Spring Trends We’re Into

Posted by on February 9, 2012 at 2:22 PM























A few weeks ago we headed down to New York City for the Accessorie Circuit show to do some of our buying for spring. Accessorie Circuit is a big trade show where designers from around the world show their collections to buyers from around the world, so it’s a pretty good place for scouting out upcoming trends.

We’ve written before about our love of bracelet stacking, and it looks like that won’t be changing for Spring. We saw tons of fun bracelets made of everything from chain, cord, and rope, to resin, beads and even gimp. Lots of combinations and styles that will be very easy to mix and match to fit into your everyday wardrobe. We’ll be picking up a few new designers this season to add to our bracelet selection, so be sure to keep a look out for more info on those.

Another thing we noticed was the importance of color, particularly very bright shades and neons. Now’s your chance to spice up your jewelry collection with pinks, reds, oranges and neon yellows. We like to think of it as bringing back a bit of the ’80s in a modern way. We have some Ropes bracelets in the store right now that are perfect for this.


























Heavier chains were a popular material we saw on everything from necklaces and bracelets, to belts and bags. Delicate chains and charms never go out of style, but there is a definite movement toward larger, chunkier statement pieces that really make an impact.

As a whole, what we saw was jewelry becoming an increasingly important way to express yourself. Everything is larger and more colorful this season, which is amazing news for jewelry fanatics like us! Stay tuned for more on the new things we’ll have in the store for Spring.

Are there any trends you guys have noticed that you’re excited about?

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Recent Project – Pearl Engagement Ring

Posted by on January 19, 2012 at 5:04 PM

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but we have to admit that pearls can make a pretty unbelievable engagement ring.

We thought you might like to take a peek at a recent custom project. We’ve seen a lot of alternatives to the traditional wedding and engagement rings lately and it has been very exciting working with clients on them.

This ring has it all: a beautiful natural pearl flanked with marquis sapphires and pear diamonds. I love the use of the different diamond shapes … that was the client’s idea and it really worked.

Check out our computer mock-up of the design, side by side with the finished product. Cool, right?

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Jewelry Care Series – Pearls

Posted by on January 4, 2012 at 6:49 PM

La peregrina Pearl


We thought it might be about time for another entry on jewelry care. Last time we wrote about how to care for your rings, this time we wanted to talk a little bit about taking care of your pearls. Maybe one of you were lucky enough to receive the famous La Peregrina Pearl Necklace from Liz Taylor’s collection over the holidays?

Pearls are organic gemstones that are vulnerable to acid, alkaline and extreme humidity. As with most jewelry, you should put on your pearl jewelry after you’ve finished applying make-up, hair products, cremes and perfumes. The luster of your pearls can be harmed by these products, as well as by perspiration, so it’s a good idea to wipe them down with a soft cloth after you’ve finished wearing them.

Pearls are delicate and can easily be scratched by sharp objects or other gemstones. I know we just spent lots of time preaching the cause of proper jewelry storage in our last entry, but in this case, it’s also relevant. Pearls should be stored away from other jewelry to prevent scratching. Our M. Flynn pouches and boxes are actually great storage tools for pearls. The soft pouch keeps the piece together, while the box is sturdy enough protect pearls from damage while in a drawer or during traveling.

A few no-nos: Never use a plastic bag. If you store your pearls in a safety deposit box, fill a small shot glass with a bit of water to prevent “crazing” or small fractures on pearls caused by dry conditions. Never hang your pearl strands because it will cause stress on the string.

As a pearl strand owner, you should expect to have your piece restrung every two to three years and more frequently if you wear them weekly. We hand-knot many of our pearl strands, but some less expensive freshwater strands are on wire. The traditional hand-knot versions are usually a bit more expensive but if the strand breaks, you will only lose a few instead of all of the pearls in the subway.

Pearls can be gently cleaned with a mixture of a bit of ivory soap and warm water with a soft towel. After using the soap, dip in cool water and let the piece completely air dry on a soft towel.

Don’t worry, none of this is as daunting as it sounds. Pearls are a classic and timeless jewelry staple, and like most things in life, they just require a little bit of TLC.

Here’s a picture of one of my most-recent purchases:















See our previous jewelry care post here.

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New Year’s Resolution: Better Jewelry Storage

Posted by on December 23, 2011 at 3:53 PM

New year’s resolutions often end up falling by the wayside, but this year we’re making one that we really hope will stick: storing our jewelry properly. Storage can sometimes be a bit of an afterthought, but it’s actually very important to store jewelry correctly and safely. It’s the best way to make sure your pieces stay in good shape and looking their best. You know some of the jewelry rules:

- Never hang beaded necklaces because it causes stress on the cord.

- Pearls are fragile. They should never be stored in plastic, nor in close quarters with other pieces that may scratch them.

- Some gemstones can fade in sunlight.

Many of us probably substitute bowls, boxes, trays, etc. for proper jewelry storage because it’s an easy, quick fix. That’s why a proper jewelry box could be a beautiful gift that’s also quite useful. Check out a few nice ones we found below:

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South End Holiday Gift Guide

Posted by on December 12, 2011 at 6:00 AM

We’re very lucky to be in a neighborhood with such a variety of great shops. That being said, here is our South End gift guide. We chose a wide variety of things that will please everyone from husbands, parents, and children, to friends, co-workers and dogs. If you’re in Boston, don’t forget that on December 14th all of these businesses will be participating with us in the Holiday Stroll, a perfect time to come explore and shop the neighborhood yourself! If not, don’t fret, you can still shop the South End online using the links below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 – Bamboo Knife Block, $150, from Lekker Home Furnishings
2 – Can of Dog Treats, $12.95, from Polka Dog Bakery
3 – Stag Candle, $37, from Patch NYC
 4 – Face or Body Treatment, from Face Facts Healing Spa
 5 – Herringbone Throw Blanket, $245, from Hudson
6 – Pewter Horn Bottle Opener, $45, from Hudson
 7 – Bathtub Dolphin Explorer Boat, $24.95, from Tadpole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 – Maritime Side Plates, $30, from Lekker Home Furnishings
9 – Moroccan Oil Hair Treatments, from Escape Salon & Spa
10 – Nixon Watch, from Motley
11 – South End Athletic Company Gym T-shirts, from South End Athletic Company
12 – Vintage Iron Terrier, $130, from J.E.M.
13 – Maze Prints, $55, from Michelle Willey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14 – Alkemie 60s Owl Ring, $140, from Flock
15 – Mixed Fabric Scarf, $182, from Patch NYC
16 – Glass Paperweight, $40, from Stripe & Field
17 – Monogrammed Towel, from Michelle Willey
18 – Swiss Army Plaid Men’s Button Down, from Uniform
 19 – Jellycat Bunny Stuffed Animal, from Coco Baby
20 – Jute Anchor Pillow, $80, from Hudson

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