Beauchamp Jewelers cordially invites you to an evening preview of original designer handbags by artist Debbie Brooks. Debbie will be in our store to autograph her works of art and to unveil a new limited edition handbag inspired by Albuquerque’s annual Balloon Fiesta. We will also be featuring our new fall collections from designers Cherie Dori and Roberto Coin, including Roberto’s spectacular, CapriPlus designs. Come join the fun!

Friday, October 9 6 to 9 PM
Saturday, October 10 9:30am to 4pm

I heard a fabulous interview on NPR today with Madeleine Albright about her book Read My Pins. While she was Secretary of State she would wear lapel pins to all of her meetings with Heads of State and they often reflected her mood or made political statements. You can see a slideshow of some of the pins she wore and read an excerpt from her book at NPR.org.

If you would like to wear your emotions on your lapel you can check out some of the beautiful vintage pins at our web page, www.bcjewelers.com.

Roberto Coin has teamed up with Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns and CARE for his upcoming advertising campaign.

Turlington Burns, who has graced the covers of over 1,000 top fashion magazines, from Vogue to Time Magazine, has not only been a leader in the world of fashion as one of the most highly sought after models, but also an avid pioneer of women’s rights. Turlington Burns is involved in various charitable organizations, most notably as a spokesperson for (PRODUCT) RED and as CARE’s Advocate for Maternal Health.

As the previous campaign benefitted YouthAIDS, Roberto Coin has once again organized this campaign for an important cause. For 2009-2010, the campaign will support CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. According to Roberto Coin, Chairman/ Co-Founder of Roberto Coin Inc., “Our previous campaign with Christy was so successful and widely received. We are so pleased to be working with her again. We are proud to be in partnership with an organization such as CARE for all their extraordinary work they have done to empower women worldwide through education, healthcare, increased economic opportunities and human rights.”

The new campaign will feature jewelry from the Primavera, Classic Bold Gold, Cento Diamonds, Fantasia, Appassionata and the innovative CapriPlus collections. “Working with Christy is another exciting opportunity for Roberto Coin,” says Peter Webster, President / Co-Founder. “The new campaign also salutes an organization that invites people to go out and make a difference. At Roberto Coin, we believe that a cause related campaign is much more impactful than straight consumer advertising. This campaign recognizes both the work of Christy Turlington Burns and that of CARE.”

For more information about CARE log on to www.care.org

To support this cause you can visit Beauchamp Jewelers for a beautiful selection of Roberto Coin Jewelry.

About Roberto Coin

With headquarters in Vicenza, the Italian town famed for its jewelry, the company was founded in 1977 by the Venetian born Roberto Coin. The American subsidiary, Roberto Coin Inc., is based in New York on Fifth Avenue. In order to satisfy the diverse tastes of Europe, North and South America, East and Far East markets, each year more than 600 new models of jewelry is produced, whose high quality is keeping with the reputation of the Company. The driving force behind the creation of the jewels is Roberto himself, assisted by a team of highly qualified workers capable of blending age-old techniques with modern innovations to create the product for which the company is famous.

About CARE

CARE fights root causes of poverty in the world’s poorest communities. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. In nearly 70 countries, women are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to improve education, health and economic opportunity. Each year, CARE helps tens of millions of people around the world effect real, positive changes in their lives.

SOURCE Roberto Coin

For the complete press release visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/PRNewswire/release/205180.html

As a continuation of last month’s discussion of diamonds I will cover diamond clarity, 1 of the 4 C’s.

Clarity refers to the purity of the diamond. Approximately 15 % of the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality. The other 85 % is used for industrial purpose. Most diamonds have some sort of inclusions or characteristics even after they are faceted. It is extremely rare to find a flawless diamond. Diamonds are graded using several different scales. At Beauchamp Jewelers, we use the GIA scale which is the oldest and most accepted. (See scale and definitions below.)

Clarity Scale

GIA			FL		IF		VVS1			VVS2			VS1			VS2			SI1			SI2			I1				I2				I3
AGS			0				1			2			3			4			5			6			7			8			9			10

FL………..(Flawless) No inclusions or blemishes under 10 X magnification
IF…………(Internally Flaw) No inclusions under 10X magnification; insignificant blemishes on surface only

VVS1……..(Very Very slightly Included) Minute inclusions that are extremely difficult to see under 10X
VVS2…….. (Very Very slightly Included) Minute inclusions that are very difficult to see under 10X

VS1……….(Very slightly Included) Minor inclusions that are difficult to see under 10X
VS2……….(Very slightly Included) Minor inclusions that are somewhat easy to see under 10X

SI1……….(slightly Included) Noticeable inclusions that are easy to see under 10X
SI2……….(slightly Included) Noticeable inclusions that are very easy to see under 10X

I1…………(Imperfect) Obvious inclusions under 10X – may be visible to the unaided eye
I2…………(Imperfect) Obvious inclusions visible to the unaided eye, strong effect on appearance or durability
I3…………(Imperfect) Prominent inclusions visible to the unaided eye, strong effect on appearance and durability

It takes a trained gemologist with years of experience to accurately grade the clarity of a diamond. Even though diamonds are graded at 10 time the naked eye, a gemologist may use a microscope at 60 times the naked eye to discover characteristics in a diamond and then grade them with a 10 power loupe.

I have included some photographs taken under the microscope of interesting diamond inclusions and characteristics.

Hey, we just brought in a new artist her name is Debbie Brooks. She  paints and silksreens the most amazing images on handbags. Her bags are so unique. I love wearing things that not everyone else has. We met her this summer at one of the trade shows we attend. Her booth was jam packed . We women were packed around just to  get a peek. It was a buying frenzy!  The energy was akin to that of shopping the day after Christmas. . . wild. I selected a handbag for my little old self and purchased several dozen for the store. I love shopping vicariously!!!  If I can’t have each and every handbag  than I can at least have the fun of picking out dozens of these beauties  for friends . It was a tough choice selecting just  ONE of these darling bags  but I selected this reversable bag for myself.

It is awesome and  as we ladies KNOW. . . you always need the perfect little black bag. I love it!  As you can see from these two bags my choice was very difficult.

Oh what the heck I know my true nature and the bags are sooo affordable I will no doubt be adding to my collection in the near future. The coolest part of our meeting Debbie Brooks is that she has  agreed to create a custom handbag just for Beauchamps! She will be creating a  bag with our beautiful Sandia mountains in the background and hot air balloons in the forground to celebrate the  balloon festival  held here Albuquerque every October. Several of the gals on staff  are eagerly awaiting this paricular bag. We will be partying with Debbie  in our store the evening of Friday October 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. She is quite a live wire and lots of fun. This is her first visit to the land of enchantment so Debbie will be attending some of the balloon activities and playing tourist and getting to know us. So if you get the chance, stop in to meet her and have some munchies and check out her creations. She  will  personally sign her creations on both Friday the 9th as well as Saturday the 10th in the store. Hope you can make it!

Victorian Earrings, that is earrings made during the time period that Queen Victoria of England ruled are rare. During  the early period of  her reign  (1840-60) earrings were  considered very unfashionable. The Fashion of the times  dictated that a lady cover her ears so as not to appear to unduly forward.

 

 

By the mid 19th Century earrings were once again fashionable. Earrings were appropriate  for day, as well as evening. They were bold and made from a variety of materials. The  earrings below are crafted of tortoise shell and 14kt gold.

Victorian earring in original condition are pierced. It is not until the turn of the 19th Century that we find non pierced earrings.

 The creation of non pierced earring backs must have created quite a sensation. I imagine that the new invention was embraced by the fashion forward woman of the day.The piercing  of ones ears in the early 20th Century gradually fell from fashion.In the United States  it was not an uncommon perception that only gypsies and women of questionable virtue pierced their ears. 

One rarely finds similar pairs of Victorian Earrings. They are a fun item of antique jewelry to hunt for and what collector doesn’t enjoy the hunt!  Happy collecting! If you are looking for something specific, we can help you at Beauchamp Jewelers.