Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer

Website: http://www.claudiaendler.com
Claudia Endler is a passionate devotee of modern jewelry, art, architecture, design, and self-expression. “Ever since I was little you could not drag me away from jewelry store windows.” As the designer and owner of Claudia Endler Designs, a premier Los Angeles modern jewelry design house, she indulges in her passion by conceiving contemporary jewelry creations that combine elements of modern art, graphic design, and modern architecture.

With over a decade of advising hundreds of couples on their dream engagement ring and/or wedding band designs, Claudia is a veritable Fairy Godmother of Engagements. Featured in numerous bridal publications such as Brides, Modern Bride, L.A. Brides, Inside Weddings and Ceremony Magazines, Claudia Endler Designs’ blend of high fashion and architectural elements makes it a chic choice for the bride and groom alike.

Claudia is often asked to speak and write about fashion and wedding trends, and she is a recipient of various design awards, including the 2009 Phyllis Morris Award in Design. Her designs occupy the private collections of some of L.A.’s top cultural leaders, including museum curators, architects, gallery directors, artists, and other jewelry designers.

To view her collections and learn more about Claudia Endler Designs please visit: http://www.claudiaendler.com

Baroque Pearls

Posted by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer on March 29, 2012

Photo Credit: Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran canvasmag

While many pearl merchants once had the audacity to discard precious Baroque pearls, today, pearl aficionados and brides-to-be are finding perfect imperfection in Mother Nature’s asymmetrical wonders. Baroque pearls, also commonly referred to as cultured freshwater pearls, are among the most unusual and sought after pearls. The pearls are versatile and can complement a host of wedding themes.

Photo Credit: pearl guide

Photo Credit: Ana Cavalhiero

Photo Credit: Mikimoto Pearls

Photo Credit: Mikimoto Pearls

Photo Credit: Laguna Pearl

Baroque pearls are each unique due to the irregular shapes. Instead of getting that perfect sphere, baroque pearls tend to resemble variations of oval and teardrop shapes; although, many of the shapes can also be described as unpredictable. While Baroque pearls have historically been some of the most affordable options for brides on a budget, there is a new wave emerging. South Sea and Tahitian Baroque pearls have become some of the most coveted pearls.

The coronation crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran is an exquisite example of the use of Baroque pearls and one that highlights their elevation in status is found in. Whether your nuptials are all about the details, you’re looking for more organic accents, you want a pearl with edge or you want to channel your inner empress, Baroque pearls might be right for you.

Filed under: Guest Experts, Jewelry & Rings

March 29, 2012 by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer

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Something Blue… Natural Blue Diamonds

Posted by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer on March 6, 2012

Photo Credit: NCDIA

Natural colored diamonds have always held a special fascination for me. They are extremely rare and also carry a price tag commensurate. Blue is the coolest color – the color of the sky, ocean, sleep, twilight. A pure blue is the color of inspiration, sincerity and spirituality. What makes diamonds blue are very trace amounts of boron. In the latest news for blue diamonds, in December of 2011 a 4.8 carat piece of rough, uncut blue diamond, at the Cullinan mine in South Africa sold for more than $1.45 million which is more than $300,000 a carat.

Photo Credit: Bulgari

The most expensive per-carat blue diamond ever sold is The “Bvlgari Blue,” a ring composed of a 10.95-carat triangular-cut, fancy vivid blue diamond, and a 9.87-carat triangular-cut diamond, sold at a Christie’s auction in October 2010. The ring had an estimate of over $12 million and brought in $15.7 million, making it the top jewel sold at auction in 2010. The ring was created by design house Bvlgari in 1972 and sold by a collector who had bought it as a gift for his wife after the birth of their first child.

Photo Credit: Sotheby's

The Sotheby’s blue diamond has 6.04 carats and it is mounted in a superb ring that was sold in a Hong Kong exhibition at the amazing price of $7.98 million.

Photo Credit: NCDIA facebook

Photo Credit: NCDIA facebook

Photo Credit: Wittelsbach-Graff diamond

For many of us the natural blue diamond is unattainable. Luckily there are heat treatments that permanently change the color of a white diamond to blue giving them a more approachable price point.

A subject to explore in another blog..in the meantime a girl can dream…sweetly!

Filed under: Guest Experts, Jewelry & Rings

March 6, 2012 by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer

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South Seas and Tahitian Pearls

Posted by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer on February 2, 2012

photo: Mikimoto Pearls

South Sea and Tahitian pearls are great alternatives to classic pearls. Both types of pearls are exotic and are perfect for tropical destination weddings by the beach. While the most common Tahitian color is black (or a yummy chocolate hue), the pearls also come in silver-white, green and peacock colors, purplish and bluish overtones. Tahitian pearls get their bold color from the oyster’s black lips and come the French Polynesian Islands. I recently saw a strand of pistachio green matched pearls which takes years to collect a matching set therefore the price tag goes along with the rarity.

photo: Mastoloni

photo: Adam Neeley Designs

photo: Mastoloni

photo: Aetleier Marisa

Tahitian pearls are so coveted that in the early part of the 20^th century, the pearl was close to extinction; like today, the pearl was such a desired commodity that the oysters were hunted for their shells alone.

photo: Mastoloni

www.neelastro.com

Cultured South Sea pearls are found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, in places like Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. A truly grand pearl, the South Sea pearl is among the largest pearls found in the world; the average size of a South Sea pearl is 13 mm. The size of the mollusk (Pinctada maxima), the length of time the pearl grows in the oyster and the oyster’s environment all contribute to the pearl’s exceptional size. The pearl’s size is only to be rivaled in color, ranging from ivory and yellow to a silver-pink,. Australia’s silver-lipped oyster produces creamy white pearls with a silvery overtone. The golden-lipped variety of the Philippines creates one of the rarest and most valued cultured pearls. The Golden South Sea.

If you want to be a more infinitely modern bride, why not indulge! Both types of pearls can add instant edge to a bridal look of luxury while retaining the sophistication of a pearl.

Filed under: Guest Experts, Jewelry & Rings

February 2, 2012 by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer

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Pearls of Wisdom

Posted by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer on November 22, 2011

photo credit: Elzwear

Pearls are a natural choice for brides looking for timeless elegance. Unlike diamonds and other stones, pearls do not have to be cut and polished to perfection, they grow into it on their own. For bridal, many gravitate toward the pale creamy or white colors.

photo credit: Lucie Campbell

photo credit: Lucie Campbell

Pearls embody nature’s beauty, mystery and magic. Even “The Birth of Venus”, the goddess of love, has the same course as a pearl. The Latin word for pearl means “unique”. The pearl has been a prized piece for nobility across time and cultures from Queen Elizabeth to Chinese emperors. Pearls are perfect for a bride looking to add a touch of elegance to their ensemble.

Photo Credit: found on ShecyPearlJewelry

While very unique, pearls complement and enhance the beauty of other stones and garments with ease. Kate Middleton, or the Duchess of Cambridge, chose to accent her royal wedding dress with pearl buttons. The Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara showcases the brilliance of stunning drop-sized pearls next to diamonds.
Pearls are great as bridal jewelry worn on your wedding day adorning your neck, earrings or even a tiara studded with pearls.

photo credit: Ana Cavalheiro Jewelry

photo credit: Mikimoto

photo credit: mikimoto

photo credit: Claudia Endler Designs

Why settle for being the “Girl with the Pearl Earring” when you could be draped in them from head to toe on your wedding day – that’s my pearl of wisdom for you brides-to-be!

Filed under: Guest Experts, Jewelry & Rings

November 22, 2011 by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer

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Shades Of Brown

Posted by Claudia Endler, Modern Jewelry Designer on November 8, 2011

Photo Credit: Hyde Park Jewelers

We can choose to see our world in shades of grey or how about shades of brown? From Pastels: Cinnamon (pinkish-orangish brown), Champagne (yellowish brown), Chocolate (pure brown) to Dark and Deep: Cognac (greenish-orangish-yellowish brown, Honey (yellowish-orangish brown), Clove (olive brown), the Brown diamond is a growing trend as the variety offers an intriguing choice for the contemporary bride. Intensities of color vary from fancy light brown to the rich dark brown and are color graded differently from colorless diamonds.

Photo Credit: Levian

Photo Credit: LeVian

Photo Credit: Ralph Gabriner for Alexandra Hart designer/goldsmith

Photo Credit: Robert Weldon Glad for Alexandra Hart designer/goldsmith

Champagne diamonds, on the lighter scale of the brown diamond color family are a real treat. Champagne diamonds are one of Mother Nature’s most unique creations; only one in 10,000 diamonds will be a champagne color. They are also only found in Australia, Africa and Siberia. These diamonds are so prized that the King of Thailand was gifted the largest faceted diamond in the world for his 50th year coronation. Dubbed the Golden Jubilee, the ring weighs an amazing 545.67 carats.

Photo Credit: famousdiamonds.tripod.com

Hollywood royalty cannot resist the allure of champagne diamonds either. Maria Menounos was spotted draped in a Randi Rahm haute champagne dress full of 3,000 carats of champagne diamonds. Let the fire and passion of your love be captured forever in a champagne diamond – let’s raise our sparkling champagne glass and toast to that.