Mad About Jewellery Blog

Only Gay Men Wear Earrings!

Posted on 23 May 2012 | Comments Off

The facts behind this popular misconception.

Just over ten years ago, people used to think that if a man pierced one ear, he was gay. Nothing could be further from the truth. Men have been piercing their ears since before recorded history and far longer than women. Indeed, the male ear piercing tradition dates back to primitive Indian tribes who used both facial piercings and jewellery to enhance their bodies for religious and cultural rituals and to symbolise age, status, wealth and authority.The first types of earrings worn by these men were made from carved wood, stone and ivory and resembled hooks or large bars with a sharp end.

In the 1920s, hoops and studs were created and it became popular for American sailors to pierce their ears.  The reason for this trend was based in superstition. Sailors believed that if their bodies were recovered after a sailing accident, the person finding them would take the earring as payment for a proper burial.  Pierced ears on sailors also signified that the sailor had sailed around the world, or survived a sinking ship.

But the real upsurge in male ear piercing occurred n the late 1960s and early1970s when hippies and homosexuals started wearing earrings. During this time, a common saying arose among the public that “left is right and right is wrong”, insinuating that piercing solely the right ear meant you were gay. However, there were major problems with this generalization, because people simply couldn’t remember which ear signified “gay”, especially as many
people began to say that “right is right and left is gay”. Undoubtedly, some male earring wearers used a single ear piercing as a code for their sexual preference, but they were in the minority. By the 1980s the defining of sexuality by which ear was pierced was largely forgotten as the trend for male earrings gathered momentum.  But it was to be a celebrity event that caused the male earring to go mainsteam.

When Lou Gossett Jr. stepped onto the stage to accept his award for the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” wearing a diamond earring, he spawned a trend that opened the floodgates of acceptability for men’s ear candy!   Within days major stars such as George Michael and Will Smith were sporting pierced ears and rock bands, athletes and footballers – most notably David Beckham – followed suit.

While many organizations and businesses relaxed their dress codes and embraced earrings for men, there are still some companies that hold a bias against male ear piercing and the market will only expand when the world at large begins to see it as an acceptable form of expression for both casual and formal affairs.

However, given the advancements in the safety of body piercing, coupled with increased popularity and public tolerance it is clear that the male earring revolution has only just begun!

Diamonds Are A Queen’s Best Friend

Posted on 18 May 2012 | Comments Off

The sale for $9.7 million of the 35-carat “Beau Sancy” diamond, which was worn by King Henry IV’s Queen Consort, Marie de Medici at her coronation in 1610, started me thinking about other royal diamonds.  Thoughts about such things inevitably lead to THE most famous diamond in the whole world – the Koh-i-noor.   This diamond is described as being an oval-cut white diamond, about the shape and size of a small hen’s egg and weighs 186 carats.

A Beauty In The Eyes Of All Beholders

According to history this spectacular diamond was originally called Samantik Mani (Prince and leader of diamonds). It was mined from the Rayalaseema mine (Land of Stones) in Golconda, India during the Kakatiya dynasty and was passed from one ruler to another – including the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan famous for building the Taj Mahal, who had the diamond placed into his ornate Peacock throne.

A Beauty And A Curse

Although beautiful beyond comparison, the diamond was said to be cursed.  This dates back to a Hindu text from the time of the first authenticated appearance of the diamond in 1306, which reads:

“He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity.”

Whether the curse is true or not, myths and legends surrounded the stone and throughout history the lives of the rulers who owned the Koh-i-Noor were filled with violence, murders, mutilations, torture and treachery.

Empires that were won and lost, produced many stories of ill-luck that plagued the owners and became part of the diamond’s history. Just one such example was Nadir Shah,  King of Persia,.  In 1739 when he invaded India, he stole the diamond, renamed it  Koh-i-Noor, or Mountain of Light and took it back to Persia.  But eight years later his empire disintegrated after he was assassinated.  The diamond passed to his successors, but each one was systematically de-throned and blinded – a ritual designed to render an enemy powerless and make him a burden on his community.

And so history continued.  In 1800 Rajah Ranjit Singh took the Empire and possession of the Koh-i-noor diamond, but he died in 1839 and his successors lacked bravery and vision, so the Sikh kingdom became weak and the British took it over, making it part of the British Empire. The British Governor-General of India, Lord Dalhousie, was responsible for the British acquiring the Koh-i-Noor, since it was he who arranged for Ranjit Singh’s successor, Duleep Singh, to present it to Queen Victoria, Empress of India.  It subsequently went on display to the British Public at The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851.

Then in 1852, Prince Albert ordered the Koh-i-Noor diamond to be re-cut from 186 carats to its current 105 carats, thus increasing its brilliance. It was then mounted in a tiara with more than two thousand other diamonds. Later still, the Koh-i-Noor was used as the centre piece of the crowns of the Queen consorts to the British Kings. Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary wore  these crowns.

More recently, the stone was set into the top of the crown of the wife of King George VI,  Queen Elizabeth, later known as the Queen Mother.  Today it is in the Tower of London, where it forms a central part of the Crown Jewels display.

Whether or not people believe in the Curse of the Koh-i-noor Diamond, the history of the stone is undeniable – and the threat of the Koh-i-Noor curse is enough to make people extremely cautious. The British Royal family were obviously taking no chances as ever  since  the reign of Queen Victoria, when the Koh-i-noor diamond came into their possession, it has always gone to the wife of the male heir to the British throne – which complies perfectly with the curse.

“He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity.”

Royal Diamond Sells For $9.7Million

Posted on 16 May 2012 | Comments Off

Whilst the world worries about Greece and the fate of the Euro, it’s comforting to know that at a Sotherby’s “Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels” auction at the Beau Rivage Hotel in  Geneva yesterday, five bidders, from three continents were busy bidding millions for an historic diamond.

Not just any diamond, of course,  but the centuries-old 35-carat “Beau Sancy” diamond, which was worn by Marie de Medici, Queen consort of Henry IV, at her coronation in 1610 and subsequently passed down through generations of European royalty.

The spectacular diamond, brought to the auction by the House of Prussia and described by Sotheby’s as one of the “most fascinating and romantic” gems ever to come to auction was finally bought by an anonymous telephone bidder.for 9,042,500 Swiss Francs – which according to my currency converter is $9.7 million, or £6.7 million.  A substantial fortune in anyone’s book, and more than double the $2 – 4 million estimate.  So what “bang” is the anonymous bidder getting for his/her “buck” you may ask?

Philipp Herzog von Wuerttenberg, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, summed up the attraction of this pear-shaped, double rose cut diamond perfectly after the sale,”You are buying an historic work of art — you are not buying a diamond,” he said “I fell in love with it when I saw it. It’s the cut, it’s the history”.

And what a history!

Back in 1604 it was bought for Henri IV of France at the insistence of his wife Marie de Medici who wore the diamond at the top of her crown at her coronation. Later that century it was acquired by the Dutch and used to seal the wedding of Willem II of Orange Nassau to Mary Stuart, daughter of Charles I of England.  Mary later pawned the rose-cut gem to finance her brother Charles II’s fight for the throne.  In 1702, the first King of Prussia gave it pride of place in the new royal crown and it has passed through generations of the House of Prussia until today.

But the last word on the Beau Sancy belongs to David Bennett, co-chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland, who said “We’ve sold much larger diamonds but it has this wonderful romantic history, an unparalleled royal history — it has never
been in non-royal hands”. The Beau Sancy attracted bids from North America, Europe and Asia and there are, as yet, no details about the buyer.

Flying The Flag

Posted on 12 May 2012 | Comments Off

Following yesterday’s meanderings about the Olympic flag,  I got to wondering if there was a so-called “proper” way of flying a flag? The answer’s a resounding “Yes”!

With the Olympic flag it’s fairly simple. The flag itself must be larger than any other flag. Must be placed in a prominent position in the main stadium.  And must be hoisted at the Opening ceremony and lowered during the Closing ceremony.  End of.

But when a flag ceremony features the British flag, it’s a whole different etiquette ball game.  For starters, the Union Jack should always be displayed right side up and should never drag on the floor.  If it’s featured in a ceremony with a flag of another nation, then both flags must be flown on poles of equal height  The flag may be flown both day and night; however, it must be properly illuminated after sundown.

When flying the Union Jack at half mast, the flag should be lowered one flag length from the top of the flagpole–not flown at half the height of the flagpole. The only occasions for flying the flag at half mast are the funeral of a member of the Royal Family, or the funerals of  current or previous UK-Prime Ministers. And again, there’s a ritual when taking it down which states that it must first be elevated to the top of the pole.   Naturally, It’s not proper etiquette to use the British flag for anything other than an honorable display. in short. it should never be used as a seat cover, tablecloth, blanket or clothing.

During the year, there are several days when the Union Jack s dispayed on Government buildngs.  These include the 6th February, which  marks Her Majesty’s Accession,   17th March, which is St. Patrick’s Day and  20th of November, which is her Majesty’s wedding day. In Scotland, the British flag is also displayed on 30th November -  St. Andrew’s Day

Old or tattered Union Jacks should not be flown as this is a sign of disrespect. Old flags must be burnt or cut into strips until they are no longer recognisable.

I post these rules and regs, because during the Olympic Games thousands of us will be waving the old red, white and blue and it’s essential that in a fit of pique, when one of our athletes might miss out on a Gold, you’re not tempted to vent your spleen, by throwing the Union Jack on the floor and stamping on it.  This could obviously be misconstrued as a gesture of disrespect , punishable by a possible stint in the  Tower.  I would also urge caution on getting too excited whilst waving your flag, as you might unwittingly raise it even a centimete above a flag of another nation – a gesture that may well cause an international incident and result in ambassadors being recalled!  You should also remember to take a torch to the Games, lest the sun goes down before  your flag  does and most importantly, it’s essential that your McDonald’s and cokes are kept well clear of any contact with your flag, as any stains or leakage could be deemed disrespect and again, this could carry with it the penalty of a life sentence at Her Majesty’s pleasure – or  worse still a stint in McDonalds!

Flying The Flag For The Olympics

Posted on 10 May 2012 | Comments Off

If you’re living in London, the news from the capital is rarely complete without a liberal sprinklng of stories about the fast-approaching Olympics. And so it was on Tuesday – following the bilious bulletin about unscrupulous landlords dumping their tenants in order to attract vastly inflated rents for the duration of the Games – that my mind in a random segue switched to thinking about jewellery for the occasion.

Having already added a liberal sprinkling of good quality Union Jack items, my attention turned to the distinctive 5-ring, Olympic symbol. Apart from a vague recollection that it was supposed to symbolize world peace,  I realised that my knowledge was a black hole. And since this is exactly the kind of question that’s likely to rear its head at the finals of the Pub Quiz in two weeks’ time, as leader of “Joanna’s Jewels” I felt it my duty to investigate!

It seems that the distinctive symbol of the five-rings was created by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin as long ago as 1914. As the founder of the modern Olympic games, he wanted to celebrate their 20th Anniversary, so he created an Olympic banner to act as an international emblem.  The design was emblazoned on a flag and wham-bam-thank-you-Pierre, became the official Olympic symbol at the 1920 games in Belgium.

Coubertin’s rationale of the design was sound and simple.  The five interlocking rings signified the union of the five participating continents and the coming together of their top athletes at the Oympic Games. The White background represented the ideals of peace and truth and the colours of the rings were chosen because the flags of each participating country included at least one of the colors. Blue represented Europe,  Black represented Africa, Red represented America, Yellow represented Asia and Green represented Oceania, Australia and New Zealand.   The flag also allows participants from unrepresented countries to take part in the Olympic Gamess as independent athletes.

Today the Olympic flag, is used as an international symbol of peace, unity and solidarity, and while some symbols such as the Olympic flame are used solely during the Games, the flag is often flown throughout the year.

There are strict codes of practice concerning the use of the Olympic flag.  At the end of each Games, the Mayor of the current host city passes the Olympic flag to the Mayor of the next host city, where it remains for four years until the next Games. During the opening ceremony, the flag of ancient Greece is also raised to symbolize the history of the Olympics Games. Starting in Belgium in 1920 right up to 1988, Coubertin’s original flag was passed along from Olympic city to Olympic city,  but It now resides in the Olympic Museum in Switzerland. RIP.

Anklets. Costume Jewellery With Mega Sex Appeal

Posted on 9 May 2012 | Comments Off

From their first appearance around the ankles of Sumerian women in Mesopotamia over 4000 years ago, anklets have had a long and rich history. Worn by women in many cultures as a means to attract a suitor, by drawing attention to their legs and well-groomed feet and adding a touch of sex appeal to their appearance, they were also used to demonstrate wealth and marital status.  In Ancient Egypt, both the rich and poor wore anklets.  As you’d probably expect, those of the wealthy were made from precious metals and adorned with jewels, whilst the poor wore anklets with charms and amulets. Throughout the Middle Ages, anklets were frequently worn around both ankles and connected by a length of chain, which created a shorter, more feminine step. But by far the richest history of anklets belongs to India, where the anklet became – and still remains – part of the customary ceremonial wedding garments and thus signals marital status. The custom is for the new bride to wear one or more anklets to announce her entry into her husband’s house with the tinkling sound they make. And talking of tinkling sounds, during dances, Indian women also attached anklets with bells to create a distinctive jingle to accompany their movements.  The same use of anklets with bells as an accessory to a dance costume was – and still is – used by belly dancers in the Middle East.

It was not until the 1950s that the ankle bracelet became popular in the UK and during the 1960s the trend went ballistic as the hippie generation adopted anklets made of Silver, multi-coloured beads, flowers, stars, peace signs – and whatever.  Today, anklets are a normal part of any fashionable woman’s jewellery collection and particularly in Summer, will be worn on a daily basis, often alongside toe rings, to add a little sex appeal to summer wardrobes and attract attention to sun-kissed legs.

On a much more practical note, the Police and the judicial system have turned to anklets to monitor the activities of the criminal, the rehabilitated, and those in need of rehabilitation.  Suspected criminals awaiting trial, are frequently required to wear an ankle bracelet to allow their activities to be scrutinised, and the same applies to some parolees after they have been released from overcrowded prisons.
On a lighter note, many surfers wear lead ankle bracelets to stop their legs rising to the surface and – only in Hollywood – it is said that actress, Lindsay Lohan, wore an alcohol detecting anklet, giving her the ability to sense her proximity to alcohol.

Thought by many to be the precursor to the modern-day pedicure, painted toenails and high heels, anklets are available in a variety of precious and non-precious metals and MAJ has a diverse range that includes 925 Sterling Silver, Freshwater Pearls and a dazzling array of diamante.

Ear Candy. The Facts

Posted on 7 May 2012 | Comments Off

Pierced earrings made their debut in the Middle East as early as 3,000 B.C. where they were used to identify the wearer’s religious, political or tribal identity. They also defined the individual’s social status in the community and were worn with pride by those who were in power and as a label of inferiority and shame by those who were enslaved. In the beginning, earrings were fashioned out of metals that could be bent, flattened and twisted into unique designs and hoops and it was not until the second century AD and the introduction of assorted gems that they became more elaborate.

Earrings continued to be fashionable until the Middle Ages, when they were all-but-abandoned as Europe went into a frenzy over gigantic hats, towering wigs and high collars – a combination that proved lethal to the earring, since anything dangling from one’s earlobes would either be completely obscured, or risk getting tangled in fabric and voluminous locks of hair.

It was not until necklines dropped and more subdued hairstyles came back into fashion in the 17th Century that earrings were once more back in vogue and part of a well-heeled lady’s bragging rights that her husband could keep her in frivolous luxury. But by the 18th Century earrings yet again became redundant as ladies adopted bonnets that framed the face, hugged both sides of the head and sported wide sashes that would obscure, or tangle with anything attached to the earlobe.

The trend for earrings resurfaced with a vengeance in the 19th Century as ladies adopted elegant hairstyles piled on top of the head or brushed back into a sleek chignon.  The subsequent invention of clip-on earrings, which were considered far more sanitary, also gave earrings a boost.  However, the biggest expansion in the earrings market came with the spectacular rise of both Hollywood and the modeling industries, which created a massive demand as women of  all ages wanted to copy the fashion sense of film stars and models who clearly knew how to wear the latest fashions – and accessorize.

As for men, the option of wearing an earring precedes Biblical times and, in later centuries, came to be associated with rogues such as pirates and explorers.  Today, thanks to celebrities such as David Beckham, a single earring – often a simulated diamond – is extremely popular with most men under 30.

Cufflinks. The sign of a gentleman.

Posted on 3 May 2012 | Comments Off

Somewhat surprisingly, the very first cufflinks can be seen in ancient hieroglyphics in King Tut’s tomb – well before the invention of the shirt! However, cufflinks, as we know them were first mentioned in wirting in 1788, although way before that slits were being cut into the clothing of the wealthy classes and luxurious hand-made items, often in silver or gold and studded with gemstones, were replacing ribbons and ties as a means of holding clothes together.

But the major advance came in the 18th century with the invention of enamel cuflinks which could be mass-produced. Suddenly, men’s jewellery was opened up to a wider audience and by the 1840s, the middle classes had also adopted cufflinks.

It was at this point that the french cuff, or double-cuff shirt was invented.  English tailors claim that this was an English invention, however the French also lay claim to this ever-popular cuff stating that French tailors created the style as a direct respose to the description of the shirts worn by the hero in the best-selling novel at the time -  Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Count of Monte Christo”.

Another major advance occurred in the 1880s when an American called George Krementz patented a device based on a machine used in the civil war for making cartridge shells.  This machine could produce one-piece collar buttons and cufflinks on a mass market scale and suddenly every US business was commissioning cufflinks for advertising or as gift incentives for clients.

The practice of wearing cufflinks soared during the 19th century as jewellers began to use Imitation gems and gold and silver-plate to make cufflinks affordable to the masses and by the late Victorian period, cufflinks and shirt studs were essential to every gentleman’s wardrobe.

At this point, cufflinks were still made much as they were in the 17th Century,  with two ornamented faces connected by a link. But by the 1920s things were about to change with the development of the T-post and flip hinges, with snap-together cufflinks following in the 1930s.

The cufflink market reached its peak in the mid 1960s, with top manufacturer Swank Inc, producing 12 million pairs a year. These days the figure is closer  to 200,000 pairs, but cufflinks are making a comeback with sales increasing steadily year-on-year over the past ten years.  The French cuff continues to be the most prestigious type of shirt.

The most expensive cufflinks ever sold were a pair given to the soon-to-be King Edward VIII by his later wife Wallis Simpson. These featured diamonds set in platinum and sold at auction for $440,000.

Shamballas For A Mini-Me?

Posted on 29 April 2012 | Comments Off

Having listened to all the discussions and warnings about the commercialisation of minors, I must admit that my Size 5 feet were firmly in the camp of those who wanted to ban items such as sexy slogans on T-shirts for under-5s, thongs for 4-year-olds and any form of high heels for those who were still learning to walk, let alone run, in trainers.   But last week, at Church of all places, I fell in love, nay verily covetted, the most fantastic of all the Christening presents laid out on the table next to the tiers of baby pink iced cupcakes.  For there, reflecting every dazzling ray of sunshine that glanced on its multutude of Swarovski crystal surfaces, was the most delightful, tiny, adjustable Shamballa bracelet.  An absolutely perfect, scaled down model of the adult version and so cute its aahhh- factor was off the scale.  It was, to cut a long line of superlatives short, so drop-dead-gorgeous in its commercialised innocence, that it reigned supreme amongst the Christening presents.  And not one mum there, with a female mini-me in tow, wouldn’t have bought one on the spot – including me.

So my principles have been compromised, not the least because every little female person behaved like a bee to a honeypot the moment they clapped eyes on it and my own very strong-willed 3 year-old promised to be good for evermore if she could just “hold” it.  Tantalised by the possibilities of how good she might be if she actually owned one,  I’m thrilled to say that the mini-Shambalas will be with me – and on the site – in a few days time.  And, believe me, they are every bit as magical and dazzling as the adult Shamballas.  Exceptionally high in quality, the mini version goes down to 12cm and features 8mm clear swarovski crystal balls, with hematite balls on either side and on the fastner.  Hematite is known for its healing and balancing qualities and for strengthening the body and promoting inner peace, so as well as looking exceedingly good, it also does you good.

Cufflinks For Guys Who Don’t Want To Wear Them!

Posted on 25 April 2012 | Comments Off

Given recent research concerning the decline of the numbers of males wearing suits and the dumbing down of the overall dress code for so many young English men, it’s nice to see a product designed to go some way towards redressing the balance by promoting smart dressing in a modern, contemporary way.

Button Covers are the modern and oh-so-simple way to get the look of cufflinks, without going to the expense of actually buying cufflinks or having to invest in a shirt with cuffs that take them.  With Button Covers, any shirt can sport classic black or white circles, footballs, rugby balls, a sporty gear knob and – most importantly given the rapidly-approaching Olympic Games – the Union Jack. Ideal for weddings, interviews, special dates and any time you want to create a good impression.

The idea’s simple. Just fasten the cuff button on your regular shirt in the normal way, then slip the hinged back behind the button and clip the design over the top of the button. Hey presto, you’re dressed to impress for work or play.  And when it’s time for your shirt to hit the wash, just unclip your button covers ready to attach to the next shirt. The button covers shown are extremely high quality. They have been created in rhodium for strength, durability and a high shine without tarnishing and they come packaged in a retro Chrome Box.

older posts »