MARCH

A member of the beryl family, the aquamarine name means "sea water", which is an apt description of the colors of many aquamarine seen on the market.

It has long been considered the symbol of happiness and everlasting youth.


Aquamarine exists in many shades of blue, from pale versions to the color of the sky, and some stones are tinged with green -- it owes its color to the presence of iron. Deeper colored aquamarines have the highest value.

Aquamarine is a durable gemstone, and is rated at 7.5 on the Mohs scale (compared to diamond at 10).

Aquamarine with Emeralds, Tanzanite, Blue Topaz and Apatite

Aquamarine has long been considered a lucky stone, especially by sailors, who carried it to keep them safe at sea. It is said to bring peace and calming to its owner, relieving stress and enhancing intuition. Crystal healers use aquamarine to harmonize diseased areas of the body. Aquamarine is said to do many things metaphysically; it is often thought of as a universal sign of hope, health, and youth and is said to specifically bless all those born in March who wear it. Here are a few of the other spiritual properties of this beautiful gemstone:

It is supposed to help with anxiety, fear, and restlessness by creating a peaceful stillness like the flow of a forest stream. Dreaming of Aquamarine signifies new friendships.
Wearing Aquamarine earrings is said to bring love and affection.

Healing Properties

Aquamarine is said to help reduce addiction, and to help eliminate fluid retention by strengthening the kidneys, liver, spleen and thyroid, thus purifying the general body. At one time, long ago, eyeglasses were made of aquamarine as the stone is soothing to the eyes.

It is told that this stone placed on the neck or worn as a short necklace will treat many neck and throat problems. Placed on swollen glands or worn around the neck it will reduce swelling. Chronic tonsillitis may be relieved by wearing a necklace of aquamarine together with turquoise, sodalite, chalcedony and blue topaz. This stone also has a beneficial effect on the thyroid, and is helpful is most all throat and neck ailments.

How & Where: Inspiration and Sourcing

Jaipur in Rajasthan has a centuries old tradition in cutting stones and jewelry production. it is a gorgeous city, in itself an inspiration for any form of art. it is made out of pink clay and the older parts of the city make it seem as if the whole city is pink. the colors of the textiles and artwork are jewel-colored and gem powder (remnants from gem cutting) are used in their paint and decorations. gems are sold in numerous markets, similar to the gold souk, in traders offices and homes. I made a connection in New York at one of the gem fairs I used to visit regularly with a gem trader in Jaipur, so I contacted him on my arrival. he was incredibly hospitable and invited us to his home for a traditional Northern-Indian vegetarian lunch. The food was delicious and the family was friendly and welcoming.

We spent hours going through hundreds of strings of gem beads, selecting the best quality stones and the most unique pieces. Rajasthan has been in the stone cutting industry for so long, that they are now the biggest in colored-gem cutting in the world. stones from all over the world are shipped there to be cut into fine shapes, briolettes, rondells, pear and heart drops or any made to order shape. This is why it has the biggest variety of gems of anywhere in the world. Not only are all varieties of gems available, from tanzanite from Tanzania, rubies from India, Sapphires from Sri Lanka, Emeralds from Colombia, labradorite from Labrador, diamonds from Africa and tourmalines and chalcedony from Brazil, but also the rarest forms and colors of these stones, such as blue paraiba tourmalines, sapphires in every color from pink, purple, green, songia yellow etc., in the brightest and clearest specimens. The Art of making jewelry has been passed from generation to generation in its traditional Kundun style in Rajasthan, with gorgeous gems on one side and enamel on the other side of the piece. it is difficult not to get inspired by the gems, the colors and the jewelry in Rajasthan.

 When we are unable to go to Jaipur, or in between trips, we buy gems in jewelry and gem fairs, where gems and pearls are brought by merchants from all over the world. We also buy gems online from reputable gem dealers through gem societies, especially when we are looking for a particular stone or something truly special that comes up rarely and is sold by the piece. We also buy pearls from dealers with a vast knowledge about Japanese akoya pearls, south sea pearls from Australia, Tahiti pearls from the South Pacific and Chinese fresh water pearls. Once we have the gems, they are an inspiration in themselves. Each stone has its own character and feel. It is no wonder that stones throughout history, have been linked to moods, horoscopes and have been thought to have healing powers and energies that can affect us in some way.

They emanate such different vibes and have varied effects on different people. For us, they inspire us and remind of of different things in nature. For instance, some stones, or combination of stones remind us of fruit and inspire us to design jewelry reminiscent of berries or fruits. Others remind us of flowers or plant forms. they may give us associations of the ocean and all the colors and moods of water, or perhaps they may feel like an emotion of love or friendship or hope. We try to create feelings and organic forms in our jewelry that will hopefully inspire others, the way they inspire us. We take many aspects into consideration, we look at the colors, the shapes, the value of the stones and the material used, we consider the season, and the color trends. We also have to consider where and to whom the jewelry will be sold to. Stores often have their particular style and price that needs to be taken into account, while designing bespoke jewelry presents a completely different opportunity.

Here, we design for the individual. We believe that every woman has a story and we try to tell that story through the piece of jewelry that we create for her. We look at the client's taste, color choice, style, lifestyle and desire. We design pieces which are wearable, most can look stunning in an evening dress as well as with a pair of jeans. We use the best stones, pearls leather and precious metals we can find, making each piece unique and uniquely matched to our client. Designing for ready to wear lines and bespoke, pieces give us a great deal of satisfaction and present different opportunities and challenges. In ready to wear, we have more freedom to design through any inspiration we may have, whereas bespoke pieces are geared to a specific person. On the other hand, we often have an opportunity to use more unique and exquisite gems for bespoke pieces than for ready to wear.

AMETHYST is February's birthstone Emotionally, amethyst can help heal personal losses and grief. Amethyst has a gently sedative energy that promotes peacefulness, happiness, and contentment. It also brings emotional stability and inner strength, and can enhance flexibility and cooperation. Amethyst can help get rid of addictions and compulsive behaviors of all kinds.

Jade in the Year of the Dragon

As the Year of the Dragon is meant to bring ultimate abundance, prosperity and good fortune and jade has healing properties that bring prosperity and love, I thought it appropriate to kick off the Chinese New Year with a collection of Jade bracelets.

Jade is a wonderful balancing stone. It is considered to be a lucky stone that offers good health, wealth, and love. Jade can help you realize your full potential and attain purposeful goals. Jade also helps lift stuffed-down emotional issues and bring them to light for resolution.

The Jade bracelets have rose-cut diamond charms and are shown with Kunzite bracelets. Available at Bloomingdale's Dubai.

Gemme Couture: Semi-charmed kind of life

By MARRIAM MOSSALLI, MARRIAM.MOSSALLI@ARABNEWS.COM
Published: Jun 8, 2011 13:21 Updated: Jun 8, 2011 13:21

Sophisticated in its materials and stones, yet trendy in its design, Gemme Couture is the luxurious answer to bespoke, casual jewelry. An exclusive line created from precious and semi-precious stones and fine South Sea and Tahitian pearls, Gemme Couture was born out of the contemporary design disciplines of the West alongside a strong, rich flair of the East.

Fashionistas all over the Middle East can’t seem to get enough of the unique handmade pieces. The organic looking designs combine beautiful stones in unexpected settings of gold and leather, complimenting any outfit with a sense of effortless chic. Charms, such as the eye and hand, embody Eastern tradition, while carved out stones shaped as skulls reflect a playful panache in its wearer.

“We cater to a modern woman who is stylish and not afraid to express her personality and her individuality who feels beautiful wearing designs which complement her character and style,” stated Ivana Okereke who is a member of the International Gem Society and started designing and creating jewelry in New York City in 2001.

Having identified a void in the market for bespoke, handmade jewelry, Okereke decided to launch Gemme Couture in 2009. The result was a fusion of sophistication, casualness and comfort.

The Gemme Couture woman is not defined by the jewelry she wears, asserts Okereke, but rather, she is a woman who wears jewelry as an extension of herself. “The Gemme Couture [client] is a woman of any age and any culture who appreciates the art in jewelry and the organic nature of the materials,” she added.

Okereke believes there is an evident trend toward more natural pieces that utilize raw and rough stones and diamonds. “I think it is the global shift towards more organic materials, foods, and ‘green attitude’ towards our environment,” she revealed. “Shapes are freer, more organic, less symmetrical and less formal. Jewelry is moving from day to night. Women are looking for versatility and value where one piece can be worn in different ways for different occasions.”

However, what really puts the “Couture” in Gemme Couture is that, unlike other exclusive jewelry brands, the design team prefers to work with, and not for, their clients. She encourages clients to collaborate on pieces in order to produce unique designs that are sure to complement the individual character and style of its wearer.

“We believe that every woman has a story and we try to tell that story through the piece of jewelry that we create for her. We look at the client's taste, color choice, style, lifestyle and desire,” commented Okereke. “Most can look stunning in an evening dress as well as with a pair of jeans.”

The “Gemme” part of the bespoke label has its roots in the city, Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. The entire state is embedded in centuries of the old tradition of stone cutting, and today, is known as the leader in colored-gem cutting in the world.

“Stones from all over the world are shipped there to be cut into fine shapes, briolettes, rondells, pear and heart-shaped drops or any made-to-order shape. This is why it has the biggest variety of gems of anywhere in the world,” stated Okereke.

With Tanzanite from Tanzania, rubies from India, sapphires from Sri Lanka, emeralds from Colombia, labradorite from Labrador, diamonds from Africa, and tourmalines and chalcedony from Brazil, the city offers the rarest forms and colors of these stunning stones, making it the ideal place for Gemme Couture to shop for its exotic collection of rocks.

“Once we have the gems, they are an inspiration in themselves,” revealed Okereke. “Each stone has its own character and feel. It is no wonder that stones throughout history have been linked to moods, horoscopes and have been thought to have healing powers and energies that can affect us in some way. They emanate such different vibes and have varied effects on different people.”

For Okereke, the stones inspire her through their natural qualities. “For instance, some stones, or combination of stones, remind me of fruit and inspire me to design jewelry reminiscent of berries or fruits. Others remind me of flowers or plant forms. They may give me associations of the ocean and all the colors and moods of water, or perhaps they may feel like an emotion of love or friendship or hope. I try to create feelings and organic forms in our jewelry that will hopefully inspire others the way they have inspired me,” she added.

Okereke admits that designing ready-to-wear lines and for couture clients give her a great deal of satisfaction and present different opportunities and challenges. “In ready to wear, I have more freedom to design through any inspiration I may have, whereas bespoke pieces are geared to a specific person.”

Gemme Couture's most successful collections are Gemmes and the City, Bardot, Pebbles and Rock Candy. The Rock Candy collection is undoubtedly the brand’s fastest seller. Lava rock, white coral, Mediterranean coral, Lapis and turquoise with diamond charms, mother of pearl clovers and skulls make it trendy and wearable. The bracelets are strung on a resilient elastic cord, so they can be easily worn and removed, while the beautiful necklaces are designed in the fashion of rosary, or prayer beads, with a gold chain and diamonds and stones.

“The Bardot collection was inspired by a photo of Brigitte Bardot wearing, what I found out are her signature bracelets,” revealed Okereke. “She wore pearl bracelets on chain, which inspired me to create a new and unique version of the Bardot bracelet, and then a whole collection.”

The collection is composed of South Sea, Tahiti and fresh water pearls and diamond paved balls on 18k gold chains. This season will see the inclusion of ruby and sapphire beads, as well as stunning pearls of the softest peach and pink hues. “It's all about color in the Bardots!” she added.

In the Gemmes and the City collection, feminine, long tassel earrings with tiny seed pearls, and spinel and diamond beads make it a must-have for every fashionista. The Pebbles collection is made up of thin rose-cut stones encased in gold. Some pieces have eclectic color combinations of diamonds with a slightly uneven rough finish.

Gemme Couture’s newest collection is Animale. “It is all about nature and animals and organic forms,” commented Okereke. “There will be ruby snakes with lava rock and ruby pave beads; beautiful luminescent pearls with a ruby octopus wrapped around them; sapphire snakes with Tahiti pearls; sapphires and South Sea pearls; emerald snakes as earrings wrapped around black diamonds and spinel with a log tassel ending in sparkling emeralds.”

Today, Gemme Couture can be found all over the GCC, including the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the KSA with plans of bringing the trendy jewelry line to Qatar and London.



For more information, please visit: www.gemmecouture.com

Under the Sea

We just came back from the Arraya Jewelry Exhibition in Kuwait where we launched our "Animale" collection under the patronage of the stunning Octium Boutique. Happily, the collection was very well received. The show was stunning, and hopefully, we will be back next year!

Under the Sea

Under the Sea