I’ve always been partial to jewelry and accessories with hidden meanings. That being said, I’ve long been fascinated by the allure of the evil eye.
In many cultures, the evil eye is a curse believed to be caused by a malevolent glare cast when the person is unaware. In order to ward off the misfortune that can be caused by receiving the evil eye, good luck charms often known as Talismans were created to protect the wearer which also became known as evil eyes.
While I’ve never been to the parts of the Middle East or Europe where the iconic evil eyes are popular (it’s high on my bucket list), I have been brought back pieces featuring the blue evil eye from friends and family who have visited. Not only are they meant to bring protection and good luck, they also make incredibly fashionable statement accessories. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for a trip to Greece, Turkey, Albania, Egypt, Israel or Morocco to add a precious evil eye to your accessories collection or to give one as a gift. There are tons of great pieces you can order in preparation for that exotic vacation or just for fun. Here are some of my favs:
For most of us Thanksgiving means two things – good food and good times with the ones you love. But sometimes even the ones you love the most can fall into the category of “difficult relative.” So this is where the wine comes in.
Difficult relatives can be especially hard to handle during an election year. We’ve all seen how one politically fueled comment can turn a perfectly civil Thanksgiving dinner into round three of the Republican National Debate. So with the 2016 election just around the corner, Thanksgiving celebrations across the country need more than just wine.
Once you’ve ended your search for love, the search for diamonds begins! When it comes time to start buying rings, things can get pretty stressful. Everybody wants that perfect ring that their significant other will immediately fall in love with the second they lay their eyes on it. Unfortunately, it isn’t the easiest task. There are hundreds of millions of diamond rings on the market today and it can prove to be extremely difficult and time consuming to find the perfect fit for the one you love.
The first factor is cut. Many believe that a diamond’s cut refers to its shape, but rather, it refers to the diamond’s proportions, symmetry and polish. This factor is one of the most difficult to quantify and put a value on, as every different consumer has different tastes and thus it is important to find a ring that really appeals to your senses, no matter what the trends in the marketplace are. A poorly cut diamond will seem dull, no matter how astonishing the other factors may be. For this reason, cut is considered to be the most important factor when buying a diamond.
Next, it is important to look at the color of the diamond. Diamonds come in many different colors, some more majestic than others such as pink, blue and yellow. However, when a diamond is pure white and does not have any tint of yellow, it will be at its highest value. There is a GIA color scale which classifies the different colors of the diamonds and gives them a different grade. This ultimately determines the value of the diamond based on the factor of color.
Furthermore, a factor to evaluate is clarity. Due to the fact that diamonds are formed under extreme heat and pressure, there are imperfections present in the jewel. Clarity is a factor that looks at how evident and present these imperfections are. Those with less evident imperfections are worth more, because the imperfections interfere with the light path of the diamond. For this factor, there is also a GIA scale to classify it.
Finally, the last factor is carat weight. Diamonds are distributed by the carat, which is actually their weight, although it is commonly believed that this refers to size. If the buyer is dead set on the weight and size of the diamond, this factor could prove to be the most important. However, if they are indifferent, it will likely be one of the less looked at factors.
As a whole, shopping for engagement rings and diamonds is extremely difficult and it is important to evaluate all of the factors. Before jumping into any purchase for an item as critical as a ring, look at all the different variables and then make a conclusion. Find the perfect diamond by evaluating these factors accordingly.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are all my own.
Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the newly iconic X Ring. Though it has nothing to do with X-Men or The X-Files, its fabulousness is totally out of this world. Whether you’re on your way to a black tie event or getting crazy at a music festival, the X Ring’s sleek and modern design is sure to be the perfect addition to your outfit.
While the price differences between fine jewelry and costume jewelry tend to be drastic, you can rock a shimmering X Ring no matter what your budget may be.
During Fashion Week, I was invited to the Kendra Scott showroom to see her latest jewelry collections. I’ve long been a fan of her sophisticated and feminine statement pieces that always seem to have a touch of fun. It was an honor to stop by and see her newest collections inspired by Palm Springs and Mexico.
