#JOTW 2022 - The Year of Bling

[Eli22]

You don't need to stay focused, you want FUN. Enjoy them in good health.

Very true...fun can be the focus Thank you and cheers!

 

[Diamond Girl 21]

You have a gorgeous collection! Enjoy in health and happiness.

 

[yssie]

This trio is so glam

 

[Eli22]

You have a gorgeous collection! Enjoy in health and happiness.

Thank you so much, @Diamond Girl 21 ! Cheers!

 

[Eli22]

This trio is so glam

Definitely one of my fave stacks!

 

[EllenS1]

2022 was definitely a BLING-filled year. I find that jewelry purchases/projects serve as a big distraction/stress reliever for me (I know, I know…need to work on those coping skills lol), as well as a way to commemorate milestones. I guess you could say 2022 was a challenging yet productive year!

From having mostly stock jewelry (my original ER was from James Allen, my WR was made-to-order from IDJewelry) to multiple custom projects this year…it has been a blast!

Projects:
1. 10 stone Asscher band (commissioned in 2021, NY22 gift to myself) - purchased stones from Alex Weber, set by local jeweler

2. Emerald and Diamond Trilogy ring by JR Colombian - birthday gift from husband

3. Tourmaline 2-tone ring - purchased stone from Dan Lynch, set by Daniel M

4. ER Reset by David Klass
Before:

After:


5. Convertible Diamond and Opal Earrings by David Klass - used old earrings (diamond & opal) given to me by dad


6. Sapphire & Diamond Ring by David Klass - anniversary gift from husband


7. Diamond Pendant by David Klass - used old diamond ring from my mom

The opal earrings are stunning!

 

[lambskin]

So beautiful. Now 2023 should be the year of the ruby….

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Wow!! 2022 was an avalanche of finery for you!
LOVE everything.. especially your asscher eternity.
Enjoy!

 

[Eli22]

The opal earrings are stunning!

Thank you @EllenS1 ! I am so happy we could reuse the gems just sitting in my jewelry box!

 

[Eli22]

So beautiful. Now 2023 should be the year of the ruby….

Aw thanks @lambskin !! And consider the ruby search on! I don’t have any ruby pieces yet so wish me luck

 

[Eli22]

Wow!! 2022 was an avalanche of finery for you!
LOVE everything.. especially your asscher eternity.
Enjoy!

2022 was definitely a memorable year, thank you so much @Rubies-R-Me !!

 

[Eli22]

As requested by @yssie , here is the rest of my collection. I did not start buying fine jewelry for myself until a few years ago, so my recently acquired pieces are more to my (developing) taste

Yellow Gold (all gifts, I purged a large amount of “kid/young adult jewelry” and used the scrap gold value for projects last year)


Pearls (all gifts except for Tahitian pearl strand acquired from @evergreen )


Silver (all purchased, except for raw emerald necklace from my *then* boyfriend, now hubby )


WG/Platinum (mostly purchases/projects, a few gifted pieces)

 

[PriceScopeKayti]

Please join me in congratulating @Eli22, these are the Jewels of the Week! JotW 2.17.23

 

[Diamond Girl 21]

Congratulations on Jewels of the week! Your collection is gorgeous!

 

[Eli22]

Aww thank you so much, @PriceScopeKayti & @Diamond Girl 21 !!!

 

[cushioncutnut]

A few more goodies picked up last year:
1. Emerald, diamond and onyx ring from JR Colombian

2. Sapphire eternity ring from Leslielsc


3. Silver & gold bee necklace from @evergreen

4. Emerald-cut diamond (LG) set into old ER setting by David Klass

5. Cartier Panthere watch from husband

6. OEC pinky ring from SinCityFinds

7. White gold paperclip necklace from Alex Park

8. Diamond studs (LG) from Alex Park (photographed with my ER)

9. Random small gemstones to be set (unheated tanzanite, imperial garnet, rhodolite garnet, “paraiba” YAG, blue sapphire, purple sapphire, Colombian emerald, gray diamond)


Intention for 2023 : to fill in the blanks in my collection…and better coping skills

You had an amazing jewelry year! Why stop now!! Hahaha!!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Oh Btw, Congratulations on "Jewels" of the Week! Well deserved!

 

[cushioncutnut]

Thank you so much, @yssie !! Considering your iconic collection and eye for detail, I am flattered by your kind words about my pieces! I really wish I had more of a distinct “style” but I think I’m figuring it out as I go along.

That band is one of my favorites as well! It is absolutely perfect for stacking (I went overboard with trying to stack with 4 rings lol)



The JR C ring is probably the “edgiest” thing I have. I’m pretty boring otherwise. Something about the onyx and diamond mount (and the almost neon emerald) called out to me!

I have a pretty modest collection, as I only started buying jewelry for myself a few years ago, but I can put together some photos – probably time to catalog my collection for insurance purposes as well! I’m out of town, so hopefully sometime next week!

Those bands just "slay" Me! Just gorgeous.... of course, I am a sapphire and diamond fan!!

 

[Eli22]

Thank you so much @cushioncutnut !!! I already have another project going for this year, so I guess slowing down isn’t in the cards

The bands get a lot of wear, for sure, esp the white-blue-white stack. I love all of your sapphire beauties!!

 

[LLJsmom]

Congratulations on a very productive bling year!

 

[Pomelo]

@Eli22 congrats on JOTW and if I may... I saw this fabulous asymmetric pair of earrings. Not just the different colours but also the different-sized drops - such a great design! Would you mind sharing more info on these?

 

[islandgirl81]

2022 was definitely a BLING-filled year. I find that jewelry purchases/projects serve as a big distraction/stress reliever for me (I know, I know…need to work on those coping skills lol), as well as a way to commemorate milestones. I guess you could say 2022 was a challenging yet productive year!

From having mostly stock jewelry (my original ER was from James Allen, my WR was made-to-order from IDJewelry) to multiple custom projects this year…it has been a blast!

Projects:
1. 10 stone Asscher band (commissioned in 2021, NY22 gift to myself) - purchased stones from Alex Weber, set by local jeweler

2. Emerald and Diamond Trilogy ring by JR Colombian - birthday gift from husband

3. Tourmaline 2-tone ring - purchased stone from Dan Lynch, set by Daniel M

4. ER Reset by David Klass
Before:

After:


5. Convertible Diamond and Opal Earrings by David Klass - used old earrings (diamond & opal) given to me by dad


6. Sapphire & Diamond Ring by David Klass - anniversary gift from husband


7. Diamond Pendant by David Klass - used old diamond ring from my mom

All gorgeous pieces! What a great blingy year for you. Wear in good health

 

[Eli22]

Congratulations on a very productive bling year!

Thank you so much @LLJsmom !!

@Eli22 congrats on JOTW and if I may... I saw this fabulous asymmetric pair of earrings. Not just the different colours but also the different-sized drops - such a great design! Would you mind sharing more info on these?

Hi @Pomelo These are convertible earrings jackets with dangles- so you can mix/match the gemstones and drops. I’ve never worn them mismatched, but that’s a great idea!

All gorgeous pieces! What a great blingy year for you. Wear in good health

Thank you @islandgirl81 ! Cheers to 2023!

 

[yssie]

As requested by @yssie , here is the rest of my collection. I did not start buying fine jewelry for myself until a few years ago, so my recently acquired pieces are more to my (developing) taste

Yellow Gold (all gifts, I purged a large amount of “kid/young adult jewelry” and used the scrap gold value for projects last year)


Pearls (all gifts except for Tahitian pearl strand acquired from @evergreen )


Silver (all purchased, except for raw emerald necklace from my *then* boyfriend, now hubby )


WG/Platinum (mostly purchases/projects, a few gifted pieces)

HOW DID I MISS THIS!!!!???????

 

[yssie]

OMG. I need a minute to appreciate all of these. More in a minute.

 

[yssie]

Your post-purge yellow gold collection is definitely all grown up now!! The butterfly and toucan are lovely is the butterfly a bracelet?

Loving the pearls. Surprise surprise Which of these pieces do you wear most? So… I think you may just need some bracelets as well. (Of course I do ). My pearl studs are what I reach for most - they have this sensual mystique that you can’t help reacting to, but they’re still unassuming and always-appropriate!!

Your silver collection is very grown up too. Actually. Sometimes silver pieces can be overly youthful, I think… Especially when there are a LOT of them… Your silver collection looks very deliberately curated.

I’m curious if you mix the silver pieces with WG and platinum. I LOVE the big bold drops and I hope you mix and match with them IRL!! I totally would!! (Surprise, again, I know!). That last pic with the studs in the jackets - actually looks like what an illustration of alexandrite might look like in a textbook


Such a beautiful and deliberate collection. I look forward to watching it evolve

 

[Eli22]

Your post-purge yellow gold collection is definitely all grown up now!! The butterfly and toucan are lovely is the butterfly a bracelet?

Loving the pearls. Surprise surprise Which of these pieces do you wear most? So… I think you may just need some bracelets as well. (Of course I do ). My pearl studs are what I reach for most - they have this sensual mystique that you can’t help reacting to, but they’re still unassuming and always-appropriate!!

Your silver collection is very grown up too. Actually. Sometimes silver pieces can be overly youthful, I think… Especially when there are a LOT of them… Your silver collection looks very deliberately curated.

I’m curious if you mix the silver pieces with WG and platinum. I LOVE the big bold drops and I hope you mix and match with them IRL!! I totally would!! (Surprise, again, I know!). That last pic with the studs in the jackets - actually looks like what an illustration of alexandrite might look like in a textbook


Such a beautiful and deliberate collection. I look forward to watching it evolve

Hi @yssie !!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on my collection- I am honored by your feedback! I often feel like my jewelry likes/wants are super random and my buys are impulsive, but it appears it’s all coming together!

My current preference is for white metal, so my YG collection is tiny! I actually only wear the earrings and ring these days. The toucan was a gift from my late grandmother and the butterfly is a bracelet from my mom’s collection - I keep both for sentimental reasons.

I didn’t even realize how much pearl jewelry I had until I pulled it all out! I already gave away a ton of pearl “trinkets” so this is whittled down. Fun fact: I’ve never worn any of the necklaces outside of my house!
Studs are my most-worn as well. I agree they are so appropriate for every situation! Mine are smallish and probably not very high quality (at least I’m guessing they aren’t, since l don’t know much about pearls and they were all gifts) so I would like some Yssie-approved studs someday (a light pair and a dark pair). A bracelet is on the wish list too…I have a feeling I will need to start saving up for those pieces

Re: my silver collection- this is also pared down. I was a strictly silver girl for a very long time!!! So many pieces that were never worn/not worn enough, so I gave away most of it and kept my favorite (and sentimental) pieces.

I’ve mixed WG and platinum, so I can totally see mixing some silver in there, especially with rings or necklaces. Do you tend to mix metals as well? Honestly, I’m not very jewelry-adventurous outside my home (my most daring combos are worn when I’m alone and have nowhere to go lol). You and @Pomelo had similar thoughts about mixing/matching the convertible earrings/dangles…I will have to try it someday!

Appreciate you appreciating my collection!

 

[yssie]

I hear you on buying random things that make me smile. That’s exactly what I do. Eventually all of those #things do always come together into an actual “collection”, I think, just because eventually you get to a point where you’ve acquired enough similar stuff that made you smile that they all work together If that was the journey for your pieces then your collection has landed


I’ve got a few sentimental pieces as well. Most of them are with my family still, not with me, but that’s just fine by me - my family heirlooms come with every string imaginable attached. I’m not permitted to resize rings because that means “losing gold”, any repair work has the potential to “destroy the original” so don’t do it…

And the other oddity is that a non-trivial number of those pieces are really too soft, too large/heavy, or too delicate to actually be worn, in practice. Even those that were given as gifts. I certainly buy pieces for myself that aren’t truly wearable, because I’m happy to mostly look at them rather than wear them, but I do that for me. Y’know? I wouldn’t give someone else a gift of unwearable jewellery

So even ignoring stylistic differences - my family heirlooms aren’t in my rotation. It’s actually really really important to me to break this pattern. I want whoever inherits *my* pieces to feel free to do whatever they want with them. Keep them, reset them, resell and buy something that brings more joy - just so long as they’re thinking of me when they do those things! (And they get a fair price on resale! I will *haunt* anyone who tries to flip my pearls at a pawn shop!!)

A very long-winded way of saying that your sentimental prices are lovely and that I hope you find yourself reaching for them on unexpected occasions


Style! I, um, kind of have none I live in sweaters and leggings. Tons of candids to that effect on here, for better or worse Some people - they post outfit pics and they look so put together, and I think to myself - I wouldn’t know where to start assembling an outfit like that. Even if I’ve actually got all the individual pieces! But I mostly just wear whatever bling I want however I want it. I couldn’t call myself a style maven with the bling either, but I’m definitely more careful and considerate with it - if I mix and match it’s on purpose. And I totally do mix and match all sorts of things - as long as there’s something tying them together, a metal colour or a design element or a theme, it’s fair game

Your studs are just begging to be mixed I’d keep the jackets, though, as the “element in common that ties them together”, and wear the studs asymmetrically. Imagine them with a scarf or belt or long skirt with some design that shares those colours… I sometimes find it helpful to look through big brands’ pieces for mismatch ideas. Especially the high jewellery. ‘Cause “hey if it’s good enough for that house it’s good enough for me right?”
https://www.vancleefarpels.com/nl/en/collections/jewelry/fauna/two-butterfly.html?category=earring
https://rahaminov.com/portfolio-item/fyearrings/
https://www.tiffany.com/jewelry/earrings/return-to-tiffany-earrings-69836399/

Y’know, I have to be honest here, one thing I’m not so fond of is mismatched round pearl studs. That’s been a thing for a few years now - great way for vendors to get rid of singletons. Excellent marketing! But unless they’re in jackets, or on dangles, or have dangles… There’s nothing “tying them together”, visually, and they don’t look deliberately mismatched. For fancy shapes or clusters - the matched shape or cluster organization makes clear the mismatch is purposeful. Just my 2c.

And writing this out has just reminded me to send Caysie a note to ask about my opals

 

[Eli22]

I hear you on buying random things that make me smile. That’s exactly what I do. Eventually all of those #things do always come together into an actual “collection”, I think, just because eventually you get to a point where you’ve acquired enough similar stuff that made you smile that they all work together If that was the journey for your pieces then your collection has landed


I’ve got a few sentimental pieces as well. Most of them are with my family still, not with me, but that’s just fine by me - my family heirlooms come with every string imaginable attached. I’m not permitted to resize rings because that means “losing gold”, any repair work has the potential to “destroy the original” so don’t do it…

And the other oddity is that a non-trivial number of those pieces are really too soft, too large/heavy, or too delicate to actually be worn, in practice. Even those that were given as gifts. I certainly buy pieces for myself that aren’t truly wearable, because I’m happy to mostly look at them rather than wear them, but I do that for me. Y’know? I wouldn’t give someone else a gift of unwearable jewellery

So even ignoring stylistic differences - my family heirlooms aren’t in my rotation. It’s actually really really important to me to break this pattern. I want whoever inherits *my* pieces to feel free to do whatever they want with them. Keep them, reset them, resell and buy something that brings more joy - just so long as they’re thinking of me when they do those things! (And they get a fair price on resale! I will *haunt* anyone who tries to flip my pearls at a pawn shop!!)

A very long-winded way of saying that your sentimental prices are lovely and that I hope you find yourself reaching for them on unexpected occasions


Style! I, um, kind of have none I live in sweaters and leggings. Tons of candids to that effect on here, for better or worse Some people - they post outfit pics and they look so put together, and I think to myself - I wouldn’t know where to start assembling an outfit like that. Even if I’ve actually got all the individual pieces! But I mostly just wear whatever bling I want however I want it. I couldn’t call myself a style maven with the bling either, but I’m definitely more careful and considerate with it - if I mix and match it’s on purpose. And I totally do mix and match all sorts of things - as long as there’s something tying them together, a metal colour or a design element or a theme, it’s fair game

Your studs are just begging to be mixed I’d keep the jackets, though, as the “element in common that ties them together”, and wear the studs asymmetrically. Imagine them with a scarf or belt or long skirt with some design that shares those colours… I sometimes find it helpful to look through big brands’ pieces for mismatch ideas. Especially the high jewellery. ‘Cause “hey if it’s good enough for that house it’s good enough for me right?”
https://www.vancleefarpels.com/nl/en/collections/jewelry/fauna/two-butterfly.html?category=earring
https://rahaminov.com/portfolio-item/fyearrings/
https://www.tiffany.com/jewelry/earrings/return-to-tiffany-earrings-69836399/

Y’know, I have to be honest here, one thing I’m not so fond of is mismatched round pearl studs. That’s been a thing for a few years now - great way for vendors to get rid of singletons. Excellent marketing! But unless they’re in jackets, or on dangles, or have dangles… There’s nothing “tying them together”, visually, and they don’t look deliberately mismatched. For fancy shapes or clusters - the matched shape or cluster organization makes clear the mismatch is purposeful. Just my 2c.

And writing this out has just reminded me to send Caysie a note to ask about my opals

Yes! The “things that bring joy” collection - I’m starting to see some unifying threads in my collection, so I’m sure that’s exactly what’s happening!

It’s odd when strings are attached to items considered gifts…and I admire your crusade to ensure your pieces are sans strings for the lucky ones who inherit them! I get that there are jewelry pieces that are meant more for display vs wear - there is a place for that type of art, but it's interesting to me when “gifts” are not truly yours to do as you wish with. When I reset a few items (e.g. diamond ring from mom into a pendant, diamond earrings and opal earrings from dad into convertible earrings) - it never occurred to me to even ask permission! I actually thought the giver would appreciate that I am making use of the items vs letting them languish in my jewelry box I also scrapped a bunch of gold jewelry…I don’t think anybody has ever asked me where the item they gave me was. Then again, none of the items were “heirloom” pieces and everyone knows I am prone to losing things- so maybe they don’t bother. Perhaps this is the reason I have so few pieces from my family’s collection

Lol re: style. I will dress up if compelled to, but my everyday attire is very casual/sporty/outdoorsy. Some types of jewelry look funny with the outfits (esp when it looks like I’m about to go chop wood) so they don’t get as much wear.

Thanks for those examples!! I will definitely try wearing the earrings with mismatched dangles like this:


I haven’t seen the mismatched pearl studs trend (though I would be a great candidate for that- I have lost so many single earrings in my lifetime) but I would agree- *some* element needs to tie them together. Ooh…Caysie and Opals?? What are you working on?