I’m not used to quality jewelry.  I’m used to artsy, showy, cheaper (plastic & glass) jewelry.  I’ve always worn creative pieces that are fun to wear and almost always get noticed.

 

I spent yesterday morning with one of my jewelry designers working on our first piece.  Her natural style is more conservative than mine.  She has an eye for color and works with top quality materials, including Swarovski Crystals – they’re from Austria and apparently world-renown for their quality.   I didn’t think I would’ve known a crystal from a piece of glass, but these crystals, even in their little plastic boxes, were each very pretty little pieces of shine.

 

We had time to half-finish an idea of a necklace together, and had enough of the gist of it that she was able to put a clasp on it so I could put it on and walk around with it on for a few days.

 

When I got home, I put on a plain white top so the necklace would be the star.  It’s funny, if I had seen this piece in a store next to something cheaper and flashier and artsier – I probably would’ve gravitated towards the second.

 

But when I put this necklace on……

 

For someone who’s used to wearing the cheaper jewelry, I had no idea what crystals did.  Pretty plastic next to simple crystals.  It’s like the difference between a grown woman with perfect make-up next to a 10-year-old with perfect skin.  Nothing can compete with natural oiliness, freshness and fat content.

 

The plastic and glass pieces I’ve always worn have always been very pretty – nice colors, interesting designs.  But each of these tiny little crystals picked up the light, like little individual diamonds – it was like I had this radiant, magical strand around my neck.

   

I wore it into work at the studio, feeling expensive and radiant with all that power and shine around my neck, but no one noticed – at least, no one said anything.  That bothered me a little.  I’m going to continue wearing it over the weekend.   But I know there’s still work to be done.  It’s a work-in-progress.