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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Red-Carpet Inspired Chopard Bracelet

The statement making three string emerald bracelet by Chopard adorned Indian beauty Sonam Kapoor on day two of the Cannes film Festival. The bracelet was made of emerald and diamond beads. You can get the same look by making your own Chopard piece with emerald and rock crystal beads. Here’s how:


You will need:
Oval emerald beads or tubes (as per the required length of the bracelet), rock crystal spacer beads, and nine graduated emerald drops. Silver beading wire, 4 silver clam shells (crimp covers), silver crimp beads, two silver jump rings, a silver lobster clasp, chain-nose pliers, wire cutters and crimping pliers.

1.    Since this is a three strand bracelet, arrange alternate emerald and rock crystal beads on three rows on a beading board. It will make it easier when it’s time to string. Each row will be slightly longer than the other.

2.    Cutting two strands of beading wire start with one string on the crimp cover. After this put the crimp bead on and crimp it (with crimping pliers) into place. Cut any extra wire and slide the crimp cover back over the crimp bead, close it, but let the arm remain open (not folded down).

3.    String on all the beads from the first row (the shortest one). Once done, end the strand the way you began it: slide on a crimp cover and then a crimp bead. Make sure the crimp bead goes all the way into the mouth of the crimp cover. Once crimp bead has been crimped, close the cover, but leave the arm of the crimp cover open. String on the second row of beads and follow the same process as with the first row.

4.    Repeat the process for the last row but after the first two emerald and rock crystal beads keep adding the graduated drops starting with the smallest working your way to the largest in the center then petering out to the smallest.

5.    Once you’re done stringing both rows of beads, take a jump ring and slide it through the lobster clasp. Take the two open arms of the crimp covers and connect them to the same jump ring.

Follow this same process on the other end of the bracelet; only add a jump ring instead of the lobster clasp. The lobster clasp will hook beautifully onto the jump ring.

67GWYSTW5NMR

Monday, May 16, 2011

Beads for the Red Carpet

Vanessa Hudgens recently sported a beaded necklace on the cover on Instyle magazine’s March issue (more of this later). The look is in keeping with the current trend of V-necks- Emma Stone attended the Louis Vuitton fall 2011 runway show at the Fashion Week in a printed wrap dress and Angelina Jolie graced the red carpet at Cannes in an elegant V-necked Salvatore Ferragamo number.

Coming back to the beaded necklace Hudgens wore- although this was made up of resin beads there can be many variations to the look, feel and color of the same piece of jewelry. Blue tones can be subtly matched by a necklace made from sapphire roundel beads. Roundel beads are slightly flattened at the pierced ends and could be faceted or smooth.

To pull off a sophisticated evening look choose ruby bead jewelry either in the form of a necklace made of ruby strands or tassel earrings made from tiny ruby beads. Tassel earrings like the ones Natalie Portman wore to the Oscars are all the rage this season. The famous wine-colored pair featured rubellite tourmaline and rose-cut diamonds, but you can get the same look by opting for ruby beads. Ruby cabs or cabochons to be more precise are often set in rings and such rings are a simple way to spice up any outfit. A case in example the 6.29 ct. Burma ruby that sold for $1.32 million at Doyle New York’s Important Estate Jewelry auction on April 13. The ruby ring by Cartier sold for more than $200,000 per carat, making it one of the highest prices per carat ever achieved for a ruby at auction. The ring was the center-piece of Alice Appleton Hay’s jewelry collection, which was offered in a special section of the auction. Cabochon or beads bi g and small- here's your chance to create your own red carpet moment with these beauties.

67GWYSTW5NMR