JeweledLUXE Magazine - January 2015

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

As I’m sure our readers know by now, fashion and jewelry are my true passion. From the trends introduced by top fashion houses around the globe, to the innovative fashions that we see on the streets of the world—fashion is and always will be a driving force of our global culture.

That said, it is the fashion of jewelry, more than clothing, that delves much deeper into our collective psyches—far beyond the magpie-like lure of the shine and glitter that draws us to the end product. Our deep-seated attraction to the artistic endeavor, one that makes us mine, fabricate, polish, and admire, far exceeds our appreciation for simple fashion—it is and always will be the very essence of what makes us human.

It is for this reason that we have chosen the articles in this issue of JewledLUXE Magazine—to educate our readers on the hard work, dedication, and drive that bring us the jewels that accent and define our fashions regardless of price, status, or place.

As always, the team at Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry + Timepieces hopes that you enjoy the issue and that your love of fashion grows along with ours.

Alicia L. White

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private ColleCtion: Jamie niCole available atJaCk ryan Fine Jewelry + timepieCes

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How to Care for Your Fine Jewelry

by alicia l. white

Are you concerned that you are not taking care of your fine jewelry as well as you should?

Caring for your jewelry is an important part of becoming a successful jewelry collector. Buying and collecting expensive and fashionable jewelry can become a lifetime hobby, as well as a passion. Some pieces of jewelry become heirlooms: They are cherished and passed down from generation to generation; they become part of the fabric of your family history.

Whether it’s gemstones, metals or diamonds, the wear, storage and cleaning practices vary. For example, metals are durable and come in their natural state, which means different types of metal need different types of care. Diamonds have a chemical makeup that provides a natural defense against certain types of environmental factors, while other gemstones can be highly sensitive and need extra attention and care when it comes to chemicals and temperature changes.

Here are some guidelines on how to care for your precious pieces of fine jewelry—whether they are pieces brought out for special occasions only, or pieces you wear every day.

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Wear GuidelinesMetalGold, silver, and platinum all wear in different ways. The various components in each of these metals are primarily composed of natural elements, which give them a strong base for daily wear and tear. Even so, over time gold, silver, and platinum pieces can become weak and tarnished with powerful chemicals such as soap, cleaning products, detergents and chlorine.

GoldYou should remove your jewelry before showering or cleaning, going swimming in a pool, or sitting in a hot tub. As gold in jewelry is combined with various alloys of metals it makes it hard for it to survive a lifetime without continuous care and, in the case of white gold, rhodium plating. For a lifetime of beauty, it’s important you protect your gold from powerful chemicals.

SilverSilver is another metal that with care can last a lifetime of wear. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, and don’t put your silver in water treated with chlorine. These chemicals can cause permanent damage with their powerful oxidizing agents. Further, as oxygen is a strong component in the deterioration of silver, polishing and periodic attention may be needed.

PlatinumPlatinum does not wear as gold or silver does, so over the course of your jewelry’s lifetime your piece will remain virtually the same esthetically, as well as in weight and size. Also, because of its durability, this metal is easier to wear every day: it holds stones better than any other metal, and is unlikely to crack or become brittle during the sizing or repairing process. When it comes to a lifetime of wear, platinum is a good choice as an investment piece.

Precious StonesDiamonds

You can wear a diamond every day. A diamond is tough, durable, and strong, grading a 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. With this grading, a diamond is able to withstand a substantial amount of everyday wear and tear.

You should avoid excessive exposure to creams, skin oils, beauty products, and household chemicals as these buildup of over time. These can dull the brilliance and sparkle of your stone.

You should also regularly inspect your diamond settings, mountings, and prongs to make sure that your stone is tight inside the setting to prevent the loss of your diamond.

Colored StonesAs some gemstones such as ruby and sapphire are second to the diamond on the Mohs absolute hardness scale, it only means that these gemstones are able to resist scratching almost as well, but doesn’t measure the indestructibility. With the sensitivity of most gemstones, they should be the last thing you put on in the morning and first thing you take off at night.

Storage GuidelinesMetal

Gold, Silver and PlatinumTo minimize scratches and other damage store your pieces in soft cloth bags, the original box, or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Make sure they are kept separate and stored individually. With proper storage, you’ll keep your fine jewelry pristine for a lifetime.


When you are not wearing your diamonds, the focus of care doesn’t stop there. These valuable stones still require daily attention. A special place of storage is crucial to a lifetime of wear and to the conservation of the diamond. Keeping your pieces in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers that protects each stone, will also keep them from abrasions.

If this type of storage is not the best option for you, there are alternatives. Just make sure your diamonds are not stored together as this will cause scratches. You can wrap them individually in tissue paper or in jewelry pouches.

The main rule of diamond storage is safety and jewel isolation. Avoid leaving your rings or pendants by the bathroom sink overnight: before you get ready for bed put your jewelry safely away in their individual boxes, pouches or tissue.

private ColleCtion: Jamie niCole available at

JaCk ryan Fine Jewelry + timepieCes



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Colored StonesLike diamonds, store your gemstone jewelry in a lined case or a soft cloth, so the gems do not touch each other or parts of other jewelry. Gemstones are harder than gold, silver, or platinum and can scratch the surfaces of your other fine jewelry if they are not kept separated. These stones can be much more fragile than diamonds, so these need extremely delicate care.

Cleaning GuidelinesMetal

Different metals require different cleaning regimens because of the various alloys used to make up each metal.

GoldTo clean gold jewelry use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap with a soft-bristled brush for easy regular cleaning. You can also use white vinegar. Just drop your gold into a small amount of the vinegar for roughly 15 minutes, moving the pieces around in the container to get rid of the debris, remove the jewelry, rinse with water and pat dry.

SilverWhen you clean silver jewelry, use aluminum foil. It’s an easy and effective trick of the trade. To treat tarnished silver, line a tray with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil and place your jewelry on the foil and then sprinkle baking soda over the silver along with hot, but not boiling, water. The tarnish will then transfer from the jewelry to the foil. Throughout this cleansing process, you may need to rearrange the jewelry or flip the pieces. Once you have finished, rinse the silver off with water and pat dry.

PlatinumIt’s easy. Simply soak platinum in a mild solution of warm soapy water, and then gently scrub it with a medium-stiff horsehair brush.


Cleaning diamonds can be simple or complicated depending on the condition of the stone. Soak the diamond in an ammonia-based household cleaner, such as window cleaner, overnight once or twice a week to maintain its beauty. In the morning, remove the diamond from the cleaner and brush it with a soft, clean brush to remove any leftover dirt.

Avoid using harmful solutions such as chlorine or abrasives when cleaning, especially when set. These can erode some of the metals and may loosen the prongs.

For periodic cleaning, you can use an ultrasonic cleaner. We recommend you give your piece of jewelry to a professional because the intensity of the ultrasonic cleaner can loosen and, eventually, damage the stones or jewelry.

Colored StonesConsidering the fragility and low durability of gemstones, you should clean your gemstones carefully. Use nonabrasive tools and cleansers that clearly specify they are safe for gemstone use.

Soft, porous jewelry such as opals, pearls, and turquoise should only be cleaned in gentle chemicals like soap and water. Another option is to combine a cleanser like a mild detergent for delicates, or dish soap, with two cups of warm water and quickly dip the jewelry. Use a soft cloth to remove any remaining dirt or other residue.

Your fine jewelry is too precious not to tailor your care to each individual piece. Every time you wear, store, and clean your jewelry you can ensure that what you wear today, generations will wear tomorrow.

Imagine, the pride future generations will take in your fine pieces of jewelry—and in you for diligently collecting each piece, and for taking such good care of them.



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RubyThe Second of the “Big 3”by alicia l. white

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Our second piece on “The Big Three,” following the emerald, the ruby holds not only strong importance in the marketplace, but also a historical significance and extraordinary value. The ruby is

a complex colored stone when it comes to the way it was formed, making it extremely rare. A ruby is the birthstone for July, symbolizes immortal love, and is the fortieth anniversary stone as it refers to undying love.

Throughout history, the marketplace has cherished the rarity of the stone, worshiping the “power” it holds and creating a culture around its value, wealth, and success. Its value has grown with every decade because of the international demand for the truly flawless and deeply saturated magnificence of a genuine ruby. This trance has caught hearts, eyes, and souls for centuries and will continue to as long as the supply continues.

How Rubies are Formed The ruby is formed under rare circumstances that are just short of a minor miracle in terms of gemological formation. A red variety of the gem species of transparent corundum, the ruby is essentially composed of densely packed aluminum and oxygen atoms, which makes corundum the hardest mineral next to a diamond. Although these are the essential elements that make up a ruby, there are several trace elements that make up its color, opaqueness, and hardness. Small amounts of chromium contribute to the deep red color in a ruby, like the traces of titanium and iron producing the blue in a sapphire.

A ruby is formed through a process called metasomatism, which is the series of metamorphic processes where chemical changes occur in minerals or rocks as a result of the introduction of material, often in hot aqueous solutions, from external sources. More specifically, the most renowned rubies typically form in metamorphic rock like marble and also referred to as “marble-hosted.”

History and Mythology of the RubyThe ruby with the most intense red represents powerful emotions such as anger, love, passion, and fury. One of the most historical of the significant gems, it is mentioned in the Bible, at least four times as the “king of precious stones,” in first century A.D. The strength of the ruby’s color is what really captured the original desire for the gem. The “red fire” color was a look that was entirely saturated with a warm and deep red through and through the rough stone.

Longing for the ruby today is just as strong as it was in ancient times. During antiquity, this fascination began with royals or iconic figures as most gemstones were set in crowns, swords, figurines, and embellished jewelry, signifying wealth and success. Legend has it that offering the ruby to Lord Krishna would give one the opportunity to be reborn as an emperor.

It was also believed that the person who possessed a ruby of good quality would live a life of peace and harmony, so the ability to come across such an entity was somewhat of a miracle. The ruby would protect one from danger or harm and they would become blessed with good health. The most historical source of this gem is in the Mogak, Myanmar region. These rubies are known for their “Burmese” color, which is of the highest quality purplish-red hue. For centuries, this area has believed in the power of the ruby to ward off danger and the fear of calamity.

Rubies in the MarketplaceEach participating country plays its own role in contributing to the growth and power that the ruby holds in the marketplace. The U.S. currently imports more rubies than any other country because of its ever-growing popularity in style, beauty, and appreciation.

Another large component of the ruby industry is Thailand. Thailand is the world’s largest corundum marketing center, exporting most of the faceted commercial-quality rubies on the market. This means that this region is responsible for, arguably, the most important part of the colored stone process. The cutting ultimately determines the value set on a stone, and the skill set that is used must hold high standards and pass rigorous quality and consistency measures for them to play a successful part.

Mining Countries• Mogok area of Burma• Sri Lanka (Ceylon)• Brazil• Malagasy Republic Madagascar• East Africa• Kashmir• Vietnam• Thailand• Kenya• Cambodia• Afghanistan

Value of the RubyAs in all gemstones, the quality, carat weight, cut, and sometimes the source of the stone play a major factor in the value it can hold. For example, a ruby that is treated or glass-filled will be much less valuable than say a “pigeon blood red” colored Burmese ruby from the old Burmese mines that are not found in today’s market. These rare gems can be prohibitively expensive to a buyer. In the case of Burmese rubies, the estimated dollar per carat can double or even triple because of this near impossible find in color, saturation, clarity, and fluorescence. Rubies, if flawless, are more precious than diamonds. Rubies are very expensive. Usually those who do not believe they can afford a natural ruby buy a synthetic, treated, or imitation ruby.

Rubies are measured in dollars per carat. When they reach over 3 carats they are graded from medium to good color. When a ruby is given a general medium color grade, it can range from US$100 per carat to US$400 per carat, while a good grading over 3 carats would measure to US$300 per carat to US$500 per carat.

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Altering Rubies From Their Natural StateAs with most colored stones, rubies in the market today are heat treated with some being treated in other ways. These treatments, although capable of being performed all over the globe, are mostly done in Chanthaburi, Thailand, where the methods vary from primitive to high-tech. Since it is most common to treat rubies in the current marketplace, it is not always detectable with today’s technological advances. It is always better to assume the piece is at least heat treated, unless there is solid evidence stating otherwise.

Heat treatments are used to improve the color of rubies, to bring out the much sought after lush red color in the rarest stones. The trade usually accepts basic heating methods, although there are also alternative treatments such as dyeing with colored oils and filling small fissures with epoxies (also referred to as resin). These examples of treatments are not permanent and can be detrimental to the lifetime of the ruby because it will need constant upkeep. Most of the time, stones treated this way are undisclosed, resulting in customers not being informed that they have been sold a treated stone. And these stones over time change color or even deteriorate in certain surroundings.

Imitations and SyntheticsThere are various synthetic rubies that have beautiful and convincing color, saturation, and fluorescence. Although they are not natural rubies, some do hold value and some can be very expensive because of their closeness to a real ruby. However, most are found at affordable prices because they are not considered gemstones and do not compare to a natural ruby gem.

The different types of synthetics are determined by their chemical makeup and system of production. Synthetic rubies include:

• Chakravorty Rubies• Chatham Rubies• Douros Rubies• Kashan Rubies• Knischka Rubies• Ramaura Rubies• Ruby Doublets

What to AvoidJewelry can be a strong addition to any wardrobe as the stones are usually set in solid gold depending on the gem source and the design of each piece. Calculating all these various factors, you still need to be cautious determining when to wear your ruby jewelry. For example, when you are going to the gym, biking, or gardening—these are not good occasions to sport your ruby, although it may be the most gorgeous piece in your wardrobe.

Another big “no no” when it comes to your ruby is during the wear and storage process. The ruby is a strong and durable stone, but because the diamond is the strongest stone of them all, grading a 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, it can and will scratch the surface of the ruby. Wearing diamond jewelry that rubs up against your ruby on a constant basis is not a good idea because of the long-term detriments.

Caring for Your RubyRubies, although they are one of the strongest colored stones, are still sensitive to rough wear, improper cleaning and, of course, everyday harsh chemicals. The ruby cannot withstand harsh cleaning agents such as toothpaste, detergents, or everyday lotions and oils. Commercial solvents do not affect rubies, but over time these products can cause tarnish and wear on the stone.

Exposure to everyday chemicals like perfumes, body oils, and lotions are things to avoid, but since these things are unavoidable daily cleaning and proper storage are simple ways to keep from damaging your stone so you are able to maintain its original shine and brilliance. Storing your jewelry in a safe cloth or box is always a good idea. If you wear these chemical filled products then use a simple warm water rinse, and pat with a soft cloth. It is an easy way to make sure that your ruby has been rid of anything that is detrimental to the jewelry’s future.

The Safest MethodWhen considering rubies, you want to keep in mind that they are a colored gemstone, which makes them more susceptible to harsh chemicals, brushes, and external sources. The safest method to care and clean for a ruby piece is to periodically care for it keeping in mind the color and state it was in the last time you cared for the piece.

Clean your rubies in a safe environment like a bowl or on a towel, where you know that it cannot slip into a sink drain or fall onto a hard surface and loosen the stone. Soaking the stone in warm water is the best solution for this stone. If you need a deeper clean, there are other tricks of the trade as well such as boiling half a teaspoon of tea leaves in water, letting it cool and soaking the gems in this mixture overnight.

Highly suggested is to make sure you are getting your rubies cleaned by a professional jeweler at least once a year. This not only gets your piece looking sparkling new look, but they can also check for loose stones, scratches, or abrasions.

Our Next Featured GemstoneIn our next issue of JeweledLUXE we will feature the third of the “Big 3” in the colored stone world: The Sapphire.

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The elegance of perfectly crafted jewels can only be seen when that elegance is matched by the one who wears them.

Make every day exceptional—wear handcrafted earrings embellished with diamonds, sapphires and pearls, or grace yourself with natural gemstone and diamond necklaces—pieces that embody the person you are.

RING:Jack Ryan SKU #242Jamie Nicole18K Rose Gold Diamond Pave Ring18K Rose Gold diamond pave ring featuring 445 cognac diamonds equaling 6.14 carats

EARRINGS:Jack Ryan SKU #358Jamie NicoleCognac Flower Earrings18K Rose Gold featuring 379 cognac and white diamonds

Available at Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry + Timepieces

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The elegance of perfectly crafted jewels can only be seen when that elegance is matched by the one who wears them.

Make every day exceptional—wear handcrafted earrings embellished with diamonds, sapphires and pearls, or grace yourself with natural gemstone and diamond necklaces—pieces that embody the person you are.

RING:Jack Ryan SKU #242Jamie Nicole18K Rose Gold Diamond Pave Ring18K Rose Gold diamond pave ring featuring 445 cognac diamonds equaling 6.14 carats

EARRINGS:Jack Ryan SKU #358Jamie NicoleCognac Flower Earrings18K Rose Gold featuring 379 cognac and white diamonds

Available at Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry + Timepieces

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From stones and bones to precious Gems and metals

by máire Jacqueline o’Callaghan

Imagine getting up in the morning and wondering whether you should wear the bear, deer or hairy mammoth skin? And whether you should enhance that attire with an animal tooth or bone, or perhaps a necklace of shells.

Let’s try to visualize ourselves wearing some of the fabulous and not so fabulous pieces made throughout the history of jewelry.

In prehistoric times, Cro-Magnons learned to clothe themselves in skins from the animals they hunted: deer, bear, musk oxen and other mammals. They made pendants from the teeth of animals such as wolves, foxes and bears. Their other “jewelry” was made from bone, fossil shells, stone or wood. If you added jewelry to the animal skin you wore to protect yourself from the elements, then you would be telling everyone you met that you were a person of rank and status.

As we evolved, jewelry evolved with us. It moved from functional uses, such as fastening clothing, to symbols of religion or of wealth and status. We’ve come a long way since we wore teeth and bone jewelry as symbols of our wealth and status.

The ancient jewelry that has survived in the graves of the dead, tells a story. It’s the story of our capacity to create works of art from what the earth confers, whether it’s a piece of bone, a tooth, a fossil or a shell.

Let’s take a look at some of the jewelry we would have worn throughout the ages, starting with the Ancient Egyptians.

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ancient egyptians and their pearlsIn Egypt between 3000 BC to 639 AD, we would be wearing jewelry made from carnelian, feldspar, amethyst, chalcedony, lapis lazuli and turquoise. Both men and women wore exquisite, rare pieces of jewelry from beaded necklaces and rings, to earrings, collars, bracelets and anklets. Every Egyptian adorned themselves from the poor to the wealthy. Even today, loose beads and trinkets can be found in mass graves and in the tombs of the Ancient Egyptians.

The reason for this mass adornment of jewelry was simple: Many of the ancient Egyptians wore jewelry to ward off evil spirits. Most of these talismans were made from turquoise, lapis lazuli and carnelian.

The legendary Cleopatra became the Queen of Egypt in 51 BC at only 17 years old. Little is known about Cleopatra as the Romans on conquering Egypt tried to erase all traces of her existence. We can only guess at the jewelry she wore through the few artifacts found showing her likeness and the gold earrings, bracelets and necklaces found from her era. The diamonds of Cleopatra’s day were pearls. According to historical records, she coiled ropes of them around her neck and braided them into her hair. Pearls were also sewn into the fabric of her tunics.

If you lived during Cleopatra’s time and were fortunate enough to be of high rank, you would be wearing a heavily jeweled necklace or collar made from glass, precious stones, gold and a glazed pottery called faience. When you arose in the morning you would put on a simple white linen sheath dress, then the collar, which would cover your shoulders and chest, then your anklets and bracelets. You might even wear a wig made from human and horse hair, with jewelry intertwined into the hair. You wore the wig to protect your head against lice.

As Ancient Egyptians believed certain colors and images protected against evil and brought good luck, you would consider the color of your jewelry and the image depicted on it. For example, blue symbolized fertility, rebirth and good luck; green malachite symbolized joy; and turquoise, being the color of the sea, was associated with cleanliness, pleasure and protection against the evil eye. The Egyptian scarab beetle was often depicted on pendants, bracelets, rings and necklaces as they believed it held magical and religious powers.

Your religious beliefs in the afterlife led you to collect as much jewelry as possible during your lifetime. Thus, when you died you had an abundance of jewelry ready to be buried with you. In other words, you spent your life collecting jewelry so you could take it with you for protection in the afterlife.

Tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs contained amulets and jewelry crafted from gold, silver and precious stones. These were placed in the linen wrappings during the mummification ritual. In 1923, researchers found more than 200 pieces of jewelry tucked into King Tutankhamen’s body wrappings. The collection consisted of amulets, chains, collars, necklaces, pendants, earrings, finger rings, bracelet and anklets.

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Chinese and their jade and silverIt was more than 5,000 years ago that China started manufacturing jewelry. As its civilization progressed, its jewelry designs influenced the surrounding Asian countries. More than any other precious stone, jade predominated and silver was the preferred metal. There were two types of jade: nephrite and jadeite. Traditional Chinese jade is nephrite, which is Greek for “kidney” as it was believed that nephrite cured kidney diseases. The Chinese likened jade to beauty, grace and purity. They also wore gold and bronze with saltwater pearls and diamonds.

If you lived in China 5,000 years ago and you were wealthy, you would be wearing jewelry designs that included winged birds, tortoises, dragons and the Phoenix, with the designs punched in or pierced, or with intricate filigree designs. As the wearer of such jewelry, you believed that it brought you power and strength as the animals embodied in the jewelry were highly symbolic. For example, the Chinese dragon symbolized potent and auspicious power, particularly control over water, strength and good luck, the Phoenix brought good fortune, opportunity and luck, while the tortoise was a symbol of longevity and wealth.

Again, as in Egyptian culture, both men and women wore jewelry such as headdresses, earrings, collars, amulets, brooches, bracelets, rings and anklets. Men wore one earring and women wore two earrings. Amulets were primarily pendants hung from a chain and were used as a talisman to either protect the owner from harm, or to bring the owner good fortune.

mesopotamians and their carved seal-stonesIf you were born in Mesopotamia in the seventh millennium BC , you would be adorning yourself with a necklace, bracelet, and an ornamental girdle. Your jewelry would be made from shells, bone, and polished stones.

You would be living in a culture steeped in superstition. Inscribed on the stone tablet in the crypt of Queen Yaba was the dire warning: “If anyone lays his hand on my tomb, opens my grave, or steals my jewelry, I pray to the Gods of the netherworld that his soul shall roam in the scorching sun after death.”

It wasn’t all shells, bone, and polished stone. Women and men also wore earrings, necklaces, and ankle bracelets made of lapis, carnelian, gold, and silver, and they wound ribbons made from thin gold leaf or silver rings in their hair. Jewelry would be engraved with motifs of twigs, leaves, bunches of grapes, or spiral shaped objects.

Jewelry craftsmen designed pieces for both humans and statues, employing techniques such as cloisonné enameling, engraving, repoussé and filigree.

medieval europeans and their status-conscious jewelryIf you were of the humbler ranks and born between 1200 and 1500, you’d be stuck wearing base metals such as copper or pewter. If you were fortunate enough to be a member of royalty or the nobility then the world was your oyster when it came to jewelry. You wore gold and silver and precious stones. And you also got to take it with you even though Christianity frowned on burying jewelry with the deceased. If you were royal, noble or a cleric you would be buried in your best clothes and finest jewelry.

Those were rapidly changing times due to expanding trade and commerce, resulting in the emergence of the middle classes. As artisans, bankers, merchants and tradespeople increased their fortunes, they bought the kind of jewelry that once they could only have worn in their imaginations.

By the fourteenth century, it was common to see fine jewelry being worn by the middle classes—as the rising bourgeoisie rose in prominence and wealth, they wore an overabundance of jewelry. What could the nobility do to distinguish itself from the masses?

They took two approaches. First, laws were passed limiting the amount of jewelry that a person could wear. It was based on how much land you owned and the social rank you held. Mostly, the middle classes ignored the law and wore what they liked. Second, the nobility boosted the extravagance and sumptuousness of their jewelry so they could continue to distinguish themselves from others. This cycle continued and resulted in some spectacular and exceptional jewelry designs.

What jewelry would you be wearing? Along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, you would also wear belt decorations, hairpins and headdresses, armbands and ankle rings. The precious stones you wore such as diamonds, rubies and emeralds were polished, not cut, so your precious stones didn’t have the brilliance of today’s stones. Their value was determined by size and color.

During the Renaissance and Georgian period, between 1500 and 1830, jewelry use had spread throughout Europe.

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north americans and their tiffany jewelryThis brings us to North America from the mid 1800s to the 1900s. In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany founded Tiffany. Since the founding of the company, the name “Tiffany” has become synonymous with the finest, most exclusive jewelry in the world. In the nineteenth century, it became a leader in the industry, especially with its precious stones and metals. Even through downturns in the economy, Tiffany kept its focus on offering its clientele the most exclusive and exquisite jewelry.

Originally it was a “fancy goods emporium” named Tiffany, Young and Ellis. Located in lower Manhattan, it drew the wealthy socialites of New York. With newfound wealth, the demand for expensive, high-end products grew, resulting in the first North American mail order catalogue being published in 1840. Charles Lewis Tiffany took over the company in 1853, named it Tiffany & Co., and focused on selling high-end, luxury jewelry in the now famous blue Tiffany box.

It wasn’t until 1878, when Charles Lewis Tiffany bought the 287-carat fancy yellow diamond and cut it to 128.54 carats, that the Tiffany Diamond was born. He introduced the Tiffany setting diamond engagement ring in 1886, which is still an engagement ring of choice today. Your engagement ring during the U.S. 1990 to 1991 recession would have cost at the minimum just US $850.

Famous U.S. families, Hollywood stars, and European royalty have worn jewelry designs by Tiffany. Nowadays, many celebrities, our twenty-first century royalty, wear exclusive Tiffany jewelry—from the queen of the tennis world Maria Sharapova, to well-known American actor Kate Hudson, to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Contemporary jewelry and new techniquesWe’ve come a long way from the days of stones and bones “jewelry.” We now have the metric carat as a weight standard for gems, and the Tiffany standard for sterling and platinum has been adopted as a U.S. standard. The value of precious stones is no longer determined by size and color, it’s determined primarily by the cut. With an expert’s fine artistry a balance is created between brilliance (the amount of light returning from the diamond); fire (breaking up light into spectral colors); scintillation (the sparkle associated with movement); and luster, light refraction and multiple reflections.

For jewelry designers, modern technology provides the tools to create pieces that once could only be imagined. We have technological advances that produce high-end jewelry at a reduced rate and in less time. We have lasers being used for cutting and improving the quality of a stone, or for creating intricate engravings. We have computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), making product design much less complicated.

Rapid technological advances in the design and manufacture of fine jewelry has, inevitably, moved us away from traditional handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces—new technology has made it easy to make multiples of the same items in a line of jewelry. This has led some artisans to reject new technology altogether and to wholly embrace the traditional methods of their craft. Other artisans intertwine traditional tools with new technology, while others have made the transition to complex modeling software and lasers to create their intricate jewelry designs.

Nowadays, there is a new appreciation for pieces designed and made by hand using traditional methods—these one-of-a-kind pieces symbolize tradition and rarity, almost beyond price. The connotations of these pieces evoke thoughts of simpler times—times before technology predominated. Times when shops were not filled with goods waiting for buyers, times when shops were filled with artisans waiting to fulfill orders.

Through the centuries, before our technological breakthroughs, we wore some of the most exquisite and luxurious jewelry. Jewelry that was sacred, that warned off evil spirits, that healed, nurtured and comforted—and jewelry that went with you and protected you on your journey to the afterlife.

Today though, it really is just as it was yesterday: Fine jewelry makes a statement about who we are—whether it’s made of stones, bones, or precious gems and metals. It’s a symbol of our wealth and status, and sometimes our affiliation. In its intrinsic and emotive value, it’s our precious and prized possession. It reminds us of loved ones and stories that center on our favorite pieces. Our jewelry forms a marvelous panorama of our individual history, just as jewelry over the ages forms a marvelous panorama of the history of humankind.

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Glossary• Amethyst

Amethyst, a semi-precious stone is a violet variety of quartz and is the most precious gemstone within the quartz group. The stone symbolized happiness and joy.

• CarnelianCarnelian is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. It is a brownish red to orange variety of chalcedony quartz, colored by trace amounts of iron.

• ChalcedonyChalcedony is the fine-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz and is considered a semi-precious gemstone. It can either be semi-transparent or translucent and comes in many colors such as white to gray, a grayish-blue, or a pale brown to almost black.

• Faience (Egyptian)A colorful substance used to mold or decorate small figures or amulets such as the scarab beetle. It is the oldest known type of glazed ceramic, being developed over 6,000 years ago. It is composed mainly of silica (sand or crushed quartz) with small amounts of sodium and calcium.

• FeldsparFeldspar belongs to one of the most abundant mineral families. Even so, gem quality crystals are scarce and only occur in isolated deposits, making them far rarer than stones such as diamonds, rubies or sapphires.

• Lapis LazuliLapis lazuli is a semi-precious stone. It is rock formed by multiple minerals, mostly lazurite, sodalite, calcite and pyrite, and is a rich medium to royal blue with gold flecks called pyrites. The lighter blue more white than gold flecks is a lower-grade lapis. The dark blue high-grade lapis symbolized fertility and good luck.

• TurquoiseTurquoise is a semi-precious stone, is typically opaque and of a greenish-blue or sky-blue color. It consists of a hydrated hydroxyl phosphate of copper and aluminum. It symbolized joy and protection against the evil eye.

techniques• Cloisonné Enameling

The cloisonné technique was used in pectorals and pendants. It created outlines of figures and symbols with gold wires, these were then soldered to sheets of beaten gold, then later inlaid with colored stones or glass.

• FiligreeFiligree, a delicate, lace-like ornamental work of gold or silver wire, was mostly used in buckles and clasps. To create various designs, tiny gold balls were soldered to the surface of gold sheets or fine wire was formed into delicate tracery.

• RepousséThis is a metalworking technique to create a design in low relief. A malleable metal such as silver is ornamented or shaped by hammering from the reverse side.

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At the Heart of Jacquie Aicheby máire Jacqueline o’Callaghan

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At the heart of Jacquie Aiche lies an innate talent. A talent nurtured through her heritage, through her spirituality, and through her strength. It’s who Jacquie Aiche is. A person with the determination and courage to realize her dream. She has

now realized that dream: Her name is synonymous with her delicate, sensuous jewelry, worldwide.

Those phenomenal pieces of Jacquie Aiche’s jewelry you wear, start life in a tray. The tray sits on Jacquie’s desk filled with fossils, minerals and precious stones—or sometimes just one piece such as a shark’s tooth that’s millions of years old. Then, they sit. And her creative process goes to work, her mind imagines a body, and on that body she slowly builds a collection—an ear cuff, necklace, ring, anklet—or perhaps a one of a kind piece, it depends on what sits in the tray. Sometimes it can take a few days, or sometimes a few weeks.

Jacquie builds in her mind. An unconscious, spiritual approach stemming from her inner self and forming the piece, layer by layer, until the finished piece is fixed in her mind. She’ll then sketch it out and send it to her metalsmith to craft a piece of jewelry that will be for a particular woman—who one day will find that perfect piece that speaks her name.

It’s innate. Jacquie will sketch a piece as a ring, but then think, “No, this has to be a necklace.” She says she is dealing with Mother Earth, with its energy and with the meanings wrapped within the piece—a piece such as ammonite, which is a powerful earth healing fossil.

Her heritage nurtures her talentWhere does Jacquie’s inspiration come from? How did her innate talent come to fruition?

Her Egyptian father and Native American mother had considerable influence on Jacquie’s choice of material for her jewelry designs. Her multicultural background led her to integrate Middle Eastern influences with Native American fossils and semi-precious stones, and to a fascination with ancient times—times when sharks teeth were worn to bring good fortune and to keep away evil spirits, and when it was believed bear claw amulets helped a woman during childbirth. Jacquie loves to rework ancient images, intertwining these images with minerals, fossils, turquoise and precious stones.

Jacquie has designed and made jewelry for family and friends since she was a teenager. She loved her mother’s jewelry, which was always classic, a statement piece. The one piece that her mother wore that Jacquie loved was a bumblebee brooch—a bumblebee is symbolic of fertility, community, prosperity, diligence and a strong work ethic.

In those early years, Jacquie felt there was no meaning in most high-end jewelry—the material incorporated in the design had no individual meaningful message. It was this lack that reinforced her use of fossils and minerals in her designs. That’s where her heart and passions lie: creating layers of meaning and energy in her pieces of jewelry.

A missing link leads to a prestigious brandJacquie spent 15 years as the owner and operator of Dimani, a women’s clothing store on Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, Los Angeles. “I felt there was a missing link in the store as there wasn’t any jewelry to complement the clothes,” explains Jacquie. “I used to go home and make my wire wrapped jewelry, then display and sell it in the store.” At that point in Jacquie’s life, it was just a hobby.

Wire wrapped jewelry fits perfectly with Jacquie’s personality and philosophy. It‘s one of the oldest techniques for making jewelry by hand. Wire wrapping techniques date back to thousands of years BC, such as jewelry from the Sumerian Dynasty that dates back to approximately 2000 BC.

She has also cast some of her jewelry, which is also a technique that’s been used for thousands of years. Her first cast piece holds a treasured memory: “The first piece I cast was a necklace that I made for my husband and myself for our first wedding anniversary in 2004—this is really where it all started,” says Jacquie. “I made the necklaces from 18-carat yellow gold. One was engraved ‘Yours,’ the other ‘Mine,’ with the wedding date on the back.”

Jacquie started taking jewelry design at the University of California, Los Angeles, but after doing some benchwork for about a year, she felt she was wasting her time—she knew that she wanted to manage her own line of jewelry. As well, she was raising two children and she wanted to spend time with her family.

Jacquie continued designing and casting or wire wrapping pieces and selling them in her store. She never told anyone she designed and made the collection she sold. She’s an unassuming person, truly in touch with her inner self and happy helping women be original in their own way, making them feel special through the jewelry she designs.

The demand for Jacquie’s exclusive jewelry rose rapidly and triggered the launch of the Jacquie Aiche brand of jewelry in 2007. Since then, for this self-taught woman it’s been an absolutely incredible journey—and successful beyond her wildest dreams.

Body jewelry light as gossamer soars in popularityToday, the Jacquie Aiche brand is in demand, worldwide. Jacquie explains, “Our body jewelry put us on the map—it spread like wildfire. I felt we were missing something that was funky and cool. Something that made a woman feel one of a kind. I love knowing that a woman can buy a piece of my jewelry and be original in her own way. She can buy a piece and feel special, be a part of the Jacquie Aiche group.”

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There are some very special people in the Jacquie Aiche group: celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Halle Berry, Kate Hudson and Rihanna, to name just a few, and more than 100,000 Instagram fans.

Being part of the Jacquie Aiche group, or “JA Tribe” as it’s known, means you’re wearing traditional precious stones and metals such as diamonds and gold mixed with minerals such as malachite and sugilite, or with fossils such as bear claws and lynx claws. This blending of different elements—precious stones and metals, minerals and fossils—results in spectacular one of a kind pieces.

The blending of different elements combined with Jacquie’s signature body jewelry, has given women a unique way of enhancing their style and their identity. They can say, “This is who I am.” They have much to choose from: ear cuffs, ear jackets, finger bracelets, anklets, body chains that wrap around the wrist and finger, or circle the neck and crisscross around the chest. Women can take Jacquie’s delicate and sensuous head-to-toe body jewelry and layer it. They can create their own personal style, and they can wear it every day.

Colors define us and energy empowers usJacquie delights in playing with colors. She says her store was always colorful as “colors define us and make us happy.” Her favorite metal is gold, preferring the color of 18-carat gold over 14-carat, and her favorite stone is watermelon tourmaline, a rare variety, with exquisite green and pink colors. It has strong healing energies and the watermelon variety creates a calm inner self.

“Depending on the season, I put the hues I want to play with on the tray, and place it on my desk. If I want to focus more on greens and blue, I mix tourmaline with the malachite and lapis, or tourmaline with rubies and sapphires. From there I work from the body. It’s really about what a woman is missing, what will make her feel good,” says Jacquie. “We’re forever changing, continuously creating new styles and designs. My clientele always want something new to add to their collection.”

Jacquie is now working on the Spring 2015 collection. She plans to incorporate many colors in her new line, “It’s going to be a very bright and colorful spring with many flowers.” So what fossils, minerals, precious and semi-precious stones will she integrate into her designs? What metals will she use? What will dance upon her inner eye?

An amazing team helps lead the JA brand to successThe most important lesson she’s learned as an entrepreneur is to keep herself grounded. “I don’t realize how far we’ve come, it’s amazing what we’ve accomplished. I’ve kept myself grounded by practicing Kundalini yoga. And I believe that we’re here doing a wonderful thing, and working with wonderful people—we’re all blessed to be here.”

When asked about her career highlight thus far, Jacquie gave credit to her team, “My one highlight is the fact that we have the ‘JA’ team. I wouldn’t be here without my amazing team. At the beginning when we were recognized as a jewelry brand in our own right, the recognition was so inspiring and stimulating.”

Jewelry that embraces energy and meaningWhen I asked Jacquie what advice she’d give a woman when buying a piece of her jewelry she said she wouldn’t give any advice: “I can’t give advice as my jewelry speaks to you and to so many people. It makes a woman feel a certain way. Makes her feel good. My jewelry talks to each individual in a different way. I think it comes from the energy we put into it. We don’t sell jewelry, we sell energy. At the end of the day, it’s all about energy. That’s the wonderful thing about what I do. I have a relationship with the person who mined the material such as the man I buy my crystals from, he owns the mines.”

The energy inherent in the fossils and minerals Jacquie incorporates into her designs was millions of years in the making. Fossils and minerals tell a remarkable story, some nearly 500 million years old. Further, the fossils that we wear were formed from plants and animals that lived hundreds of millions of years ago.

Imagine, you could be wearing a mineral such as malachite that goes back to ancient Egyptian times, as far as 4000 BC. Alternatively, it could be trilobite, an extinct marine arthropod that disappeared about 250 million years ago and is thought to represent an early stage in the step-by-step development of life on earth. And you’re wearing traces of it millions of years later, it’s an energetic and powerful fossil.

Think about this. You’re not only wearing a piece that’s millions of years old, that’s left behind just traces of its life, but you’re also wearing a piece that’s been layered with meaning and made with love and passion—and with an eye to enhancing the body from top to toe with delicate and sensuous works of art.

Works of art envisioned and designed by a remarkable and talented woman: Jacquie Aiche.

The Jacquie Aiche brand is weighted with history, meaning, beauty and inspiration. Wearing the jewelry with its close ties to Mother Earth can be a spiritual experience, a way to touch and explore one’s inner self. It can’t get weightier than that. Or more special, for that matter.

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the story behind the story

Behind the Scenes

of a Gemological

Field Expedition

Gia (Gemological institute of america); this article was originally published on gia.edu

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How do you mount a successful field expedition? Make sure you have the right people in place for the trip.

“Never go on a serious field expedition with people you don’t know. Make sure your team is ready and that they have the right attitude,” said Vincent Pardieu, senior manager for field gemology at GIA.

Gemology in the field is not the same as in a lab, he says. There are long stretches of communal living with nearly constant interaction with your traveling companions and reliance on local people to point you in the right direction.

Contrast that with a lab job where you get to go home every night and communicate with colleagues on your own terms, and you see that the challenges of fieldwork go well beyond gemological expertise.

“There is no way I will ask my boss to hire a person to work with me in the Field Gemology department based on a resume and few interviews,” Pardieu said. “To know if I can go on a serious expedition with a person, we need to spend time together in the field. Then I will be able to judge his skills and his attitude.”

Each member of the team needs to know precisely what he is expected to do, including how to interact efficiently with the other members of the team, Pardieu said. “Furthermore, a field expedition is about the gems, the place they are mined from and the people who mine them. The people are the key, because without their support you will not get where you want to go or get what you want to get.”

That is the context from which Pardieu, who is based in Bangkok, and Andrew Lucas, manager of field gemology for GIA Education in Carlsbad, broached the idea of traveling on a field expedition together when they met for dinner at a global GIA research meeting in late 2012.

Both gemologists have traveled extensively for their work: Pardieu to collect reference samples from gem mining areas to be used in laboratory work and Lucas to collect the details of the mine to market story for GIA’s education courses. Although their approach to gemology in the field is different, they soon found out they could learn from each other.

“During that evening we decided to try to combine our enthusiasm and our experience to build an efficient team that will benefit the lab and education,” said Pardieu, who asked Lucas to join his basic training program.

“Where do we start?” Lucas asked.

“Well, we already did,” Pardieu said. “It all starts with a good discussion around lunch or dinner. That’s the first time you get a sense of whether or not you have good rapport with each other.”

Pardieu suggested that Lucas travel to Bangkok for a weekend field expedition to Chanthaburi (Thailand) and Pailin (Cambodia) to visit ruby and sapphire mines so he could see first-hand how Pardieu and his team works in the field for the lab. Next would be a 10-day trip that included Vietnam.

“Vietnam is one of the most beautiful and challenging places I know,” Pardieu said. “The jungle-covered mountains of the Luc Yen district, where rubies and spinels are mined, is also home to a lively cutting and trading industry. But it is dangerous terrain. If you are not careful you might fall, be wounded or even die.”

Pardieu told Lucas to expect the unexpected and to physically prepare his 57-year-old body for the expedition.

“If you survive Vietnam, then we will be ready to travel on longer expeditions to places as challenging as Central Asia or Africa,” he said.

Lucas did well on the May 2013 trip. Ironically, it was Pardieu, the younger man who warned everyone else about the rugged terrain of the mountains, who had an accident. He broke his left arm after losing his balance on some slippery marble pinnacles at the end of a long day of walking.

But what could have been a disaster turned out to be an interesting field experience for each member of the group, who banded together to immobilize Pardieu’s arm and carry him to help.

ready to explore mogokPardieu and Lucas met again in November 2013, just after Pardieu had completed a successful scouting expedition in Mogok, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), a legendary gem locale in an area known as Upper Burma. The region opened to foreign visitors in June 2013 after being closed for many years. Pardieu felt he had recovered well enough from his accident to go for some serious exploring there, including some underground adventures using ropes and wooden ladders.

Lucas has previously visited Myanmar several times, but had never been able to visit Mogok, and jumped at the opportunity to collect information about it for GIA Education. The time was right, the feeling between the two gemologists was good, so they decided to partner up for a field expedition to Mogok, Pardieu said.

The idea was to build a small, efficient team composed of a lab field gemologist to find ways to access the mines and collect reference samples; an education field gemologist to help take photos, work on a report and collect data for education; and finally, a videographer to document the whole adventure.

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Although Mogok is accessible again, people are not free to go there. The Myanmar government requires travelers to get a permit to visit the gem-producing and trading area. A government-accredited guide must also travel with the group. Pardieu asked one of his friends, Jean Yves Branchard from Ananda travels in Yangon, to deal with the permits, guide and hotels.

He asked Jordan, one of his oldest friends in Mogok, to make arrangements to visit the mines. He met Jordan in 2000 when he studied gemology in Yangon and the two visited Mogok several times together until January 2005 when the Myanmar authorities stopped allowing foreigners in Mogok and the other gem-producing areas in Myanmar.

Pardieu, Lucas and their cameraman Didier Gruel focused on improving their stamina for the physically grueling trip. The challenge in Mogok is not about long hours walking in jungle or remote mountain areas, Pardieu said, it is in navigating the underground ruby mines that could be several hundreds of meters deep. Places like Kadoke Tad consist of an impressive network of wooden ladders that look like the underground Goblin kingdom in the movie “The Hobbit,” he said.

“Just take your time. Don’t try to move like the locals move: Each step, make sure you get a sure footing before you make the next step,” Lucas said after visiting these mines. “It’s better to be slow and sure than have a fast fall.”

The group visited numerous mines, markets and cutting areas practicing what Pardieu calls “‘doing gemology with your eyes and not your ears,” meaning getting the information yourself at the source, not secondhand from others. They also absorbed the culture and personality of the people and the beauty of their temples and pagodas.

“The time we spent together on previous field expedition was useful to improve our team’s efficiency,” Pardieu said. “Communication was easy and efficient. We were ready for the Mogok experience and everyone went home safely with great samples, thousands of photos, hours of video footage and wonderful memories.”

This is success by any definition of a great field expedition.

photo by vincent pardieu. © Gia. reprinted by permission.

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places to go &things to do

travel destinations for 2015

by máire Jacqueline o’Callaghan

Walking among lions and tigers, strolling slowly with giant tortoises, diving deep to explore the world beneath the sea, or perhaps dropping off a helicopter to ski down a mountain, it’s your choice. Our world is full of amazing places and unforgettable adventures.

You can experience a heart pounding, adrenaline pumping vacation or, if that’s not to your taste or mood, then you can relax on a pristine beach with drink and book to hand. You can also fly fish waist deep in a river, hike a volcano, or watch the green basilisk lizard walk on water. We have a wonderful world out there, waiting to be discovered.

Here are just a few places to go and a few things to do in this wonderful world of ours.

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barbados – Unwind in understated elegance

• TheHouse– An adults-only resort offering a tranquil retreat for adults to unwind and reconnect in a setting of understated elegance. You can go on catamaran cruises, rugged safari tours, duty-free shopping trips, or glass-bottomed boat rides. You can visit St. Nicholas Abbey or take a solar-powered electric tram to view sparkling pools and eye-catching stalactites in Harrison’s Cave. If you want to stay active, play a round of golf on manicured greens or soak up the sun with a variety of beach and water activities such as deep sea fishing.

Canada – ski powder as light as sifted flour

• SmallGroupCanadianHeliSkiing,BellaCoola,BritishColumbia – With only four people per group and small, private helicopters, Bela Coola Heli Sports have a level of operational flexibility that guarantees the most rewarding heli ski experience you could wish. You’ll fly over breathtaking mountains, over rugged peaks smothered in snow—and know you’re going to ski slopes of virgin powder snow. You’ll experience incredible freedom moving from one summit to another, and nothing in front of you but pristine slopes and powder runs.

• TweedsmuirParkLodge,BellaCoola,BritishColumbia–Fly fish the waist deep Afnarko River steps from the Lodge. The Lodge hosts a minimum of 16 guests in private log cabins and offers an infinite supply of fresh smoked salmon and gourmet meals in the communal building. Bella Coola is just over 600 miles north of Vancouver, and if you take Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver it takes just over an hour.

Costa rica – ride the rapids through rainforests

Costa Rica’s territory is so small that it encompasses only 0.03% of the planet’s surface, but is still within the top 20 richest countries in biodiversity on earth for species density. It has pristine beaches, and mountains and volcanoes. Here are two possible Costa Rica destinations:

• ArenalNayaraHotel&Gardens– A luxury boutique hotel located in the Arenal Volcano National Park Volcano Hike and Springs area. It’s a 5-star member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and offers impeccable service, fine cuisine, an outstanding spa, amazing excursions and eco-experiences. You can hurtle down the 300-meter zip line, go river rafting or canyoning, horseback riding or hiking, or just laze by the pool and enjoy the lush gardens with its rabbits and parrots. If you choose to go river rafting, you have a choice of three rivers: the Peñas Blancas River, a slow moving, pleasant rafting experience; the Balsa River with Class II and III rapids; or the Toro River that offers a thrilling, fast-paced rafting experience with both Class III and IV rapids.

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Galápagos islands – snorkel with sea turtles and sharks

The Galápagos Islands are home to species found nowhere else on earth. The wildlife, geology and scientific history of the islands are endlessly fascinating. About 80% of the land birds, 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of the plants are endemic. More than 20% of the marine species in the Galápagos Islands are found nowhere else.

The Galápagos Islands are situated in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers from continental Ecuador. Ninety-seven percent of the total emerged surface was declared a National Park in 1959. To preserve the islands as they were centuries ago, UNESCO declared the Galápagos Islands a World Heritage Site.

• GalápagosCatamaranCruises–Highlights of a catamaran cruise include snorkeling with sea turtles, rays and tame reef sharks; kayaking in a beautiful calm bay; and hiking up an island volcano with one of the largest active calderas in the world. On the land tours you’ll get close to some of the most incredible wildlife such as Galápagos Giant Tortoises, Penguins, Land and Marine Iguanas, Frigate Birds, Blue and Red Footed Boobies, Darwin’s Finch, the Galápagos Sea Lions, and Waved Albatrosses with their seven to eight foot wingspan. You’ll visit tortoise breeding grounds and iguana colonies, and watch the immature Albatrosses learn to fly by practicing on their runway, which is just above the cliffs of Española.

• Diving in theGalápagos – This is not recommended for first-time divers as it’s considered one of the world’s 10 most difficult recreational dive sites. If you do dive, the sharks are timid and not dangerous, the sea lion pups are playful, and spotted rays will glide past you. As one in every four marine species is endemic to the Galápagos, nowhere else in the world will you see equatorial penguins diving with marine iguanas, or a sea lion pup trying to play with an iguana—the iguana wasn’t too happy with the pup.

myanmar & the irrawaddy river – explore 2,000 year old temples

• MyanmarRiverJourneys– Myanmar and The Irrawaddy River was voted “Destination of the Year” by Travel+Leisure Magazine. You sail the Irrawaddy River from Yangon to Mandalay, cruising past teak forests, traditional villages and magnificent shrines—life on the river remains the same as it was centuries ago. The river flows from north to south through Ancient Myanmar (formerly Burma) with its thousands of amazing temples. Yangon offers a mix of Buddhist pagodas and colonial architecture. You can visit thirteenth-century Bagan comprising more than 2,000 temples and pagodas, and Yangon’s stunning Shwedagon Pagoda, considered by many to be the oldest pagoda in the world.

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new Zealand, south island – tour a world of ice

For wildlife, scenery and adventure New Zealand is hard to beat as a holiday destination. Why go? It has mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and a coastline that just beckons to be explored. Whether you want to ski, scuba dive, or hike, you can. You can dine in some of the amazing boutique hotels or sample wine at a vineyard. There are a myriad of places to visit and things to do in New Zealand. One of the highlights is the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier where you can experience an incredible glacier environment with stunning ice formations.

• Glacier Country, West Coast – For fantastic views and fabulous food, stay at the Westwood Lodge, a B&B nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s spectacular Glacier Country. It’s just seconds away from the majestic Southern Alps and the World Heritage Westland National Park. It’s an ideal place to unwind and hike Franz Josef Glacier.

south africa kruger park safari

– walk with the wildlifeHome to the widest diversity of wildlife in South Africa and delivering some of the finest game viewing on the continent, the Kruger offers international award-winning accommodation, smooth-running logistics and some of Africa's best trackers and guides, ready to take you on Big 5 game drives and big-thrill walking safaris.

The best way to experience the magic of the Kruger is to stay in one of the many safari lodges located within the park's internal private concessions, or in the private reserves that hug the Kruger's western, unfenced border.

• RoyalMalewaneLuxuryKrugerParkSafariLodge–Royal Malewane is an exclusive luxury African safari getaway for those who value privacy, personalized service and the best game viewing in Africa. Situated on a private reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa, this African safari lodge hosts a maximum of 20 guests in the utmost luxury and style. The reserve boasts an astounding number of species of mammal, including the “Big Five” (the African lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo), as well as more than 500 species of birds.

• SingitaBoulders Lodge – The Lodge is in the exclusive

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve on the banks of the Sand River. Together with its neighbor, the famous Kruger National Park, Sabi offers 2.7 million hectares of unfenced, protected wilderness. Game roams freely between the two reserves, forming one of Africa’s most bio-diverse wildlife populations. The Sabi Sands is one of the best areas in the world to view leopard—one of the legendary Big Five which are also present in large numbers.

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thailand & the bahamas – Dive among the sharks

• LiveaboardCruising–Enjoy some of the best dive sites from a Phuket Liveaboard Dive Boat. The best diving takes place along the southwestern shores near the resort areas of Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta and Phang-nga.

• ScubaDivingLuxuryLiveaboardoftheBahamas–You have a choice of shark feeding dives, blue holes, high speed drift dives, walls and shallow patch reefs. Each week the cruise sails from Nassau, Bahamas, to the remote islands of the Exumas, especially the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the most pristine area in the Bahamas.

• U.s.a. oregon & Utah –

listen to the bard’s wordsIt’s tough to choose places to visit and things to do in the U.S. There are just so many amazing places to visit and things to do. Here are just two:

• Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, Oregon – At America’s largest and longest-running celebration of the Bard, upwards of 250,00 theater lovers visit for performances at the festival’s three venues, including the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre that seats 1,200 and is fashioned after a 17th-century English stage. Check out the 2015 season, it’s offering “Much Ado about Nothing” along with other well-known drama such as “Long Day’s Journey into Night.”

• ZionNationalPark,Utah–Zion is the ancient Hebrew word for “sanctuary” and is the oldest and most beautiful of Utah’s parks. The 229-square-mile park is a spectacular network of colorful canyons, forested mesas, and amazing desserts. You can walk through massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into the sky, and you can wander through the wilderness of a narrow slot canyon. You can hike The Narrows, a gorge with walls a thousand feel tall and the river sometimes just twenty to thirty feet wide. You can also go canyoneering, which combines route finding, rappelling, problem solving, swimming and hiking. Some of the canyons are barely wide enough for a human to squeeze through.

These 2015 destinations are just a very few of the marvelous vacation opportunities available. We’ve visited some of these places, others we discovered in the weekly travel section of Canada’s The Globe and Mail newspaper, and then we asked friends and colleagues for their recommendations.

If you visit any of these places, enjoy the experience.

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JeweledLUXE Magazine - January 2015