Jewelry Blog

When we’re talking about fashion, the word Bohemian is used to convey an attitude and style that describes a free-spirited, independent frame of mind.

Called Boho for short, the Bohemian look is earthy and layered, with loose, flowing fashions and accessories that are often made from natural materials like linen and gauzy cotton, wood, stones and leather. Woven items are popular and so are beads that are used in jewelry and to decorate purses, belts or anything else.

Tunics work over skirts or pants and can be loosely belted if you like. Vintage jewelry and fashions always have a place in a Bohemian ensemble.

You can get a feeling for today’s Boho chic look by gazing back at late 1960’s to early 1970’s flower child fashions — not Mod, you want more of a “hippie” look. Twins Mary Kate and Ashley are two people who are photographed often. Both sometimes dress in a Bohemian style. Sienna Miller is another. Looking at photos of celebrities can often help you pick up ideas for perfecting your own Boho style.

Looking back at another generation, Carly Simon’s 1970’s attire had a lot of Bohemian flair.

The best thing about the Bohemian look is that nothing has to “match.” The pieces you choose should layer well and they work together to give you a classy, Boho chic appearance. Think ethnic. Think organic — earthy colors and fabrics. Think relaxed. Think vintage. You’ll have it made and will feel confident shopping for Bohemian style jewelry.

Jewelry Ideas

• Boho Look Necklaces and Bracelets

• Multi Strand Bracelets

Ralph Esmerian, a fourth-generation jeweler, bought luxury retailer Fred Leighton Jewelry in 2006, using jewelry from his family’s collection as part of the collateral for a purchase loan. In September, 2007, Esmerian couldn’t make his loan payment and asked the lender to grant an extension — the request was denied. It’s seven months later and Esmerian’s jewelry is scheduled to be auctioned tomorrow night, April 15th, at Christie’s in New York. The auction house is promoting the sale as Rare Jewels & Gemstones: The Eye of a Connoisseur. Mr. Esmerian contends that the items should be sold privately because they’re worth about twice as much as Christie’s has projected. A New York State Judge turned down his appeal to stop the auction, but the answer to an emergency motion to put the sale on hold should come today. Barring a reversal of the earlier decision, the auction will move forward. Esmerian’s financial woes affect more than his jewelry — some works of art, including pieces promised to museums, are also scheduled to be sold. You can read more about the situation at Bloomberg.com.

3/14 Evening Update: The auction is off — at least temporarily.

We see Fred Leighton jewelry on celebrities all the time. At least a portion of the stacked necklaces Sarah Jessica Parker wore to a recent event were said to be from the company’s collection.

_{2007 Photo of Mira Sorvino and Ralph Esmerian, © Marsaili McGrath / Getty Images}

For many jewelry makers who have dreamed of working with metal but have had nightmares about using the torch, Metal Clay, also called Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and Art Clay, may be their dream come true. However, keep in mind that while you don’t need to use a torch to necessarily solder metals together, it can be helpful to know a little about metal work in order to clean and finish metal clay pieces.

To get started with metal clay, you need a number of basic supplies and equipment. Some of this depends on the clay you pick, however, since different types of metal clay heat at different temperatures. For a few more details about the different types of metal clay available, refer to “What Is Metal Clay?“