two gemologists with the same passion for informing and educating consumers, we enjoyed discussing how to broadcast the benefits of entering the field of gemology and how gemologists serve the jewelry industry from mom-and-pop jewelry stores to large corporations making major investment decisions.

These are just some of the nuggets I reveal in this fun and informal visit with phenomenal and accomplished Graduate Gemologist, Adrianne Sanogo.

Who is the consumer?

The consumer is not always the shopper.

Consumers are also others in the industry who can be served with current or new information.

Growing the future in geology with viable career paths:

- Transitional careers

- Science and Arts

- Jewelry Professionals

- Protecting Interests - forensic gemology

- Appraising

- Horology

- Bench jewelry design and repair

- Vocational interests

- Economic study of gem and mineral resources (geological resources)

We all understand the importance of having special jewelry items appraised, but what happens after that?

How do you know what should be covered for loss or damage?

What can you do to protect your jewelry from loss if it doesn’t meet the value specification for insurance coverage?

Understanding how your insurance policy will cover your jewelry items in case of loss or damage is the first step.

These are just a few aspects about insuring jewelry that are addressed in this Jewelry Navigator Podcast episode with Mark Devereaux, Vice President of Sales and Distribution with Jewelers Mutual Group.

Jewelry Trends and Traditions for 2023 - An overview of current jewelry trends and steady traditions and how to balance the two for a lasting jewelry wardrobe.

Jewelry Trends and Traditions - Which One Should You Follow?

Jewelry is a personal way we express ourselves in every stage of life.

Trends reflect quick snapshots in time and capture mood and attitude, whereas traditions are more lasting.

I’ll be using the theme of Trends and Traditions as a guide to build on classic styles while blending expressive trends for an eclectic and lasting jewelry collection.

Publication references made in this episode:

"Everything You Need to Know About Traditional Design", By Sienna Livermore, Published October 12, 2018 House Beautiful

https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a23611149/traditional-design/

Harper's Bazaar, "The 2023 Jewelry Trends Experts Say Everyone is Wearing" by Amelia Madden, Published February 10, 2023

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g42242867/2023-jewelry-trends/

"The True Story of Chris Evert's Tennis Bracelet", The Aventurine, by Marion Fasel

https://theadventurine.com/culture/jewelry-history/chris-evert-tells-us-the-true-story-of-her-tennis-bracelet/

Azra Mehdi is a practicing attorney and balances her family life with her passion for fine jewelry as a designer of timeless gold jewelry.

Azra founded Au Xchange, a platform for sharing fine jewelry created by women designers.

In spite of pandemic obstacles, Azra took advantage of the time during lockdowns to apply for the Zales Designer Spotlight Showcase and won as the only woman designer of color for the showcase.

Originally from India, Azra shares how gold jewelry influenced her path as a jewelry designer, and how her thoughtful designs are welcoming to a wide audience and demographic.

Azra is dedicated to giving back as a representative in support of girls and women with CamFED, Campaign for Female Education through portions of her jewelry sales.

While growing her brand through Au Xchange and as a featured designer in the Zales Designer Spotlight, Azra continues to practice law while raising her two children with her husband.

You can find Azra's jewelry on Au Xchange

as well as on Zale's Designer Spotlight

For a detailed look at Azra’s jewelry, be sure to watch her feature on Beyond Gems on TheTUNDRA, "Azra Mehdi's Golden Jewelry Story".

TheTUNDRA is a platform from which I share gem, mineral, and more jewelry stories through video production.

Subscribe to TheTUNDRA to access the full episodes, and you can find the link to Beyond Gems on my IG account @jewelrynavigator and on my podcast website,

https://jewelrynavigator.podbean.com/

Sherrie Taylor, Graduate Gemologist, and Registered Master Valuer,  of S. Taylor Jewellery Appraisals and Consultation shares how she enriches the appraisal process with an often overlooked aspect of jewelry heirlooms. 

While the intrinsic characteristics of jewelry heirlooms determine their replaceable value,

their stories and meanings are what give them irreplaceable value.

In this episode, Sherrie shares how she takes the time to include these often omitted aspects of jewelry appraising that add an enjoyable dimension to her appraisal process.

Even though it’s small, jewelry carries big meaning and represents connections from our past, into our present, and future.

In this episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast, I talk about showing your school spirit with jewelry, and I shared how I wear  color and theme relevant jewelry to the Penn State football games with pieces by CRASH Jewelry, Emily Kuvin Jewelry, and

Mary van der Aa.

Staying with the school spirit theme, and for those who want alternatives to traditional class rings, we talked about the importance of choosing gemstones with high hardness to withstand long term wear, and we also talked about how quality speaks to the importance of the longevity of the piece.

I shared tips on jewelry wear and upkeep, like cleaning, care, and ring sizing.

Jewelry doesn’t last forever, but by choosing well made pieces, and making wise choices for stones, settings, and metals, jewelry can sustain wear for multiple generations.

I’m so grateful for all the artists, designers, and jewelers who graciously visit with me, virtually, and in person.

You all inspire me, and it brings me so much joy to share what you create with those of us who appreciate jewelry that stands out to celebrate what makes us unique.

Designers mentioned in this episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast:

Mary van der Aa

CRASH Jewelry

Emily Kuvin Jewelry

Petite Baleine Jewelry

Elizabeth Moore

DRU Jewelry

Feral Jewelry

Anastasia Simes

Nayla Shami Jewelry

Tracy Trainor Jewellery

Shout outs to some awesome fans!

@iomoon000

@onza

@rosashearin

@bossgirlcreative

AP Gemology & Jewelry With Thesis Gems

Last week’s episode was all about alternative jewelry to the class ring.

I shared so many other ring options that would be worn and not destined for the jewelry graveyards of forgotten jewelry box drawers.

This week, we continue with the school theme with a Thesis.

According to the Oxford dictionary, and Thesis is

“A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.”

I vehemently stand by the thesis that jewelry is worth more than the money we pay for it.

Jewelry speaks the words we don’t have to tell someone how special they are to us.

Jewelry is like wearing a mini monument that continuously celebrates our most important life events.

Cate Claus is the creator and designer behind Thesis gems, and  brings more validation to my theory

Cate thoughtfully and throughly sources the materials used to create her jewelry, using only the finest gems recovered in the most earth friendly practices while yielding the most return to the local and regional communities and environments.

As stated on her website, her Motto for Thesis Gems is:

“We believe that people and the environment are more valuable than any gem. That’s why Thesis seeks sources that are committed to ethical treatment of workers and the land.  And we donate 1% of our gross sales to organizations fighting to conserve and defend our planet. That's our thesis. Guaranteed forever.”

I feel Cate does a great job proving and supporting her thesis, and she does it all while maintaining a full time practice as a pediatrician in the San Francisco area.

I’m so happy to share her story today!

This week, my guest on Jewelry Navigator Podcast Guest is Asia Nail of iRock Gems!

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She’s an active advocate for diversity and inclusion, and shares how it’s become her passion project.

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After celebrating our independence, focusing on diversity is perfect timing.

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As a working mom of two littles under 3, Asia is gracious, generous, and beautiful, and I’m looking forward to sharing her story this week! 💋

#womensupportingwomen #workingmoms

Mentioned in this Podcast:

Women's Jewelry Association

Abby Sparks Jewelry 

Since relaunching Jewelry Navigator Podcast a few weeks ago, I came across the perfect recorded conversation I had with a field "interpreter" at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

As the only gem diamond source in the United States of substantial finds, Crater of Diamonds State Park has a fascinating history and makes a unique destination for vacationers, gem and jewel collectors, and spring-breakers.

Significant diamond discoveries have been made by visitors to the park, several of which are over 10 carats!

To plan your visit to dig for diamonds, click the link below!

Crater of Diamonds State Park

https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park

Bella Campbell overcame the challenges of language barriers when she arrived in the States over thirty years ago.

Originally from Georgia, the former republic of Russia, she arrived with a degree in physics, and transitioned into the fashion and jewelry career stream, starting as a buyer for Macy’s jewelry department, then a buyer for a major gemstone company.

Now, she has her own line, and creates one of a kind jewelry with enchanting color combinations of bright gemstones and precious metals.

For all the courageous women everywhere who leave their homeland to pursue dreams, here’s to Bella, who exemplifies the spirit of women everywhere doing their best to blend career and family.

Be sure to hear last week’s episode, a compilation of many of the women and designers I’ve featured on the podcast over the past year in this week’s podcast, “Celebrating International Women’s Day With Women From Jewelry Navigator Podcast Stories“ available on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, and Google Play Music.

Sarah Hodson of Sarah Michiko Designs, and CADs by Sarah Michiko shares how she brings fresh perspective to her family’s 3rd generation jewelry business.

At the time of this podcast, bridal season in full swing, she also shares rising trends with engagement rings, changes for men’s wedding bands, and advice for women starting out in the jewelry industry.

Her command and expertise in design and jewelry manufacturing allows her to see complex and custom jewelry requests through to happy and return clients.

You can find Sarah’s designs at Sarah Michiko Designs on her website as well as on Instagram, or reach out to her at her family business, Platinum Plus Designs.

This has been one of the most popular episodes, so I'm re-publishing it as a great reminder for a summer project: cleaning out your jewelry box without tossing treasures!

Be sure to get your copy of the Jewelry Box Graveyard Cheat Sheet! You can find it on my Link Tree page through in my Instagram Profile. Click Here for yours!

How many times have you visited your jewelry box to discover twisted, tangled chains, orphaned, earrings, or rings missing gemstones?

Much of our forgotten jewelry is abandoned due to disrepair, but how can you tell what is worth keeping?

What looks like junk may be forgotten treasures!

In this episode of the Jewelry Navigator Podcast, I share a few helpful tips on what to look for to easily identify jewelry of value in your Jewelry Box Graveyard using clues from the metals with which fine jewelry is made.

How many times have you visited your jewelry box to discover twisted, tangled chains, orphaned, earrings, or rings missing gemstones?

Much of our forgotten jewelry is abandoned due to disrepair, but how can you tell what is worth keeping?

What looks like junk may be forgotten treasures!

In this episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast, I share a few helpful tips on what to look for to easily identify jewelry of value in your Jewelry Box Graveyard using clues from the metals with which fine jewelry is made.

Now that we’re in the last quarter of the year, we need to capture the attention of our clients and customers to optimize income potential as jewelry brands and businesses.

If you haven’t kept ahead of your marketing plans, it’s not too late!

Kathleen Cutler of Bespoke Commerce, and CEO of Kathleen Cutler Strategy shared valuable strategies that will be easy to scale to the time and client list you already have.

Kathleen is a former bench jeweler and has worked in a myriad of roles within the jewelry industry.

We talk about what jewelry designers, brands and stores can do to navigate the current retail climate to merge independent jeweler’s efforts between online, location and connecting with their ideal clients.

Kathleen shares 5 simple actions you can take to have a successful holiday sales season to set yourself apart with loyal clients who are happy to provide referrals and return for future jewelry purchases.

The underlying purpose and focus of our visit is to show designers and brands how they can

- stand out in a sea of online and social media marketing

- use what and who is in their immediate circle to increase holiday and future jewelry sales

- bridge retail experience between online and brick and mortar

For the complete compliment of show notes for this episode, and for a FREE E-BOOK by Kathleen, 

visit the post on jewelrynavigator.com 

My guest in this Jewelry Navigator Podcast episode is Alain Simic, founder of Alain Simic (pronounced Ah-lawn Si-mich) whose specialty is portraying images of jewelry, fashion, fine art, and portraiture.

Alain’s photography speaks through images, allowing his subject’s voice to share stories and impact the lives of those who see his work.

Alain serves his clients and collaborates with his professional community through a unique background based on his perspective gained through professional photography experinece, and first hand life crisis.

Raised in Germany after his family escaped the Bosnian genocide, Alain’s experiences and upbringing enables him to share his client’s narrative through a lens of compassion and understanding elevates his relationships with his clients for successful campaigns and images.

 While his photography is used as a marketing tool to create successful branding and product campaigns, Alain also serves the communities in which he works through collaborative efforts.

Alain has contributed to Jewelry Independent panels which serve emerging and independent jewelry designers on various marketing and business topics.

Most recently, he teamed up with Laryssaa Wirstiuk of Joy Joya Marketing on a Metal and Smith’s Instagram Live presentation to share how jewelry designers and businesses can adapt their efforts through the COVID - 19 crisis.

 While this time of quarantine is restricting for an industry, which relies on personal experience, now's the time to take advantage to review and reflect on your branding messages, visions, and direction.

If you're a consumer, reflect on what jewelry is most important to you. Are there pieces you don't wear, but would like to use to redesign or update? Explore options with your local jeweler or favorite designer on how to re-make and reuse what you have, or purchase new - afterall, birthdays and anniversaries ignore the quarantine!

I found Alain’s advice a reminder of how an image says so much without words, and how important quality images are to a brand’s story and to its potential perceptions, especially on one’s website.

If you’d like to start a conversation with Alain about working with him on your photography and branding, reach out to him by e-mail or DM on Instagram, as he is continues to work remotely, taking careful considerations and precautions from his studio.

http://alainsimic.com/product

His e-mail can be found on his website, which is alainsimic.com  Follow or DM him in Instagram at @alainsimic.

WHAT'S COMING UP ON Jewelry Navigator Podcast 

Next week, I’m going to be exploring ways we can continue to support our shopping and jewelry needs by working with online options with designers and jewelers, and begin sharing stories of the brick and mortar stores who are still working to serve their customers and communities.

If you have a story of an exceptional independent jewelry store who is doing their best to serve their customers and accounts, reach out to me, and tell me about them!

Some that come to mind are Beauty Lounge in Summit NJ, Benold’s in Austin, TX, and voted the best in my town of Fredericksburg, VA, Ulman’s Jewelry, owned by the same family, and in its 93rd year of business.

These, and many more small businesses working remotely or from location, as permitted, are doing what they can to serve their customers and communities, and I’m thrilled to learn about what and how people are continuing to serve and celebrate even in a time of crisis, so with that, it’s time to “deplane” from this episode, and remind everyone to be kind to yourself and others, and to cross check your sparkle!

To stay up to date on Jewelry Navigator Podcasts and features, subscribe to Jewelry Navigator Passport. https://jewelrynavigator.com/

Men tend to get overlooked with jewelry -

Watches and wedding bands are the staples for most men, while signet, diamond and gemstone statement rings as signature statements.

Educating consumers with unique selections of gemstones and jewelry has always been a primary focus for Jewelry Navigator.

In this Jewelry Navigator Podcast episode, I'm highlighting designers who've been featured on the podcast, as well as one who will be very soon with jewelry designed to enhance and celebrate the men in our lives.

Designers featured create everything from cufflinks, bracelets, necklaces and pendants and rings.

Tracy Trainor Jewellery

CRASH Jewelry

Mary van der Aa

Tucson Todd's Gems

Tin Haus

Etsy Artisans with featured storage boxes for jewelry and watches:

Buttons and Pearl, Sara Barbadillo, and Fret Work by Darryl.

This month is the one year anniversary since the start of the Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

Jewelry Navigator remains on a course to connect shoppers to unique jewelry and share the stories of the designers who create it.

The episode explorations and destinations have been:

Jewelry made from luxury cars, like Ferraris and Maseratis, with Christi Schimpke of CRASH Jewelry.

The story of an architect who sees buildings as jewelry, with Emily Minton of MINTON with premium architecturally inspired jewelry.

Emily Kuvin, a former journalist and lawyer, who returned to her passion of jewelry design, and now creates the jewelry of her dreams.

Rachel Dery, a young woman, and gemologist, making a difference for East African miners with holisitic sourcing, and forging gem legacies.

California Girl Jewelry, a mother - daughter jewelry and gemology team who create exclusive jewelry with rare and beautiful gems. 

Samantha Jackson, and her jewlery company, Heavenly Vices' wearable jewelery treasures from exquisitely engraved coins.

Joyful and colorful enamel jewelry of May Came Home, by New York City native, artist, and graphic designer, Deborah Halperin.

Julie Lamb's jewelry encourages us to be “ewe” -nique using a play on words with her last name.

These are the highlights of just a few of the stories told in the first year of the Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

In honor of International Women’s Day, all the jewelers and designers featured in this episode are women!

Each segment is from an entire podcast episode, and I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast if you already haven’t, and binge or trickle listen to all the episodes.

I want to thank every woman in the industry, especially those who have allowed me to tell their story, and who has stood her ground, nurtured her vision, and picked herself back up when discouraged or doubtful.

Watch for the coordinating blog post on the jewelry navigator site, and until next time, cross check your sparkle!

Telling stories with gems and jewelry is like speaking an enchanted language.

Hidden for millennia, gems are treasures that speak a universal language.

Cynthia Renée Marcusson is my guest this week understands the hidden language of gemstones.

Geologist turned jewelry designer, Cynthia’s adventures began with her curiosity of rock formations and unusual terrain from the car window of her family vacations.

As part of her geologic studies, she mapped two of the biggest gem producing mines in the U.S., and has thirty years experience working in the jewelry industry on various professional levels.

She discovered jewelry design while selling and presenting colored gems stores and businesses across the country.

Now she creates one of a kind jewelry pieces for clients to tell their stories with gems to celebrate the beauty we’re meant to reflect by wearing them.

Listen to Cynthia’s story on Jewelry Navigator Podcast TODAY!

You can find Cynthia Renée Jewels on her website, cynthiarenee.com

This weekend, I chose to share segments of my podcast interview with Seraphima McLean of Gallery Byzantium.

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Her formal background in art history, cast her in the unique role to carry on her family’s Byzantine art jewelry business.

Gallery Byzantium integrates art and history inspired by one of the most influential cultures, the Byzantine Empire.

Creating Christian themed jewelry, like crosses and religious medals, their jewelry designs are often replicated from ancient coins, medallions, and crosses.

As Christians all over the globe celebrate Easter, this weekend, I felt sharing a portion of the story of Gallery Byzantium would resonate with the liturgical celebration of Easter, but also serve as a reminder to stay strong in our faith, regardless of denomination or belief.

The followng is a clip from my Jewelry Navigator podcast visit in early December, 2019, and is part of my effort to support the independent designers and jewelers featured on Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

through the COVID 19 crisis who’ve been

I hope everyone is staying well, and I look forward to when we can all meet again at shows, stores, and boutiques.

Enjoy your holiday and spring weekend!

To hear this podcast in its entirety, subscribe to Jewelry Navigator Podcast one of the following podcast or music platforms:

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play Music, and Podbean!

I’ll be publishing a new Jewelry Navigator Passport on Sunday, so be sure to catch up on what happened and what’s coming up on the podcast, and other jewelry discoveries!

Subscribe at jewelrynavigator.com

I usually publish new episodes on Thursday. This week, my guest is Debra Navarro.

In February, 2019, she earned JCK’s Industry Choice Award for her Vincent Ring - a rough, but elegant statement ring set with a green berylj, sprinkled with natural color diamonds from her signature Watu collection.

Then, just recently, this Spring, InStore Magazine announced their In Store Design Awards, DEbra earned first place for her Hinged Jackson earrings set with over 23 carats of beaming scapolite and diamonds.

Funny enough, Gigi Ferranti, who was my guest last week on the podast, won 2nd place for her Rosetta Star ring in 18K rose gold with star ruby cabochons, round brilliant rubies, and pink and orange sapphire, and both designers are premiering in Vegas at Premier’s inaugural show this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center May 30 through June 3.

In this first part of two, Debra shares how she broke through roadblocks in her career, and how her collections are interpreted through her jewelry journey, may of which were overcome with her first series, the Barefoot Collection using a theme that repeats in everyone’s life with Stepping Stones.

I love how Debra’s journey is truly marked with blessings through each step she’s taken in her jewelry journey, from farm life, to radio production, to retail jewelry, then to the source of the gems she now uses in her jewelry with multiple trips to East Africa with Roger Dery, and Gem Legacy.

If you have a dream to do what is in your heart, Debra’s story embodies a philosophy she discovered along the way as a Leap of Faith, and how, in her own words, “You have to stand on the edge of a cliff…jump and build a parachute on the way down”

No other gemstone with the same rich, pure green as emerald, like the fine gem quality emeralds from sources like Columbia mines, and other location sources.

Fine quality emerald gems almost glow from within, and it’s no surprise that the verdant gem has enticed and captivated emperors, sovereigns, wealthy celebrities, and gem collectors from the beginning of recorded time. 

Today’s podcast continues my visit with Adrianne Sanogo, GIA Graduate Gemologist.

In this second part, we share details about emeralds and the best way to wear and enjoy them, what care and wear considerations to keep in mind, where they are mined, and even some of their interesting internal characteristics that are specific to certain mined locations.

Listening to this episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast will give you a better understanding of emeralds and prepare you for shopping and caring for them in jewelry. Here are a few tips we discuss for deeper insights into emeralds and how to best care for this beautiful gemstone:

- The possible treatments and limitations to setting and wearing them in jewelry, especially rings, and bracelets.

-  While treatments are widely accepted, some gems like emeralds carry special considerations to protect the integrity of the stone and may need extra care.

- Common and accepted treatments of emeralds include surface fillers and oils for color stability 

- Due to their inherent inclusions and sensitive treatments, emeralds may need to be removed from settings during jewelry repairs to avoid possible damage from heating.

Catch up on the first part with Adrianne Sanogo where she shared what inspired her to become a gemologist, and how current issues affect choices for consumers on both sides of the jewelry sales counter.

Diamond Shopping Tips & Debunking 4 Common Myths and Misconceptions

April is showered with diamonds as its birthstone.

In today’s episode, I help take the mystery out of understanding diamonds by revealing truths surrounding common myths and misconceptions about them.

Diamonds that glow? A unicorn trapped inside a diamond? Diamonds that swallowed other gem crystals?

It sounds like a surreal circus!

No - It’s just the world of diamonds!

What you don’t know about diamonds is a mystery now, but after today’s episode, your understanding about diamonds will be clearer, as we debunk a few of the common misconceptions about diamonds.

Featuring Stepping Stone jewelry, set with diamonds that glow, from Patrick Mohs Jewelry in WAYZATA, MN.

For show notes and photos of diamond inclusions and jewelry mentioned in the episode, please see the show notes in the blog post under the same name at jewelrynavigator.com.

Welcome to the Jewelry Navigator Podcast! I'm your host, Brenna Pakes!

What are diamond certificates? How should you use them to shop for diamonds?

Diamonds. Their sparkle has captured our attention and adorned women and men for centuries.

Last episode, we dispelled four common myths and misconceptions that make diamonds mysterious and sometimes confusing to shop for.

Today, we continue with how what you don’t know about diamonds could become expensive mistakes.

We visit with a third generation diamond specialist who provides diamonds to stores, jewelers and designers from his office in New York’s Diamond District.

Marc Knobloch, with thirty years in the diamond industry, and VP of AKI Diamonds and Jewelry, instills reason to shop with confidence for anyone preparing to purchase or upgrade a diamond, and explains why they’re still the go-to gemstone to stand the test of time for all generations.

Listen to find out what you need to know about a diamond’s certificate, what its real purpose is, how to choose the right diamond, and how the Kimberley Process  safeguards the industry’s supply of diamonds against questionable sources and intent.

This is part one of two podcasts. Marc shared so much great information with me that I separated it into two episodes, so I leave you hanging,but not to worry!

Look forward to next week’s conclusion from today’s episode!

On a recent Jewelry Navigator Podcast, “Here's to the Men in Our Lives - Jewelry to Celebrate Men and Dads”, I featured jewelry for men.  One of the rings selected is Tin Haus' Andromeda ring, designed and created by today's guest, Christina Grace, founder of Tin Haus, an eclectic collection of jewelry art.

Christina is a Graduate Jeweler from the Gemological Institute of America, an artist, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

What inspires me the most about Christina is the unhindered path she creates for herself.

Her expertise is well-rounded through varied practices of art, including performing art, drawing, and set design. As a first-generation American, Christina lives and creates her collections in California.

Utilizing her education, background, and connections, Christina is creating a path with which to inspire others to discover and celebrate their unique expression through their own self-discovery.

Christina explained that her upcoming collection will be set with gems she's been hoarding. We look forward to watching her collections grow!

You can find Tin Haus at tin-haus.com and on Instagram @tin_haus

My intention is always to educate and inform consumers with resources to unique jewelry created by independent designers and makers.

Follow Jewelry Navigator on Instagram  @jewelrynavigator for the latest jewelry stories and tips!

Missy Graff Ballone of Wellness for Makers Shares How Artists Can Move to Stay Healthy

While the COVID-19 crisis and resulting quarantine have challenged many aspects of our lives, finding positive ways to guide us through to the other side have been inspiring.

While scrolling through Instagram one day, I came across Missy Graff Ballone’s feed, Wellness for Makers.

A metalsmith, alignment based yoga instructor, and licensed massage therapist, Missy shares how makers can work more efficiency using healthy movement habits.

She combines her education and familiarity with the body to show makers and creatives how to care for their hands and avoid common injuries with mindful movement.

In “Wellness for Makers” Podcast, Missy shares tips for makers in and out of the studio, along with inspiring stories of artists and makers who have recovered from injuries.

I’m happy and excited for Missy to share her specialized expertise, and to give back to makers and artists during the COVID recovery, Missy is offering scholarships for her courses, one of which will be donated through this episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast!

To enter for a scholarship giveaway for a Wellness for Makers Precious Movements Course for jewelers, visit wellnessformakers.com/scholarships to enter.

Wellness for Makers

People from every walk of life and career are susceptible to injury, many of which happen from repetitive movement, poor alignment and posture.

Combining her education and familiarity with the body and movement, Missy has created a parallel business teaching artists and creators to protect their health and their hands.

Missy also offers helpful resources on her website, wellnessformakers.com which include a free self-care guide, her “Guide to Happy Healthy Hands”, her free Mini Course, “Creating Resilience”, and helpful tools for small businesses.

Elizabeth Moore’s New Collections Redefine Her Passion as an Independent Jewelry Designer

Our conversation starts from a mention she made I picked up on during our meeting at JA, where she mentioned the concept of the Circle of Fifths as an element in her new collection.

Elizabeth’s new collection explores a deeper meaning of symbols she feels strengthens the important connections in our lives.

And I love how she shares what she’s doing to navigate today’s retail landscape as an independent designer.

Elizabeth’s formal training was in performance arts, which led to a career in modeling.

Her perspective on fashion gives her a bird’s eye view of how trends work, and how to make the most impact with the mission she shares with her jewelry designs.

Emma Hoekstra is my guest this week on Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

Founder of Emma Elizabeth Jewelry, and winner of this year’s Halstead Grant, it seems everything is going well for her.

While we hope joy and celebration prevail in our lives, loss, grief, healing, and discovery remain unavoidable to the human experience.

After the loss of her boyfriend in a tragic car accident, Emma reclaimed her joy and purpose through a process of healing through jewelry design, which eventually led to the winning submission of this year’s Halstead Grant.

Using metal smithing and jewelry fabrication as forms of expression and cathartic therapy, Emma worked through her grief, and emerged with an ability to intertwine feeling, aesthetic, and dimension into jewelry collections defined by her signature tagline,, “Confident - Edgy - Unique”.

Emma’s courage and focus are inspirational, and her jewelry is unique and captivating.

To see her latest collections and bespoke creations, visit emmaelizabethjewelry.com, her Instagram page is @emmaelizabethjewelry

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Emma Elizabeth Jewelry

https://www.emmaelizabethjewelry.com/

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI

Halstead Grant

https://grant.halsteadbead.com/

Halstead Bead

https://www.halsteadbead.com/

Lisa Lehmann Designs

Grand Haven, MI

Julie Sanford Design

Grand Haven, MI

What could possibly complement a private showing of fine jewelry better than a glass of champagne while beholding rare gems, like taaffeite, a lavender gem that sparkles as much or more than diamond, and blue color change Bekily garnet?!

Today, I visit with the daughter of the mother - daughter team of California Girl Jewelry, Denise Forbes, where from their boutique in San Francisco, they treat clients and walk in customers to champagne and an entrancing selection of gemstones, along with jewelry designs in which to enhance and showcase them.

Originally from New England and NYC, Mariel Baker, mother of the two partners, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, and continued her executive level career in the dot com industry.

Her desire and interest in jewelry set with rare gemstones followed her into retirement, where she began California Girl Jewelry.

Denise later joined her mother in San Francisco.

Together they bring phenomenal jewelry to gem aficionados and jewelry lovers all over the world.

The rare, beautiful and exclusive gems they procure directly from mine sources are their signature.

Their gemstones are complimented by high quality settings of 18kt white, yellow, rose gold and platinum, set with full cut, F/VS quality diamonds, yet prices are comparably  affordable due to their in-house manufacturing, and guiding motto, “Jewelry made for women, by women.”                                                                                                                                                                                                             The partners and their all women design team share enthusiasm and a knowledge of rare gemstones that serves their clients’ best interests, while offering exceptional service with free ring sizing, free shipping, and lifetime maintenance. Watch for the coordinating blog post on jewelrynavigator.com for my favorite pieces of California Girl Jewelry, and you can find your favorite pieces at californiagirljewelry.com!

You’re onboard Jewelry Navigator Episode 11, Chips are for Lunch,they’re not diamonds, and other helpful tips to

shop with confidence and understand what you already have.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the episode - welcome aboard!

What makes metals used in jewelry better than just regular metal, and is one better than another?

If it looks like gold, then it is, right?

What is gold and silver plated jewelry, and what’s the difference from actual gold?

What about the gemstones - are there really ones more precious than

others to be called semi-precious?

If the diamonds set in halo and on the sides of jewelry are small, are they even diamonds or are the just small pieces of diamond chips?

And speaking of diamonds if you didn’t know already like almost to every gemstone, diamonds are now being lab created or man-made in labs in just a few weeks rather than millions of years.

These are some of the challenges shoppers face to distinguish the difference between fine and fashion jewelry that I’ll be sharing with you today on Chips are for Lunch, Not Diamonds and Other Helpful Jewelry Tips.

Jewelers and designers featured in this podcast are:

R. Simantov

Everyday Luxury NYC

Thesis Gems

Juler's Row

Crash Jewelry

Criffin Designs

California Girl Jewelry

You can find show notes and future photos on jewelrynavigator.com

Summoning lost skills and techniques through abandoned tools Reubin Simantov accepts challenges most jewelers trade for the modern technology of CAD-CAM assisted jewelry manufacturing.

Insistent that clients and customers observe and respect the time, attention and thought put into every custom piece, he will often discourage clients who expect delivery before the estimated completion date.

Those who understand the energy and resources needed for his level of creativity wait patiently, sometimes several months before the commissioned pieces are completed.

While behind the scenes, Simantov and his workshop wait for the perfect stone for each piece, and use nature as inspiration as guides.

Not only is his jewlery created from layers of observation and attention,  but the combinations of materials often make them even more exceptional.

Gun metal steel inlaid with 24kt gold, carved obsidian (volcanic glass), and hidden mechanical works that conceal charming and surreal surprises are just a few of the trademarks of R. Simantov.

Recalling and recreating the delight from lost technique from artists like Faberge’, Reubin Simantov reunites his clients and admirers with a deep appreciation and respect for the highest levels of craftsmanship that capture multiple senses, emotions and dimensions in each of his jewelry creations.

Join me in learning about R. Simantov, his jewelry creations, and what sets him apart by transcending trends and traditions.

To see his jewelry, visit @R_Simantov on Instagram, his website rsimantov.com, or his studio in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

It’s FRIDAY, so, let’s celebrate with some gem, jewelry and fun surprises with an acrostic celebration of Friday!

For each letter of the word Friday, I feature a gemstone, item of jewelry or a special surprise!

Listen to find out what fireflies, an Aston Martin and feldspar (gems like moonstone, kunzite, labradorite, sunstone and amazonite) have to do with each other!

We start at the beginning with the letter F, then go through the remaining letters of FRIDAY, sharing gems, jewelry and an extra surprise at the end.

Even though I used FRIDAY, the gems, jewelry and extra surprise are year-round treats for any time!

Have Fun!

Jewelry, Designers and Artists featured in ths episode are:

F for Feldspar: California Girl Jewelry with Sunstone and Kunzite jewlery R for Ruby with Rubies from Greenland Ruby (yes! rubies are mined in Greenland! I is for Indicolite Tourmaline with Gigi Ferrante's one of a kind Mermaid ring D is for Danburite with a 4 carat + danburite set in 18kt rose gold with a double halo of diamonds, by California Girl Jewelry A is for Aston Martin with a stunning bumble bee cuff from an  Aston Martin Rapide S in onyx black, by Crash Jewelry - Jewelry made from the  slightly damaged parts of luxury and high end sports cars. Y is Yay for Friday and summer! This last one is the surprise! A good friend, and former flight attendant, now an established artist in NYC creates fine art. I chose to feature Sally Tharp Fine Art, and her painting entitled "The Great Escape", exhibited and for sale at Wells Gallery on Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Memories of capturing fireflies are like gems and treasures from our summers past, so I thought I'd share the same with you.

Thank you so much for listening, and getting your Jewelry Itineraries from Jewelry Navigator. Please leave a review in iTunes or whatever platform you listen to your podcasts with, and feel free to email me with suggestions on what you'd like to hear on future episodes!

Until next time, cross check your sparkle, and fasten those safety clasps!

Episode 14 The Virtues of Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry With Samantha Jackson

Samantha Jackson, founder of Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry, joins us in the Jewelry Navigator Boarding Lounge today.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Samantha explains how collections with names like Rebirth, Audubon, Carnival, Celestial, Garden District, Spirits, and Voodoo,are inspired from the nature, history and culture of the region.

I first met Samantha and her jewlery line, Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry, at the Metal and Smith 2018 Winter Edit in NYC, and have been hooked ever since.

Using vintage accents, like antique love tokens (originally coins that are burnished on one or both sides, then engraved with significant dates, monograms and secret messages), and an unusual combinations of design and gems, Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry reveals  how we strive to connect meaning between what and who is significant in our lives.

Inspired by jewelry since a child, Samantha connects jewelry to a virtuous purpose beyond appreciation and ornamentation, and is evident in her purpose for starting Heavenly Vices.

Samantha contributes effort between her busy work and home life, along with profit from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry towards plans to eliminate roadblocks to the necessary steps and provisions to eliminate pet and animal over population.

You can find Heavenly Vices Jewelry at heavenlyvicesfinejewelry.com

Whether traveling on vacation, or shopping in a new store anywhere, listen for tips and recommendations on how and where to shop for jewelry.

It all starts with a couple tips to keep in mind, then I take you across the country to “visit” jewelers and their shops, and share their inspiration.

Jewelry that celebrates nature’s scenes with turtles, to alligator toe bones;

From jewelry that looks like pirate’s treasure to colorful candy, and created down the road from chocolate and candy factories, to jewelry created on site, and in stores, some just a short drive to the beach.

This episode features jewelry created by:

Gogo Jewelry

Cumberland Island, GA

gogojewelry.com

Bowman Originals,

Sarasota, FL

bowmanoriginals.com

B.S. Bee Designs

Kiawah Island, SC

bsbeedesigns.com

Plante Jewelers

Swansea, MA

plantejewelers.com

The Jeweler’s Bench

Hershey, PA

jewelrequest.com

Susann’s Custom Jewelers

Corpus Christi, TX

susanns-jewelers.com

Shopping while deployed video from their series, “Family Jewels”

https://youtu.be/Cd3vJ_MSoUs

The Bartel Watch Company

Corpus Christi, TX

New Life Refuge Ministries

Corpus Christi, TX

newliferefugeministries.org

Intro & Outro Music “Rev”, by Eveningland

from Youtube Audio Library

Background Music “Canal 3”, by Quinces Moreira, Youtube Audio Library

Thank you to the jewelers and designers listed above for creating quality and unique jewelry that contributes to celebrating lives through gifts and treasure!

Thanks so much for subscribing, downloading and listening!

Episode 16 America’s Vintage Jewelry Legacy with Hugo Kohl of Hugo Kohl Jewelry

Combining his formal education in finance and economics with his passions of art, jewelry design and history, Hugo Kohl has created a hybrid career of sorts as jewelry historian, bench jeweler and artistic philosopher. 

In 1993, Hugo had an experience at a scrapyard in Providence, Rhode Island that would begin a journey of discovery and recovery of the tools original to the means of making jewelry we’ve only been familiar with in antique collections and estate cases.

Originally, his formal education and degree was in finance and economics, his career in the finance industry was short lived.

While on vacation in Providence, Rhode Island, Hugo found the keys that rediscovered the tools and techniques used to create some of America’s greatest jewelry from the Industrial Age.

Since discovering the purpose of the tools he’d uncovered, he began the Museum of American Jewelry Design and Manufacturing.

From his boutique, workshop, and museum location in Harrisonburg, VA, he continues to use and demonstrate the same tools immigrants and skilled artisans used to introduce jewelry to the developing middle class of America during the Industrial Age.

Hugo shares the story of how he nurtures the legacy of American jewelry manufacturing from not only an artisan’s approach, but from a unique historical perspective as well.

Episode 17 The Eclectic Story and Designs of Wade and Willow Hand Forged Jewelry with Kiara Boughner

Where would you find a dragonfly carrying opals on its wings?

Or mermaids guarding labradorite?

…in the jewelry of Wade and Willow Hand Forged Jewelry!

 Today, I’m sharing the story of jewelry artist, Kiara Boughner, who uses her many artistic talents  to create Wade and Willow Hand Forged Jewelry.

 An avid rock hound and gem fanatic, Kiara has created a niche specific to unique styles inspired by designs that are eclectic, yet include themes celebrating nature with a classic flair.

 In between being a wife, mother of a toddler, part time model, rock and gem hound, designer and metalsmith, Kiara creates jewelry with stones she often sources herself with her family in the California desert.

 Kiara is lovely, with a sincere connection between the jewelry she creates for the people who love to wear it.

 Raised in a musical and creative family, Kiara shares how she navigates family, fashion modeling,  and time to pursue her passions of gem collecting and jewelry creation.

 I loved hearing how Kiara’s father instilled a love of rock and gem collecting, and provided the tools and taught her the skills to take a gem from its raw state and reveal its potential as jewelry.

 More women are finding their creative paths as metal smiths, jewelry designers and fabricators.

 I especially enjoy sharing stories like hers to inspire others to follow their creative callings.

 To hear more stories of jewelry and the artists who create it, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review in iTunes or the platform you listen to podcasts on - I’d truly appreciate it!

Thanks for joining me today, sit back, relax, and enjoy the episode, and you can find Wade and Willow Hand Forged Jewelry at wadeandwillow.com, and on Instagram, Wade and Willow Jewelry and Desgin.

May came home is a fresh and colorful jewelry line designed by the versatile and talented jeweler and designer, Deborah Halperin.

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Inspired by the e.e. cummings poem, “maggie, millie, molly and may,” Debbie brings the joy of discovering the beauty around us through colorfully graphic jewelry designs of enamel jewelry created in both sterling silver and 14kt yellow gold.

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Lucky clovers, tiny bunnies, suns, moons, and doves are just a few of the whimsical themes within her colorful jewelry.

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Episode 19 shares how Debbie’s journey and second degree in graphic design has delivered her to where she is in her jewelry career today.

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I met Debbie and her jewelry at the JA Show in New York recently, and am so glad I did!

I was drawn to her exhibit because of the variety of brightly colored enamel jewelry she makes.

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But what’s especially unique about her colorful and graphically pleasing designs, is that many of them are reversible, with one side of the enamel colors as one color theme, and the other side, a mirror image, or complimentary design.

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All May Came Home Jewelry is made in the USA, in New York City.

#artisanjewelry #madeinamerica #womenjewelers #poetry

#colorful #happyjewelry

Welcome to the 20th episode of the jewelry navigator podcast!

Today’s guest is Julie Bishop, creator and designer behind not just one designer jewelry business, but TWO - Juler’s Row, and Katherine and Josephine.

To help celebrate the 20th episode, and bring some extra sparkle to back to school, I have a very special back to school jewel giveaway, collaborating with my guest, Julie Bishop, and her Juler’s Row home decor items.

Juler’s Row started as a blog, and a way to explore multiple areas of jewelry design.

With bench, metal smithing and design experience, Julie understands the processes from concept to jewelry.

As her career’s evolved, she’s gained more hands on experience from behind the scenes as well as from the boutique counter, assisting clients with custom designs.

Using the concept of the variety one finds in a jewelry district, along with her name,  Juler’s Row is a line of jewelry art - both wearable and decorative - for yourself and your home!

The jewelry of Juler’s Row is sterling silver and yellow gold vermeil over sterling silver, accented with linear and geometric black and white enamel detail, set with rose cut white topaz gemstones, black onyx and fresh water pearls.

Juler’s Row home decor line grew out of an innovative solution to Julie’s desire to have jewelry wall art, and decorative accessories.

 Unable to find just what she wanted, she created a line of wall art and home decor items created and designed between she and her mother, Amy.

The two collaborate on designs, then Amy hand sketches and accents the details with watercolors the antique jewelry, tiaras and gemstones featured on Juler’s Row decor items.

The artwork is then transferred to canvas wall art, tote bags, accent pillows, wallpaper, and paper prints.

Julie’s other line, Katherine and Josephine, is a line of vintage inspired jewelry designs, which connects antique style with a relevant update for today and for years to come.

Katherine and Josephine offers a variety of styles, from minimalistic tube cuffs, set with diamonds on the ends, to jewelry set with French cut stones.

Julie’s fine jewelry line of Katherine and Josephine creates jewelry that’s charming and classical using accents like milgraining and bright cut stones.

GIVEAWAY!!!

As a special treat for back to school, and to help you carry your jewels to school, and deck out a dorm or study room with jewelry, Julie and I are doing and Juler’s Row Giveaway for not one, but TWO Juler’s Row items.

The first one is a Double sided heavy cotton twill tote bag with belting straps, with a Cushion Cut Diamond, Sketched in pencil, painted in watercolor, printed on cotton material, allowing you to sparkle as you return to school, or wherever you go!

The Bag measures 16.25"X15.”, and the diamond was painted by Julie’s mother, Amy, and has a retail value of $145!

The second giveaway and back to school jewel, is a Canvas Print of an

Opal Layout Rendering sketched in pencil, painted in watercolor on 140 lb. paper and transferred to canvas.

The Opal Layout was designed by Julie, and painted by Julie’s mom, Amy.  

The wrapped canvas is 12X12 inches, and 3/4 inch deep, with hanging wire.

Retail Value: $145

I originally had the giveaway scheduled for today, but wanted to give you all more time and chances to win - so, to enter to win either the Cushion Cut Diamond Tote or the Opal Layout Rendering Canvas print, you’ll want to follow both Jewelry Navigator and Juler’s Row on instagram or Facebook, @jewlerynavigator or @julersrow and tag three friends, and include the hashtag, #julersrowgiveaway.

So, you and your friends have a chance to win either the Diamond Tote bag or a jeweled opal canvas print - both perfect for a stylish return to school or to add more sparkle to any office or study area!

I’ll announce the winner on next week’s podcast, and you have until Sunday, August 12, to enter!

I’m so excited to be sharing Julies’s story and her unique jewelry home decor items and jewelry with you, and am grateful for her generous participation in my very first give away!

Good luck!

Episode 21 And the Winners are…!!!  Juler's Row Giveaway, & A Look Back

As promised, today, I’ll be announcing the winners of the Julers Row Giveaway.

If you missed it, last week, in the Jewelry Navigator Boarding Lounge, Julie Bishop of Juler’s Row and Katherine and Josephine shared her story of how she successfully runs two jewelry businesses, IN

Episode 20 Back to School Jewels With Juler’s Row Home Decor Jewelry Art

We ran a giveaway contest for one of two of her jewelry theme decor items, of either a cushion cut diamond tote bag, or an Opal watercolor rendering canvas print, both with a retail value of $145, and both items are perfect for  back to school = the tote bag with its big, beautiful cushion cut diamond, and the opal watercolor print to brighten up and add sparkle to any dorm or apartment wall!

In the contest on Instagram, instructions were to like the posts, follow both me and Julie at Juler’s Row, and tag 3 friends to enter.

All of her jewelry and home decor items are made in the U.S., with the exception of the katherine and josephine satin straps, and

the artwork prints used for her Juler’s Row home decor items are all designed by Julie, and hand painted by her mother, Amy, also a designer.

Before I announce the winners, I want to thank everyone for listening and supporting Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

I’ve really enjoyed visiting with and sharing the jewelry and the designer’s stories with you.

I look forward to bringing more stories and helpful tips in upcoming episodes.

If you haven’t heard all the episodes, in today’s I re-cap a few of them so you can enjoy a quick synopsis, or created mental notes to go back and hear episodes you missed.

For the remainder of August, and possibly into the first week of September, I’ll be taking a hiatus, but will return with new episodes.

I’m taking time to assess where I can add and create valuable service to you as shoppers and listeners, as well as to the artists and designers I feature.

For now, let’s congratulate the winners of the Juler’s Row diamond tote bag and opal watercolor rendering canvas print

The Cushion Cut Diamond tote bag goes to  Lori Cooper @lcooperfabulous

and the Opal Print goes to Julie Bergstein Romenanko who is @justjulesllc on Instagram.

Congratulations to both Lori and Julie for winning Juler’s Row wonderful creations! I’m so happy for both of you, and thank you for following and supporting me and Julie on Instagram!

The format for the podcast has mostly been visits with guest designers and jewelers.

A few have been solo episodes where I’ve shared information that is probably not common knowledge for shoppers, and I hope has been helpful.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the jewelers and designers, and sharing their jewelry and stories with you.

The following are clips from six of the episodes - there are fourteen others waiting to be heard and enjoyed.

I met Samantha Jackson at a show in New York in February.

I was so excited to find her, and you can hear the rest of her story, but here’s a quick clip from Episode 14 The Virtues of Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry With Samantha Jackson

Many of the designers I feature are women, but there’s one who captured my attention with her innovative concept of using the parts from late luxury and sports cars, like ferraris, maseratis, and prosches that sustained minor damages, from her husband’s auto body shop,

Christi Schimpke from the third episode, Q & A With Crash Jewelry Founder Christi Schimpke

It’s important to me to help shoppers understand the proper terminology and common misconceptions with jewelry terminology and concepts.

One of my pet peeves is referring to diamonds as chips, and the misnomer of using semi in combination with the word precious when describing gemstones.

Here’s a clip from

Episode 11 Chips are for Lunch, Not Diamonds and Other Helpful Jewelry Tips

Marc knobloch generously shared so much information on diamonds that i had to make two episodes!

Marc is a third generation diamond specialist in NY’s diamond district.

Marc and I spoke during the late afternoon while he was on his way home, so there are sounds of the city’s busy commute

He helped clarify a few of the complex concepts when shopping for a diamond, from

Part 1 and 2 of Diamonds Demystified with Diamond Industry Insider, Marc Knobloch

I love all jewelry, but have  a special place in my heart for colored gemstones, and when they’re big, rare, unusual and beautiful, I really take notice, like the jewelry made by CGJ by an exceptional mother - daughter team in San francisco.

Episode 10: Champagne, Rare Gemstones, and Jewelry With Denise Forbes of California Girl Jewelry

Capturing the essence and revealing the stories and meanings behind the styles and designs reflected by the significant cultural changes experienced during the Industrial Age in America is the gift Hugo Kohl offers through his exclusive vintage and antique style jewelry.

I was lucky to catch Hugo kohl of Hugo kohl jewelry  in the summer when things were a little slower, so was treated to a tour of his factory, workshop, boutique and museum

in Harrisonburg, VA.

He’s made a career from researching and discovering the tools and methods used to make the first jewelry created by the early methods and tools of the industrial era from the 1800’s.

The tour was recorded as the audio for the podcast, so you can hear the sounds of the machines, along with ambient music played at the work stations and in the museum which you can visit and tour

Episode 16 America’s Vintage Jewelry Legacy with Hugo Kohl of Hugo Kohl Jewelry

Thank you for joining me in these first few months of the podcast.

If you’ve enjoyed listening and learning about the jewelry and the designers, I’d so appreciate if you would leave a review, and be sure to visit their websites and instragram feeds and say hello, inquire about a gift design you have in mind, or just tell them how wonderful they are!

Until I return in September, reach out and say hello, tag me, message me - I’d love to hear from you!

And always remember - fasten you jewelry first before helping others with theirs!

Episode 22: No Ring Left Behind - Alternatives to Class Rings

Do you still have your class ring? Has it been abandoned in a drawer or jewelry box?

Class rings aren't as popular as they were in the height of their popularity, say in the 1950's through the 1980's.

For decades, graduating from high school and college had been celebrated with a coveted class ring.

West Point Military Academy began the tradition in 1835, and from there, other schools adopted the concept with their own rings.

The first class rings were all metal, or set with gemstones like onyx and carnelian.

Today, many students are choosing to forego class rings. Some reasons may be cost, lack of interest, or opting for other gifts, like electronics or cash.

Whether you or your student decides to show school pride and celebrate academic merits, graduating from high school and college is a big deal, and worthy to be celebrated with jewelry.

In this podcast, I share alternative rings that will hold interest and have style versatility beyond the year of graduation, so you don't make a purchase only to be abandoned in a drawer or jewelry box a few months or years later.

The jewelers and designers featured in this episode are:

• California Girl Jewelry
• Jill Kathleen Designs
• R. Simantov
• Emily Kuvin Jewelry Design
• DRU. Jewelry
• Hugo Kohl Jewelry
• Rita Jewels
• Thesis Gems
• May Came Home
• Crash Jewelry
• Minton - Premium Architectural Jewelry

For links, photo features of the jewelry mentioned in the episode, please visit the blog post on www.jewelrynavigator.com 

Follow Jewelry Navigator on Instagram @jewelrynavigator

Thank you for choosing Jewelry Navigator for your unique jewelry selections, and enjoy the episode!

About Brenna, the Jewelry Navigator A Graduate Gemologist with a degree in geology, Brenna has worked in the retail sector of jewelry for nearly 15 years.

With a heart for the small business owner and independent designers, Brenna fills the gap between trade show and shopper looking for unique jewelry to define life and experience.

By sharing the missions, stories and creations of artisan and independent jewelers, Jewelry Navigator brings jewelry to the shopping public that may otherwise go undiscovered

Episode 24 Making Smart Choices for Jewelry That Lasts

Busy people need to make smart choices for jewelry that lasts.

In this episode, I share tips and features to make jewelry selections that will save you from costly repairs, and ensure a lifetime of wear and enjoyment.

Thanks so much for joining me, and enjoy the episode!

About Brenna, the Jewelry Navigator A Graduate Gemologist with a degree in geology, Brenna has worked in the retail sector of jewlery for nearly 15 years.

With a heart for the small business owner and independent designers, Brenna fills the gap between trade show and shopper looking for unique jewelry to define life and experience.

By sharing the missions, stories and creations of artisan and independent jewelers, Jewelry Navigator brings jewelry to the shopping public that may otherwise go undiscovered.

Visit jewelrynavigator.com for more, and follow on Instagram @jewelrynavigator

I met Emily Kuvin at the Jewelers of America Jewelry show in New York this past summer.

She was featured as one of a select few designers in the New Designer Gallery, curated and selected by Liz Kantner.

She’s been featured on Gem Gossip’s site with her Stella jewelry, and now I’m so excited to have her as today’s guest on the podcast.

What I find so interesting about Emily is how she balances the business and design side of her jewelry with the skills and background from her education and prior careers.

With a degree in history and English, she continued into the field of journalism, and was a news broadcast journalist.

She returned to school for a law degree, and practiced law before deciding to pursue a long lasting interest of jewelry design.

Her career experience and research skills as a journalist and in her law profession serve her well in her jewelry business.

She seamlessly balances a mix of aesthetic understanding with business practicality.

Currently, her two collections grow from classical influence, yet offer an elegant and whimsical style.

The Stella (the latin root of the word, star) collection consists of various sizes of organically formed stars with nine arms.

Using an organic star motif, one can interpret her Stella collection to express an appreciation for stars and a respect for the vast universe, or as a resemblance to the “kapow” super hero comic strip graphic as a way to recognize internal strength in a fun and whimsical way.

The largest design, Stella and a medium size, Stellina are featured as necklaces and earrings.

In the center of each Stella and Stellina piece is an oval gemstone surrounded by six small diamonds sprinkled around the center stone and in the middle of the stars’ arms.

Gems like morganite, tourmaline, amethyst, and turquoise are just a few of the gems she uses in all her designs.

The Classical Collection is the second line of jewelry featured in Emily Kuvin Jewelry Design.

Inspired by the iconic pyriamids of ancient Egypt, for which she had an affinity for studying as a young girl, Emily grew her Classical collection based on triangular forms and gems.

Emily combines the triangualr form that three small, bezel set gems with trillion shaped gems as the basis for her Classic Collection.

Both her collections are unique and offer a distinguished celebration to stand out with elegance that transitions between casual to formal wear.

I love how Emily Kuvin’s designs pack a sparkling punch to remind us who we are and to stand up for the super stars we are!

The Not So Scary Truth About Opals

Anne of Geierstein, also known as The Maiden of the Mist is a novel written by Sir Walter Scott, in 1829, and cast an unlucky shadow onto opal.

The story told of a young princess who wore an opal pin in her hair.

When she was happy, the opal radiated with its signature flashes of colors. When she was mad or sad, the opal faded in light and color.

Convinced she was evil or bewitched, holy water was sprinkled onto the opal to break the jewel’s spell, and at once, the princess fainted and collapsed.

The next morning, there was only a heap of gray ashes where she had been laid.

From that point on, opal was believed to be bad luck, and it suffered in popularity.

It regained attention and jewelry status to be pushed again by the jealous diamond industry, so it is speculated.

Today, opal is enjoyed by many for its fiery display and wide variety.

The most recent variety uncovered is a transparent, jelly variety, called Ethiopian opal.

A listener of the podcast reached out to me about a few Ethiopian opal stones she has that have discolored to a duller orangey - yellow color, and asked if I could explain the change of appearance.

I reached out to a few gemologists and specialists, MD Maya Gems, Diana Jarrett, G.G., and Matt Hopkins of Hopkins Opal.

Matt spent some time with me on a phone conversation and explained why the opal changed color, and also clarified the controversial advice to either oil or keep your opals in water.

Be sure to visit the website for the accompanying blog post that will feature links to the research, photos of opals and opal jewelry by Thesis Gems, Russell Trusso, and more!

Is your jewelry covered by accurate and legitimate appraisals?

If you lost your engagement ring tomorrow, would it be adequately covered by your insurance for it to be replaced as close to the original?

These are questions that are answered with a proper appraisal that is current and accurate.

Part of why I share the information related to jewelry is so you don’t feel intimidated by shopping for and caring for your jewelry.

You should always feel comfortable with the jewelry professionals you trust, and feel they have your best interests at heart.

That brings up the subject of ethics, which should be the barometer that underrides the practice of personal property and jewelry appraisals.

Knowing who to trust, and who will appriase your jewelry fairly and honestly should be your first priority when choosing an appraiser.

I’m so excited to share my visit with today’s guest, Fred Van Doren, Graduate Gemologist, and Certified Jewelry Appraiser.

His story starts in a chemistry lab, and while he still uses a microscope on a regular basis, he has solid experience in jewelry appraisal, as well as a long history within the retail sector of the industry, from a corporate perspective, to his own privately owned store.

Type of appraisals:

A sales appraisal reflects the retail price of an item.

Most jewelry appraisals are created for insurance coverage based on replacement and fair market values.

Other reasons for jewelry appraisals are for

-liquidation value

-consighment purpose

-estate appraisals

-tax write offs for donations

Credentials to look for with an appraiser:

GG  (GIA - Gemological Institute of America; Graduate Gemologist) or FGA (Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain

Certificating Agencies

NAJA (National Association of Jewelry Appraisers)

ISA (International Society of Appraisers)

ASA (American Society of Appraisers)

Continuing education for gem and trade updates, such as lab created options, and gemstone treatments.

Whether you love jewelry and gems as much as I do, you may wonder sometimes about where the gems are found.

Knowing where gems are found is traceable

Knowing who finds the gem crystals, and exactly where to look is harder, and has been more difficult to trace - until now, and unless you make that your mission.

Today, I’m very excited and honored to be sharing my visit with Roger and Rachel Dery.

Their gem story goes so much deeper than the depths from which the gems they feature are discovered.

The Dery family, Roger, Ginger, and Rachel launched Gem Legacy, last fall,  and 501 c 3 non-profit company.

In Tucson, next month, Roger, Ginger and Rachel will be celebrating the launch of Gem Legacy.

Their mission is to make the lives of the miners, families and communities that are supported through Gem Legacy better, and more enriched through their treasured resources by means of educational and guided support by Gem Legacy.

With the demands of more transparent commerce interactions, Roger Dery and his family are building a legacy of trust in the gem and mineral industry from the ground up - something that is way overdue.

You can find Gem Legacy on Instagram @thegemlegacy, and Roger Dery's custom and expertly faceted gemstones at rogerdery.com, and @rogerdery on Instagram.

Kate Hubley is the designer and goldsmith behind K8 Jewelry.

Based in Montreal, Canada, Kate holds the prestigious FGA gemmology designation from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.

Originally a professional within advertising, Kate began taking courses in design and jewelry gold smithing.

Kate is a delight to visit with, and she creates jewelry using captivating concepts with a twist of light hearted whimsy.

With collection names like Precious Time, Lumina, Carnival, and more, Kate’s designs are versatile, and offer styles for a range of interests and demographics.

Join me in this podcast to hear how Kate interpreted a friend’s drawing of medieval torture weapons into one of her most meaningful collections. You can find Kate's jewlery at www.k8jewelry.com and she's on Instagram as @k8jewelry.

With spring and summer as popular wedding seasons, that also means anniversaries!

Shop smart from your heart and your wallet!

In this episode, I share jewelry to give as new gifts, along with tips on how to pass along an heirloom piece for a gift.

Having a jeweler you know and trust is so important, because they can save you lots of money through repairs that revive old pieces.

I also share:

• unique pearl jewelry gifts that are updates to your grandmother’s pearl necklace
• the difference between fresh and saltwater cultured pearls
• jewelry gifts for the guys
• affordable options to refurbish old pieces to gift as heirlooms
• and lots of unique jewelry designs set with beautiful gems and diamonds, created to celebrate what makes us special to each other from the giver to the recipient

Jewelry and Designers featured in this episode:

• Veronica Eckert Studio
• Galatea
• Katherine & Josephine
• Paul Michael Jewelry & Geek.Jewelry
• Crash Jewelry
• Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry
• Hugo Kohl Jewelry
• Ulman’s Jewelry, Fredericksburg, VA
• The Jeweler’s Bench, Hershey, PA
• California Girl Jewelry, San Francisco, CA
• Marty Magic, Etsy
• LJD Designs, Etsy
• Cythra, Dan Popkie, Etsy
• Smithsonian’s American History blog and article, “Love Tokens - Where Cold Hard Cash and Romance Meet”

By Museum Specialist Robyn Einhorn, 

February 11, 2014

About Jewelry Navigator Podcast:

Listen to Jewelry Navigator Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, and Google Podcasts.

Brenna Pakes is the creative force behind Jewelry Navigator LLC, a collective platform to guide consumers to smart jewelry choices.  

As a GIA Graduate Gemologist with an undergraduate degree in geology, Brenna has enjoyed nearly twenty years of retail jewelry experience as a gemologist and jewelry consultant. 
Through Jewelry Navigator, she shares an appreciation for designers who create beyond commercial trends and whose designs resonate with shoppers looking to celebrate what makes them unique. 
Brenna promotes brand awareness and support for independent jewelry designers and artisans through informative media platforms, like Jewelry Navigator Podcast, and digital publication, Jewelry Navigator Passport.

This Episode:

"Costume Jewelry Treasures With Veronica Staudt of Vintage Meet Modern"

Since publishing “What’s in Your Jewelry Box Graveyard?” podcast episode, several people have reached out asking for help understanding jewelry they own or have inherited.

In this episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast, “Costume Jewelry Treasures With Veronica Staudt of Vintage Meet Modern, I’m continuing on a similar theme with the guidance from costume jewelry specialist and aficionado, Veronica Staudt of Vintage Meet Modern.

Veronica not only shares how several feature and styling elements of costume jewelry offer versatility for current times, but that many vintage costume collections are valuable, often commanding prices near those of fine jewelry.

As a former professional personal shopper, Veronica uses her styling skills to encourage her clients and Instagram audience to enjoy vintage costume jewelry as statement pieces to enhance occasional and everyday fashion.

Using the jewelry clues from Jewelry Box Graveyard Cheat Sheet (available in Jewelry Navigator Passport digital issue, Fall 2021) you may discover jewelry items that, while not made from precious metals or gemstones, they are still fun and enjoyable to wear.

To get your subscription to Jewelry Navigator Passport, email us at passport@jewelrynavigator.com

Horse Tails & Ant Hills - The Hidden Secrets of Garnets

FYI: Gemstones keep secrets, and it all starts with Horse Tails and Ant Hills!

Find out just what these cryptic clues mean in this week’s brand new, and the FIRST episode of Jewelry Navigator Podcast of 2022!

It’s the Year of the Tiger! Are you ready to POUNCE on more gem facts and jewelry stories?!

Listen to Jewelry Navigator Podcast on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Podbean. 

In this second part of It’s About Time - A Unique Twist on Luxury Watches with Kelly Juell of Juell time, Kelly shares the red flags to watch for when shopping for luxury watches and jewelry in the secondary markets.

She also discloses how the unique market position of low supply and high demand affects retailers of luxury watches and consumers seeking them out.

Some takeaways from my visit with Kelly Juell:

• work with a trusted AD or reputable “gray market” dealer who has an excellent reputation and who will have your best interest at heart
• because of its high demand, Rolex watches maintain and increase in value
• when purchasing from a secondary market, understanding the value of the box, tag, and original enclosures may make a significant difference in a purchase and resale price.

This topic of luxury watches fits within my recurring theme of Trends and Traditions, and there is so much more to come!

I have some guests I’ll be recording within the coming weeks to add more to your working knowledge of jewelry you love, have, and want, so be sure you’re subscribed to the podcast on your favorite platform.

Understanding common jewelry terminology is critical for shopping for and collecting jewelry.

Today on Carats and Coffee, I share what the difference is between two very similar jewelry and gem terms, karat with a "K", and carat with a "C".

Be sure to follow Jewelry Navigator on Instagram and on our Facebook page!

Celebrating spring with gems and jewelry is easy with tourmaline and spring cleaning tips for

repairs that save money with broken and damaged jewelry.

California Girl Jewelry offers value in jewelry set with rare and unusual gemstones.

An all women company, led by a mother-daughter duo in San Francisco, creates one of a kind jewelry pieces that endure time and trends with quality designs and high grade gemstones and precious metals.

Spring cleaning often uncovers treasures forgotten in jewelry boxes and drawers.

With a little knowledge of repair possibilities, old jewelry can be restored to be worn and enjoyed again.

Clarity, insight, and wisdom are three qualities I feel this week’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast guest exhibits naturally.

Tonya Powell is founder and creative initiator of Pareure, a collection of  jewelry designed for women who define themselves with confidence, and reach beyond limitations.

Her classically simple signature circular designs are the embodiment of her tagline, “Be Seen. Be Heard, Be Bold”.

I’m excited to share Tonya’s story on this week’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast episode, and if you’re in the Washington DC Metro area the first weekend of December, you can see and shop her jewelry firsthand at the Holiday Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Chantilly, VA, December 6-8.

You can find Pareure online at pareure.com and on Instagram @pareureofficial.

Before departing for a creative career in jewelry design, Dana Busch enjoyed a professional career as a doctor in clinical health psychology.

After completing a masters program in art therapy, she chose to focus on public health, and spent her career in medical centers creating programs focusing on lifestyle choices for patients with chronic conditions.

While she enjoyed helping her patients with programs she developed, she left the corporate politics and bureaucracy behind to reinvent her purpose through her own jewelry design company, Dana Busch Designs.

Borrowing the practice in art exhibits, Dana creates collections, and uses descriptive titles for each piece, which are influenced by the colors and patterns in the gems she hand selects for each piece.

Each titled piece is a reflection of the natural landscapes for which they’re named.

By incorporating picturesque, patterned, and texturally interesting gemstones and fossils, Dana’s jewelry designs combine colorful and sculptural aspects that celebrate the beauty of the desert southwest, scenic reflections of  nature, and images influenced through her international travels.

You can find Dana’s jewelry on her website, danabuschdesigns.com, as well as at medicinemangallery.com

Dana will be exhibiting in Tucson at the JCK Show;

Dana Busch Designs

JCK Tucson 2020

JW Marriott Starr Pass

Booth 319

February 5-8, 2020

Gigi Ferranti, Graduate Gemologist and Jewelry Designer: How Fashion, Architecture, & Italian Heritage Influence Gigi Ferranti Jewelry

From an early age, Gigi has been influenced by Italian architecture and jewelry design.

As a fashion marketing and business major, Gigi began her career in management within a large retail clothing chain.

She owned and ran her own high end boutique for twenty years, dressing and supplying her clients for special events and personal styling.

After getting a taste of supplying her boutique with jewelry from the JA New York show, she transitioned into jewelry design, starting by acquiring her Graduate Gemology credentials from GIA New York.

She worked briefly for David Yurman selecting gemstones for their prominent pieces, then returned to GIA to learn jewelry design.

She launched Gigi Ferranti Jewelry in 2015, and hasn’t looked back!

I met Gigi last summer at the JA New York show, and next week, she’ll be showing in Las Vegas for the first time for the Premier of the Premier Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center May 30 through June 3 in booth 2203.

You can follow along with the Gigi and the Premier Show on Instagram @gigiferrantijewelry and @premier.showsand me @jewelrynavigator.

This podcast shares how you can save thousands of dollar with jewelry that’s been abandoned or forgotten in your jewelry box, as well as the jewelry items you wear on a regular basis.

Spring is the time of year we start fresh by cleaning inside and out,  and clearing out old, worn out items.

The same should go with then contents of your jewelry box.

How many rings, earrings, chains and bracelets have been left to tarnish in the shadows of your jewelry box and drawers?

Did you know you could save thousands of dollars just by going through what’s in your jewelry box, and taking care of the jewelry you wear on a regular basis?

Join me in learning how you can turn what you already have into “new” treasures and jewelry gifts!

Cash Register sound effect by and downloaded at https://www.zapsplat.com

Show Notes:

For more information about gold purity and FTC jewelry policies for consumers see

https://www.ftc.gov

Calla Gold Jewelry on Pearl Restrining

https://www.callagold.com/pearls/the-pitfalls-of-pearl-restringing-what-might-happen-after-restringing/

Sue Oster is the fearless force behind Feral Jewelry. She shares an interpretation of life’s strength and vulnerabilities using her signature collections created with sustainable and ethically sourced precious materials, combining design elements to celebrate who we are and what makes us unique.

She IS the Elegant Rebel, and her MO of highlighting anomalies and unexpected elements are the thread with which she shares her creative vision and inspirations, defined by her philosophy of, “If a diamond is forever, life is eternal”.

“Susan Oster launched Feral Jewelry in 2016.  After twenty years working in interior design, she turned her attention to jewelry, focusing on her love of nature and animal forms. Feral is her unbridled look at what it means to be both glamorous and undomesticated - to love the great outdoors and also be completely feminine.  It is a fearless approach to self expression and statement of strength.  Each piece is handmade is the USA; all parts are organic, recycled, and constructed in the timeless tradition of fine jewelry.” - From Feral Jewelry’s Home Page

In the podcast, Sue shared some of her favorite Feral pieces, including her Antler Cuff bracelet in 18kt yellow gold, her Crystal Spike dangle bracelet, Thorn Hoop Earrings, and Spike Antler Ring.

Ethically and Responsibly Sourcing Materials

Feral Jewelry acquires materials from CITES certified sources, and Sue goes above and beyond to ensure that the fossils and natural materials she uses in her jewelry are authenticated and certifiably identified as ethically sourced.

CITES regulations use strict standards so selections are in the best interests of preservation and sustainability.

For more information about the regulations put into place by CITES, participating countries, see their website,

https://www.cites.org

You can find Feral Jewelry on her website, feraljewelry.com; 

The Jewelry Bar in Palm Desert,

Vault Nantucket

Anne Emory Lockert, Birmingham, AL

Belle Cose, Jackson Hole, WY

Polishing and Finishing for Jewellers and Silversmiths Book Giveaway Winners

Last week, my guest on Jewelry Navigator Podcast was Stephen M Goldsmith, master polisher.

In his book, “Polishing and Finishing for Jewellers and Silversmiths”, Stephen shares techniques and methods he’s used to maintain some of Great Britain’s national treasures, as well as adding convincing details to current bespoke jewelry masterpieces created by Theo Fennell.

⁣He generously donated two signed copies of his book for a drawing to Jewelry Navigator Podcast listeners, and the winners are:

Cristina Tamames of Atlanta, GA, and

Scott Thompson of Nova Scotia

CONGRATULATIONS!

 This was the last Jewelry Navigator Podcast for 2019. Thank you to all the guests, subscribers, and listeners! It's truly been a pleasure sharing my jewelry discoveries of unique creations for those who want to stand out with jewelry created with purpose.

I’d love to know what you’d like hear on the podcast for 2020.

Email suggestions to brenna@jewelrynavigator.com

or DM me @jewelrynavigator on Instagram.

Blessings for a lovely and safe holiday season, and I’ll be back soon with more jewelry stories and adventures!

Inside Jewelry Trade Shows & Marketing With Liz Kantner, Curator & Designer Consultant for the Premier Show

Liz Kantner is the designer consultant to rising, independent designers for Emerald Exposition’s jewelry trade shows, JA New York, and is heading up their debut Premier Show in Las Vegas, May 30 through June 3rd, 2019.

A few of the designers attending the show have been guests on Jewelry Navigator Podcast, like Samantha Jackson of Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry, and Kate Hubley of K8Jewelry.

Other designers featured are Emily Kuvin Jewelry, and Debra Halperin of May Came Home Jewelry, as well as industry insiders, Roger and Rachel Dery of Gem Legacy, and Roger Dery Gems.

Liz had extensive experience with digital marketing before she started her journey in the jewelry industry.

She moved to Denver from Philadelphia, and answered a Craig’s List ad for a social media and marketing position with Todd Reed Jewelry.

She advanced to marketing manager for Todd Reed. She compared her time at Todd Reed to a master’s program in luxury marketing and the jewelry industry.There, she covered all aspects of marketing, while connecting them with sales strategy.

With a large staff of experienced jewelers, she familiarized with jewelry design and fabrication processes.

Since her time at Todd Reed, Liz has moved back to the East Coast.

She found her current roll with Emerald Expositions after the unfortunate and untimely passing of Cindy Edelstein, the former curator and mentor to designers featured in the jewelry shows represented by Emerald Expositions.

Liz does her best to follow in the steps of Cindy by nurturing new and rising jewelry designers featured in her shows.

Her drive to serve the designers  in the shows she curates is inspiring.

Besides sharing her experience as a new shop owner in Asheville, NC, we discuss how designers can use the shift in retail trends to their advantage through trade shows and marketing.

You can find Liz on Instagram @liz_kantner

Premier @premier.shows

Watch their feeds for exciting coverage of the exclusive Premier Show in Las Vegas!

Email her at elizabeth.kantner@gmail.com for questions regarding future trade shows and her consulting services.

The sponsor for this podcast is the Spring Fling Jewelry & Accessory Guide, featuring gifts perfect for the special events and occasions in spring, like father’s day, graduations, anniversaries, weddings, and birth gifts.

I feature some of my favorite designers, many of whom have been guests on the podcast, like CRASH Jewelry, Mary van der Aa, Emily Kuvin Jewelry, Hania Kuzbari, Sarah Michikos, Nayla Shami,and MINTON.

You can find the guide under the Special Features tab in the main menu on my website or click here

https://jewelrynavigator.com/spring-fling-jewelry-accessory-gift-guide/

Thanks so much for joining me today - I know you have a choice in what you listen to, and if you like jewelry, you’re in for a treat - so sit back, relax, and enjoy the episode!

One more thing!

Do you have jewelry questions, or are you an emerging jewelry designer who needs a boost?

Future Jewelry Navigator Podcasts are in the works, and scheduling is open for a short time.

Reach out to me with questions and queries at brenna@jewelrynavigator.com.

More American Made Jewelry Discoveries

Besides sharing more amazing jewelry designers with jewelry made in America, I thought I’d also take the time to catch up and share some shopping and sale opportunities, which I’ll share in a few minutes.

Summer is for fun and traveling, and we’ve been busy doing that!

In fact after I record this episode, I’ll be headed to DC to visit the Smithsonian museums with my family - and gems etc

For the month of July, I’ve been featuring jewelers and designers of America, and jewelry made in the U.S., starting with Hugo Kohl out of Harrisonburg, VA, who creates jewelry from original, antique tools and hubs used just like they were in the 1800’s.

A lot of his jewelry is accented with ornamentation that held secret messages for the recipients, from cigar band style rings, to signet styles, to the delicately engraved gold wedding bands.

If you missed that episode, it’s number 16 America’s Vintage Jewelry Legacy with Hugo Kohl of Hugo Kohl Jewelry

Then, in episode 17, I featured Kiara Boughner of Wade and Willow Hand Forged Jewelry.

The Eclectic Story and Designs of Wade and Willow Hand Forged Jewelry with Kiara Boughner

Kiara is a talented young woman, who sources many of the stones she sets in her jewelry with her husband, and often includes their young son on their gem hunt excursions in the California desert.

I was mesmerized by both their stories - if you still have summer travels, make sure you download the episodes yo’ve missed to catch up!

Wrapping up July’s podcasts, we continue with American made jewelry, I have some new designers to share with you I met at the Jewelers’ of America Jewelry Show in NY last week.

I was so excited to meet several people I follow on Instagram, most of whom are designers, and one very special gemologist, who I’ll tell you about in a few minutes!

I attended the show with one of my favorite people in the world, and best friend, Angelica.

We worked together in Virginia for a small indie store, and became close friends.

Angelica is passionate about serving shoppers and their jewelry vision by custom or ready made means.

She has excellent “jewelry intuition”, and can move a job along quickly by interpreting a client’s needs and design ideas to finished jewelry joy.

She’ll be taking over The Jewelers Bench in Hershey, PA at the beginning of next year.

It’s wonderful seeing the evolution of the jewelry trade changing over to the next generation with capable and enthusiastic direction.

I was excited to get be with her at the show as I was getting to meet the designers and see their jewelry.

Ok, so on to what I discovered at the show!

Last weekend, I attended the JA show for the first time, and LOVED it!

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I especially enjoyed meeting the jewelers and designers in the New Designer Gallery, hearing their stories, and what inspires them to create their jewelry.

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We’re navigating a unique business arena - one that can change in months rather than years.

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What’s really exciting is seeing the opportunities evolving and growing from the mechanisms of online reach, not only forming friendships, but connections so we can champion for each other.

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Most of the designers I met are women, yet many did not start as jewelry designers - which makes their jewelry and stories even more intriguing and endearing.

I’ll share a few of their stories today, and in the coming weeks, I hope to have more in depth features with them.

I flew to Harrisburg Saturday, so I could take the train to New York with Angelica on Sunday.

With filled travel mugs of coffee to go, and our latest trade magazines, we departed for New York.

Before we arrived in the city, we did our homework, and made notes who we wanted to find at the javits center.

We went straight to the New Designer Gallery, a special, but small selection of new designers.

EMILY KUVIN

I was excited to recognize the explosion-type designs of Emily Kuvin as I entered the section of the New Designer Gallery.

I’ve been following Emily for several months now, and always love seeing her joyful gem explosions suspended from necklaces, earrings, and as statement rings.

As I visited with her, she shared her formal education and former career was in marketing and journalism.

She picked up jewelry design in high school, and transitioned from her former career to pursue and grow her jewelry business full time.

Based in New Hampshire, All of her jewelry is made in the U.S.

Her signature star explosion motif is part of her Stella line, and almost looks like a comic book emotion explosion, but hers are either freeform shapes to create earrings and necklaces or engraved on cuff bracelets.

She also creates elegant but simple forms using three bezel-set stones to form a single triangle, or paired up with a trillion cut colored gemstone.

You can find her at emily kuvin dot com as emily kuvin jewelry design.

as well as in several specialty and jewelry boutiques in the Boston and New England area, which are listed on her website.

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I really enjoyed hearing the designers tell their stories, and as we strolled down the aisle, we were drawn to the booth where Danielle of Merzatta warmly welcomed us to visit her and her jewelry.

Bold, but elegant, Merzatta jewelry is designed and inspired by textures and forms of nature.

Cast directly form organic and botanical originals,

Each piece I wore and examined was comfortable with its own unique features, and the price points are very wallet friendly.

Danielle and her husband, Chris met while on a construction project in the Grenadines.

While in the tropical location, they would collect trinkets of nature while on walks, like a piece of sea fan coral, shells, and random pinecones.

After returning to the States, their relationship continued, they married and had their first child.

In between starting their family, and their continued design work, they discovered means of jewelry fabrication to translate patterns of nature into jewelry, many taken from the items they originally found in Grenadine.

The couple creates and manufactures Merzatta jewelry from their home studio in New Jersey.

I love rings, and she and Chris have created a selection of beautiful designs, some with stones, like a trapiche emeralds and a star sapphires, others with open designs of the patterns and textures they were formed from.

One of my favorite rings is created from the small pinecones that interlock and spin together.

You can see a video in my Instagram feed of the pinecone ring.

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Imperfect Grace is a line of colorful jewelry designed with a geometric flair with an endearing history, and is named for the  confidence we grow into as we come into our own adulthood.

Krista Trpkovski, immigrated From the Ukraine at 12, and weaves small colorful gems into her designs as lively as the colorful Ukrainian cross stitch embroidery from her homeland.

The geometric designs and bright gemstones are set into innovative stacking designs that reflect creativity and versatility.

I loved watching her demonstrate how the rings stack together seamlessly.

She makes stackable bands that look like single or double sided crowns, so when they’re stacked together, they look like a solid band, with the gems alternating from either side.

I’ll put photos up and watch my instagram feed for photos as well.

you can fine her at imperfect grace dot co,

There were ten designers all together in the New Designer Gallery, but I’m saving a few of the others for another podcast, because I want to tell you about who else I met and saw at the show!

I also met both Gigi Ferranti and Lori Ann Friedman of Lori Ann Jewelry.

I’ve admired both Gigi’s and Lori Ann’s jewelry because their designs stand out as being unique and innovative , and I love how their combinations of colored stones and shapes.

Many of Gigi’s jewelry designs have what’s become her signature pattern from her Lucia collection - Lucia meaning graceful light reflects the elegance of her jewelry.

Because most of her designs are based on geometric patterns, the rings and bracelets are stackable, and can be worn together or separately.

Besides meeting Gigi in person (and she’s lovely, warm, and welcoming), I had the honor of visiting and wearing her mermaid ring!

If you don’t know what that is, you HAVE to see it!

Mermaid ring in 18K rose gold set with a rectangular 7.09 ct with Brazilian Indicolite Tourmaline, Pink Sapphires, Diamonds and Tsavorite Garnet.

Once in a while, you come across a spectacular gemstone, and the inspiration comes through that stone; this is one of those cases. We love when the stones speak to us and the creativity starts flowing. This is our interpretation of a Mermaid, beautifully crafted with quality gemstones. For gem lovers, a definite conversation piece.

Her jewelry is a show stopper, and every time we passed her booth, she had shoppers and visitors captivated by her and her jewelry.

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Many of the jewelers and designers I feature came from former careers, and ultimately, their skills and past experience contribute to their jewelry in one way or another.

If you’ve ever played with water color painting, you know the color is added in layers.

Building on the concept and design of layers, Lori Ann Friedman of Lori Ann Jewelry, does just that.

How?

It’s a technique that I wouldn’t have expected, but one an intuitive artist like Lori Ann came up with!

For her Mediterranean collection, she Uses high polished gem slices as a the sort of transparent canvas , she then adds layers of gems.

The stones added are mostly bezel-set, and often with a primary center focus stone, surrounded by accent diamonds or other gemstones.

With collections, like

she selects the gemstones while subtly capturing and pairing them with complementary metals and accent gemstones.

Unique combinations, like labradorite, opal and green sapphire create ethereal wearable art, like a ring from her Galaxy collection.

Lori Ann was awarded the Mort Abelson New Designer of the Year from last year’s New Designer Gallery.

Her first career as a graphic designer and art director for an engineering company serves her well as an innovative jewelry designer.

I met up with Lori on one of the semi circular couch alcoves set up throughout the showroom and was able to visit with her before heading to the airport for my return home.

Lori Ann’s jewelry can be found on her website, lori ann jewelry dot com, as well as in Mitchells stores, a luxury brand retail store, with locations  in New York, CT, CA, and OR.

I had been trying to connect with a very busy gemologist while at the show the two days we were there.

You might know her from Instagram as Gemology Geek.

Erica was striding down the aisle of the New Designer Gallery when we found each other.

Smart, beautiful and a wealth of knowledge from all sides of the jewelry industry, Erica is a Graduate Gemologist who shares detailed and interesting gem and mineral facts on her instagram feed and stories.

She’s also worked in almost every arena of the jewelry trade, so she’s familiar with the inside, outside and sideways details of what designers and jewelers go through to produce, show and sell their lines.

The timing was perfect, because she joined me and Lori Ann on the semi circle couch, and we enjoyed an enlightening pow wow.

I didn’t realize how quickly the time would go at the show.

First of all, it’s a large space.

JA does a great job at organization and allowing for plenty of open space for overviews and visiting with new vendors and attendees.

I’ll definitely go again, and next time, schedule in more time to visit with designers and friends.

Wow! That was a lot!

I have been busy this summer, but because it’s the quiet before the holiday shopping storm for jewelers and manufacurures, it’s the perfect time to catch up with them for features and visits.

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Speaking of the storm of holiday shopping…

I have some shopping news to share with you!

Get a jump start on holiday shopping in July - seriously - knock off that gift list early so you can enjoy making cookies and drinking cocktails, eggnog, whaterve -  while everyone else frantically shops when the days get dark earlier.

Check out these two designers’ offers to take advantage of deals that will make holiday shopping so much easier!

There are certain people - especially men - I find are very hard to shop for.

Crash Jewelry makes is a whole lot easier.

Christi Schimpke makes jewelry for men and women from minor damaged parts of luxury and high performance sports cars, like Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferraris and more.

Right now, she’s running a 30% off sale on everything in her store!

Cufflinks (they’re not just for men anymore, either), cuff, bangle bracelets, necklaces and earring, all made from the painted doors, hoods and side panels of these luxury cars.

What’s really cool about this jewelry besides being made from these cars, is that it’s super light weight.

go to crash jewelry dot com

I’ve been a big fan of Cate Claus of Thesis Gems for sometime now.

She creates jewelry with an organic, and sometimes almost tribal, but feminine feel.

A lot of her metal accents are hammered, which allows for a complementary texture that makes the stones she uses stand out even more.

She only uses stones that have been ethically sourced, and verified to the ethical treatment of those who source and mine the stones as well as for the land it’s sourced from.

Here’s the mission statement from her

We believe that people and the environment are more valuable than any gem. That’s why Thesis seeks sources that are committed to ethical treatment of workers and the land. We are not afraid to ask important questions about labor practices and environmental impact and seek hard evidence. And we donate 1% of our profits to organizations fighting to conserve and defend our planet.

Our partnerships work to ensure that your jewelry is made with integrity, from the time your gem is liberated from the earth in Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, or Canada, to the time it is crafted into a finished heirloom by master goldsmiths in the San Francisco Bay Area or London.

-Cate Claus, Thesis Gems

She has a super interesting story that I’m going to share in a future podcast!

Oh! And, her logo is super cool! A lion and a kangaroo as her coat of arms - but very friendly.

Tsavorite, Mozambique ruby, and Lightning Ridge opals are just few of the gemstones beautifully showcased and set within her 18kt yellow gold settings.

Right now, through August 31, 2018, she’s offering $500 off any of her pieces!

See her instagram feed story highlights for complete details and the coupon code @thesisgems.

There are so many wonderfully talented jewelers and designers, and I love sharing their jewelry and stories with you!

If you like learning about new jewelry you can feel good about wearing and sharing, please leave a review in iTunes or through the platform you listen to podcasts on - I’d SO appreciate it!

I’m so excited!!!! We’re almost to episode 20!!!!

Next week, I’ll be sharing the story of a jeweler who not only creates jewelry, but paints it!

AND…we’ll be doing a give away of a bag of gems together, so you’ll really want to listen in, and stay tuned!!

Until next time…cross check your asterism (that’s for gems that exhibit a star, like star sapphires!) and sparkle - talk to you next week!

Jewelry Navigator Summer Jewelry Adventures: From Florida to New York Jewelry Week

Between summer vacations, I visited jewelry designers this summer, and this video shares my jewelry adventures with them!

There is a coordinating video on Jewelry Navigator’s website, as well as on YouTube.

Jewelers, Designers, & Stores included in my adventures are:

Mary van de Aa

Anastasia Simes

Lily & Co Jewelers

Gigi Ferranti Jewelry

K8 Jewelry

Petite Baleine Jewelry

Eden Presley Jewelry

Elizabeth Moore

Noor Shamma

Sam Woermann

M. Kita Designs

Julie Lamb

Emily Kuvin Jewelry

For the most up to date jewelry adventures and news, subscribe to Jewelry Navigator Podcast, and follow Jewelry Navigator on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

For more information on any of the designers featured in the video, reach out to them, as I know they would be delighted to help you with your dream jewelry designs!

All images and videos by Brenna Pakes, Jewelry Navigator

Music:

“Tag You’re It”

The Whole Other

from YouTube Free Audio Library

Laryssa Wirstiuk of Joy Joya Jewelry Marketing Shares Tips for Successful Holiday Marketing For Jewelry Brands

Laryssa Wirstiuk of Joy Joya Jewelry Marketing is my guest this week on Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

She shares what small brands and designers can do to get in front of their ideal customers in time for the upcoming holiday gift season using tools and techniques you’re probably already using alone with others you may not have though of.

Laryssa shares the basics of what experiential marketing is, and what the main objective is.

Emerging designers often handle most of the day to day business tasks, including keeping up with social media.

Laryssa shares ways designers and brands can easily follow a schedule, making it easier to merge tasks and strategies.

To see some of the tools Laryssa shares in the podcast, visit the coordinating blog post for show notes including her recommendations, and where you can find her and her podcast, Joy Joya Jewelry Marketing podcast.

To learn more, see the show notes on jewelrynavigator.com

Melissa Dusenberry presents informative gem and jewelry information in welcoming and interesting formats on her website and Instagram Feed, All the Brilliants.

Her Gem Information Series on pearl caught my attention on her Instagram Feed.

With the help of Eve Streiker, or Original Eve Designs, Melissa shared how pearls form, what makes them unique, and their many varieties.

While Melissa’s mission of All the Brilliants is to educate consumers, her platform also serves women in the jewelry and science industries.

For an easy to follow pearl buying guide, subscribe to All the Brilliants to receive yours!

https://www.allthebrilliants.com/

Mother’s Day Jewelry Shopping Guide

With Mother’s day coming up in less than two weeks, I thought I’d share some of my favorite jewelry designers  with shopping tips on how to make our moms happy this Mother’s Day!

Some people shy away from jewelry shopping afraid it’ll cost too much, but I have a wide selection to share from pleasantly affordable to high value jewelry treats.

From jewelry created from luxury cars to rings that reveal she’s a Wonder Woman and jewelry that honors moms of human and fur babies, this episode shares jewelry that shows all moms how special and deserving they are.

By the way, These ideas are for anytime and anyone, so don’t think they’re limited to Mother’s Day.

Be sure to Download this episode or bookmark the blog post for future reference for future gift ideas.

Thank you, and enjoy the episode!

Jewelers and designers featured in this podcast are:

-California Girl Jewelry of San Francisco

-Crash Jewelry, Los Angeles

-Paul Michael Jewelry, Pittsburgh

-Patrick Mohs Jewelry, Wayzata, MN

-Nayla Shami, Lubbock, TX

-Julers Row & Katherine & Josephine, New York

Jewelry that smiles?

 Dangling gold fish with diamond eyes?

This week I share this and more, like vintage treasures, old and new just in time for Mother’s Day jewelry shopping.

Last week, I introduced you to seven of my favorite designers and their jewelry, and this week’s episode is the continuation of my Mother’s Day Jewelry Shopping Guide!

If you didn’t get a chance to listen to last week’s episode, I share jewelry perfect for all our super hero moms, with photos accompanying the podcast in the blog post on jewelrynavitgator.com.

This week, I tell you about four designers who have made an impression on me:

Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry introduces us to Love Tokens, Dan Popkie and his goldfish necklaces, Hania Kuzbari Jewelry Designs and her smiling jewelry, and Hugo Kohl jewelry, making old jewelry new again.

At the end of the podcast and in the blog post, I’ll share coupon codes and special offers from the jewelers and designers.

Nayla Shami Shares Life’s Experiences Through Her Jewelry Designs

In last week’s episode, I mentioned a few jewelry destinations for upcoming podcast stories.

Today’s jewelry designer’s story is influenced by traditional hand fabrication methods passed down from generation to generation of Lebanese goldsmiths and jewelers.

Nayla Shami is a delightful jeweler and designer based in Lubbock, Texas.

Originally from Lebanon, Nayla’s jewelry story grew from her appreciation of jewelry gifts received as a child, then later, as the designer.

I met Nayla almost two years ago at a Metal and Smith Show in New York.

Her selection and use of colorful gemstones set in her unique animal and nature inspired jewelry commanded my attention.

In today’s conversation, Nayla shares stories of A Burro, A Herd of Goats, Dancing Jeweled Flowers, and Marbles Encaged in Gems, all from her collections inspired by joyful childhood memories, and return visits to Lebanon.

Nayla also shares how she nurtures trust and loyalty in the relationships she forges with her retail store and boutique clients.

Drest by Scott Malouff in Lubbock, TX

Telluride, CO Slate Gray Gallery

Malouf on the Plaza, Santa Fe, NM

Today, I’m sharing my visit with Pam Waill, of Petite Baleine Jewelry,

She’ll be showing at the New York Now Show next month,  August 10-14 at the Javits Center in booth 1442.

Pam’s jewelry design business precipitated from her marketing background and an affinity for artistic creativity.

A serendipitous visit to a local boutique in her hometown of Katonah, NY, was the springboard for Petite Baleine Jewelry.

As a mother of teen and adult children, she works her jewelry business around her family and their dog, who

you’ll hear in the background occasionally through the podcast, but I love that!

It shows that we don’t have to live in a perfect, sterile world to have both a career doing what we love and a personal, family life.

With the support of family and peers, we can enjoy both our personal and professional lives, which is just as exciting as it is empowering.

Pam is endearing and approachable, and it was

a delight visiting with her.

Our visit begins as she shares how her knowledge base in marketing was influential in starting her business.

Pam also shares how the benefits of trade shows, and  what new and emerging designers can do until they’re prepared to invest in shows.

The overarchng aesthitics of Petite Baleine Jewelry are relaxed, yet elegant, and easily reflect today’s organic vibes.

Using a mix of materials appeals to a wide shopping demographic, from youthful and care-free to luxurious and sophisticated.

Petite Baleine Jewelry pairs Tahitial pearls with leather, while high karat gold cradles stones like Columbian emeralds, boulder opals, and alluring spinel,

Petite Baleine Jewelry offers shoppers a range of unique and one of a kind jewelry.

Pam will be in booth 1442 at the New York Now show

Once again, that’s August 10-14, at the Javits Center.

Stop by and say hello, and try on her collections - tell her you heard her story here on Jewelry Navigator podcast!

Also, look for me! I’ll be there as well!

If you’re a desinger, and would like to be featured on Jewelry Navigator Podcast, now’s your time to tell your story on one of the fastest growing platforms!

I have a few openings left in my schedule to feature designers and industry specialists forupcoming episodes

You can reach me at brenna@jewelrynavigator.com, or DM me on IG or Facebook to get the ball rolling!

In this second of a two part episode, “Debra Navarro's Leap of Faith Into an Award Winning Designer", Debra continues from how her Barefoot Collection ties in to the theme of her Watu Collection.

Debra Navarro LInks Arms With Gem Legacy

In this second part of my visit, Debra shared her connection with Gem Legacy, and how her East African gem excursions with Roger Dery, his wife, Ginger, and daughter, Rachel Dery revealed ties that paralleled her career path with lives within the mining communities she visited and enriched with the Gem Legacy team.

Gem Legacy grew from initiatives that serve the mining communities rich in natural gem resources, but face challenges to access and process them.

Debra's Watu Collection

"Watu" means “people” in Swahili.Debra shares how each Watu design is named for a person significant to her during her visits to East Africa, and how Gem Legacy is an integral part to her jewelry career and business.

Debra Navarro Jewelry Gives Back to Gem Legacy

5% of each purchase of Debra Navarro Jewelry goes to support initiatives that give back to the same communities and people who source the stones featured in her jewelry.

Debra Navarro Jewelry in Las Vegas for the Jewelry Show at the Premier Show

If you’re in Las Vegas for the jewelry shows, she is premiering at the Premier Show in booth 2500 in the Las Vegas Convention Center - stop by to say hello, and to experience her collection first hand!

Thanks for coming back every week for jewelry tips, arrivals, and departures, and the inspiring stories of the designers I feature on Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

Welcome to episode 6 of the Jewelry Navigator Podcast, and the part 2, and conclusion to last week’s episode, Diamonds Demystified with diamond insider and wholesaler, Marc Knobloch, vice president and third generation with Aron knobloch, Inc in New York’s Diamond District.

Last week, Marc called on his 30 years of experience to explain the importance of seeing a diamond and how leaning on its statstics on paper can lead to faulty comparisons;  what the most important of the 4C’s are in choosing a diamond;  the magic ingredient to choosing a diamond;  and explained the primary purpose for diamond certificates.

If you missed it, go back after this episode to catch up on what you missed in Part 1 from last week.

Today, we continue as Marc explains the process put in place by the industry to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market.

Marc also shares a diamond’s journey from mine to market, and how diamonds positively affect communities and regions of their origins.

We share what our favorite diamond shapes are, and discuss what makes certain cuts different from the rest.

Thanks so much for joining us today for the conclusion of my visit with Marc Knobloch.

Paul Bierker - Renaissance Jeweler & Founder of Geek Jewelry -featured image 

Paul Bierker is the founder of Paul Michael Jewelry in Pittsburgh, as well as Geek Jewelry, a line of super hero and science fiction inspired jewelry.

A kind of modern day renaissance jeweler, with equal parts inventor and anthropologist, Paul shares his insight on how he merges new design and maker methods with traditional bench skills and a genuine interest to create jewelry treasures based on what’s most important to his clients and their wishes.

If you’re a fan of the Avenger movie series or Star Wars, Paul makes jewelry to celebrate your fandom.

Other pop culture stories he uses for his jewelry inspiration are Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Anime, game characters, and more.

I found his jewelry online a few years ago, and did one of my first blog posts about him and his jewelry.

This weekend, we’re traveling to Pittsburgh, and I’ll be visiting Paul in his studio on Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of the City of Bridges.

Using luxury car parts to make jewelry as exclusive as the cars from which they were formed, Crash Jewelry is a unique line of jewelry created from a body shop garage in Los Angeles that specializes in repairing late model, high performance and luxury cars.

Cuffs, bangles, earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, and rings made from the luxury, high gloss paint parts of Mercedes, Teslas, Maseratis, Porches, Ferraris and more, Crash Jewelry was started by accident, from accidents!

None of the vehicles used originate from incidents that result in totaled damages, only minimal damages sustained in parking lot dings and scratches.

A line of sustainable jewelry made from the cars we dream to drive, Crash Jewelry founder, Christi Schimpke shares what inspired her to make jewelry from car parts otherwise destined for landfills and scrapyards.

Jewelry is a powerful touchstone and conduit by which we define ourselves within our life stories, family, and community.

Acknowledging this concept with symbolism and icons are reminders that we're connected to a higher power that guides us in how we choose to live our best lives.

This week my guest on Jewelry Navigator podcast is Seraphima McLean of Gallery Byzantium, a small jewelry design and manufacturing business in Ipswich, Massachusetts, dedicated to conserving and sharing the Byzantine aesthetic in both religious and secular jewelry.

As an art history major, Saraphima was a natural fit to re-establish the jewelry design business her father, an Orthodox priest started in 1991. He established Gallery Byzantium to honor the rich history and aesthetic of Byzantium art in jewelry to share and celebrate his faith.

As we celebrate our faith through the year, and especially during the Christmas holiday, I felt sharing the story and jewelry of Gallery Byzantium was the perfect time for this week’s podcast as we begin December.

You can find Gallery Byzantium’s jewelry online at https://gallerybyzantium.com/ and until Monday, December 2, 2019, gwt 15% off with their Black Friday Sale!

On Gallery Byzantium’s website, there are comprehensive summaries of the history of Byzantine traditions and art. Below are two.

Byzantine History

Jewelry

“From antiquity jewelry has had a powerful place in culture symbolizing, expressing, and unlocking the mysteries of life and the universe. Gold and silver jewelry set with precious stones expresses and confirms religious conviction, ethnic identity, aesthetic appreciation, and social standings.

Christians wear crosses and sacred pendants close to their hearts as tangible signs of their faith and Gods presence in their lives. While this understanding of jewelry has been obscured in modern times by mass-produced synthetics, the discerning eye still yearns for the power and beauty embodied in jewelry of universal design and value.” - Gallery Byzantium website, Byzantine History 

The Byzantine Synthesis

“Byzantium began when the fourth century emperor, St. Constantine, Christianized the Roman Empire and established Constantinople in Byzantium as the capital. During this era a synthesis of classical Greek, Roman, and Christian culture gave birth to unparalleled achievements in art and architecture.

Byzantium synthesized the eternal symbols of Christian faith and spirituality, the philosopher’s vision of the universal forms, the mysteries of geometric interrelationships as they apply to art and architecture, and the artisan’s skill which sought a balance between humanistic realism and spiritual abstraction.

By the mid-500s this unprecedented and unsurpassed synthesis unlocked and revealed the mysteries of the universe and gave monumental power and beauty to Byzantine art and architecture.” - Gallery Byzantium website, Byzantine History 

Besides Mother's Day and Father's Day, spring often brings many other reasons to celebrate, like graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and the birth or adoption of a baby. When given or received as a gift, or purchased for ourselves, jewelry allows us to reflect on our life celebrations long after the cake is gone, and streamers are torn down.

 Do you have a special anniversary or birthday this year? Is something worth celebrating happening soon? Is someone close to you graduating from high school or college?

Listen to the fabulous jewelry and accessory gift options by talented designers and jewelers featured in the podcast and coordinating post on Jewelry Navigator.

Tour the galleries for unique jewelry and accessory gifts – either for someone special, or yourself!

http://bit.ly/SpringFlingJewelryGuide

As a boy, Stephen Goldsmith had dreams of being a cartoonist.

His aptitude for art was innate, but his journey would take a detour to become a master of polishing and finishing national treasures and museum quality jewelry.

Stephen Goldsmith is a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, and shares his nearly 50 years of knowledge and experience as a master polisher with peers and students alike through his trade acclaimed book, Polishing and Finishing for Jewellers and Silversmiths, published by Crowood Press.

While Stephen has had the privilege of working with jewelry created for royal families and celebrities, his real treasures are created in the classroom and studios where he demonstrates to artisans how to bring their jewelry visions and stories to life.

Polishing and Finishing for Jewellers and Silversmiths has become a bench Bible of sorts for silversmiths, and Stephen very generously shared two copies of his book which he signed personally to give away to two Jewelry Navigator Podcast listeners.

To enter the drawing for one of the two signed copies of Stevens book, email brenna@jewelrynavigator.com by December 11 2019.

You can find Stephen on Instagram @goldpolisher and as an instructor at The Goldsmiths’ Centre in London.

This week’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast is unique and exciting!

If you love colored gemstone, or want to learn more about them from source to store, you’ll be mesmerized what today’s guest shares on Jewelry Navigator Podcast.

My guest has an established gem and jewelry store as well as a successful online gemstone and jewelry business.

Steve Moriarty is an accomplished gemstone cutter and jeweler in Crown Point, Indiana, about an hour southeast of Chicago.

His story begins with early childhood memories of collecting rocks in his wagon near railroad tracks close to his home.

His interest and passion in rocks and gems continued into college, when he took jewelry arts classes at Ball State University, then joined his older brother in a small gemstone importing business serving fine jewelry stores.

The quality of faceted goods they imported were often poor, so he learned how to cut and facet them himself.

From there, he began wholesaling to the industry for twenty years, and has a total of forty years in the business.

As his passion and expertise grew with gem cutting, he began sourcing the gem material by traveling to the exotic and far away places, like Bangkok, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

His specialty is colored stones, which thrills me, and even more so, tanzanite.

He shared that 40% of his stone business comes from the fine and tanzanite gemstones he facets and heat treats in his shop in Crown Point.

He is a generous source of gemstone and faceting information, sharing his  expertise on their YouTube channel, More Gems.

His legacy will continue, as his family joined him in the business with custom jewelry design, repair, fabrication, marketing, and online services.

I loved hearing his adventures in discovering the gemstones he takes home to facet, which you can find on their websites, moregems.com and tanzanitejewelry.com.

Custom design jewelers, like Mary van der Aa, create jewelry to reflect your unique style characteristics, with your gem, and metal specifications.

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The beauty of working with jewelers like Mary, is that not only does she do all the casting, setting and finishing work herself, but she also has access to custom-cut gemstones by her partner, Todd Wacks, of Tucson Todd Gems.

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As a woman designing and making jewelry, she shares a common perspective we have for beauty, style and balance.

It also doesn't hurt that she designed the pageant crown for Miss Denmark, complete with over 2500 hand-set melee stones!

Be sure you're subscribed for your on-time arrival every week to hear jewelry tips and stories! New episodes are released every Thursday.

Special aircraft cabin sound effects by ZapSplat Aircraft in-flight interior ambience as aircraft makes final approach – Airbus A340 commercial jet 2

https://www.zapsplat.com

What started out as a concrete jewelry for an architectural thesis project for her graduate program turned into a line of jewelry created by Emily Minton.

Now, Emily is a full time practicing partner at an archticecture firm in Baltimore, where at night and on weekends, you can find her designing and managing the manufacturing of her jewelry from NYC. 

Recnetly, her jewlery was featured on the models for Flying Solo's late summer fashion show.

I was surprised to learn that Emily is both the model and photographer for all her photo shoots for her jewelry.

From scenes that look like a moonscape, to the contrast of straight and curved lines set in the cornfields of Nebraska, Emily's photos on her site and Instagram feed are inspiring and make shoppers intrigued to know more about her jewelry.

You can find Minton online www.shopminton.com, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Julie Lamb is a fun and highly experienced jewelry designer in New York City.

She’s been making jewelry since childhood. After attending an art magnet school in the city, she began her jewelry career and journey working as project manager and marketing specialist for big name companies.

Her jewelry company, Julie Lamb Fine Jewelry, contains a versatile selection of collections.  From whimsical lamb themed jewelry (a play on her last name with the “Be Ewe” collection), to her Metropolis and City collections, her jewelry is refreshingly unique.

Julie won second place in the MJSA Vision Award for designers in the 1-3 Years in Business category for her “Entrepreneur” ring, which reflects her sophisticated designs in her Limited Edition and Elements Collections.

Julie was a joy to talk to, and I was honored that she took time with me to share her story.

You can find Julie Lamb Fine Jewelry at julielambny.com, and on instagram, @julielambny.

Some people keep away from wearing opals, believing the ancient rumor that they cast bad luck on anyone who wears one without it being their birthstone.

No one is certain where opal obtained its bad reputation, but in today’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast, I’m replaying last Halloween’s podcast, “The Not So Scary Truth About Opals With Matt Hopkins, of Hopkins Opal”.

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I’ll be back next week with a brand new Jewelry Navigator Episode, featuring Dana Busch of Dana Busch Designs.

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DON’T FORGET to check out my WHEELS & SQUEALS virtual trunk show with @crashjewelry

The Passion Behind Anastasia Simes’ Dramatic Jewelry Designs & How Her Frustration to Find the Perfect Gift Led to Her Jewelry Career

Anastasia is as lovely and captivating as her jewelry!

I found her background and story fascinating, and felt the dramatic aesthetic of her jewelry is a perfect fit for October!

I’m so grateful for her taking the time with me to visit for both the podcast and in person in her studio, because she’s a VERY busy woman!

For jewelry images and show notes to the show, be sure to find the blog post on jewelrynavigator.com

Besides her jewelry projects, Anastasia’s most recent costume and set design can be seen in a unique presentation of Synetic Theater’s wordless interpretation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on a stage of water!

You have to see it to understand - so please see the links in bio for more, and if you’re in the DC area, and love dance and theater, consider attending one of the performances - through October 20.

Synetic Theater is in Arlington, VA, and I’ll post links and show notes in the blogpost, which will publish soon.

Thanks so much for joining me today for today’s Jewelry Navigator Podcast - I know you have a choice in podcast, and truly appreciate your support!

We’re getting closer to 10,000 downloads of the podcast, and look forward to celebrating that milestone, so would you be sure to share Jewelry Navigator with your friends, family and co-workers who would enjoy listening as much as you do?

And, if you’re a jeweler, jewelry designer, jewelry collector or fanatic, reach out to me on IG or through e-mail with questions, podcast topic suggestions, to be featured as a guest on Jewelry Navigator Podcast, or just to say hello! I love connecting with my listeners!

Next week, I’ll be back with Kathleen Cutler, a Business Mentor for Fine & Antique Jewelers with more tips for designers and jewelry brands on how to reach their ideal clients, while focusing  on catering to the consumer in and out of e-commerce.

So, until next time, cross check your sparkle, and now that we’re approaching coat and sweater weather, get your ring prongs checked!

Talk to you next time! bye bye!

Tracy Trainor became a jewelry designer and maker as she meandered across the globe, and uses inspirations from her formative years in Japan, to the countryside of Ireland, where she currently resides.

What captures my attention with Tracy’s jewelry is the movement she coerces from wax carving, to casting, down to the texture.

When challenged to make a butterfly ring unique to her own aesthetic and creativity, she crafted a 3-dimensional butterfly that appears to be taking flight from one’s finger, complete with subtle veining in wings, to slight wind adjustments.

I’m delighted to share Tracy’s story today on Jewelry Navigator Podcast, and also, that she’ll be featured in Milan Jewelry week in the prestigious Artistar Jewels Show October 24-27.

You can find Tracy’s jewelry on her website, tracytrainorjewellery.com as well as on Facebook, and Instagram.

I wish Tracy a wonderful time and best of luck in Milan!

Be sure to keep watching my Instagram feed for posts sharing Tracy’s jewelry, including personalized photos of her Equus horse pendant with me!

Also, do you like to know how jewelry like Tracy’s is created?

On Tracy Trainor’s IG feed, she often shares behind the scenes while creating a piece of her jewelry, as well as explaining the processes she uses.

Spring vacation is here, and part of enjoying your travels includes knowing your belongings will be safe.

Making sure your jewelry and valuables are safe while traveling is as necessary as having your passport and credit cards.

In this episode, I share tips from a few of my travel and safety professional friends and crew members on how you can stay safe and keep your personal belongings, like jewelry and identifications safe while on travel or holiday.

Jewelry Navigator’s Adventure at the 2019 Tucson Gem Show

Every year in February, thousands of rockhounds, jewelers, gemologists, and artists attend gem shows in Tucson.

Since its beginning, the show has grown to over 40 separate shows.

For jewelers and fine gemstone buyers, the shows are in venues, like the AGTA Gemfair, in the Tucson Convention Center.

Other shows are inside mazes of large white tents along roadsides, others take over complete hotels, using guest rooms as temporary shops.

It was an experience that surpassed my expectations, for sure!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this show, it’s a mecca for jewelers - both professional and hobbyists, and rock hounds.

It was a fantastic experience, and besides seeing gemstones I’ve only dreamed of, I also met and made new friends through Gem Legacy’s Launch on February 8, at the JW Marriott Resort Starr Pass.

Note: Podcoin

Tell your story and what makes you unique with the jewlry you wear.

This month, we look at green gemstones and jewelry treasures.

Tsavorite garnet was discovered alomst 5 decades ago in Kenya, Africa. A brilliant and bright green gemstone, tsavorite rivals the color, rariy and durability of emerald.

A selection of designers are featured in the podcast and coordinating blog post for you to see just how amazing their designs look with this spectacualr gem.

Spring break is here, and we visit the area that was once called the Pirate Coast of Florida, where a jeweler in Sarasota honors the old world techniques to make jewelry with a style that echos from the time when valuable treasures sailed coastlines around the world.

As a GIA Graduate Gemologist and Jewelry and Gemstone Consultant I Advocate for Indie Jewelers & Designers to Reach shoppers looking to stand out with quality designs and unique jewelry creations.

Welcome Aboard!

Jewelry designer, William Travis Kukovich, of William Travis Jewelry is my guest on the Podcast today.

He’s earned over twenty industry awards for his designs using colored gemstones, unique design elements, and metal combinations.

His jewelry is unique on its own, and is difficult to pin down with a description, and appeals to both men and women alike.

From his studio in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Travis creates custom designs for clients looking to define their own style.

He also operates outside the ordinary retail experience by offering in-studio, behind the scenes tours every Saturday to visitors and curious customers.

This podcast has been a work in progress between his busy schedule since last December, but I’m excited to be sharing his unique story here on Jewelry Navigator.

While we face life challenges, we all hope we can use them to better our lives, and Travis has done just that.

Between a traumatic childhood brain injury that’s impaired his ability to read and write. and surviving breast cancer, Travis has learned to convert challenges into an innate gift to read people and interpret their ideas.

You can hear more about Travis on a podcast/recorded radio show -

WUNC Radio The State of Things Story,

“It’s Art That You Wear: Meet Jewelry Designer William Travis Kukovich” by Dana Terry & hosted by Frank Stasio, November 5. 2018

I’ll be sure to include a direct link to that show - it’s fascinating, and it covers more about Travis’ story outside of jewelry.