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BLISS
Buy your loved one a lovely piece of jewelry,
and you’ll be rewarded with joy. Action
causes reaction.
The word “jewelry” obviously comes from
the word “jewel”, originating from the Latin
term “jocale” meaning plaything. In French,
the term for jewel is joyau which also
means a rare and precious object. You take
a “joyau” and fashion it into a “bijou”. But we
cannot escape the presence of “Joy” in that
French word, which brings us to the subject
of this article: Joyful Jewelry.
Jewelry was, and still is, worn to mark
personal and social status, but today, both
women and men for the most part wear
jewelry because it brings them joy, and
in the hope that the appeal is contagious,
bring a smile to others they may meet.
Much like a painter combines powdered
pigments with oils and dabs the canvas or
a sculptor fashions wonderful shapes from
rock or clay, the jeweler refines various
metals and cuts facets into rare crystals and
then combines the two to create a beautiful
and original œuvre.
Like the more familiar fine arts, the artisan
finds inspiration from many sources. It may
come from a different culture (many African
tribes use jewelry and paint to adorn their
bodies), or a different era (prehistory,
Mesopotamia, Egypt, etc),
Whatever the source or the material,
jewelry always elicits a smile, and maybe
even a tear… of joy.
Joyful Jewelry
Clockwise from top left:
Chopard Happy Diamonds Necklace
Marco Bicego Jaipur Bracelet
Mikimoto Pearl Necklace and Earrings Set
John Hardy Classic Bracelet
David Yurman Albion Ring