The 35th Mill Valley Film Festival

We'll be pouring wine and open until 8pm on Friday October 5th. In honor of another year of awesome programming at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

We Love Our Men!

Actually, we love all our customers. But the men who come into our store are usually choosing – or designing – jewelry for the women in their lives, whether they are mothers, daughters, girlfriends or wives. We are consistently impressed with their thoughtfulness and consideration as they work to match up woman, gift and occasion. And of course we love the guys who sport their own bling as well. Hip, hip hooray for you gems of masculinity!

The Care and Feeding of Jewelry: Rule 2

This seems like a simple rule, but it is often forgotten.  Try to remember that the first people to wear fine jewelry were royalty and that they were rarely found washing the dishes or moving the piano.   Mountain biking, gardening, rock climbing and kayaking are all dangerous for jewelry.  If you are a brute, wear a ring that has some substance.  And few necklaces appreciate the tossing and turning that happens while you sleep.
More links and photographs here...

This blog has moved

We have moved to a different site. Please don't be deterred!  Although we will still post summaries here, our complete posts, with photos and slideshows have moved.   Come visit our revised and expanded and updated blog by clicking here.

The Care And Feeding of Jewelry: Rule 1

Rule Number 1: 

 If it looks delicate it is delicate

This seems like a simple rule, but it is often forgotten.  Try to remember that the first people to wear fine jewelry were royalty and that they were rarely found washing the dishes or moving the piano.   Mountain biking, gardening, rock climbing and kayaking are all dangerous for jewelry.  If you are a brute, wear a ring that has some substance.  And few necklaces appreciate the tossing and turning that happens while you sleep.

How to Make an Outrageous Opal Ring

Our client sent us a fabulous boulder opal. 

 Janet Alix made sketches, laid out sapphires and paraiba tourmalines, 

Our talented craftspeople went to work. 

 The finished ring is stunning, graceful and comfortable on the hand.

Bouquet Leaf & Vine Ring

Lori drove up to Sebastopol to visit our talented photographer, Hap Sakwa (http://www.hapsakwa.com) and came back with beautiful photographs of new rings that we'll be posting over the next few days.  Here is a one carat diamond in a bouquet setting on a classic Janet Alix Leaf and Vine band.  It looked so scrumptious on the hand that it was hard to turn it over to it's darling owner.