The Odyssey: A Journey in Jewelry

by Naomi Lyon & Alexa Molback

The Odyssey has stood the test of time for over 3,000 years. This epic has captured our attention since its dawn in Bronze Age Greece, and cemented its significance on the big screen this summer. Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of daring adventures and chilling monsters broke records at the box office, drawing in over $260 million globally in its opening weekend. 

Today, we invite you to a new retelling–one told with gems, precious metals, and dazzling jewelry. The following pieces evoke the nature of the epic in a way that could be worn by the ancient icons themselves.

Odysseus

Our story begins with “a complicated man,” as renowned scholar Emily Wilson describes the central figure of the Odyssey. On his journey, the king of Ithaca is never seen without the pin gifted to him by his wife, Penelope. 

This stunning pin, titled “Crepuscule des Dieux” from Eve’s Pompeii series, depicts a family much like the one Odysseus left behind. The scene is carved in sterling silver, encompassed by eye-catching diamonds and moonstones, and adorned with 14-karat gold olive branches. This piece would be worn close to his heart, which aches to return to what is most precious.

Agamemnon

Throughout Nolan’s adaptation, Agamemnon stands intimidatingly tall in black and gold armor you can’t help but admire. The goal of the armor is to turn heads, and these dazzling pieces certainly achieve that with alluring black diamonds.

From Eve’s recent series, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the necklace “Tatiana’s Dream” is made of 171 black diamonds clasped together with 18-karat gold. Paired with the stunning “Queen of the Night” earrings, defined with 18-karat white gold and platinum–fine metal fit for the King of Mycenae. However, they may suit his wife’s killer style better.

Cyclops

Polyphemus is the first obstacle in Odysseus’ journey home, and arguably the most eye-conic.

This “Heaven and Earth” necklace from Eve’s Taking Chances series not only reflects the natural green of his island in tourmaline, but captures the piercing gaze of the Cyclops in a prismatic eye carved from labradorite. The pointed meteorite echoes the creature’s fate at the hands of Odysseus and his crew. 

Charybdis

This monster stands as a barrier in the sea, transforming into an inescapable whirlpool and pulling countless voyagers to Hades. Similarly, “Le radeau de la meduse” from the Eau de Vie series is a piece you can’t help but drown in.

Charybdis’ perilous but beautiful waves are represented by swirls of stunning palladium ribbon work across this 144.30 carat Koroit opal. 14 diamonds and 16 sapphires silhouette the stone in an imitation of sparkling seafoam. The shape reflects the thousands of ships she devoured in the pull of her waves. 

Calypso

Besides her fashionable tortilla blanket and assorted fishnets, the Titaness evokes images of the sea that lend themselves well to fine jewelry.

Natural pearls enhance her neckline while staying true to her island-bound lifestyle. These 18-karat “Roman Lotus” earrings reference the very lotus flower she fed to Odysseus. Just like that mythical medicine, these pieces are bound to keep your attention. 

While these are only a few of the figures featured in The Odyssey and a mere fraction of pieces from Eve’s gallery, they are a testament to the weight these ancient stories still hold today.

Eyes on Hollywood: Back Necklaces!

By Eli Kosinski

If you’ve tuned into some of the major awards ceremonies lately, you may have seen the jewelry trend that’s sweeping celebrity fashion: back necklaces. 

What is it– part of the dress? A complement to a scarf?  Just a backwards necklace? The  “jewelry mullet” (thank you, Vogue, for that fantastic term) is an innovative mode of styling that has actually graced the red carpet since the 2010s and is picking up steam once again. If you remember some of Cate Blanchett’s jaw dropping looks over past years, you may recall the backwards necklace as an elegant cascade of pearls that enhanced the back of her silhouette. You can certainly achieve a similar waterfall feel with some of Eve’s “Wine Angels” or some extra long pearl strands!

On our lovely model, we showcase what this style could look like with one of Eve’s impressive strands of circlé South Seas pearls. This necklace creates sophisticated drama between the glimmering black pearls and the bright 14 karat white gold clasp that holds forty-two diamonds (0.36 carats total weight). By centering the bright diamond clasp at the front, and draping the pearls in the back, we’ve created visual interest both ways!

Let’s look at some other recent looks for inspiration on how to play around with our own jewelry. 

Lately, celebrities have been opting for back necklaces that add a pop of sparkle to an open-backed dress. For example, Margaret Qualley’s Oscars’ appearance featured a glamorous diamond Chanel necklace. This necklace boasts over 300 round-cut diamonds set in an 18 karat white gold tassel design. The novel styling puts a fresh spin on a timeless classic. For those of use who own longer necklaces, this is another idea to keep in mind!

While Qualley’s memorable diamond jewelry is enviable, we might be searching for a slightly more relaxed styling. Maybe we’re going out for a formal dinner, but not a film premiere. We could keep the sparkle but add a touch of unique personality or even playfulness with colorful gemstone necklaces. 

This mid-length necklace from Eve’s “Sacred Geometries” series, aptly titled “The Power of Six,” is an intricate arrangement of fine spinels and red garnets. The three strands of garnets meet three strands of spinels at the intersection of an 18 karat rose floral gold element: a gorgeous design that enhances any outfit, front or back! 

To finish off the tour of this trending style, let’s look at one last diamond powerhouse. Shorter necklaces have also come into play with Taylor Russell’s 2024 Venice Film Festival breathtaking 11 carat pear-cut diamond necklace. This Tiffany and Co. jewel, paired with a flowy scarf, projects the picture of elegance. 

I can think of a few sparkly pendants around the Gallery, especially ones hung from strands of gemstone rather than chain, that would be a brilliant focal point to add to an evening outfit. If you have any shorter pendants at home, play around with them. The joy of jewelry is the creativity involved in its artistry- and that includes how you wear it! That’s how we get sweeping new trends like the “jewelry mullet.”

The Enchantment of Phenomenal Stones

By Iris Stratman

The Intrigue of Phenomenal Properties

There is special kind of wonder to be found in light distortions. From kaleidoscopes to phantasmagoria theater, manipulations of light are timeless and have an intrinsic draw that delight viewers. This play-of-light is prevalent in gemstones, specifically those of the phenomenal variety. Phenomenal gemstones are defined by their unique ability to distort light, creating an otherworldly optical effect. In the coming weeks, there will be more fun tidbits about the various kinds of gems that possess these qualities such as moonstones, abalone pearls, and cat’s-eye. You perhaps have even seen them before in the gallery! I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about how these stunning optical effects are created. There is plethora of unique properties that result in the ethereal beauty of a phenomenal stone.

Properties

Iridescence
When light is broken up into different colors, it is called iridescence. Akin to soap bubbles, oil slicks, and butterfly wings, this rainbow effect is found in gems such as opals, abalone shells, and labradorite.

Adularescence
Notably found in moonstones among other gems, this property is defined by its milky, semi-opaque luster. Adularescence is caused by the parallel layers of albite in a stone’s structure. We can thank adularescence for the soft, celestial glow of moonstones, quartz, and many others! Ceylon and rainbow moonstones are both present in Eve’s “Angel” ring, from her “Medieval” series.

Aventurescence
Named after aventurine quartz, this stunning coruscate effect is the result of small, thin inclusions within the stone. When light hits it, the gem can look like tinsel preserved in crystal! In sunstones, aventurescence is cause by flecks of copper, known as schiller, growing simultaneously within the stone. A perfect example of this is shown in the sunstone located in the center of “The Hidden Dream” ring from Eve’s “No Forwarding Address” series.

Asterism
The six-rayed star within the center sapphire of Eve’s “Interchange” ring is a prime example of asterism. This property occurs in minerals that contain small, fiber-like crystal inclusions. Stones such as rubies and sapphires that feature asterism are cut into a cabochon. When direct light hits the cabochon-cut gem, a star shines out from within its core!

Chatoyancy
What makes cat’s-eye so unique is its glowing band. With a cabochon cut, these parallel needlelike inclusions in the stone imitate the look of an actual eye of a cat! However, this property is not limited to solely cat’s-eye and tiger’s-eye stones. You can see chatoyancy prevalent in other precious gems, such as moonstones, or the chrysoberyl centered in Eve’s “The Auspices Have Spoken” ring.

Labradorescence
In the case of labradorescence, the importance of the schiller effect cannot be emphasized enough. The schiller effect occurs when light scatters around within thin layers of feldspar, resulting in a distinct play-of-color known as labradorescence. As the name implies, this optical treat is notably found in labradorite.

Play-of-color
It is said that you can see the universe inside of a precious opal. Indeed, the rich swirls of color that are formed from hardened silica spheres do recall those of nebulas. In opals, the diameter, uniformity, and overall alignment of the silica spheres and their arrangement results in the play-of-color. This quality is especially prominent in black opals which are the most highly valued of all. The play-of-color is put into action when lighting and perspective is changed. When the orientation is switched, new colors emerge from within. Notice the galaxy of color and light play in the 144.3 carat koroit opal featured in Eve’s “Le radeau de la meduse” pin.

Jewelry Transformation: Heirlooms, Stones and More!

By Eli Kosinski

Eve J Alfillé Gallery and Studio is known for Eve’s inventive and person-oriented custom work! If you have an idea for a project, Eve will fulfill your vision with her vast collection of gems and design wisdom. But we don’t always start the process with only an idea: sometimes, jewelry that you no longer wear is the subject of a transformation. If you own precious materials, like a family heirloom or loose gemstones, Eve is able to tailor them to suit your tastes. Eve believes in honoring the original integrity of the materials while simultaneously breathing fresh life into them!

For example, a customer recently came to Eve with a gorgeous pink opal set in a gold ring. As a ring, the opal wasn’t getting its moment to take center stage. So Eve thought of a few different options for this stone: she drew up ideas for it as a pendant, and then as a ring of her own design. But because this customer loves bracelets, they decided to set the stone in a sleek and delicate gold bracelet. Now, the pink opal is flanked by two pretty pie slice elements from Eve’s “Just Desserts” series. This decorative trio of opal and dessert pieces are attached to a simple gold band. Through collaborative processes like this one, you can highlight the beauty of the stones you own!

In that case, the opal was a singular element that sparked a bigger creation. We can also go in the other direction, and create multiple projects out of a single item or collection. For example, another customer arrived at the shop with her collection of gold and jade rings.

These jade ornaments are rich in both color and in emotional value: these deep-green cufflinks were purchased on a honeymoon. Now, they will be repurposed for another happy occasion. Eve is resetting two of the jade stones as cufflinks for the customer’s new son-in-law, as a wedding gift. Projects like these are a special way to preserve the sentimental meaning of the piece while updating its style or format. Eventually, another two of the rings might become a pair of earrings!

Similarly, customers might have a ring, or other piece of jewelry with multiple stones in it. If these stones are very tiny, a great way to update their appearance is to transform them into an eye-catching yet every-day type of necklace: a “Rain chain”. These types of chains are decorated with stones in simple bezels. Diamonds are classically a favorite choice for “Rain chains”, but other types of stones can also rock this modern look. Pictured here is a photo of a diamond “Rain chain”.

These are just a few examples of the reimagining that Eve does. If you think you have a stone or piece of jewelry that could use a trip to the gallery, please bring it and any ideas you have!

August Birthstones

By Alyssa Arroyo

August is here and in anticipation of this month, here are the August birthstones!

Peridot, The Gem of the Sun

Peridot is a warm green gem that is best suited for earrings, pins, pendants, and rings with a bezel setting. If you are hard on hands you’ll want to be sure cautious of hitting hard surfaces. Peridot is a 6.5-7 on Moh’s hardness scale making it a medium-hard stone. This joyful green color is dependent on the level of iron contained within the Peridot, giving it that friendly yellow-green hue.

Peridot is special for a couple of reasons; The green hue is consistent which is rare in gems. It is also 1 of only 2 gems that are formed in the molten rocks of the upper mantle rather than in the earth’s crust, where most gems are found. Peridot can be found in lava, meteorites, and deep in Earth’s mantle.

Peridot is seen as a stone associated with light, perfect for August and the summer sun. Ancient Egyptians mined Peridot on the Islands of Zabargad in the Red Sea. They referred to Peridot as the “gem of the sun”. Europeans also adorned cathedrals with Peridot in the middle ages and in Hawaii, Peridot can be found amongst the tiny grains of sand lining the beaches, Hawaiians believe they symbolize the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire.

The largest sources of Peridot are the United States, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the Himalayas. Here, at Eve J. Alfille Gallery and Studio, you can take a look at a variety of Peridot jewelry as well as select Peridot gems for any customizations you might want to make on your own jewelry or for new pieces you want to create.

Sardonyx, Hidden Between Layers

Sardonyx combines alternating layers of Sard and Onyx, having 2 types of the mineral chalcedony. The colors range from yellowish-red to reddish-brown to brownish-black. The color is dependent on the iron oxide within the stone. These lines of Sard and white chalcedony were once more precious than gold, silver, and sapphire.

Sardonyx is widely available and affordable when created as beads, gems, and jewelry. They are mostly found in India, Brazil, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Madagascar, Uruguay, and United States.

Roman Soldiers wore or carried Sardonyx talismans that were engraved with heroes and gods because they believed they would embody the same characteristics as the figure they wore around themselves. It is thought that orange Sardonyx stimulates, black Sardonyx absorbs, and green Sardonyx purifies.

Sardonyx is a 6.5 on Moh’s hardness scale. The gallery has plenty of Sardonyx for you to browse, in order to form any jewelry that you’d love to wear whether that be a pin, pendant, or pair of earrings.

Spinel, The Latest Addition

Spinel is the most recently added gem to the August birthstones and it’s known for its deep red color that is similar to rubies. Pure Spinel is colorless, different impurities change the color to reds, yellows, blues, violets, and many more. Spinel is an 8 on the Moh’s hardness scale, making it good for all kinds of jewelry.

Spinel was confused for many different gems. For example, Until the late 19th century rubies and Spinels were indistinguishable. The enormous “ruby” that is placed in the centerpiece of the royal crown of England, also known as the “black prince”, was in fact a Spinel. One way of distinguishing Spinels is through UV light because they are fluorescent.

South East Asia’s mines yielded enormous Spinel crystals in ancient times. These Spinels became the treasured property of kings and emperors, passing through many hands as spoils of war.

Good quality Spinel in size and color is mostly found in Burma, but they are also found in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Madagascar. We have a wide range of Spinels in our gallery space, from small drops to rings. They can be used in jewelry in many ways due to their varying size and color.

The August Birthstones consist of Peridot, Sardonyx, and Spinel. These 3 very different stones can all be found here at Eve J. Alfille Gallery and Studio. For those of us born in August, this is our month and these are our stones, happy summer!