Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Birthday Gemstones

A birthday gemstone is also called a birthstone and is associated with the month that we were born in. Birthday gemstones have been given as birthday gifts since ancient times. In fact, it goes back to the times of Moses! From the first century it was said that wearing your birthstone will bring you luck. Where not try it out for a month or more to see if your birthday gemstone does indeed bring you luck!


Month
Birthday Gemstone
January
Garnet
February
Amethyst
March
Aquamarine 
April
Diamond
May
Emerald
June
Pearl 
July
Ruby
August
Peridot
September
Sapphire
October
Opal
November
Topaz 
December
Turquoise


Interesting facts relating to your birthstone:


January - Garnet
Garnet signifies eternal friendship and trust. 
The name Garnet comes from the Latin name of pomegranate, granatum. To the ancient world, garnet was a tiny glossy red gem, bursting with fire and brilliance. Garnets are most commonly found in round, oval, and cushion cuts. The versatile Garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of colors, including pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, colorless, occasionally black, brown and many shades of red and green. The most common color of garnets is reddish brown.


February - Amethyst
Amethyst is believed to keep the wearer clear-headed 
and quick-witted. Treasured by the ancient Romans, Amethyst was worn as a talisman to ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus. Amethyst comes from the Greek "amethystos" which means "not drunken." Amethyst is the most highly valued member of the Quartz mineral family and it has purple hues that vary from very pale to dark. The medium-dark to dark tones are considered the most desirable and of course, are quite a bit more expensive than the lighter tones.


March - Aquamarine
Aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the 
wearer to remain calm and level headed. It is a gem whose name means sea water, it captures the beauty of the sea. This member of the beryl family, which also includes Emerald, is found in a range of pastel blue and greenish blue shades, from the palest hint to a deep sky blue. The elegant icy color looks as fresh with earth tones as with other paste shades. And it is the perfect accompaniment to grey and navy.


April - Diamond

Diamonds are linked to love, eternity and strength.
They are our most popular gem. They have great brilliance, plus the delightful quality known as fire or dispersion. (This is the ability to take in white light and throw back flashes of color.) Diamonds are graded into dozens of catagories and only 4 qualities, commonly known as the 4 C’s. COLOR, CLARITY, CUT and CARAT

May - Emerald
Emerald is a symbol of rebirth, It is believed to grant
the owner foresight, good fortune and youth.
The timeless appeal of Emerald can be summed up in three words written in the year 50 AD: “Nothing greens greener.” Roman historian Pliny the Elder was explaining the desire for the supreme green gem not only in Rome but throughout the ancient world.

June - Pearl
Pearls are linked with chastity and modesty making it something of an angelic, pure birthstone. They are unique among gemstones as they are the only ones found within a living creature and the only ones that requires no fashioning, (cutting or polishing) before use. Nothing is as elegant as a simple strand of Pearls against a black dress. But cultured Pearls today have an exciting range of colors, sizes and shapes that make them ideal for a wide range of jewelry.

July - Ruby
Ruby is a stone traditionally linked with protection and harmony.
It is named after the Latin word "ruber" for red. It is one of the most expensive gems. Large rubies being rarer than comparable diamonds. Many rubies are an essential part of royal insignia and other famous jewelry. The Ruby color range includes pinkish, purplish, orangey, and brownish red depending on the chromium and iron content of the stone.


August - Peridot
Peridot is linked with protection against evil and night terrors as well enhancing the properties of healing drugs. The fresh lime green of Peridot is its distinctive signature. The color of most gems is caused by traces of other elements but the color of Peridot is an integral part of its structure. If you love citrus tones or earth tones, you'll find that Peridot is an integral part of your jewelry wardrobe.


September - Sapphire

The Sapphire is linked with faith and purity, as well as foresight. 
Sapphire comes from the Greek word for blue, sappheiros. 
This gem provides the most beautiful blues of the gem 
kingdom. The ancient Persians believed the earth rests on a giant sapphire. Its reflection, they said, made the sky blue. But Sapphire doesn't have to be blue to be beautiful. Sapphire also comes in beautiful pinks, yellows, oranges, and peach and violet colors. These other colors are often referred to as fancy Sapphire. In fact, Sapphire comes in every color but red, because a red Sapphire would be a ruby 
as both are the mineral corundum.


October - Opal

The Opal is linked to purity, hope, innocence and friendship
The name Opal evolved from the Greek "Opallus" which means to see a change in color. Later, the Latin word "opalus" came to mean precious stone. 
A beautiful Opal is one of a kind: a natural artwork with a unique pattern of rainbow flashes of color unlike any other. It's as individual as your personality. You may prefer an Opal that serenely glows with pinpoint flashes of the blues and greens of the sea and sky. Or you may fall in love with a gem that flashes broad patterns of red and yellow, with all the bright festivity of carnival in Rio. And with its rainbow appeal, Opal complements everything in your wardrobe. 

November - Topaz
The Topaz is linked with sanity, healing and life, as well as being connected to strength. 
The golden glow of late afternoon, the reddish orange of sunset and the pink of dawn's first light, these are the colors of Topaz, a gem with the warm tones of the sun. Like the sun, Topaz is flattering to the skin, lighting up your face with a golden glow that enhances every color in your wardrobe.

December - Turquoise
This precious stone was once linked to happiness, fortune and luck, making it a very popular gem in centuries gone by. Turquoise, with its distinctive robin's egg blue, is among the oldest known gemstones. It graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress of early Native Americans.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Murano Glass Facebook Shop





After much ado, I have finally launched my DeVigniDesigns Facebook shop! 


My customers now have an option to purchase my Authentic Murano Glass Jewelry via:


Facebook: www.facebook.com/devignidesigns 


Online shop: www.devignidesigns.com


Mobile: www.devignidesigns.ecwid.com


Home Party: Enjoy a personalized shopping experience at home with your friends when you host a fun and easy Murnao Glass Jewelry Home Party. 

Monday, May 14, 2012

Reminiscing about Venice

While I was browsing the web I came across these two videos of Venice that started me reminiscing about Venice and what I great time I had there last year. It really is the city of love. The views are so breathtaking! I am sure you will enjoy the videos as much as I did!






Thursday, May 10, 2012

Murano Glass Rings

I have added Murano Glass Rings to my current line of Murano Glass jewelry. They look absolutely fantastic. I must say that the photos don't do them the justice they deserve! This is however what is expected when you photograph glass.

The Murano Glass rings are handmade using the glass sheet technique with silver foil 925 and gold foil 24kt.adjustable band. 

More styles and designs are available on my online shop DeVigniDesigns.

Murano Glass Round Ring Diam.25

Murano Glass Rectangular Ring 25x20

Murano Glass Square Ring 25x25


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Wedding Anniversary Colors


An anniversary is a time to remember 
about a couple's life. 
A time to recognize that the strongest bond 
is the love between husband and wife. 
Through times of happiness and times of sadness, 
love grows continually and they become as one heart, 
The other staying with them, in memory, 
even when they are apart. 
Each anniversary is special and may cause a shed tear, 
for the bond grows ever stronger and stronger 
When love is shared for another year.

Do you have an anniversary coming up and need to buy a present for your loved one? Do you stick to the traditional gifts that limit you or do you follow the modern day route of an anniversary color? An anniversary color is more flexible and your imagination is your only limitation. 

Anniversary Colors
Year
Colour
1st Wedding Anniversary
Yellow
2nd Wedding Anniversary
Linen White
3rd Wedding Anniversary
Fawn/Light Brown
4th Wedding Anniversary
Green
5th Wedding Anniversary
Turquoise
6th Wedding Anniversary
White
7th Wedding Anniversary
Off-White
8th Wedding Anniversary
Bronze
9th Wedding Anniversary
Terracotta
10th Wedding Anniversary
Silver
11th Wedding Anniversary
Turquoise
12th Wedding Anniversary
Oyster White
13th Wedding Anniversary
White
14th Wedding Anniversary
Ivory
15th Wedding Anniversary
Ruby Red
16th Wedding Anniversary
Silver
17th Wedding Anniversary
Yellow
18th Wedding Anniversary
Blue
19th Wedding Anniversary
Bronze
20th Wedding Anniversary
Emerald Green
25th Wedding Anniversary
Silver
30th Wedding Anniversary
Green
35th Wedding Anniversary
Coral
40th Wedding Anniversary
Ruby Red
45th Wedding Anniversary
Sapphire Red
50th Wedding Anniversary
Gold
55th Wedding Anniversary
Emerald Green
60th Wedding Anniversary
White
65th Wedding Anniversary
Sky Blue
70th Wedding Anniversary
Platinum
75th Wedding Anniversary
Diamond White

Murano Glass comes in a whole spectrum of colors, designs and products that will make fabulous anniversary presents.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Jewelry & your face shape

Have you ever thought about how jewelry can enhance your face shape? Not to worry as not many of us do! 

Before you can determine which jewelry would suit your face shape, you need to determine what your actual facial shape is. 

To determine your facial shape:
  • Stand in front of a large mirror in a room with good lighting.
  • Pull your hair away from your face into a bun or a ponytail.
  • Trace the shape of your face with an erasable marker or an old lipstick onto the mirror. An alternative would be to ask someone to take a photo of your face.
  • Step away from the mirror and evaluate the shape you have drawn or the shape of your face in the photo.
  • Compare the shape of your face with the below illustrations to determine your face shape.


Illustrations of face shapes

Now for the fun part! Determining which jewelry will suit your face shape. Look for your face shape below to see which jewelry you should be wearing to enhance your natural beauty.

Heart/Inverted Triangle/Diamond Shaped Face:
Earrings: dangle or drop earrings help to lengthen the face.
Necklaces: chokers help contrast and soften the sharp angle of the chin.

Round/Square/Triangular Shaped Face:
Earrings: try elongated shapes such as ovals or angular shapes such as rectangles. Square shaped faces look particularly well in teardrop earrings.
Necklaces: look for necklaces that elongate your face, typically necklaces that extend below the neckline (28" to 32").

Rectangular/Oblong Shaped Face:
Earrings: choose short or round earrings to contrast the longer face shape.
Necklaces: chokers, especially if you have a long neck.

Oval Shaped Face:
Earrings: dangle earrings (not too long), preferably angular shaped.
Necklaces: can be either long or short (if you have a long neck, then chose a shorter necklace)

Monday, May 7, 2012

Choosing jewelry for your skin tone


Does it matter what color jewelry you wear with your skin tone?

Yes and no!

Yes, because certain colors do enhance certain skin tones.

No, because if you feel comfortable in the jewelry you are wearing, your confidence will soar in how good you look, no matter the color of the jewelry! 

To help you bring out your best look, here is info on how to determine your skin tone and the jewelry colors that best suit it.

What is my skin tone?

Your will either have a warm or cool skin tone. It is amazingly easy to determine your skin tone! Just flip over your hand, palms up, now have a look at the veins on your wrist. (The spot where you dab your favourite perfume!) Are your veins greenish or bluish in color?

Nicole Kidman -
Warm skin tones
Warm skin tones
  • Greenish veins indicate that you have a warm skin tone.
  • You will notice yellow or golden-apricot undertones when you look in the mirror.
  • You tan easily or you have a higher threshold to sunburn.
  • Your eye color is either brown, black or hazel.
  • Your hair color is usually natural red, orange, strawberry blonde or brown hair with a reddish tint.

Some famous people with warm skin tones are: 
Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Renee Zellweger, Ellen Degeneres, Diane Sawyer and Nicole Richie. 

Gwyneth Paltrow -
Warm skin tones

Cameron Diaz -
Warm skin tones
Renee Zellweger -
Warm skin tones


Jewelry for warm skin tones
  • Yellow gold is your main jewelry metal.  
  • You will also look fabulous in pewter, brass and copper colored metals. 
  • Wear coral or golden toned pearls
  • Focus on earth-tone colors such as coral, orange, an earthy green, brown, yellow, peach and turquoise jewelry.





Eva Longoria - Cool skin tones
Cool skin tones
  • Bluish veins indicate that you have a warm skin tone.
  • You will notice pinkish or rosy-red undertones when you look in the mirror.
  • You sunburn easily.
  • Your eye color is either blue, green, grey or brown.
  • Your hair color is usually, natural blond, black or brown.
Kim Kardashian -
Cool skin tones

Sarah Jessica Parker -
Cool skin tones
Famous people with cool skin tones are: 
Demi Moore, Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock, Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston and Elizabeth Taylor. 

Jewelry for cool skin tones
  • Silver, white gold and platinum is your main metals.  
  • Wear white pearls and diamonds.
  • Focus on jewel tones such as pinks, purples, rich blues, greens, and magentas.



Most people have cool skin, including people with dark and tan skin. 





The above information is not cast in stone however do bear it in mind when you experiment with jewelry color. Always remember that jewelry is an accessory to enhance your looks!