Magazine

Why body jewelry has been fascinating since antiquity
Since the first civilizations, human beings have adorned their bodies with jewelry laden with meaning. Long before they were fashion accessories, these adornments were powerful symbols: protection, identity, belonging, desire. Why is this link between the body and jewelry so ancient, so universal, so profound?   In ancient Egypt, scarab necklaces protected the living and the dead. In Greece, women wore golden fibulae as symbols of status and femininity. In pre-Columbian cultures, body ornaments indicated rank, power, and connection to the gods.   What is fascinating about this history is... Read more...
Handmade Jewelry: Why It's Really Worth It
In a market flooded with cheap, mass-produced jewelry, handmade pieces often seem more expensive. Is it really worth it? The answer is yes—and here’s why.   Material Quality. Handcrafted jewelry is generally made with noble metals: sterling silver, quality brass, sometimes gold. These are not materials that oxidize quickly, stain the skin, or deform at the first contact with water. A well-maintained handcrafted piece of jewelry can last for years, even decades.   Uniqueness. Even in small-batch production, handmade jewelry has slight variations that make each piece unique. You will... Read more...
How to wear a statement piece
A statement piece of jewelry is one that stands out, sparks conversation, and makes a bold statement about who you are. But wearing it requires a bit of know-how to ensure it's an affirmation, not a dissonance.   The first rule of statement jewelry: give it space. A large necklace, a substantial piece, a strong pendant — they need to breathe. Avoid layering them with other bold pieces. Understated clothing around the jewelry allows it to fully exert its power.   Make the jewelry the focal point of your outfit.... Read more...
What jewelry to give to a strong woman
Giving jewelry to a strong woman is both a challenge and an opportunity. A challenge because a woman who knows what she wants doesn't wear just anything. An opportunity because a well-chosen piece of jewelry can become one of the most treasured objects in her daily life.   The golden rule? Choose a piece of jewelry that honors who she is, not who you want her to be.   A strong woman doesn't need forced discretion. Forget neutral stud earrings or plain chains. Choose something with character — a strong... Read more...
How to choose a symbolic necklace
A symbolic necklace is not just an accessory. It's a statement, a reminder, sometimes a talisman. Here's how to choose the right one to truly make it yours.   Start with meaning. What do you want this necklace to represent? A commitment to yourself, a symbol of your femininity, a reminder of your strength, a tribute to something you hold dear? Personal symbolism trumps universal symbolism — an object that is meaningful only to you often has more value than a conventional symbol.   Consider visibility. Do you want a... Read more...
Why intimate jewelry is so fascinating
There is something particularly fascinating about intimate jewelry—pieces that speak of sexuality, the body, and desire. Not just because they are transgressive, but because they touch upon something fundamental in our relationship with ourselves.   The fascination with intimate jewelry is, first and foremost, one of calculated transgression. Wearing a piece of jewelry representing a nude body or an erotic symbol is choosing to make visible something usually associated with the private. This paradox—the intimate made public, yet subtly—creates a captivating tension.   There's also the question of who sees.... Read more...
Jewelry as an object of desire in fashion and art
Desire is at the heart of jewelry. Desire for beauty, rarity, meaning, seduction. In fashion as in art, jewelry has always been one of the objects imbued with the greatest power of attraction.   In classical painting, jewelry served as markers of status and subtle eroticism. Look at Renaissance portraits: pearl necklaces adorning décolletages, rings on slender fingers, bracelets on wrists. These details are not insignificant—they signal wealth, desire, and the complexity of an identity.   In cinema, jewelry has become an icon of glamour. From Marilyn Monroe's diamonds to... Read more...
History's Most Subversive Jewelry
The history of jewelry is also a history of resistance. Pieces that have shocked, provoked, asserted something society didn't want to hear. Here are some jewels that have turned transgression into an art form.   Victorian mourning jewelry is one of the most striking examples. At a time when talking about death was taboo, Victorians ostentatiously wore jewelry made from the deceased's hair, painted miniatures, and elaborate black pieces. Subversive not through provocation, but through a refusal of hypocrisy.   Early 20th-century suffragette jewelry — in green, white, and violet... Read more...
When fashion talks about the body
Fashion has always had a complex and fascinating relationship with the body. It reveals or conceals it, sculpts or liberates it, normalizes or subverts it. When fashion speaks of the body, it is always to say something about the times.   The 1920s liberated silhouettes — bye-bye corset, hello straight lines and visible ankles. It was a sartorial revolution that accompanied a social revolution: women left their homes, worked, voted. The body changed shape because its function changed.   The 60s and 70s invented the mini-skirt and psychedelic fashion —... Read more...
Gold, Silver, Brass: Understanding Jewelry Materials
When buying a piece of jewelry, the material matters as much as the shape. It determines the visual appearance, feel, durability, and relationship with time. Here's a simple guide to help you navigate your choices.   Sterling silver is one of the most commonly used metals in artisanal jewelry. Composed of 92.5% pure silver (hence its "925" designation), it offers a beautiful white luster, good malleability for sculpting, and affordability. Its only drawback: it tarnishes over time. But this tarnishing is easily treated with a suitable cloth, and some even... Read more...
Why handmade jewelry has a different soul
There's something different about handmade jewelry. Not just in its appearance—in what it exudes. A presence. A warmth. A slight imperfection that says: a real person worked on this object.   This difference isn't romantic—it's real. When a piece of jewelry is industrially produced, it goes through identical molds, programmed machines, a process that eliminates variability. The result is perfect but cold. When a piece of jewelry is handmade, the infinitesimal variations in pressure, gesture, and attention create a unique piece even within a series.   Handmade jewelry also carries... Read more...
The stages of making a handcrafted piece of jewelry
The creation of a handcrafted piece of jewelry is a journey — from concept to finished object, passing through several technical stages that demand patience, precision, and expertise.   The first step is design. Before touching anything physical, the creator develops the idea: what should this piece express? What shape suits it? Sketches follow one another until the right version is found.   Next comes wax or resin modeling. This three-dimensional model allows for visualization and adjustment of the jewelry before it is cast in the final metal. This is... Read more...