From specimen to designer ring....

Just a quick blog article to show a specimen to a finished product. I am still amazed at what mother nature creates on her own, then we as designers create beautiful and interesting pieces of jewelry. Not sure if I have mentioned to you before, yet my design process is shopping for gemstones then design the piece of jewelry, normally it is done the other way around. Yet, those of you who know me, know that I never do anything exactly how everyone else is doing it!!!

Azurite Malachite is a combination of two very distinct gemstones;  Azurite is a deep and rich blue while Malachite is shades of green in botryoidal shapes. They crystallize together forming in masses, crusts and nodules. When Azurite mixes with Malachite a beautiful blue green swirl occurs. It is found in China, yet the best specimens come from the USA. It is found anywhere that copper is present.

I love designing with gemstones such as this one because of it's deep and inspiring color combination.

Azurite Malachite Nugget Specimen

Beautiful Example of Banding.....

Azurite Malachite 18k Yellow Gold Brushed Diamond Ring

 Designed by Maryann Scandiffio Jewelry Design

There is nothing better.....

One of the things I love about my job is that I often deal with people on a happy note. They are interested in getting engaged, upgrading her diamond because they have been together for 25+ years or she's having his first child and he wants to surprise her with a push gift. I hear so many stories of love and commitment that inspire me daily.

John and his now fiancé' Ashlea, came to me with his family heirloom, a round brilliant diamond that was his grandmother's given to his mother and now his mother is giving it to him. Diamonds such as this have significant sentiment, just like Princess Diana's two side stones that Prince Harry had mounted in the ring for Meghan Markle.

We did find the perfect setting for John's family heirloom and Ashlea is overjoyed with it and the history that goes with it. On behalf of myself and Provident Jewelry we wish them a lifetime of happiness!

Photos of their engagement that they have allowed me to share with you. Thank you John and Ashlea, it was a privilege to work with you!

Rare and beautiful, pink diamonds......

Pink diamonds are a type of diamond, which has all the same elements as a white diamond, except that they exhibit pink in color. Where the pink color comes from is the great debate in the gemological world, yet it is most commonly attributed to enormous additional pressure that these diamonds undergo during the formation process.

Pink diamonds are a subcategory of diamonds known as fancy colored diamonds, the generic term for all diamonds that exhibit any sort of color. Just like a white diamond, they range from flawless to included. The most well known is the Pink Star, which Sotheby's named the Pink Dream, originally found at 132.5 carats in the rough and when cut ended up as a 59.60 carat fancy vivid pink by GIA. This pink diamond was bid on at Sotheby's auction house in Geneva for $83 Million by New York diamond cutter Isaac Wolf.

GIA's color grading also known as scale is as follows; faint, very light, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy intense and fancy vivid. Faint being the least expensive and fancy vivid the most expensive. The richer and more saturated the color, the more expensive the diamond will be. Just as white diamonds, they also come in various shapes and sizes. Though, pink diamonds can be found in many mines around the world, yet often in very small quantities of just a few stones per year, and commonly in very small sizes. They are among the most sought after fancy colored diamonds in the world because of their romantic feel ing these diamonds stimulate in people.

In 2002 when Ben Affleck proposed to Jennifer Lopez it was with a 6.1 carat pink diamond. You don't have to be a celebrity to own one of these rare beauties, you just have to know the right place to shop! Provident Jewelry has a selection of pink diamond jewelry in all different categories, including rings, pins, necklaces and earrings with some examples shown below.

For the man who has everything....

For the man who has everything, Provident Jewelry has the perfect gift.... an Admin Strom watch! Armin Strom, the founder which it's names is taken started in 1938. The company motto is simple, "We show what we make",  as they create skeleton watches that are by far the most unique that I have seen.

Since 2009, the movements have all been produced in-house in Biel/Bienne Switzerland, which is located in the canton of Bern.

Of the many unique things about the Armin Strom watches the one I know our customers will find the most fun is that you can configure your own time piece. Armin Strom watches have a made to order process; from the case, to the movement, to the hands and the strap you select each item to suit your fancy. By far one of the most innovative watches on the market today for that guy who has everything.....

With only 40 points of sale world wide and 10 being in the USA, this truly is a unique time piece that will call for attention. These watches are exquisite in style as well as craftsmanship, truly they are a work of art!

Do come in to Provident Jewelry and I will be happy to assist you with the portal to custom create your newest timepiece!

Jewelry to wear with NYC Spring 2018 fashions.....

New York City's Spring 2018 fashion trends you will be seeing;

1. The American Dream - Red, White & Blue combinations, which makes Ruby's, Diamonds & Blue Sapphires up and coming for the spring seasons jewelry wardrobe.

2. 90's urban vibe that is super casual, which chunky solid gold and silver bangles or link bracelets are the thing to compliment this trend.

3. Denim, denim and more denim. Anything goes here ladies, from mix metals, colored gemstones to lots of bling...... it's your call and I am sure you will look stunning with whatever you choose to wear.

4. Monochromatic color ways of fuchsia, lemon yellow, vibrant orange to Christmas tree green and in keeping with this trend my suggestion is you break out the pink sapphires, canary yellow, padparadscha sapphires,  white diamonds & emerald suits.

5. Transparencies, sheer, skin revealing fabrics and with this trend let's keep it simple showing our most glamorous side. A simple diamond pendant or diamond tennis bracelet with your diamonds hoop earrings.

                             RUBY EARRINGS FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM....

FOR THE URBAN SUPER CASUAL, FOPE WORKS PERFECT!!!

DIAMONDS WITH DENIM ALWAYS WILL BE A SMASH.

FOR THE MONOCHROMATIC OUTFIT IN GREEN!

TRANSPARENCIES AND ROBERTO COIN DIAMOND HOOPS.

*For more information about any of the jewelry photos you see here, please do not hesitate to call me at 239.649.7200 from 10 - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday - Saturday!

FOPE a timeless collection!!!

Fope, the original flexible designer of bracelets making every piece comfortable to wear, bringing a contemporary twist to this icon of luxury and beauty. Since 1929 in Vicenza, Italy the brand has been creating watch straps from gold and other metals for Switerland's leading watchmakers. A task such as this, required exceptional levels of craftsmanship, precision and specific technology. 

When the 1970's arrived the company decided to launch it's own mesh jewelry line with highly distinctive, instantly recognizable and uniqueness on the international jewelry scene.

The brand is a celebration of contemporary Italian style, of an innate elegance that suits everyday as well as evening occasions. It compliments most jewelry that any woman will have in her jewelry box. I love that you can layer them with other collections and they come in white, yellow and rose gold all of which are 18k. The line is luxurious and suitable to every woman for every occasion!

 

Fall colored jewels......

The time is here when we can break out the fall colors for our jewelry ladies. The holidays are upon us and there is a chill in the air that makes me want to wear rich earth toned jewelry. Provident Jewelry has a fantastic collection of Ippolita Jewelry that will make any woman stand out with only a few pieces from the collection.

Ippolita Jewelry is designed by Ippolita Rostagno who has been inspired by the richness and simplicity of the Italian culture. First as an artist, Ippolita studied sculpture for five years in Florence, Italy. There she discovered her love for jewelry when shopping on the Ponte Vecchio.

I completely understand her love for jewelry as well as the Italian culture.  Growing up in the Italian heritage I can not help but love the culture, the food, my family, the craftsmanship and the lifestyle. I feel a deep sense of connection and am extremely grateful to be Italian. It truly is a beautiful and a place of love for me.  My first year of college, when my college professor told me I should start designing jewelry is when the passion began for me. From then on it's been a love affair that I hope never ends....

"There is something magical about first impressions; their influence echoes through your work for the rest of your life" Ippolita Rostagno said. She is so right!!!