nyc – Shine & Starfire

Mateo NYC

August 28, 2018 shineandstarfireLeave a comment

I recently lost one of my favorite rings at a Dave & Busters (literally tossed it off into the abyss as I was lobbing a basketball in one of those arcade games). Sent out a mobile phone flashlight party, but to no avail it is most definitely gone for good. And that is the reason why I’m back here. The hunt for a new shiny piece is on!

I’ve been pretty much MIA with life this summer. As the days grow shorter and the daylight wanes, I’m back to my usual online prowl for glimmering beauties.

MATEO NYC was introduced to me by the one and only Eva Chen (I’ve been an avid follower of her instagram and fashion pieces). Mateo NYC is headed by Matthew Harris an NYC implant of the ripe age of 16 from the sunny, sandy shores of Montego Bay, Jamaica. A self taught jeweler, he started with mens jewelry and later evolved his collections to include women’s jewelry. Love his simple designs.

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Absolutely adore some of his most recent pieces made for women. I’ve been recently very interested in mixed metals, diamonds, and pearls with modern shapes and designs. Something about the translucency and timelessness of pearls just makes we stop and stare. And while I don’t quite put myself at an age appropriate enough to dare are wear white pearl jewelry, one of Mateo pieces just might make me break that rule…
Most worth mentioning is the fact that some pieces are still pretty affordable as diamond/ gold goes… for now…
Get em while they’re hot! As any new upcoming jeweler is bound to sky rocket in fame, so are the prices!

everette nyc

January 27, 2017January 27, 2017 shineandstarfireLeave a comment

I absolutely love dainty shiny things. Diamonds on thin bands display a certain subtle sparkle that simply light up my day. Everette nyc does just this with their delicate yet well crafted jewelry. From what I hear, if statement pieces aren’t in, its most definitely the tiny fortunes.

Everette nyc jewelry can be described as sort of hipster Brooklyn jewelry. Subtle, with a bright flash of diamond to depict a sort of hidden richness; not overly fancy just a tiny sparkle from a diamond here or there. Simply beautiful. To be quite honest, Everette reminds me of the brooklyn based Catbird.

Earlier in the year (more like late 2016) what initially caught my eye about Everett was their collaboration earring piece with ABLE cosmetics. Diamond stud earrings with whimsical cat eye/eyebrow earring jackets look absolutely adorable! Available in white, yellow, and rose gold a single earring (right or left) costs about $275.

10% of all proceeds are also stated on their website to be donated to The Seeing Eye, an organization with a mission to raise and train cute adorable puppies as seeing eye dogs.

In addition, looks like Everette is hosting a sample sale with markdowns on select pieces making pricing a tad more agreeable (peep the large starlight gold/diamond earrings at $300USD from $430USD; while not an absolute steal worth a gander). Sample sales are usually followed by new designs, those of which I look forward to seeing!

S. Kind & Co.

May 2, 2016May 2, 2016 shineandstarfireLeave a comment

Lovely constellation 14 diamond stone ring the current apple of my eye. Made with love in NYC from recycled metals and ethically sourced stones via S.Kind & Co.

I only wish it wasn’t so darned expensive! (+$1000) or they had a similar constellation band with less stones… for the economist. Also love their simple wheat engraved band ring- very delicate with a subtle design flare.

I’ve been eyeing contemporary and non traditional wedding/ engagement rings as the topic of work lunch these days have been the search for the perfect ring. Though I’m not quite yet ready to get hitched, window shopping doesn’t hurt. (I’m also one of those people who would buy themselves pretty rings to cycle though- for personal guilty pleasures hehe). Mind you, I also do not believe in giant 1 carat, 2 carat diamond rings etc because honestly, that’s a down payment for a house or a really nice vacation getaway.

Anyways, if you like rose cut stones and cannot afford large diamond rocks, S. Kind & Co offers moissanite rose cut stones with small pave diamonds in the band. Moissanite stones are popular replacement stones for diamonds. I believe almost all rings made are from recycled precious metals (yellow gold/ white gold etc). Did I mention, they like ring butts? Yes. Ring butts. Very cool. Very cool indeed.

Fun tidbit- Skind & Co is a resurrection of an old family jeweler (~144 years!) The more you know!

Mood: bleh. Work tomorrow ugh…

Catbird

April 18, 2016 shineandstarfireLeave a comment

Been a long while since a post (busy with real life things now that I am no long fun employed woohoo for income!). But happy mid April everyone!

Current post on local jewelry haven for minimalist/ simple handmade jewelry from Catbird NY located in one of the trendier neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
This quaint little shop features dainty jewelry made in sterling silver, white gold, rose gold, and yellow gold. I’ve been on and off on their website eyeing their particular house made Famous Letter Ring as it has a cuteness factor of 7 coupled with 10 for customization! (and don’t I just love customizable jewelry).
Anyways, Catbird is one of those stores that sells their own small selection of designs aswell as being a major stockist for local (NYC) jewelers who share their style/ concept. It was from Catbird where I learned of jewelers like Satomi Kawakita etc.
Pricing wise, they are a little on the pricey side (simply for thin gold bands) but I wouldn’t mind purchasing from them as craftsmanship and customer service are A+. In addition- threadbare stacking rings are very in right now. Catbird also has their idea of the best ‘stack’. Currently they have a poppin online store that sells more than just jewelry – custom Catbird stationary, soaps, prints etc. In addition, earlier last year they opened up their own Catbird annex for the sole purpose of wedding, engagement rings. (I do adore their Odette the Swan). For me, I’m a sucker for rings so that is what I usually gravitate towards, but they do have a small selection of minimal earrings as wells as delicate chained bracelets and necklaces worth a gander.

Feeling: Tired as f***

Lionette by Noa Sade

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 shineandstarfireLeave a comment

Let’s talk about statement pieces. To be honest, I don’t own any statement pieces simply because I do not feel like I can rock it. Lionette by Noa Sade is NYC based and creates beautiful statement pieces. I found them via famous popular fashion style blogger Chriselle Lim a few years ago and I just love their pieces. Each piece is so unique and definite statement pieces. You can wear bracelets and necklaces stacked up or by themselves- either way draw attention to the pieces.

Now while I love love love these statement pieces, I doubt I will ever purchase from them via sheer price alone. Lionette NY’s popularity is definitely real and present. (Trust me I’ve seen the prices rise along the years). The prices are (in my honest opinion) utterly ridiculous. I don’t mean to bash them, but their pieces are made of plated brass and simulated semi precious stones like turquoise or opals etc. Let me say that again, plated brass and simulated stones. Why are you charging $400+ for brass and fake stones? I just can’t wrap my head around it. Oh and the designs however beautiful and ingenious can most definitely be replicated via materials from your local craft store (maybe not the cone shaped stones but you know what I mean).

Long story short, while I absolutely love Lionette NY’s designs and pieces (because they truly are gorgeous) I would not buy them because honestly you can get a 14k gold ring plus a tiny diamond for that price. Call me cheap but its simply not worth it. – unless you are filthy rich and do not care.

And while I was lusting after their Sinead bracelet for quite some time, I wouldn’t purchase because my wrists are sooooooo tiny and I doubt they will adjust one for my size (must I mention the fear that they might charge more for an adjusted one? not to mention charge the full price for materials?).

Miansai

February 9, 2016 shineandstarfireLeave a comment

This particular post was one that I was going to post later on… but upon close inspection and recent findings, I thought why not now.

I first heard about Miansai through popular fashion blogger Chriselle Lim of thechrisellefactor.com. I was introduced not via her blog but through instagram on her 2014 Christmas Giveaway post. Needless to say, I entered and didn’t win but it was to win a pair of rose gold colored cuffs (yes I enter all these contests because I’m a sucker for jewelry). I’m not particularly a fan of their ever popular Screw cuff bracelet (see below) because the design honestly reminds me of a pair of shackles.

Please see the following images and continue to read:

Do these designs look familiar to you? Hint: Nautical themed, nuts and bolts, nautical cord? Hello James Barts anyone? Tell me they do not look alike! Okay, okay some of you might be saying the nautical theme is free for all and I get it. But at the same time, personally I like to find unique designs and credit/ buy them from the masterminds. I hop on to their website and click on their ‘About Me’ section- all I find is a generic description of Miansai being made in America and a store in NY, nothing about when it was established and by who. (Later findings found this Q&A on racked.com)

My only question is, who had the idea first. I have yet to receive my James Barts bracelet in the mail but looking at pictures, I’d say Swedish quality looks better… (or do they just have better packaging?) ~~Would it be too bold to say Miansai copied James Barts?~~ Suffice to say, there are some very clear similarities in these designs and in my opinion James Barts takes the cake.
Pricing on Miansai’s bracelets are also a little on the pricey side $55+ USD. Options include rose gold plated, gold plated, silver plated, sterling silver, and full 14k gold (alongside various colored cords and leathers).

I am most definitely not a fan of the ‘D’ shape that are Miansai’s most famous screw cuff bracelets. In addition, their leather and cords look a little thin. There only one design I truly adore but it does not help that my expensive eyes dart immediately towards the $2.5k solid rose gold fish hook cuff bracelet.

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