Gemstones And Jewelry

Every jewel tells a story, and this summer wedding season CIRCA sat with Maggie Rizer, to find out all the details and jewels of her recent nuptials.

Tell us how your fiancé, Alex Mehran, proposed to you.
I have a history of bad birthdays, and Alex has always gone above and beyond to make sure they are special, quiet and drama free. Last year (Jan 2010) we went to Mendocino, California with my golden retrievers Henry and Albert for a quiet weekend. He surprised me by proposing on the cliffs – with the dogs – and a gorgeous ring! It couldn’t have been any more perfect for me.

And the ring . Full article…

The choice for your engagement ring is always a personal decision, so at the end of the day the most important thing is your own preference.

Though when it comes to choosing the metal to use for your engagement ring setting, I can give some suggestions.

When I refer to the engagement ring setting, in this instance, Im refer to the metal that is used to hold the diamond in place the metal used for the prong or bezel around the diamond.

The overwhelming majority of yellow gold engagement rings are made with white gold prong or bezel settings.

So most yellow gold engagement rings actually have a combination of white and yellow gold yellow gold for the band and white gold for the diamond setting.

The reasoning behind this is that the white gold setting is less noticeable around the diamond making the diamond, rather than the metal setting, the prominent feature.

Full article…

Here is a  great post from the New Yorker Magazine Blog – The Cut on Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress

Thankfully, the rumors were true: Kate Middleton’s wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. Fashion critics are pleased. The Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander raves: “Fabulous, fashionable and fairytale, the dress was fit for a queen-to-be and combined the style of a modern princess with that of a 20th Century princess.” Vogue deems it “technically faultless in its scale and construction,” noting that it “allowed the bride to move with ease, carrying all the weight of British history and expectation without the slightest wrinkle or hitch.” Other critics noted its resemblance to dresses worn by Grace Kelly and Queen Elizabeth II.

Full article…

Those of us in the luxury industry are keenly aware that our future is reliant on sustainability. We asked Steven Kolb, Executive Director, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), his thoughts on sustainability in jewelry and fashion.

Visit the CIRCA Facebook Page and let us know what you are doing to help the environment.

The Florine Embellished Shoulder Bag by Antik Batik is tiny and pastel, as well as soft and full of texture. An opportunity to bring some earthy glamour to an evening ensemble, as well as a little vintage-inspired depth and energy. The bag is based in light green suede and the exterior is completely covered in a combination of iridescent sequins in bright green and burnished brown, plus some fine bead and chain detailing on the fold-over flap front. All the hardware is burnished silver and comes in the form of a detachable shoulder strap of chain interwoven with green suede. Inside it’s lined in designer-stamped twill and has no pockets. Full article…