ALEXIS KLETJIAN LOTUS SHIELD WITH BETH'S NEW CHARM COLLECTION COMING SOON

The Legacy Campaign has a special way of choosing the names of collectors who are ready to commemorate a signifiant milestone in their lives.  When Beth Bernstien's name emerged from the golden drum I was excited to tell her, but I was also very nervous ...

Beth is the author of several popular jewelry books, consultant to emerging jewelry designers, discriminating collector, and a jewelry designer herself.  Recently, she launched BeJeweled Magazine (which I looove) and reinvented herself as the go-to destination for all that glitters.  

I was curious what she would choose for her Legacy and without hesitation, Beth told me she wanted a Lotus shield.  I feel strongly about my Lotus Shields for their individuality, protection and sentimental properties, so I was very pleased she felt the same way.

On my next trip to New York I brought a selection for her to choose from and it did not surprise me that she choose my favorite.  I was more than happy for her to have it, even though I jokingly suggested she "will it" back to me someday ;)  Kidding aside, there is nothing better than when your personal favorites are appreciated by someone you admire, to adorn their legacy.  

Now, I'll let Beth tell you in her own words, as only she can ...

BETH CHOOSING HER LOTUS SHIELD

I was thrilled to win one of Alexis’ contests—the jewelry is so on point and well made. It’s never overdone or fussy, just beautiful pieces that you can layer, stack and wear everyday. 

I chose the lotus shield for a variety of reasons. First of all, I don’t have much luck with contests. I rarely if ever have won anything. Actually this is also the reason I don’t gamble. I can sit down at a black jack table or slot machine and lose my allotted $20 in less than 10 minutes flat. When Frank Sinatra sang Luck Be A Lady it definitely had nothing to do with me. 

With that said, since one of the meanings of the lotus is new beginnings—I felt that winning the contest was a new start and maybe my ‘luck was about to change’ Since I am superstitious, I did believe that choosing the lotus after winning the contest would be the perfect choice because things can change and there is always room for clearing out your old beliefs and behaviors that aren’t working for you anymore and try and find new ones that do. 

I am also a big fan of “The Language of Flowers” and any type of flower with a positive meaning, particularly in gold and gemstones definitely woes me. And lotus is also a symbol for rising above life’s challenges and difficulties and coming out on the other side. I have faced a lot in my life, due to unforeseen circumstances and to me the lotus represents that I have weathered it, began again, reinvented what needed to be re-invented, let things go that I could let go, and lived with the things (like my mom’s passing way too young) that taught me how to miss someone but go on and about my life and that the two can co-exist. I also learned how to survive and sometimes even find comic relief in the worst of times. 

The shield shape is for protection and I think we all need plenty of that, but being protected while starting new and facing difficulties truly hits home for me. I chose the demantoid garnet—not because of a meaning (believe it or not) but because I have loved demantoids in Victorian and Art Nouveau jewelry and saw both the ruby version (my favorite gemstone) and this dematoid one and just couldn’t resist. I could get other ruby jewels but not so easy to find those this well crafted set with demantoid. 

ALEXIS KLETJIAN LOTUS SHIELD

And there you have my lotus legacy. I hope that you too will be able to find comfort in symbols and talisman. It’s especially calms me when I feel like I have had the worst day and then realize it could be much worse and I know that there are better things to come. 

I have been steadily working on the upcoming Memorialize Collection, and I am delighted to share a pre-release with you!  Each jewelry collection I create is permanent, giving every design the time to mature and expand, to its capacity.  Every year I look forward to layering in a new design aesthetic to complement my signature pieces, but the components for Memorialize are vast, so I decided it needed its own collection.  The Memorialize Collection will still be feminine yet hefty, and in perfect scale - all of what you have come to know my jewelry for.  The beginning of the Memorialize Collection will debut in early 2017 with new styles trickling in throughout the year.

ALEXIS KLETJIAN GOLD SKULL CHARM

This skull charm is the only piece from the collection that has been pre-released, and it has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback.  So much so, I decided to give one 10K yellow gold skull charm away to one of my fans in honor my my 10K milestone on Instagram.  

All you had to do for the chance to win was repost one of my skull images, tag me, and a friend.  Simple.  I'll choose the winner of this gold skull charm and announce Thursday on Instagram, which is tomorrow, September 29th.  Yes!  You have one evening to share this little guy for your chance to win, but I do have another special surprise for you... 

For everyone that did repost, you will receive the first round of skulls to be released at a special price just for participating and supporting my upcoming collection.  So, be sure to repost, tag me, and then send me an e-mail, so I can provide you with a discount code once they hit the website. 

ALEXIS KLETJIAN LUCKY STAR SHIELD, PERSONALIZED RUBY CHARM, AND GOLD SKULL

ALEXIS KLETJIAN LUCKY STAR RING IN ROSE GOLD

On the anniversary of Lucky Star, I am honored to share another legacy story with you.  

Lauren was the first legacy winner, and although she knew she would choose a design from the Lucky Star collection, she patiently waited to be the first to preview the new designs for her finial decision.  Ultimately, Lauren chose my classic vintage-inspired Lucky Star ring in rose gold and brilliant diamonds to represent her family, and their connection to stars. 

In her own words, I will let Lauren share her legacy story with you...

I thank my lucky stars...

ALEXIS KLETJIAN LUCKY STAR SHIELD CHARMS

My Lucky Star collection pays homage to all of the Victorian stars - the compass roses and celestial jewelry of the Victorian Era, which remains an important role and continued inspiration in the jewelry of today.  

You may be surprised to learn that the first design for the Lucky Star collection was the shield.  I love stars for all of the beauty and brightness they represent, and I yearned for an everyday talisman to guide me, to shine bright over my heart.  

Paying homage to my beloved Victorians with a nautical nod, the star shield was born, and the Lucky Star collection began.  A modern-day protector, yours and mine, in a petite (yet hefty) collectable, and customizable charm.  

ALEXIS KLETJIAN LUCKY STAR SHIELD AND PERSONALIZED CHARMS IN DIAMOND

ALEXIS KLETJIAN CUSTOM DOG TAG IN ROSE GOLD, DIAMONDS AND BLACK SPINEL

Happiness is something you feel, an indescribable emotion that can be shared, understood.  I believe people come into your life when you need them the most.  Perhaps for friendship, laughter, or love - whatever you may need when your paths cross.  

Our family has been through many years of emotional losses, and I needed drastic change to shift the energy, to try and get our happy back...  

The day Sinead Butler came into our lives was the day our lives took new direction.  She was (is) our realtor, yet it was never a sign here, initial here, type of relationship.  Sinead did more than sell our home for us, she brought us laughter and distraction in a very sad time in our lives.  Ultimately, she became our friend.

Everything happens for a reason, and I am happy it does.  If she wasn't in the office that day, (which I learned later she usually is not) I am positive we would not be where we are today, in a better state of mind.  You may think I am giving my realtor too much power over my emotions, but you and I know the right person always shows up, when you need them.  

The only way we knew how to truly thank Sinead for going above and beyond was to give her a sentimental piece of us.  

The rest I will let Sinead tell you, as she so thoughtfully wrote this story to share...

SINEAD WITH HER BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN

My legacy...

I want to pick so many things as my legacy!  I want to empower my children so they will be bold, strong, kind, true to their souls and believe in themselves always.  They are, after all, what we leave behind us when we are gone.  I want laughter and fun to be my legacy.  The strength of family, with its bonds and memories and the ache I feel when I know I will not see them for a while - the downside of being an immigrant.  But most of all I am drawn to happiness, how it makes me feel, how it makes others smile with their eyes, how it makes the world go around.  Yes, happiness - with a little crazy - is my legacy.

I met Alexis when she employed me to find a home for her family.  I had my professional hat on and I tried hard to keep it on as buying or selling a house can bring up many emotions for clients, it's best for their realtor to focus on the job at hand.  It soon became apparent that this would be impossible as Alexis and her husband, Garrett, were full of fun, laughter, intelligence, and 'happiness'. They made my job easy and I found myself enjoying every minute of their company.  Let's just say this is not necessarily the 'norm' in real estate.

When we closed on a house they were selling they presented me with a gift.  The first of a new design for Alexis, a dog tag with diamonds and black spinels.  I was so flabbergasted I babbled on for a while and later sat in my car and cried.  

The fact that they had given me a gift at all pushed me over the edge.  Alexis later had it engraved with the irish word 'sonas', which as I'm sure you can guess, means 'happiness'.

ALEXIS KLETJIAN CUSTOM DOG TAG

ALEXIS KLETJIAN PERSONALIZED INITIAL CHARM IN EMERALD AND PLATINUM

I own few pieces of platinum jewelry.  The platinum jewelry in my personal collection are gifts from my husband, and they are rings.  

My lovely friend Jenni, who is a treasurer of stories for the Platinum Guild, asked me if I would ever consider creating my jewelry designs in platinum.  It only took a minute to decide, yes, of course, we can go platinum.  

The first platinum charm to arrive was for Jenni's personal collection in our shared birthstone, ruby.  Balancing her petite personalized charm in my fingertips, I instantly fell in love with platinum.  Every detail looked and felt better.  The weight.  The heft.  Superiorly smooth and elegant, it was a significant difference in a design I have made many times over, in gold.  

Since then, I have begun to create more jewelry in platinum, and the first designs to arrive you will find in the PERSONALIZED collection on the website.

As shown above, Jenni featured my emerald personalized charm in her May feature story for emerald birthstone jewelry.  If you want to learn more about the world of platinum, I encourage you visit the Platinum Jewelry website.

Pretty palm trees, the perfect island backdrop

Vacationing is a necessary luxury for everyone, yet unplugging for an extended period of time for a small growing brand, can be a luxury one cannot afford.  Unplugging for over a week?  No images to post or ways to communicate, to look as though you are still there?  Um, No.  I am a person, authentically behind every communication, and on vacation. A real, true vacation.  Remember those? Well, I don't either, so I wanted to give my all to this thing called relaxation, and see if I'm any good at it.  Turns out, I need improvement in that area, but hey, no one is perfect.

I don't have images to share of my vacation.  I locked my iPhone (ahem, camera) in the safe until we were back in the US.  You already know, I do love to take a picture, (and if you didn't, start digging through my archives!) so I am regretful I do not have many sharable moments, but the twist was that I was LIVING those moments, enjoying myself.  More important.  

Go ahead and google the many benefits of taking vacations, you will find endless scientific research, articles, and opinions from successful, iconic brands and entrepreneurs that support the fact that you need to take one, now.  I'll leave that research up to you, and get to my vacation jewelry shopping experiences, but know that even if you cannot travel from home, a stay cation can work wonders for your inspiration, and recharging those batteries of yours.  

View from my  room aboard the Royal Caribbean, Oasis of the Sea, our first cruise!

I am going to confess something that will blow your mind, and I hope you don't think less of me : I didn't bring jewelry with me.  There, I said it.  (Audible gasps heard around the world) It's true, I wear minimal jewelry when traveling.  The last thing I want to do is loose a precious piece, damage it, or get sunblock in-between all of the gemstones until the end of time. Grease sticks to metals and gemstones like nothing else, plus, the beach is just no place for jewelry.  I saw a lot of women wearing jewelry at the beach...

We did pop into jewelry stores, because watches are the big purchase in the land of duty free; we purchased none.  While browsing, the woman, consumer and maker in me realized just how out of touch some resort boutiques are to the evolving tastes of the modern jewelry collector.  

I do understand I am in the minority of women who don't like to travel with jewelry, but what about the men and women who purchase jewelry together, while on vacation?  Again, not us. Like, ever.  Who are you with your strange trademarked gemstone I do not like, and why are you trying to sell me something I do not want?  We are doing this thing called relaxing.  But, just when I'm ready to go, my husband pulls out his wifi enabled phone and BOOM, cover blown.  

I guess that whats happens when you speak out about how "undereducated US jewelry stores are about gemstones past the big three" and the "exclusive, rare, no one has this, you will never see it again" pitch.  

Now, I can appreciate an angle, and a savvy salesman, but I can only assume his laser focus on getting his jewelry on me was because I was not wearing any jewelry myself.  He may have thought we were the uninformed he was speaking of.  But, we know.  Now he does, too.  

The new breed of collectors are educated, they want to not know the person behind the brand, that you care about the jewelry, and them.  I almost never purchase jewelry in an actual store, but through relationships.  People I like, who like me.  I don't care how exclusive this is what you have, I need to like you, and trust you, or no deal.  I know this doesn't translate to a vacation purchase, standing there with your husband, ready to buy you something, but it can.  I ship, and do business all over the world, through relationships.

Heck, I'd love to partner with a resort, (resorts are you listening) and provide something honest, and just different than what is currently being offered, because women can feel the difference.  It is such a compliment to be chosen to commemorate a milestone, to adorn a legacy.  I design for that woman, the one who makes her her self-purchases where and when she is comfortable, in her own timetable, whether she wears it on vacation is up to her! 

So, as a tastemaker, seeing how women wear their jewelry while on vacation was very interesting to me.  I am always paying attention to style, in all of its forms.  This vacation brought forth new ideas, colors, shapes, and textures I am eager to try.  I was literally burning to adorn this newfound inspiration from head to toe, in my lounge chair.   

As much as I missed wearing my jewelry, I may love creating it just a bit more.  I have no plans to wear mine at the beach, or the pool, but I love however you choose to wear yours, especially if I made it for you.   

Jewelry is more than an emotional investment, but it is not always valued by the sum of its parts.  When your beloved jewelry goes unworn or better yet, your taste evolves and you want to upgrade, where do you turn to?  Enter Worthy.  

Jen's antique star ring shown with my modern ring from the Victorian inspired collection, Lucky Star.

A milestone : 100 blog posts.  In the two years since I began publishing posts, I remain true to the goal of chronicling this journey, creativity sharing my story, and becoming part of yours.   

Jewelry is more than precious metal and gemstones, it is an emotive connection to your heart and your soul.  Chapters of your life, worn in layers as adornment, an open expression of your style.  For me, this blog, 100 posts, has always been about : jewelry, people, and stories.  To commemorate this milestone, I want to share a special story of a friend and fellow collector with you.

Months before I launched the AK Legacy campaign I was inspired through the exchange of rings with my friend, Jen Lord.  Jen and I had bonded over our mutual affection for antique jewelry, (specifically eternity bands, the Victorian star motif, and the "one finger stack") as well as mid-century modern furniture and honeymooning in New Zealand, which gave us a lot more than jewels to talk about.  

Jen has been a collector of antique jewelry for more than a decade and occasionally she will convert, or sell a piece from her own personal collection in an etsy shop as a hobby that fuels her passion.  When she told me she was selling a ring given to her by her sweetheart as a birthday present, I wanted to wear her ring in my stack while honoring our new friendship.  It is then we instantly became part of one's story, a shared chapter in our lives.

Jen's White Gold Diamond Eternity Band

On May 31, 2015, Jen and Nick whom have been dating for a few years, are having a lovely Sunday running errands, walking around their beautiful city of Victoria, Canada, as they often do.  Nick suggested they retreat to their "secret spot" near the ocean, a five minute walk from their downtown home called Mermaid Wharf, to enjoy the view.  

As any collector knows, it is worrisome to own a treasure from a loved one you cannot proudly wear.  The diamond eternity ring (shown above) was sold to Nick as a size 6, which was her size, and Nick knew that Jen loved eternity bands, and as April baby, it is also her birthstone - the perfect birthday gift!  

But after jamming it on her fingers, stacking it up, and trying to make his sweet gesture fit, Jen (nervously) took the opportunity to bring up the fact that the ring he had purchased for her birthday just didn't fit, it was not a size 6, and she would have to sell.  

Here, in Jen's words, she recounts the moment for us...

"We were talking about things, as you do, and I was like: "you know that ring you got me, well I think I am going to have to sell it… I feel really bad, but it is just too small, I am sorry…"

The beautiful couple Nick & Jen, moments after their engagement on May 31, 2015

Jen feels deeply that stars are symbolic of hope and faith in following your path.  They sparkle in bright adversity and are born of fire and energy.  They are the light that guides us, even in the darkness.  So, I was honored that she chose my modern Lucky Star ring in white gold to represent this new chapter in her life and our friendship, with Nick's seal of approval, of course.   

Below is the many ways we have both worn our rings, in our favorite style of mixing metals and stacking 'em up!  Enjoy.  

Jen's engagement ring worn with an all white stack.  Lucky Star at the top.

Jen's eternity band in the center of my Lucky Star rings, in a trio of gold, my favorite way to mix metals.

My Lucky Star ring with a mixed metal stack, love this simple look!

Rosey Golds, with white accents on a casual, comfortable day.  Mixing modern, vintage, and antique rings.

Jen's recent snake addition, and her fav stars..

Me, drafting this post, in my lucky stars and eternity bands.

Do you have a great story about rings you'd love to share, or hope to commemorate your next chapter in life with something from my collection?  I'd love to hear more, please reach out to me and share your story through the AK Legacy campaign, after all, this story was the inspiration, and who knows what your story will inspire...

Fun purchase for my son.  Trilobite fossil that is hundreds of millions of years old! I ALMOST didn't purchase this because I did not like the seller's dismissive attitude, but in the end I am glad I did.