Pearls Before Swine » Treasure Chest

Golden ring with Rutilated Rock Crystal

Els Van Schoor — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 18:45:20 +0000

It’s very dangerous to take your wife to the precious stone wholesaler’s. I think, this must have been the conclusion my husband made when he left this store whith me, smiling because of our rock crystal catch, by his side. I joined him because of pure curiosity and started browsing the hundreds of translucent rectangular little boxes padded with white little matrasses in which all these gems and precious stones rested. To me, it had the atmosphere of a magical nursery. Long story short: I went crazy. The craze was completely on, when I discovered this rock crystal stone with inclusions of Rutile. The resemblance with blonde cut-off hair inside the transpant stone simply drove me out of my mind.

Rutile is the most common form of titanium dioxide and well known for its habit of forming needle-like inclusions within other minerals, especially Quartz, in the form of long and slender yellow straw-like crystals. These inclusions can range from scattered needles to dense parallel fibers within a host mineral. A well-known form of Rutile is in the form of dense golden-yellow needles of Quartz included within transparent, colorless Quartz. This interesting combination is known as Rutilated Quartz, and is used both as a collectors mineral and gemstone. The name Rutile is derived from the Latin “Rutilus”, in reference to a common color habit of this mineral.

Pieter designed a graphic golden ring to make this stone radiate. Subtle, though, because of its size, quite a statement.

Golden Nails

Els Van Schoor — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:36:36 +0000

Done by Gabriella Cambula at Nail Couture 43. I was looking for a match with my new golden ring with lapis lazuli stone. The ring is made and given to me by my husband, Pieter Nulens, for our 4th wedding anniversary and our being together for 7 years. Lapis is a deep blue semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. This oval cut stone is mottled with brassy pyrite, which gives the impression of a subtle golden glitter veil. It was this golden glitter that inspired me to ask for a yellow golden ring to sustain it. Hence the golden nails. The shape of the nails is specified as “squoval”, its an horrible term, but inescapably correct.

Picture by Cristina de la Madera.

Silver charm bracelet

Els Van Schoor — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:11:16 +0000

This charm bracelet was a birthday present from my best friend Ines a year ago. It hasnt left my wrist ever since. She developed the idea and design together with my husband Pieter. On the first charm you can see the letter “I” from -guess three times- Ines with the letter “E” on its lovely behind.

If you think this post is taking you on a sentimental journey already, I have to warn you for what’s coming next. She also gave Lili, my daughter, a small version of this bracelet, since she is her godchild. On her first charm are engraved the letters “I” and “L”. You can imagine Lili’s radiating little face while wearing the same bracelet as her mummy when we are having a party or special event. Especially, since she realizes that she got it from her favourite “Tantinés”.

Ines intended the charm to be filled with other charms that remind us of special places step-by-step, but, to be honest, I like it very much as it is right know. In fact, I liked it so much, that I gave her and Michelle, her little daughter and my godchild, the same set half a year later. The only difference are the letters “E” and “M” on Michelles bracelet.

I got so many positive reactions, that Pieter is planning to create a whole new collection based on this jewel. The concept is still top secret, though

Pink gold ring with moonstone

Els Van Schoor — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:58:45 +0000

The story behind this sweetheart is a little less romantic than those behind my other jewels. My husband is creating a series of somewhat bigger rings, based on large gemstones. This is one of them, intended to be a prototype. Pieter is maybe even more a perfectionist than I am, which made him decide that he doesnt want to sell the ring because of a little flaw in one of the eight little trebles holding the moonstone. I can hardly see the little flaw and I wear the ring on a weekly basis. Nobody ever noticed it, even if I tell them it is there. This christmas, he will adorn my outfit once again.

This is a 18k pink golden ring. It contains a pink moonstone and two diamonds on the sides.

Picture by Stany Dederen

Blonde necklace

Els Van Schoor — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:32:07 +0000

This 18K yellow golden necklace is pure advertising for my hair and make-up business, Blonde. The Blonde logo is inspired by Ines Borgonjons handwriting, my Blonde companion until this summer. I wear the necklace almost all the time, on the job and in my free time. Pieter made it on my demand, about five years Continue Reading

Bouquet ring

Els Van Schoor — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:34:53 +0000

I got this ring, made by my husband Pieter Nulens, from my mum and dad for my 30th birthday. For me, this was a very special occasion, a milestone in my life. It seemed at that point like everything fell into place. I got married the year before, our daughter Lili was born a month before, and there I was, thirty and being settled and all. I suddenly felt like a lady, the missus, with a giant ring around my finger.

This is a 18K palladium white golden ring, with tourmaline, sapphires and brown diamonds. On the underside, there are 4 hearts forming the structure in whitch the gems are placed.