Birthstones: April is Diamonds!

Diamonds.  Just the word can bring a smile to even the most serious of faces.  Widely regarded as the most precious of gems, diamonds are considered the birthstone of the month of April, so come visit us at Studio Vincent to pick up a gift for your April baby!  Diamonds come out of the ground looking like semi-translucent pebbles and are sorted by color before they are sent to be cut.  The majority of diamond jewelry on the market has cut and polished gems, but the more creative goldsmiths like to explore using raw and uncut diamonds in their designs.  Diamonds can come in a rainbow of colors and we recommend using colored diamonds in place of semi-precious gems in many designs because of their durability.  

The word diamond comes from the Greek word Adamas, which means unconquerable. Diamonds, indeed, are known for their longevity and hardness, making them an excellent choice for engagement, wedding and commitment rings, or any jewelry that will be worn on a daily basis.  Before purchasing a diamond it's necessary to understand how they're categorized and graded.  We are happy to sit down with our clients to explain the Four C's of the diamond trade: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat.  Come in today and get a jump start on your April birthday purchases!  Choose from bezel set diamond studs, tension set diamond rings, rough diamond earrings and much more.

                                                                                        

Staff Favorites: Megan

Studio Vincent's Megan Baxter is still fairly new to the jewelry business, but she picked up the lingo right away.  When I asked her about her favorite piece of jewelry in the store she took a careful look around and then started telling me why she liked the Studio Vincent Muse Collection made by our own Stephen Vincent.

Megan is sophisticated, especially for her age, but she definitely has a whimsical side and the Muse Collection, especially the Soho pendant pictured here appeals to both aspects of her personality.  Created from stainless steel and fine silver with flush set diamonds, this pendant shows that jewelry techniques aren't static. Megan loves how the Muse jewelry mixes stainless steel, relatively new on the jewelry scene, with old-school silver and diamonds; the young and old merging to give jewelry a face lift.  

Although this collection is contemporary, it remains elegant and Megan tells clients that this piece will look good with day or night attire.  An April baby, she's especially fond of wearing diamonds and never hesitates to point out how wonderful it feels to wear a little sparkle every day.

-Louisa Podlich

Studio Vincent Staff Party!

Staff Favorites: Louisa

I've been a jewelry lover my entire life. I used to cut out pictures of stacking rings and gemstone necklaces from my mom's old Coldwater Creek magazines and paste them in my journal. My tastes have evolved since then, but for the last 18 years or so I've searched magazines, websites, boutiques...all in search of the perfect accessory...and I finally found it.

Behold the Mokume Lantern Earrings by Minneapolis artist George Sawyer. They're so long they just graze the shoulder, and heavy enough to remind you of just how fabulous they are. They look amazing when paired with a little black dress, a white blouse, a boat neck sweater. You can wear them with short hair or long hair, and they'll go perfectly with your eyes, guaranteed.

Someday I will own a pair of these earrings, but for now I'd be happy to sell them to you! Start putting money in your piggy bank now and before you know it you'll be the proud owner of beautiful earrings that will perfectly compliment your summer tan.

-Louisa Podlich

Designer Bio: Barbara Heinrich

Now a recognized name in galleries around the world, Barbara Heinrich began her career selling jewelry on the streets of her home town of Heilbronn, Germany.  Barbara established her jewelry studio in Rochester, New York in 1986 after graduating from RIT and since then her jewelry has captivated people across the world.

Barbara works mainly in platinum and 18k gold and her pieces range from contemporary to old-fashioned. Barbara's studio prides itself on originality of design, excellence in craftsmanship and total wearability.

Here at Studio Vincent we love the antique feel of the burnished gold and the intricate detail of granulated metal.  We also adore her use of sapphire briolettes in every color; sometimes wearing her pieces evokes being a kid in a candy shop.