The story behind the signet ring, one of the most important jewelry designs in history, is very fascinating. The signet ring is a design that houses a raised, flat face on a shank, or ring, and is typically engraved with an image or icon meant to signify something memorable- like someone’s initials, a family crest, coat of arms, or a meaningful symbol. But signet rings weren’t always as casual as they are by today’s standards.

From his birth in 1936 in Naples, Italy, Aldo Cipullo was born into design. His father owned and operated a costume jewelry manufacturing business in Italy, and after graduating school Aldo began an apprenticeship there where he would learn the tricks and trade of the jewelry industry. In 1959, the young, ambitious Italian designer immigrated to America to pursue larger interests in jewelry and fashion design. 

It was not long before both Tiffany & Co. and David Webb hired him, but his biggest claim to fame was when he began working for Cartier in 1969. Not even a year into his employment there did he design his most famous piece, the Cartier Love Bracelet, and shortly after this piece, he created the “Juste Un Clou” collection, or the iconic Nail Collection. To add to his legacy, he is the only Cartier designer to date allowed to have his signature on his designs for the company.

“I wish to create a relationship between the earth and myself. Sometimes we do not realize what we are kicking over. I want to make the soul come out.”

Charles Loloma was an artist’s artist- he was a master with pottery, painting, print making, and of course jewelry design. Even though originally dismissed as traditional Native American art by his fellow tribesmen, he is arguably one of the most influential jewelry designers in the Native American style, and helped bring American Indian style of jewelry into the mainstream during the mid-20^th century.

Celebrate those that came before us to pave the way as I celebrate my grandmother. We stand united in these new times shattering ceilings, records, and outdated methodologies. The future is Female! Happy International Women’s Day!

The human interest in personal adornment by use of metals has a rich, deep history that spans every culture on Earth. Today, jewelry is mass-produced and is worn casually on a day-to-day basis, but thousands of years ago the use of personal jewelry had a different meaning.

Jewelry in its most archaic form was mainly made of bones, teeth, shells, and other found objects. The first type of metal jewelry is dated to 7000 BCE, when a piece of copper jewelry was found. Since then, our methods of making jewelry with stones and metals has expanded into one of the biggest industries, and is one of the oldest trades on Earth.

One of the most popular gemstones today, Citrine, formerly known as “yellow quartz”, can be used not just as mere decoration, but for its metaphysical and healing properties as well.

Citrine is a form of quartz that most likely gets its name from the French word citron for “lemon”. It’s yellowish, brownish, orangeish hue is reminiscent of citrus fruits, and also the color of Autumnal leaves, which might be why it was named the traditional birthstone for November. It is also used for both 13^th and 17^th wedding anniversaries, and for the astrological sign of Virgo. Natural citrine used for decoration can be seen as far back as ancient Greece during the Hellenistic age between 300 and 150 BCE. In 17^th century Scotland, citrine was often used to decorate the handles of swords, and occasionally used to fabricate an entire sword handle. During the Art Deco movements of World War I and II, citrine was used in big, elaborate pieces