One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about writing this blog has been the opportunity to connect with jewellers and designers who have reached out to me. Silvia Taveira emailed me with a photo of these earrings, and news that she is about to open her own site featuring her designs. Initially involved in business, she was entranced by jewellery and obtained a diploma from the Gemological Institute of America.

She notes, “I also create one of a kind, made-to-order, jewels and I help friends and customers assemble a very personal “treasure chest” to enhance their own style because, on top of being a good investment, a well chosen piece of jewelry is the ultimate fashion accessory.

“My background as the daughter of an artist – my father is an architect -opened my eyes to the beauty of color and the importance of good design. My mother’s love for literature also rubbed on me, big time. And being Portuguese turned me into an addict to sunlight and the sea. All this affect my choices when I design a piece of jewelry. I like to use smoky quartz with yellow gold, for example, because it suggests the sand, sun and tanned skin on the beach during the summer. Or peridot on yellow gold: the color of grass under the sunlight.”

Taveira has a wonderful jewellery blog, and her jewellery site goes live April 15.

But back to the jewels at hand … these are made of 18k, diamonds and briolette moonstones, and she sells them for 1.550€.