» Listings for May 2014

1. Fathers Day Competition

   Posted on 4:38pm Friday 30th May 2014

   a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. The History of the Pearl

   Posted on 3:05pm Thursday 22nd May 2014

   History of The Pearl The pearl is a very important part of jewellery history, it was used before any gemstone due to it being fairly easily come by, unlike gemstones which were discovered when mined. There is no definite record of when pearls were first discovered, they were most probably found by ancient civilizations diving in search of food and the soft iridescence caught their eye.   The Pandyan Dynasty from South India (pre Christian era) was thought to be the first people to use the pearl, they controlled the fishing areas of many bays off South India and produced the finest pearls. This discovery was made because shell middens which are underground mounds of shells that are formed when pre-historic stone age men discard the shells of molluscs and oysters and were found along the bays of Sri-Lanka. The enormous mounds form solid base which then encouraged human settlements. I came across these shell middens when I visited south Africa below is an example.
   In ancient Rome pearls were a symbol of high status and were worn by the very wealthy. Chinese records indicate that pearls were cherished possessions within royalty, this is also true in ancient Rome as their has been many pearls found buried with royalty. An old fable involving the early queen of Egypt Cleopatra and Roman leader Mark Anthony reveals the importance of the pearl in royalty.       In the year 41 B.C Anthony invited Cleopatra for a banquet at Tarsus, Cleopatra challenged Anthony that she could give the most expensive meal ever provided with only a vessel of sour wine (vinegar). Anthony was perplexed when Cleopatra removed one of her pearl earrings and dropped it into the vinegar. The expensive pearl dissolved in the acidic solution, Cleopatra drank the goblet worth more than any meal in history and won the bet.
   		Cultured pearls are produced on oyster farms. The oysters are hung on ropes into the water, sometimes in baskets to stop predators like tiger fish and sea-turtles. They are anchored using concrete blocks. The next step is called seeding, this process involved prizing open the oyster and placing an irritant which is usually a small worm which is contrary to popular belief that a grain of sand is used. The oyster produces a nacre which creates the pearl, after the oyster produces a pearl is is usually sacrificed and eaten in the community because it will never produce a pearl as shiny as its first. To breed new oysters the farmers collect spat or commonly known as lava from around the area the oysters are kept.     image courtesy of http://www.tahiti-pearl-online.com/Pearls-of-Tahiti/pearl-farm.html
   Pearl farm in Tahaa
   Symbolism of the Pearl   In Hindu culture, pearls were associated with the Moon and were symbols of love and purity One of the most common beliefs about the power of the pearl is its association with life. People believed pearls changed depending on the health of its wearer: the gem clouded if the wearer fell sick, and lost its lustre completely if the wearer died. Early Chinese scholars believed pearls had vital powers and have the power to prevent forest fires. Tales were told of pearls so luminous they could cook rice and could be seen from thousands of yards or even several miles away.     Tibetan monks were said to have a "seduction pearl" that would cause any woman caught in its rays to become ravenous for love. In Wales, the Celts believed pearls have incredible life-giving powers. They decorated sacred vessels known as the Mother-Pots, they believed it would contaminate the water contained by the vessel with its special powers. Pearls are used as a metaphor for love and beauty. Being an expression of love, the pearl became a euphemism for the clitoris in Victorian times, recalling its place at Aphrodite's pearly gate.   Pearl Facts and what to look for Imitation Pearls: Good imitations are made from beads of glass, ceramic or shell and coated with a varnish of lacquer and ground fish scales to mimic the pearl surface. Well made imitations can be quite hard to spot. One way is the 'tooth test'. Gently rub the pearl under the cutting edge of your top front teeth. Don't bite it. Real pearl should feel slightly gritty due to it's crystalline structure. An imitation pearl will feel smooth. This is not an infallible test.       View Our Pearl Collection at Nude Jewellery

3. Designer Interview - Susanna Hanl

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 15th May 2014

   What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?   Funnily enough, when I was a kid I was told that jewellery designing would be the best job for me. I tried to get an apprenticeship at a renowned jewellers, but after generations it had to close down as there was no heir to take over the business. My professional life took a completely different direction due to circumstances (my father died out of the blue and I felt I had to get a “proper” job). In 2001 I moved to Britain to start a new life and somehow it all fell into place. I worked and in my spare time I taught myself how to make jewellery – and I haven’t looked back. It’s what I truly love, it allows me to be creative and show all the different sides to me.   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased) There are a few pieces that are very dear to me, but my favourite piece is one of my RIVDA rings set with a green pear shaped sapphire. I fell in love with the stone when I bought it and just had to make a piece of jewellery for myself.

   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why? In my dream fabulous women like Emma Thompson, Emeli Sande, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Sofia Helin, Claudia Winkleman and Kate Blanchet would wear my pieces. They have class, individuality and their own sense of style with a touch of quirkiness. Basically all the women like Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet – headstrong, intelligent, strong women with a soft centre. And I would love to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Javier Bardem wear my pieces too!   Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try? I always wanted to be a painter, I would love to have the time to paint again, having had several exhibitions in my native country Austria. I also worked together with theatre companies and made costumes for a few productions, which was a great experience. It would certainly have to be something creative, maybe even writing, but being a jewellery designer/maker is what makes me happy, so I would actually not want to change that.   What can we expect to see from you in the future? My head is constantly buzzing with new ideas, new designs and collections, so there will aways be developments, improvements, changes and additions. I don’t want to stop learning, improving and be inspired.   View the full beautiful handmade and unique jewellery collection....