{"id":18904,"date":"2013-01-31T12:33:44","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T17:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendybrandes.com\/blog\/?p=18904"},"modified":"2013-01-31T12:33:44","modified_gmt":"2013-01-31T17:33:44","slug":"februarys-birthstone-is-amethyst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2013\/01\/februarys-birthstone-is-amethyst\/","title":{"rendered":"February’s Birthstone is Amethyst …"},"content":{"rendered":"

… and I have no doubt that February babies will be thrilled to get any of my amethyst designs. It’s the last day of January, so let’s look at the options!<\/p>\n

My double-stone Clemence ring with amethyst and citrine set in 18K gold is available exclusively at Max & Chloe<\/a>. I’ve only made one of that style with those gems, so it’s suitable for anyone who is truly one of a kind and appreciates an Art Deco look.<\/p>\n

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$8,250. Click to purchase at Max & Chloe.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Clemence ring is named for Clemence of Hungary, the second wife of King Louis X of France in the early 14th century. In Les Rois Maudits<\/a><\/em> (The Accursed Kings), a series of seven historical novels by Maurice Druon, Clemence is portrayed as a pious woman who, after the death of her husband, consoled herself with jewelry. The ring style<\/a> and necklace<\/a> (also at Max & Chloe<\/a>) have been featured in InStyle. Gorgeous singer Shontelle<\/a> (“Impossible”<\/a>) stacked two Clemence rings together for an even bolder look.<\/p>\n

\"shontelle\"<\/a>

Shontelle. Click for photo source.<\/p><\/div>\n

My Queen Min ring in amethyst and 18K gold is also available exclusively at Max & Chloe.<\/p>\n

\"queenmin\"<\/a>

$6,600. Click to purchase at Max & Chloe.<\/p><\/div>\n

The pagoda shaped setting for the gem in a tribute to Queen Min<\/a>, the last queen of Korea. Even though she lived in the age of photography, no one is 100% sure what she looked like. There are photos and drawings<\/a> that are tentatively identified as being images of Min, but not definitively so. The mystery of her image inspired the type of gem carving I used in this style. A lucky koi fish is carved on only one side of the stone. As you move the ring around, sometimes the reflection appears on the other side and sometimes it vanishes. I made two amethyst\/koi versions of this ring and I won’t be making any more, so this ring is very special. Wander into Tiffany some day and see how much their one-of-a-kind pieces cost, and you’ll get a better idea of the value of limited-edition jewelry.<\/p>\n

Another very special piece is my Marie Antoinette ring, available on my website. The custom-cut 27.64-carat amethyst is surrounded by 118 tsavorites (green garnets) and set in my favorite metal: satin-finished and blackened 18K yellow gold.<\/p>\n

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$20,000. Click to purchase.<\/p><\/div>\n

To get an idea of the size of this ring, take a look at it on my model.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Shane LaVancher.<\/p><\/div>\n

The ring is in the royal colors of purple and green. The creeping, thorn-like prongs convey the way Marie Antoinette was drawn into a frightening situation not of her own making. Ocean Home magazine gave this ring an entire page in its recent holiday gift guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

My matching Marie Antoinette earrings were last October’s Jewel of the Month on this blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Price available upon request. Serious inquiries only, please. Click to view on my website.<\/p><\/div>\n

These took me almost a year to make. All the stones were custom cut to my specifications. Each amethyst is 25 carats, and I used a total of 404 tsavorites in the satin-finished, blackened, 18K-gold setting. You can read more about the design process here<\/a>. I’ve gotten incredible feedback from other jewelers about the quality of the design, setting and stones. As I said recently, it’s not every day that other jewelers give their competition that type of compliment<\/a>, so that means a lot to me and it should mean a lot to whoever is fortunate enough to get these earrings!<\/p>\n

Come back tomorrow to see my brand-new designs for Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t matter if you love Valentine’s Day or hate it. I’ve got you covered. <\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… and I have no doubt that February babies will be thrilled to get any of my amethyst designs. It’s the last day of January, so let’s look at the options! My double-stone Clemence ring with amethyst and citrine set in 18K gold is available exclusively at Max & Chloe. I’ve only made one of…<\/p>\n

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