Journal

Written by catherine janiga

Filed under

cultured pearls, Freshwater Pearls, Keshi Pearls, Natural Pearls, pearl earrings, pearl jewelry, pearl necklaces, Pearls, Pink Pearls, unique pearl jewelry

Keshi Pearls -- I'm OBSESSED and You Should Be Too...

Feb 13, 2024

Written by catherine janiga

Alllrrrriiiighhhhttttt! You're here because you just NEEDED to know more about this fascinating gem, and frankly, I've been dying to tell you so buckle up!

My first pair of Keshi pearls, the pearls that just stole my heart

Now, I'm going to give you a basic lesson on pearl formation so you can begin to get the gist of what makes keshi pearls so special….

Pearls are created when a foreign object, such as a piece of shell, bone, scale, or even a parasite, becomes lodged inside a pearl-producing mollusk (or in the case of cultured pearls a ‘bead’ is implanted into the mollusk). This object acts as the nucleus (which will also dictate its shape). In order to protect itself from it, the mollusk forms a sac around it, that secretes nacre (the iridescent luster you see on pearls). It will then continue to secrete nacre into the pearl sac, covering the nucleus, and gradually building up layers over the course of several years.

Pearls are produced in two basic ways: the Natural way – without human intervention – and the cultured way – when they are farmed by people. This is a pearl farmer harvesting pearls. A process of 1 year minimum

Today, almost any pearl that you’d encounter is a cultured pearl. Natural pearls are extremely rare, (and spendy as %$#^). In fact, only 1/10,000 oysters in the wild will ever produce a pearl, and of those, only a very small percentage would ever yield a gem quality pearl that is the right shape, size and color of something ‘desirable’.

Nature's Happy Accidents: Only about every 5-10% of cultured mollusks (oysters, mussels, clams, conchs, and gastropods) will create a keshi pearl which just makes these babies all the more special. Unlike most pearls, Keshis are formed without a nucleus, forming when the mollusk rejects the nucleus and layers of the iridescent nacre begins to accumulate in the pearl sac. This means its anyones guess to what the pearl shape will be, resulting in pearls made of pure nacre, unpredictable shapes, each one a unique masterpiece.

"Imperfection" is their very essence, a celebration of nature's raw beauty. Watch out for the top left dropping this Spring.

The Allure of Imperfection:Their lack of a nucleus also means finding matching pairs is impossible. Forget perfect pairs -- Keshi pearls are sisters, not twins, each unique in its own way. Sourcing them is a challenge, and the process is very time-consuming. With colors ranging from creamy white, peachy-pink, soft lavender to intense purply-orange with hints of yellow and green, and their luster, THEIR LUSTER **chefs kiss** --unmatched.

~Le sighhhhhh~ CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE THESE COLORS AND LUSTER?!?!?!?😭😭😭 Did I get some of these too? Yes, of course I did, I have absolutely no will power!

Keshi pearls today are considered to be much more remarkable and unique.. The reason for this is that pearl farmers now x-ray their oysters to see whether or not the nucleus is still inside. If an oyster has expelled its nucleus, that farmer will re-nucleate it before a keshi pearl would have the opportunity to develop. Making keshi pearls even more scarce than they once were.

All that to say that these pearls legit just blow my mind!!!

And if you don't agree we just straight up can't be friends. I'm sorry, it's just how it is.

Drop me a comment below and let me know if you want to learn more about pearls, if you are now like me and completely obsessed with Keshi Pearls or you want to be first in line to know when a new keshi piece drops!

Xx

Cat

--PS if you peruse The Fine Edit every now and again you might be able to catch a Keshi for youself ;)

Written by catherine janiga

Filed under

easy styling, gold chain, gold necklace, versatile styling

Illuminate Your Style with The Nebula Necklace: A Necessity for Every Wardrobe!

Apr 09, 2023

Written by catherine janiga

Illuminate Your Style with The Nebula Necklace: A Necessity for Every Wardrobe!

The Nebula Necklace is THE essential chain you need in your wardrobe and I’m gonna tell you exactly why.

If you're looking for a necklace that can elevate any outfit and add a touch of elegance to your style, The Nebula Necklace is THE essential piece for your wardrobe. This piece is all about versatility. Designed so you can wear it in a variety of ways, the Nebula Necklace has 3 easy to wear looks you can wear with just about any outfit.

You can rock it as a standard necklace like the image above - (Keep in mind you can adjust the length to layer easily or just to work well with a particular neckline)

img of woman wearing a gold choker and peach moonstone pendant

A choker….I mean how absolute cute is that??

woman holding flower wearing a gold lariat

Or a lariat for a more sexy-chic look

...Bring a little extra zjujz to your favorite pendants and charms

...And with three different lengths - 18”, 22” and 28”, you can mix and match them to create a layered look for a truly mesmerizing and eye-catching effect.

Check out the video below to see how I create the look.
gif of woman wearing a gold chain 3 different way

Just keep in mind the 18” is limited to style as your standard chain and choker. For maximum styling options go with the 22” or 28”.

Owning the Nebula Necklace is an investment in your personal style and It's a must-have for any jewelry lover. It's a symbol of your individuality and unique personality. And let's be real, it's not just a necklace - it's a work of art. So if you're looking for a stunning and versatile accessory that will elevate your style game that won't break the bank, look no further. Add the Nebula Necklace to your collection today and experience the true beauty of this mesmerizing piece. It's sure to become a treasured piece in your collection.

Cat

Written by catherine janiga

Filed under

Adjustable Chains, Chains, Essentials, gold, Layering, layering tips, styling

From Chokers to Lariats: Tips for Layering Necklaces with Style

Apr 01, 2023

Written by catherine janiga

From Chokers to Lariats: Tips for Layering Necklaces with Style

Looking for tips on layering necklaces? You're in luck! In this post, I'll give you some general guidelines to help you get started on your layering journey.

Last week I intro’d the Adjustable Chains, which are one of the best neckalces for layers, so what better time than now to talk about layering? Yay!

I get asked about layering A LOT so I know this can be a bit of struggle.

You have a vision and it’s not coming together. WTF right?! Zjuzing up should be FUN and if you’re not having fun, what’s the point? Well before you get overwhelmed and give up…I GOT YOU

Now, I LOVE a good neckmess, but before we get ahead of ourselves I’m going to give you a few basic tips and show some simple examples to help get your started on your layering journey

I’m going to start this off by saying I’m not a big fan of “The Rules” so take these as a few general guidelines and always remember that coloring outside the lines is totally acceptable and encouraged

First things first, let's talk about necklace lengths.
Necklaces come in a multitude of styles and lengths but I’m just going to start with the basics and talk about length shortest to longest:

Choker 14”- fit’s tight around mid neck

Collar 16” - Sit’s at the base of the neck (around the…you guessed it…collar bone)

Princess 18” - Sits around the upper chest area. This is the length that pendant’s start to show up.

Matinee 20-24” - Sit’s around mid-chest and is usually a more casual vibe. Think drop pendants or tassles. The Astraea Pendant is a perfect example and it's also on an adjustable chain.

Opera 30” - Sit’s below the chest and traditionally worm with more formal attire. This customized Nebula necklace is shown here at 30".

Rope/Lariat 33” - Sits around the waist (depending on your height). These are necklaces you’re going to double up and loop around your neck, twist into a knot, or pull through to create a lariat type look. The Aura Station Necklace shown here is a good example

Ok, so we know all about the different length’s we’re working with. And you might be going “Cat….I don’t have a 33” necklace…” And that’s fine, you dont NEED every single length to create a gorg laying situation.(Like helloo the adjustable chain to the rescue am I right?). While you don't need every single length to create a gorgeous layering situation, having variety will give you more options.

But let’s stay focused!

A lot of people like to start with the lightest, most delicate piece first and follow with heavier pieces as they go. So I’ll give you a run down of that, but personally I like to start with my heaviest/anchor piece first and then work backward, so just do what feels good.

Start with your lightest/most delicate piece closest to your neck. Think choker or a 16”. And follow with more substantial pieces as you go. The Nebula Necklace is my go to to turn into a choker, it’s easy to short and clasp between the stations so you can get a lot of looks out of it.

We all need a lil space and so do your necklaces. Make sure each piece has a bit of room to shine, you don’t want them to lie on top of one another, but they also don’t need to follow exact measurements. Mixing spacing is also a nice thing to include in your layering masterpiece. Spacing from ½ in to 2in is a good range to live in. Note how in the image to the right the choker is about 2inches from the Via Lactea Pendant and 4 inches from the Astraea Pendant. Pieces with adjustable chains will make spacing so easy.

Variety is the spice of life. Mixing metals, incorperating textures, chain styles, small stones and beaded necklaces are a great way to add dimension and transform a look mostly make of chain into a dynamic look. I used the Nebula Necklace to do that here. It makes your eyes want to travel from piece to piece instead of not knowing where to focus.

Anchor your look with your longest piece. This is your longest piece and it is usually a more substantial chain or your heaviest pendant.

There you go! 4 general ‘rules’ to follow to get you started in layering! And don't worry if your chains get jumbled up - it adds to the neckmess vibe! Plus, I’ve tried all the trick out there and I have yet to find one that work. (Leave a comment if you know of one!!)

So,What do you think of layering? Is a neckmess (I’m talking LAYERRRRS) your jam or are do you lean toward a more delicate lighter look?

Let me to know in the comments or shoot me an email if you have any questions. I’m always happy to help! Continue reading

Written by catherine janiga

Filed under

Adjustable Chains, Chains, Essentials, Layering

Styling Made Easy with Adjustable Chains

Mar 28, 2023

Written by catherine janiga

Styling Made Easy with Adjustable Chains

Accessorizing is obviously my favorite part of putting an outfit together, but you know what’s not my favorite? When perfect outfit I imagined for myself gets totally thrown off because my necklace doesn’t fit the neckline. UGH! And I KNOW I’m not the only one.

So, voila! The innovative "Adjustable Chain" make’s it’s debut to solve your problem, with not just one, but TWO options!

The Rolo Chain that is fully adjustable up to 20”.

Gif of woman using the adjustable rolo chain

...And the more subtle Cable Chain.

Both options feature a hidden silicon slider that allows for easy length adjustments, so you can get the perfect fit every time. It's as smooth as buttah🧈

Say goodbye to outfit-ruining necklace mishaps and hello to effortless layering with the Adjustable Chain necklace.

Cat

Journal

Alllrrrriiiighhhhttttt! You're here because you just NEEDED to know more about this fascinating gem, and frankly, I've been dying to tell you so buckle up!

My first pair of Keshi pearls, the pearls that just stole my heart

Pearls are produced in two basic ways: the Natural way – without human intervention – and the cultured way – when they are farmed by people. This is a pearl farmer harvesting pearls. A process of 1 year minimum

"Imperfection" is their very essence, a celebration of nature's raw beauty. Watch out for the top left dropping this Spring.

~Le sighhhhhh~ CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE THESE COLORS AND LUSTER?!?!?!?😭😭😭 Did I get some of these too? Yes, of course I did, I have absolutely no will power!

And if you don't agree we just straight up can't be friends. I'm sorry, it's just how it is.

Drop me a comment below and let me know if you want to learn more about pearls, if you are now like me and completely obsessed with Keshi Pearls or you want to be first in line to know when a new keshi piece drops!Xx

Drop me a comment below and let me know if you want to learn more about pearls, if you are now like me and completely obsessed with Keshi Pearls or you want to be first in line to know when a new keshi piece drops!

Xx