Choosing Jewelry

As the 2020 New Year approaches we often feel refreshed and invigorated at the thought of a “start over” or a “clean slate” in our lives. Unblemished by life’s changes and hardships, we feel encouraged and inspired. This feeling happens any time of the year when we accomplish big things. Think about birthdays, anniversaries, graduations…all signify the end of a period of time and the beginning of another. We usually give gifts to commemorate these milestones and often the gift is jewelry. There are other times in life where new beginnings could be celebrated. We wanted to highlight some of those times to give you ideas on how to gift jewelry to celebrate new beginnings for a loved one and what types of jewelry could be appropriate!

For an Overcomer

Christopher Robin said to Pooh Bear “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”  (A.A.Milne) Life is hard and sometimes our loved ones could use a reminder of the fact that we love them and believe in them. Perhaps they just began or ended cancer treatments, or battled and won over an awful addiction…or maybe they fought a private storm that only you and a few others knew about… but in all these situations, they were victorious. Pearls come to mind in these situations. Do you know how a pearl is created? It was a tiny grain of sand or debris that landed inside the shell of an oyster or mollusk. The oyster then over the course of a long time (around 3 years) fought the struggle of the irritation brought by the sand and covered it in tiny layers until it formed a beautiful pearl. A pearl necklace, earrings, or pearl ring given as a gift could signify the struggle your loved one has overcome and been victorious!

For Someone Starting a New Journey

High School and College Graduations certainly fall into this category, but it could also include loved ones whose lives have significantly changed. Perhaps the home has just became an empty nest or they relocated and began a new life in a strange city. Maybe the dream of a new job or opening of a new business is the new journey. Gold could be an appropriate gift that could remind them of the pride you feel for them on this new adventure. The process of refining gold is centuries old. Through the process impurities are removed, leaving behind the true pure gold in the highest quality for jewelry. A gift of gold (either yellow or white) could remind your loved one that you have watched the journey they have traveled, how it has refined them, and that you are there supporting them in this next stage of life. A pendant, ring, or a pair of earrings with a beautiful gemstone or their birthstone could make it even more personal.

For Someone Who Has Simply Been There Through It All

Hopefully, you have someone in your life that has been there for you through the good, the bad, and the ugly times. If you do have someone like this in your life, you know what a gift their support has been. It is becoming rarer and rarer and it is invaluable. They deserve to be celebrated and while their role may not be a new beginning in the sense we are discussing here, it is a constant in your life that deserves to be celebrated. On the Mohs scale, diamonds are the hardest stone to cut. For someone who has stood by you when it was most difficult or just for as long as you can remember, diamonds would be a good gift to express your gratitude. Just as the diamond has endured tremendous pressure and held together, so has your loved one’s faithfulness to you (or your family or even your business). A diamond pendant, bracelet or stud earrings would be an especially meaningful gift to express your thankfulness for them staying the course with you for so long.

We hope you have a wonderful new beginning yourself in 2020. Take notice and celebrate those around you and if you decide to purchase a gift of jewelry to celebrate new beginnings for someone you love, we hope you will let Isbell help. For even more ideas on celebrating others visit our blog Honoring Loved Ones with Jewelry. Happy New Year!

Pearls, Parures, and Daytime Drama are all about what’s in style for the fall of 2019!

Fall Style: Pearls   

Pearls with flair will be in this fall. These are not like your grandmothers (although grandma’s pearls ARE lovely!) Expect to see strands of single pearls layered and also paired with beautiful antique brooches and cameos. A traditional string of pearls paired with other simple necklaces will give a chic look also. 

Fall Style: Parures

“Parures” is an elegant word for matching sets of jewelry and will be seen on the runways this fall. Don’t have a parure in your jewelry box? We have several gorgeous gemstone sets in our showroom that we would be happy to show you. Parures are not about being “matchy-matchy” but instead a coordinated elegance. Baroque, classically styled jewelry such as lockets and cameos will also grace necks and wrists.

Fall Style: Daytime Drama

Gone are the days of saving your best pieces for only special occasions. Pull out those beautiful stones for everyday errand running! Feeling nervous about making bold fashion moves? Vogue even agrees! Wear those pieces with confidence!

Now that you know what’s in style for fall, stop by Isbell and browse our collections. We can help you find the perfect piece!

If you’re not necessarily a jewelry connoisseur, then it might be a little overwhelming to pick out jewelry. It’s sometimes hard to know what are timeless pieces and what will get worn once for a special occasion and then never again. It’s also easy to get bogged down in trying to follow the trends of the time. If this sounds familiar, then let us help take some of the pressure off of you by giving you a list of 5 pieces of jewelry that will never go out of style and can be worn with just about anything!

Pearls are a Girl’s Best Friend

Contrary to popular belief, pearls are indeed a girl’s best friend. They are beautiful when paired with a more casual look as well as can classy up a more formal look. You can’t deny that you feel just a bit more beautiful wearing a pearl necklace.

Pearls aren’t just great for necklaces but for earrings as well. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to fuss with changing your earrings to “match” your outfit or maybe you just don’t like hoops or other dangling earrings, a pair of pearl studs will change your life. Because they are so versatile, you can wear them every day with whatever you want and not have to think twice.

Don’t Forget Ol’ Faithful

Despite believing that pearls are a girl’s best friend, you can’t deny that diamonds are a classic and obvious must-have. A pair of diamond studs while having many of the same benefits of pearl studs are a little more neutral. Diamonds are everyone’s style. They are a bit more expensive than their pearl counterparts though so be careful. If you’re wearing them every day, make sure to have sturdy backs on them and to not get in the habit of taking them on and off as to lose them.

Another faithful piece of jewelry that every girl needs to have is a diamond necklace. There are tons of different styles of diamond necklaces that have a large price range, but you need one for any special occasion or time that you just want to feel a bit more dazzling. Putting on that special necklace that fits your style has a way of making you feel just a bit better.

One More Piece

We’ve talked a lot about earrings and necklaces, but we can’t forget a little something to wear on your wrists. You might not be a big bracelet person but having something simple to put on can help to tie a whole look together. We suggest getting some kind of simple banded bracelet. It can be a diamond band, a silver band, rose gold, whatever you like! Make sure it’s something neutral that you can pair with just about anything and you’re golden (no pun intended)!

If you’re in the market to start, add to, or complete your jewelry collection come on by Isbell Jewelers. We have a wide selection of beautiful pieces and can find something for everyone. We’d love to help you find your must-have, feel-good, jewelry.