Green Tourmaline, the stone of energy and stamina

I was asked to design a ring with a beautiful green tourmaline.

It is such a wonderful stone, in an amazingly deep green and emerald cut, that I decided making the ring as clean and simple as possible, so that one would only see this mesmerizing gem!

Green Tourmaline, also known as Verdelite, is perhaps Nature's best healing crystal of the physical heart, channeling its electrical energies into the center of one's being and creating a flow of wholesome energy to all parts of the body and self. It is the masculine, or yang counterpart to the feminine heart energies of Pink Tourmaline, and enhances courage and strength, stamina and vitality. Its spiritual vibrations harmonize with the energies of the Earth as it opens the Heart Chakra and stimulates a strong resonance with Divine Love. 

Green Tourmaline attracts luck, success, abundance and prosperity. It inspires creativity, and may be used to project, create and manifest one's goals. It might also increase one's opportunities to earn a second income by turning an interest or hobby into a business

Jewelry as miniature sculpture.

For over 25 years, american designer Dennis deJonghe has been an integral part of the creative atmosphere of artsy community of Saratoga Springs, NY, creating in his studio/gallery his unique jewelry and many private collectors in North America and Europe own deJonghe pieces. I really like his"one-of-a-kind" pieces, made as individual small sculptures with unusual gem stones set in platinum or gold. 

About his work, Dennis says: “I took a jewelry course and it fell in love with me. Metal work offered a three-dimensional form and I began to view jewelry as miniature sculpture.

Know more about his beautiful work here.

Gold nuggets

The beautiful and delicate work of british Ibiza based jeweller Natasha Collis

Via Consuelo blog

Upayes, the Hindu astrological remedies

I was asked by a friend who is very keen on Hindu Astrology, to make him a jewel using a 2ct diamond that should be in direct contact with his skin to work as an astrological remedy .

This was quite a challenge for me because, except from cufflinks and tie clasps, I don't usually make men's jewellery and my designs are quite feminine.

As this is a piece he's going to wear every day, it shouldn't be too eye-catching but at the same time, I did not want it to be dull...

I ended up making a blackened silver necklace with a pendant as rough as the beautiful diamond set on it.

Here's the result:

And here's a little explanation he sent me about Precious Stones and Hindu Astrology (in portuguese, but if you need a translation, please feel free to ask me for it!)

Pedras Preciosas e Astrologia Indiana:

Quando um Jyotishi (Astrólogo Hindu) faz o nosso mapa, ele consegue ver quais as forças e as fraquezas das energias envolvidas. Estas energias são simbolizadas pelos 7 planetas visíveis mais os 2 Nodos Lunares : Sol, Lua, Mercúrio, Vênus, Marte, Júpiter, Saturno, Rahu e Ketu.

Cada um destes planetas possui uma pedra preciosa que lhe corresponde :

Sol : Rubi Vermelho

Lua : Pérola

Marte : Coral Vermelho

Rahu : Água-Marinha ou Lápis-Lazúli

Júpiter : Topázio Amarelo

Saturno : Safira Azul

Mercúrio : Esmeralda

Ketu : Crisoberilo

Vênus : Diamante
Estas pedras devem ser de pelo menos 2 quilates, de boa qualidade, em um único pedaço (não várias pedrinhas que somam juntas 2 quilates), sem tratamento químico, e ficar necessariamente em contato com a pele da pessoa. Podem ser brutas ou lapidadas.

A que corresponde ao planeta regente do Ascendente Astrológico (Sideral, e não Tropical – não é o “nosso” Ascendente da Astrologia Ocidental) deverá ser usada por toda a vida. Recomenda-se também usar as pedras correspondentes aos planetas dos Dasas e Bhuktis em curso, apenas durantes os respectivos períodos.

Podem ser usadas em anéis, braceletes ou pingentes, desde que toquem diretamente a pele.

Para saber quais pedras usar, procure um Astrólogo Indiano, pois este é um assunto bastante técnico. Em São Paulo, há por exemplo o Professor Kesavan Nair – tel 11 3742 4584
Junto com os Mantras e os Yagyas, o uso de Pedras é um dos meios pelos quais nosso Karma, descrito no mapa astrológico, pode ser amenizado. Os 3 métodos são eficazes e foram testados e comprovados pela tradição hindu.

The Beauty in Chaos

Son of Jean Vendome, one of the most influential jewellers in France, who retired four years ago, leaving him some faithful clients and the taste of applying precious metal and stones to common, found materials, using high craftsmanship, Thierry Vendome said about his work:

"To me, that is taking the idea of Haute Joaillerie and turning it on its head". 

"My work is about chaos and showing the beauty in it", he explained, about his jewels made with original materials, coarse textures and free flowing designs", and added:

"I experiment with objects found in nature and combinations of ‘wild’ materials and precious ones”.

In his boutique in Paris, you can see pieces of rusted metal found in the dunes of Normandy set with diamonds and opals and made into breathtaking and beautiful jewels. Driftwood picked up on a beach is matched with a piece of coral and diamonds to make a pendant. A slab of obsidian found along a mountain road on a trip to Armenia is transformed into a diamond-set pin.

"Natural materials exude a kind of power, but some of that force is lost as you reduce objects in size to make jewelry, to compensate for that loss, I use an unexpected combination of materials."

Thierry Vendome creates an estimated 350 pieces a year, all unique or limited editions. He makes all his pieces entirely by hand, himself, except for the stone-setting.

Have a look here to know more about Tierry's work.

Golf Tournament prize

I was yesterday looking for some pictures in my computer when I ran across these ones I had forgotten about, of me handing over the prize I donated to a Charity Golf Tournament some time ago, in São Paulo - Brazil.

Two strand pearl necklace with 18k gold and smoky quartz clasp
                      Design: Christine v. Schönburg

From protection of roman soldiers to abundance

Sterling silver , Tiger's Eye, afghani hammered silver beads, black and brown Agate.
Design: Christine v. Schönburg

Apart from its beautiful golden colour, I specially like Tigers Eye because it is an excellent stone for increasing the power of personal will. It helps us acquire abundance and wealth and enhances the stability and balance that lead to maintaining the acquired wealth. 
It's known as the stone of grounding, abundance and protection and has been used since the Roman soldiers, for protection and clarity during battles.
You can read more about the properties of this powerful stone here