ADORA by Simona: 2018

Friday, June 1, 2018

Pearl, The Natural Wonder

Birthstones Series - June Pearl

The month of June is associated with the beginning of summer and carefree weekends spent at favorite vacation spots. But for the past 100 years, one other thing that is associated with June is the pearl. Pearl is the official birthstone for the month of June as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the birthstone for the Sun Signs of Gemini and Cancer.

Pearls are the oldest jewels known to man, and the only gem made by a living creature. Since the beginning of time, pearls have been revered as one of the world's most beautiful and magical gems, and throughout the ages, with their warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence, have been one of the most highly prized and sought-after natural wonders.

An organic gem, pearls are formed inside mollusks like oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant such as a tiny stone or bit of sand gets inside the mollusk's shell. A lustrous substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk. As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent luster. This process of building a solid pearl can take up to seven or eight years.

Pearls are unlike other gemstones because they do not have to be cut and polished to enhance their natural beauty—they grow into it on their own. No wonder pearls have been prized for their beauty, perfection, and rarity!

Nobody knows when someone first pried open an oyster and found a pearl. Although there are many stories about the discovery of pearls, the one I like the most is that more than likely the first pearl was discovered when a prehistoric man chipped his tooth when he bit into an oyster that contained a pearl. With its soft, rainbow-hued inner radiance, that first pearl must have seemed like a magical gift from the gods.

For thousands of years, pearls have been the exclusive gemstones of royalty and nobility in every culture. The oldest surviving pearl necklace is nearly 2,000 years old and was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian Princess. In China, they were used for over five thousand years to decorate the crowns of emperors, the robes of noblewomen, and the sacred statues of the Buddha.

In ancient Rome and medieval France, only the aristocracy were allowed to wear pearls. In Elizabethan England, only royalty could wear them. Pearls became associated with wealth, status, and power, and ordinary people began to desire them as symbols of these things.

Fascinating myths and legends are associated with the pearl. Throughout their history, different cultures have assigned various meanings to pearls. Early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought. Ancient legend says that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods. Pearls have been considered ideal wedding jewelry for centuries because they symbolize purity and innocence. The Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed brides from crying. An Old Arabic legend romantically explains that the pearls formed when moonlight-filled dew drops descended from the sky into the oceans and were swallowed by oysters. Another legend has the Hindu god Krishna discovering pearls when he plucks the first one from the sea and presents it to his daughter on her wedding day. The Ancient Hebrews believed that pearls had been used by God to decorate the Garden of Eden. Roman ladies believed that pearls were lucky and attracted wealth. In China, pearls are symbolic of the incomparable beauty of the legendary pearl maiden, XiShi (or Shecy).

Throughout all of recorded history, pearls were far too valuable and rare for any but the royalty and aristocracy to afford. However, due to advances in pearl cultivation, growing and harvesting technology, pearls are now affordable and accessible to everyone. Today, you can wear a string of pearls that two hundred years ago only a queen could wear.

Pearls are still cherished today as lovely jewelry. They make tasteful gifts, and are usually passed down as treasured heirlooms for generations.

Happy Birthday to all of you born in June!

Sources: Gem Select, Crystal Vaults and American Gem Society. Thank you!

ABOUT ADORA: The journey to selecting the jewelry for your Special Day can be a daunting task, so why not let us custom-design a wedding jewelry style that is uniquely yours. ADORA can bring your vision to life using the same elegant and refreshing style that goes into all of our designs. Handcrafted and completely personalized, we will work closely with you to tailor your jewelry ideas to your needs in order to create the perfect pieces for your Big Day, whether your theme is elegant, vintage, rustic or beach. From matching necklaces for your Bridesmaids or a stunning pair of earrings for yourself, to a unique piece for the Mother of the Bride/Groom and the perfectly delicate bracelet for the Flower Girl, we can do it all. For Customized Jewelry Packages for the Entire Bridal Party, please visit ADORA by Simona's New "Ever After" Collection

Friday, April 6, 2018

11 Unexpected Bridal Trends for 2018

This season designers are reinterpreting bridal looks in new, vintage-inspired, and completely unexpected ways. As the Bridal Fashion Week started unfolding, the runways saw gorgeous Fall Collections from designers like Oscar de la Renta, Lela Rose, Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera, Elie Saab and Reem Acra, just to name a few of my favorites.

1. Color

While white is still a favorite, it is no longer a must when it comes to a wedding dress. Off-White, ivory, cream, champagne are the familiar choices, but with pink, gold and light blue coming strongly from behind, there's more than just the right color when finding the perfect wedding dress.

2. Black Accents

A surprising trend! This high-contrast detail is an easy way to add interest to any white dress. From black ribbons, gloves, belts, hairpieces, and other accessories, the sky is the limit on how brides can accessorize by incorporating this unexpected style.

3. Oversized bows

Turn an ordinary wedding dress into something out of the ordinary with an extra large bow and add chic simplicity with mass appeal.

4. Casual

Now you can stay comfy on your wedding day without missing the mark, and even wear those pants that you love so much. Pantsuits, jumpsuits, and even elegantly tailored pants adorned with giant bows were all over the runways.

5. Veils

Veils are getting an update with ingenious styling tricks. Embellished with a sparkly brooch and wrapped around the neck like a necklace, worn across the shoulders like a modern shawl, or attached to the back of your dress in a flowing display are new ways of wearing veils.

6. 3D Florals

Use flowers to get graphic in the sweetest way possible. Three-dimensional embellishments add texture to a plain white dress, and ensure a clean yet unforgettable style.

7. Gloves

Gloves are a classic, yet rarely used accessory in association with a wedding gown. Try a classic satin pair, or modernize it with a dainty wrist-length style.

8. Extreme Sleeves

Softly ruffled cap sleeves, long sleeves, wide sleeves and cut-out shoulders bring a feminine (and flattering) flair, and add movement while blowing gently in the wind.

9. Capes and Capelets

Short, cropped, or full length, they not only look good, but also add that extra “something” that transforms an ordinary dress into a distinctive gown. And for the bride who’s always cold, it’s got you “covered”.

10. Victorian Elegance

The fashion of the Victorian era marks femininity at its finest with flounces, ruffles, and intricate lacework and it is brought back in modern ways by designers like Luisa Beccaria, Vera Wang and Galia Lahav.

11. Non-Traditional Jewelry

And last but not least, throw the traditional out the window and go for a bold shoulder necklace that can complete your bridal look in more ways than one.

Sources: Elle and Glamour. Images courtesy of Pinterest. Thank you!

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Diamond - The "Forever" Stone

Birthstones Series - April Diamond

Diamond is the official birthstone for the month of April as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also considered to be the birthstone for Aries and accepted as the 10th and 60th wedding anniversary presents.

The diamond signifies love, eternity, strength and everlasting affection so it comes as

Mary of Burgundy, Maximillian of Austria
and the first diamond engagement ring on record

no surprise that this stone is gracing the engagement rings of women everywhere. It is believed that the tradition of the diamond engagement ring originated from a Roman custom in which wives wore rings attached to small keys, indicating their husband’s ownership. It wasn’t until 1477, that Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the very first diamond engagement ring on record for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy. This sparked a trend for diamond rings among European aristocracy and nobility.

Composed of carbon, the diamond is not only the hardest precious gemstone, but also the hardest known natural substance on earth, ranking at number 10 on the Mohs scale. Its structure makes it 58 times harder than anything in nature and can only be cut with another diamond. That fact, combined with its brilliant fire and exceptional luster, has made the diamond one of the most prized gemstones in the world. In 1870 South Africa became the highest producer of diamonds, although Australia is currently the main source, as well as Botswana, Brazil, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Zaire, and the US.

Most diamonds form under extreme pressure and at very high temperatures, typically at depths of over 100 miles inside Earth's mantle. On average, diamond formation occurs over periods of 1 to 3.3 billion years, until they are surfaced through deep volcanic eruptions of a rare type of magma called kimberlite.

The name diamond was taken from the Greek word “adamas” meaning invincible, a sheer testament to its remarkable and superior hardness. The superlative physical qualities of diamond are credited to the strong covalent tetrahedral bonding between its transparent crystals. Each individual carbon atom is connected to four other carbon atoms, all of which are very closely packed. This formation yields a remarkably strong three-dimensional cubic structure. Diamond's cubic crystal pattern is also completely symmetrical, which allows it to refract light in all directions at the same velocity.

Colored Diamonds

Diamonds are traditionally colorless or white. This is the most desired state of the stone and also the rarest. Because of the way Diamonds form from gases underground, it is rare for them not to be cloudy or have a tint of yellow or brown. Colorless diamonds are the cleanest and sparkle the most, which is what most people prefer. However, there are other tints such black, blue, green, pink, red, purple, orange and yellow. The color is dependent upon the type of impurities that are present in the stone. For instance, yellow stones have minuscule traces of nitrogen, while the blue ones contain boron.

Although it is a gem of winter, the color of ice, Diamond is a crystal of Light; its high frequency energy is dispersed into flashing prisms of brilliant “fire” that reminds us of the sun. It is a spiritual stone, a symbol of perfection and illumination, activating the Crown and Etheric Chakras. It enhances inner vision and stimulates creativity, imagination, and ingenuity, opening the mind to the “new” and “possible.”

Diamonds are graded by what the market calls the Four C's: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. The quality of the cut, the color, the lack of impurities, and the size/weight, are the standards that dictate the value for each stone.

The ancient Hindus believed that diamonds were created by lightning bolts that struck the Earth. Greek legends entail that diamonds are the tears of the Gods, star splinters and crystallized lightening.

The world's most precious gem is said to represent faith, loyalty, honesty, purity, love and innocence, and bestow on the wearer peace and fulfilling relationships. It is believed to inspire creativity in individuals and bring its owner protection, wealth and happiness.

As Frances Gerety wrote for an advertising campaign for De Beers in 1947, "A Diamond is Forever"!

Happy Birthday to all of those born in April!