LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR: What to remember, what to forget!

What a year.

As they say in the South, 2020, don’t let the screen door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!

So, that happened.  And now it’s time to usher in the new year, heralded by Janus, the Roman god for whom January is named.

His double profile, one face looking forward, one facing back, adorned gateways, arches and thresholds in ancient Rome, called Jani and Januae. 

Let’s kick off the new year by looking ahead at what’s hot and what’s not in 2021. Now’s the perfect moment to shop, plan and design your signature jewels for 2021.

1 - MINIMALISM IS SO 2020.

This trend has been around FAR too long already!

Those itsy-bitsy little strands with teensy crumbs of gems. Why bother?

We are now entering a new year where Zoom calls will persist as the primary form of contact. And it’s time to make your jewelry count more than ever!

We recommend statement earrings that make themselves seen, on camera or from a minimum social distance of 6 feet.

This means three things: size, sparkle, and color.

A tiny diamond post is fine when you’re up-close and personal, but these days, jewelry is more of a remote signal.

We love dangles that are paired but not identical, with a lively mix of stones, to keep it interesting. One of our favorites for the new year is what we call The Candy Strand: a drop of three stones, similar or slightly graduated in size, three different shapes, in various shades of pink, from cotton-candy to bubblegum to hot neon. It’s feminine, flirty, fresh, and by the way a great Valentine’s day gift for your boo (call us now to order yours!).

2 – MATCHING IS WAY COOL.

Grace Kelly had the right idea. Somewhere around 1970, the message was that matching your earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring was tacky.

You do you, boo.  Mix it up all you want. But rediscovering the parure can bring a new level of polish and sophistication to whatever you’re wearing. Matched gems make for an impressive videoconfab look, especially when you’re rocking sweats just below the camera line. 

One of our favorite looks is “pairing” pears: three pear-shaped Purple Garnets, two for earrings, one for pendant or ring. 

You can always make it an even four, earrings, pendant and ring…and maybe an additional five or so for the matching bracelet.

Just by the way, Garnets are the birthstone for January.

Purple not your thing? Talk to us about citrusy, juicy Mandarin Orange Garnets, surprising Green Garnets, and more.

3  - GOOD JEWELRY DOESN’T WAIT.

Today is the day. The time is now.

And that awesome Red Spinel, or Pink Tourmaline, or Yellow Sapphire ain’t your mama’s piece of the rock. It’s all yours, baby, so enjoy it, starting here, starting now.

Just one generation ago, High Jewelry was kept in the vault, to be trotted out MAYBE once a year for a special occasion, like a wedding or a formal dinner.

Well, as we say in New Jersey, fugettaboutit.

If 2020 taught us all anything, it’s that life is unpredictable. First of all, everyone’s social calendar is down the dumper.

Parties IRL are on hold, possibly until elephants fly. 

Who knows when you’ll have the chance to really deck yourself out for a state occasion?

Old-school thinking was that jewelry had to match the setting, time and place. You know, excruciatingly small, tasteful pieces for day. Perhaps a daringly large “Cocktail Ring” at dusk. And only for nightlife, more glamorous pieces to accentuate bare skin, perhaps a plunging neckline and an updo for a full-on evening gown.

Well, Holly Go-Lightly called, and the limo was repo’d.

The red carpet has been rolled up and stashed in the garage until further notice.

In 2021, if you’ve got great jewelry, don’t wait. Wear it now.

Really? How?

Our styling tips are simple. For an amazing necklace, go with a white or black garment. No patterns, no colors—unless you’re in a major Iris Apfel manifestation.

A brilliant (new) white tee with a soft scoop neck makes an ideal landing pad for a lavish collar of jewels.

Ditto for black.

Or, a crisply starched shirt, several buttons undone, with the collar popped up.  Try your hair in a messy bun to style this look—especially to show off great earrings.

We see no point in waiting until you’re invited to the ball.  Nothing personal, but it may be a long wait.

And just because the world is in lockdown doesn’t mean that your look has to be as drab as the headlines.

What’s that?

You don’t own an amazing necklace of color-change Garnets, or a pair of staggering Tsavorite earrings?

It’s only January; there’s still time.

Call us now for your free design consultation, and we will assure that your future is filled with jewels!