We came across this heartfelt sharing and thought it would be most apt to share it during the month of May, where we celebrate Mother's Day.
Don't forget to show your appreciation to all the wonderful and courageous women out there! Check out our latest Dolceoro Collection.
Mother’s Day can be a sensitive holiday for many. Particularly if you are longing to be a mom, the holiday can be a painful reminder of a missing piece of your life. Sensitive to this, Lisa Jo Baker has written a fantastic post, Let’s Celebrate All Women This Mother’s Day. She writes,
"I believe that all of us are called to mother another.
We mother the world that shows up at our doorstep whether we call it mothering or not.
We mother whether we’re married or we’ve ever borne down in the battle cry of birth or not.
This isn’t to ignore the very painful realities of infertility or other reasons that a woman might not have biological children. But this perspective can be a hope-filled reminder that we are ALL mothers, because mothering isn’t only for those who have born a child from their womb. “Motherhood is its own mission field,” Lisa writes, “and no one is disqualified from serving.”
The calling of motherhood and fatherhood transcends bloodlines. Jesus himself confirms this in Matthew 12.
“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’
He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”
It is God’s will that we would all be parents to those around us.
In a blink of an eye, we are a quarter into 2016. We do hope your year so far has been as exciting as ours!
Come April, look out for upcoming new additions to our Dolceoro series. We have listened and this time round, we specially handpicked several vintage inspired earrings just for you! Do keep a lookout for the launch here!
Here are some of the items you can look forward to...
February is often termed the month of Love because many people across all countries celebrate Valentine's Day on 14 February. On this day, couples, friends, spouses show their appreciation to their loved ones through gifts and gestures. And no doubt, jewellery always plays a significant role in the gifts that are given each year.
According to a report by Mastercard, consumers in Singapore have set an average budget of US$189 (S$263) for Valentine's Day this year (2016). People in Singapore rank third in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of spending, falling closely after Hong Kong (1st) and China (2nd). People are also spending more on experiences such as dining and watching a theatre production.
At TFL, we believe that you don't have to wait till Valentine's Day to show how much your loved ones mean to you. Everyday can be Valentine's Day when you are with your beloved. Give him/her a little gift from the heart when they least expect it. A little tip: Customise your selected piece with endearing engraving to make it all the more meaningful! Go ahead and browse through our Valentine selections.
Worn by everyone from supermodels to society queens, the Cartier LOVE bracelet stands out for its eternal chic. Designed in 1970, this stunning bracelet is more than just a pretty face, with it signifying an eternal love. A romantic statement indeed, it's also available in gold, rose gold, silver and even adorned with diamonds or just plain and pretty.
Tiffany & Co. Yellow Diamond Collection
When you think about timeless beauty, Tiffany is surely first in your mind. Well, nothing is more timeless, or more beautiful, than their Yellow Diamond Collection. A flagship of the brand since 1877, each of their stunningly rare yellow diamonds are hand-picked by their master gemologists for their sheer quality and perfection.
Chopard Animal World Collection
Designed to celebrate the legendary brands 150 year anniversary, the Animal World Collection, part of the high-jewellery collection, is a celebration of all that is luxe and lovely. With the likes of sapphires, amethysts, tourmalines, not to mention diamonds, adorning the collection, it's as eye-catching as it classic.
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Collection
When you think of Van Cleef & Arpels, Alhambra is surely the first thing that pops into your mind. As distinctive as it is glorious, the collection was first created in 1968 as a symbol of good luck. Now available in a marvellous medley of colours, including limited-edition hues, this has to be one of the most iconic collections of all time.
Harry Winston Cluster Collection
Harry Winston once famously said that if he could attach diamonds onto a woman's skin, he would. Well, as that wasn't possible, he created the Cluster Collection instead. Based on Winston himself's belief that it should be the diamond that dictates the design, the Cluster Collection is a series of stunning, almost three-dimensional sculptures, for which the famed jewellery house is so well-known.
These classic pieces do indeed add an extra sparkle to any ensemble, but fret not if budget is an issue. At TFL, we strive on providing affordable and unique collections that will not burn a hole in your pocket! Click on our various collections now!
With a blink of an eye, we are fast approaching Christmas and counting down the number of days left as we wrap up the year. What a blessing it is for us in TFL to be able to spend the occasion with you for the second time since our establishment.
As we join in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, let us not be too caught up with all that is happening and forget the true meaning behind the act of giving in Christmas.
There are many reasons why we give gifts during this time of the year. Some do it simply as an act of formality or merry-making- e.g. a company's gift exchange. Some give as an act of love and appreciation to those around us.
For the Christians, giving gifts could be a symbolic reminder of the true "Gift"—Jesus, who gives mankind life, ironically not through his birth, but more importantly with his death and resurrection as He paid the price of humanity sin on the cross. Also, ‘giving’ in a Christian context, would remind one of the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus at his birth: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These precious items were commonly presented to kings and deities in the ancient world. This reflected the esteemed position that Jesus held even as a baby. So why were these three items chosen of all things out there?
Many Christian scholars believe this could be due to their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself — Gold representing his kingship, Frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and Myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming.
What does Christmas and giving mean to you?
May you be richly blessed both in giving and receiving this special season!
The Four Loves
Adapted from Biblical Archaeology Society & JesusCentral.com
As promised, we are launching our minimalist Yuletide series this Christmas! When it comes to accessorizing, sometimes the best option is to keep things to a bare minimum.
Minimalistic jewellery like simple, dainty rings, necklaces, bracelets are in trend now. And if you think that simple jewelry can be boring, you’re totally mistaken. You can still look classic and stunning when pairing simple pieces together. Here are our new items up for grabs!
Rockies Bracelets in 18k gold/rose gold
Rockies Bracelet in 18k rose gold
Pearl of My Eye necklace in 18k gold
Rockies Duo bracelet in 18k gold with matt and glossy finish
Nudia necklace with unique laser hole diamond - no prong or claw setting using exquisite Japanese technique
Rockies earrings in 18k gold with pearl setting
Simple yet classy minimalist jewellery. Get them for yourself or as a gift for your loved ones this festive season! Stay tune to our store for the official launch the Yuletide series! Wishing all a Blessed Christmas ahead.
The next generation of jewellery shoppers are looking for something real, but as analysts forecast they will never have the level of disposable income their parents did, when it comes to fine jewellery a balance has to be struck.
One of the early solutions to this problem was gold plating. Rather than plating base metals, brands chose to plate solid silver. This might seem like an unnecessary luxury to some, but the popularity of this trend was driven by a desire to buy into something real, a precious piece of jewellery, and silver plated with gold offered a much more affordable price point than solid gold.
Jenneifer Meyer shows off a selection of her delicate gold jewellery on her Instagram page.
While gold-plated silver jewellery continues to be popular, something confirmed by Stella Layton, the assay master at the Birmingham Assay Office in the UK, another way to give younger jewellery shoppers something real without breaking the bank is to use solid gold but in tiny amounts.
This delicate and dainty trend can be applied to all sorts of jewellery: barely-there chains with minuscule charms; super-thin rings, perhaps micro-set with diamonds; tiny studs. The trend applies itself best to yellow jewellery and the majority of examples you will find are in this alloy, with most US designers working in 14ct to hit the necessary price points.
The wafer-thin 14ct gold Lumiere necklace by Ariel Gordon has been set with three 1pt diamonds.
With gold price fluctuations hitting both consumers and jewellers, this is a trend that offers a flash of the real thing without incurring huge outlays for either party. Look out for TFL's upcoming new arrivals for some of these minimalist jewellery!
As the market for coloured gemstones continues to grow stronger, consumers are starting to seek out gems with a difference, and stones that can offer two colours in one are certainly an eye-catching proposition.
There are a number of gemstones that split into two colours, and it is a naturally occurring process. Ametrine, for example, is a combination of amethyst and citrine fused together, created by the two quartz stones developing side by side but at different temperatures underground. The resulting gem is a clash of orange and purple.
Sheldon Bloomfield works with exceptional two-tone gems including the ametrine set in this ring.
Margery Hirschey brings an artistic flair to her collections with mismatched and two-tone gemstones.
Other gems that display two colours include watermelon tourmaline that splits between pinkish-red and green, two-tone citrines that flow from orange into black, colour-changing sapphires that can morph between colours such as blue and yellow, and two-tone quartz.
These earrings from Holts London star a pair of watermelon tourmalines.
Marco Bicego has juxtaposed slices watermelon tourmaline with blue sapphires.
There are two very different methods of designing around these gems. Some jewellers will look for stones with a perfect 50-50 split meeting in the centre that offers balance and symmetry, and historically these gems have commanded the highest prices.
Alternatively, designers will embrace the chaos of a stone that may offer a swirl of colours with no clear boundaries, blurred lines or a target effect with concentric circles of colour. These non-conformist stones work well in more organic, relaxed designs.
A newer lapidary technique used to cut two-tone stones sits somewhere in the middle of these two distinct styles. It has been dubbed the sunburst style and rather than cutting the stone with equal parts of colour, it creates a gem with a swathe of one colour in the centre, surrounded by the other.
Online retailer Gemporia has a wide selection of jewellery set with sunburst ametrine.
Whether used to bring perfect symmetry or some wild artistic expression, two-tone gemstones offer a peek into the mastery of geology for jewellery buyers seeking something a little off the beaten track.
Beth Gilmour, part of London Fashion Week’s Rock Vault initiative, worked with two-tone citrine for her Dichroma collection.
Hi everyone! We are approaching the 8th month of the lunar calendar (农历八月) in a couple of weeks, which means the wedding season is coming up! For the Chinese, the 8th month of the lunar calendar is considered an auspicious time to hold a wedding.
The Four Loves is your one-stop shop for all your wedding jewellery needs, ranging from the traditional betrothal Si Dian Jin (四点金), to engagement and wedding bands.Many soon-to-be brides and grooms would select very classic pieces as their bridal jewellery. Today, for couples who are a little eccentric and wish to be out of the norm, we want to share with you some unique and off-beat pieces that can add a little charm to your personalities.
Lika Behar’s 22-karat gold ring offers a gray diamond slice and a round brilliant cut gray diamond ($1,430). likabehar.com
Hand-sculpted, cast and uniquely finished in 14-karat yellow gold with white sapphires and morganite, this ring has individually set in place precious stones and was made in Brooklyn by Ruta Reifen with responsibly sourced materials ($1,980). rutareifen.com
Lio and Linn’s 14-karat yellow gold ring is inspired by nature. The triangle is symbol for change, and arches over the champagne diamond, which represents the sun ($2,200). lioandlinn.com
This 18-karat gold “Zig Zag” stack ring is from Amy Glaswand, and holds 0.27 carats of diamonds ($2,200). amyglaswand.com
Dawes Designs’ 18-karat gold band holds 1.25 carats (total) of rose-cut champagne-colored opaque diamonds ($2,650). dawes-design.com
A deep autumn-colored rose-cut diamond is surrounded by round diamonds in Tura Sugden’s understated halo ring, with the diamond partially tucked under the solitaire setting to allow for a subtle shimmer set in 18-karat yellow gold ($6,095). turasugden.com
If any of these pieces catches your eye or if you want to have a ring which is similar but with your own twist, don't forget to look for us to custom make your rings today! Prices will vary depending on the intricacies of the design. Till our next post!
The upper crust of Middle Eastern society has a well-documented appetite for luxury purchases. Travel out to the retail Mecca of Dubai and you’ll find it packed with malls of gargantuan proportions, all bursting with concept stores from the world’s biggest brands, as well as local family-run businesses stocking elaborate goods.
In this affluent retail culture, jewellery is a natural fit and as such the UAE is in the top five global markets for gold jewellery consumption, with the Middle East Gems and Jewellery Forum estimating that sales of gold jewels in the region are worth US$2.5 billion. The Middle East also now has a number of prominent jewellery shows including the annual Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, which attracts the likes of Cartier and Graff, while Jewellery Arabia put US$790 million of jewels on display in November, and Vicenza Oro launched a Middle Eastern version of its show in Dubai in April.
A ruby and gold Egg bracelet by ethical jewellery champion Pippa Small
And in the malls and on the city streets, jewellers enjoy showing off with outrageous precious creations, such as the solid gold replica of Dubai landmark the Burj Khalifa made from 22.65kg of 18ct gold by craftsmen at the city’s Malabar Gold & Diamonds store. Other recent oddities include a Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro laptop made with a solid 9ct gold case, temporary tattoos made from 24ct gold by Marbella Paris and sold at Dubai hotel Burj al Arab, and Halal alcohol-free sparkling wine brand Lussory Gold, which is infused with flakes of 24ct gold and sold at Bystro Dubai.
iKuria worked with recycled gold for its Age of Discovery Collection
But in the midst of all this excess and expense, could a more ethically minded luxury consumer be emerging in the Middle East? According to research released by Chalboub Group, a consultancy that advises brands venturing into the region, only 35% of luxury shoppers in the Middle East take sustainability into account when making purchase decisions, however 83% of those asked said that they expect the companies they are buying from to be proactively engaging in sustainable practices.
Cred is a pioneer of the ethical jewellery industry working in gold and silver
And perhaps this should not come as a surprise. After all, the region is home to two of the world’s largest eco cities – the low-carbon, zero-waste Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and the Desert Rose in Dubai.
Chopard has created a green carpet collection of ethically created high jewellery
More questions being asked by luxury jewellery consumers in one of the world’s biggest jewellery markets could lead to an increase in demand for jewels made from Fairtrade Fairmined gold or set diamonds from Canada, for example, where the environmental impact from mining is reduced. While the region will no doubt hold on to its love for all things bling, any luxury jewellery brands looking to do business in the Middle East should take this into account and have answers at the ready, as well as sustainable and ethical options available for these inquisitive, socially-aware shoppers with deep pockets, because it seems they are out there.
Arctic Circle works exclusively with Fairtrade gold and Canadian diamonds
Ute Decker creates unusual jewels in Fairtrade Fairmined gold
