Nicole made the cutest piece of bijou for me, however for Zaza, for Zaza’s 2nd birthday.
Not solely do I LOVE the necklace, however I actually seen the standard & consideration to element Nicole put into it. She’s a badass entrepreneur and simply such a grasp of her craft. As she put it, “jewellery is in her blood,” so I knew I needed to have her on the weblog to speak about all of the issues for you.
On this submit Nicole tells us the distinction between all of the golds & supplies that can be utilized, issues to remember when making a customized piece, plus the new new traits for 2023, and the classics that can by no means exit of favor.
With that, let’s welcome Nicole to the weblog.
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♡ Introduce your self & inform us your background within the jewellery trade. We would like your entire life story!
Nicole Elghanian: My identify is Nicole Sarah Elghanian and I used to be born and raised in La Jolla, California. I’ve all the time had a ardour for all issues diamonds and jewellery. From the time I used to be in a position to stroll, I used to be asking for jewellery (as you may see within the picture).
My maternal grandparents had a jewellery retailer within the diamond district on forty seventh road in New York Metropolis and my father is a neighborhood jeweler right here in San Diego, California. I suppose you would say that jewellery design runs in my blood. I really feel grateful every single day that my love for jewellery aligned with my household’s enterprise. I bear in mind as a bit of woman, annually on my birthday, my grandma would give me a skinny gold bangle bracelet. I used to be obsessive about these bangles, and wore them for a few years till I received too outdated and my wrists outgrew them.
As a toddler, my dad and mom tried enrolling me in a lot of extracurricular actions like soccer. I may need been the following Mia Hamm or Megan Rapinoe if it wasn’t for the no jewellery coverage. As soon as they knowledgeable me of that one, it was all bets off. As a lot as everybody could have wished me to be an expert athlete or a mad scientist, it was very clear I used to be destined to be a diamond woman!
The truth is, from a really younger age I insisted on going to my father’s jewellery store, it was virtually my favourite place to be. I used to be all the time in awe of all of the diamonds, coloured stones and gold in all places. By the point I used to be sufficiently old to assist with promoting, I used to be working at my father’s retailer. Whereas there, I’d typically dream up and design particular items for myself and my household. I’d sketch out the design I wished and would work with our bench jeweler to carry my visions to life.
Individuals would typically cease to ask me the place my jewellery was from and if they might buy it and that’s when Diamond Bar Jewellery was born. Earlier than beginning my enterprise, I attended the College of San Diego and was the primary particular person in my household to graduate from school. I pursued a level in Communications, as I believed it will assist me tremendously in operating the operations/promoting facet of my enterprise.
After graduating, my foremost focus grew to become getting DBJ up and operating. Beginning a enterprise is unquestionably a number of work, however so worthwhile and rewarding. I discover inspiration for my designs throughout me and I discover myself always pondering of latest concepts on find out how to elevate completely different types that I see whereas out and about. I’ve all the time liked to make lovely and dainty items that catch the attention. These items have develop into the point of interest of my line. My objective is to create dainty but distinctive items which are nice high quality, and at an reasonably priced worth level.
♡ What are the three issues individuals ought to search for when buying a chunk of bijou?
NE: When buying a chunk of bijou, crucial issues I all the time pay shut consideration to are: high quality, jeweler fame, and customer support.
WHO you purchase your jewellery from is essential!!! If it’s your first time purchasing for jewellery, I’d try a number of locations, look on-line, or ask a trusted pal. The very last thing you need to do is over pay for one thing or buy a low high quality piece.
Customer support can also be one thing to search for when shopping for a chunk of bijou. You need to ensure that the shop you’re making a purchase order from has some sort of guarantee, an expert cleansing machine, and an in-house jeweler. For instance, while you need to get your ring mounted or cleaned, you need to take it to your jeweler they usually can do it in-store. Don’t take the chance of getting your jewellery misplaced, stolen, or switched when shipped out.
Now let’s discuss a bit of extra about high quality. Some jewelers will use recycled gold, which implies they are going to take older scrap gold and soften it down into one thing new (which isn’t all the time nice). It could actually trigger the gold to be weakened which results in simply damaged jewellery. You sometimes need your jeweler to make use of recent gold in order that the jewellery is sturdy and can face up to being broken.
One other nice tip when shopping for a necklace or bracelet is to test the kind of clasp that’s getting used. What you need to search for is a lobster clasp. These are stronger and fewer more likely to break than c-clasps. A lobster clap requires extra gold when being made so it’s dearer for the jeweler to make use of. I all the time be certain to make use of lobster clasps on all my items to make sure security. You additionally need to be certain your jeweler is utilizing diamonds that really sparkle from up shut and from a distance.
♡ What traits & types do you foresee being scorching for 2023?
NE: Physique jewellery is unquestionably coming in scorching in 2023. There’s a lot extra actual property on the physique than one would possibly suppose. You possibly can drape chains with diamonds from virtually any a part of your physique, be it stomach chains, hand chains, foot chains, or anklets. I’ve received all of it and I need all of it!
I get essentially the most compliments from males on my hand chain and physique jewellery. All of them need to purchase one for his or her women. I’m additionally actually into ear cuffs proper now. They’re good as a result of you may add cool items to your ear recreation with out making a gap… which implies no ache! Lastly magnificence, with out ache.
♡ Speak to us concerning the distinction between conventional & unconventional designs.
NE: Conventional designs are sometimes these which stay timeless and in model endlessly. A basic diamond tennis necklace or bracelet, diamond studs, or a diamond band may be handed down from generations and nonetheless be in model.
Whereas conventional designs are all the time nice, I like to get artistic with unconventional designs. I imagine jewellery is a good way to precise private model and style, and for that motive I wish to create distinctive designs. I’ve just lately made just a few actually cool wrap-around rings, a pinky ring that spins, and two rings which are linked by a sequence. One other factor I like to do is reinvent outdated types which have pale over time, reminiscent of physique jewellery. As a substitute of shopping for a conventional ring or bracelet, you would strive an excellent stylish and enjoyable hand chain.
♡ What’s the easiest way to scrub jewellery? Stroll us by way of the steps.
NE: The easiest way to scrub your jewellery is to take it to your jeweler and have it cleaned each few months. Whereas there, the jeweler also can test to make sure that the prongs in your ring are tight and never unfastened. A unfastened prong may cause diamonds to fall out which is a complete nightmare. A good jeweler ought to do all of this for you with no cost. This is only one of many explanation why selecting a dependable jeweler is so vital.
Nothing fairly cleans your jewellery like an expert, however if you’re in a pinch, I’d counsel shopping for an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner for at residence or utilizing a selected cleansing resolution that you would be able to purchase on-line/in retailer. Some stones do require particular care, although, so it’s suggested that you just all the time seek the advice of your jeweler.
♡ Do you discover when persons are shopping for engagement rings, they’re going extra for conventional or non-traditional very distinctive types?
NE: I’ve seen all of it, from conventional to considered one of a form types. The choices are actually limitless and you’ll actually have some enjoyable designing the proper ring! You possibly can go the normal route with a diamond heart or you may pull a Princess Diana and get a blue sapphire heart stone engagement ring with diamonds round it.
Traditionally, yellow gold was used for lots of various jewellery, however over the previous decade or two, white gold and platinum have develop into a extremely popular shade selection for engagement rings. Though yellow gold has positively made a comeback, yellow and rose gold are actually a extra non-traditional and distinctive selection for rings. It’s also possible to get artistic with the minimize of your ring. Many individuals go for conventional shapes like a spherical or oval stone, however I’ve seen some actually enjoyable rings which have distinctive shapes like a coronary heart or have a number of giant stones within the heart setting.
One other approach you will get “non-traditional” along with your ring is by choosing a lab-grown stone. For a few years pure diamonds had been the best way to go, and essentially the most conventional. Now we now have a brand new participant: lab-grown diamonds.
A pure diamond and a lab-grown diamond are each actual diamonds. The one distinction is how the diamond is scourced, how lengthy it takes to make, and the price. A pure diamond takes 1000’s of years to materialize inside the earth and for that motive, has the next price ticket than a lab-grown diamond that solely takes just a few months to make. The selection between a pure diamond and a lab-grown diamond is solely as much as choice. As you may see, there are such a lot of completely different choices for crafting a surprising ring.
For instance, there are lots of variations between white, yellow, and rose gold.
In white gold: 14K is stronger and 18k is softer, however not by a lot in any respect. White gold is usually combined with silver and nickel as a result of aesthetically they give the impression of being the identical. 14k is barely stronger than 18k by a really small margin.
In yellow gold: 14K is stronger and has a extra lighter gold look, 18k is softer with a stronger yellow hue. Yellow gold is combined with copper and silver in several portions to make it stronger or richer.
In rose gold: 18K is stronger and never as pink, 14k is extra pink, however softer. Rose gold is combined with copper to make it pink. 14k rose gold will not be as sturdy as a result of copper is smooth. 18k has extra gold than copper so thats why it’s stronger.
In case you are allergic to gold the most effective substitute can be platinum. White gold or platinum is extra conventional and will likely be in model endlessly – additionally it makes your diamond seem bigger.
♡ What are some items which are basic & will final a lifetime?
NE: Some items which are classics and can all the time be in model are: tennis bracelets/necklaces, diamond stud earrings, eternity diamond bands, easy gold hoops/bands, and pearl necklaces/earrings.
My items are made to final a lifetime and may be handed right down to family members! Household heirlooms have all the time been vital to me, and the gadgets which were handed right down to me are those I cherish most. Passing down a chunk of bijou is like leaving a chunk of you for another person to have. It’s one thing you may maintain with you all the time as a reminder of fond reminiscences. If you happen to really feel like an heirloom would possibly want a recent new look, strive having your jeweler revive it into one thing enjoyable and new! Jewellery, outdated or new, is among the most particular and mawkish items you may give somebody.
♡ What recommendation would you give somebody seeking to purchase an engagement ring for his or her important different?
NE: When buying in your important different there are just a few suggestions that you need to take into account to search out the proper ring. Let’s begin with the 4 C’s of diamonds.
The 4 C’s you need to know are minimize, shade, readability, and carat weight. After this, you need to in all probability work out whether or not you desire a pure diamond or a lab-grown one. If you happen to go the pure approach, I like to recommend buying a diamond that has been graded by the Gemology Institute of America (GIA). GIA is a nonprofit institute that units requirements for grading diamonds. When shopping for a pure diamond from a jeweler, be sure to get the GIA certification for the diamond.
When you make some decisions on the stone itself, you will have to determine your band and setting. Though white gold and platinum are sometimes the preferred decisions for ring shade, there are many those that love a yellow gold or rose gold band. I like to recommend when selecting a yellow or rose gold band, in case you don’t need the colour of the band to mirror off the diamond, you would possibly go for the stone to be set in white gold prongs. Then again, in case your diamond already has a yellow shade, pairing it with a yellow gold or rose gold prong will really profit your stone.
Lastly, in case you have no idea the finger dimension attempt to carry a spare ring to your jeweler to dimension or purchase a ring sizer from Amazon. An ideal match will all the time go on simply, however is not going to slide off simply. All the time take note of the feedback your important different says about their associates’ rings or feedback they make when passing a jewellery retailer. And if all else fails, strive their Pinterest for some inspiration!
♡ How far upfront ought to a chunk be designed/ordered?
NE: For customized items, I all the time say 5 to seven weeks simply to be protected. I’ve a number of lovely items which are already made, so if you’re in a pinch or simply don’t need to wait, I received you.
♡ The place can everybody discover you? Pimp your self out!
NE: Yow will discover me doing pop ups in San Diego and Los Angeles, or see me in particular person by appointment! It’s also possible to store my web site www.diamondbarjewelry.com and discover me on Instagram @shopdiamondbarjewelry.
Most of my items may be discovered on-line through my web site or my IG. For a bit of enjoyable, comply with me on Tik Tok @diamondbarjewelry.
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There you may have it. All the information you would each need or want about customized made jewellery. In case your S/O is little too aloof, simply copy & paste this submit in an electronic mail for a sublte hinty trace. We all the time received you babes. ::wink wink::
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