twenty ten.

For more information on our hand cut silhouette pendants, please visit our website here.

we get the nicest emails.

A client sent us greetings from her long awaited vacation. As you can see, she expressed her appreciation for our hand-cut fine jewelry.

Thank you Susan for the wonderful note. Glad you love the earrings!

isaac mizrahi cosmopolitan november 09.

Designer and style arbiter, Isaac Mizrahi provides his keys for creating personal style in the fashion editorial, ”Isaac’s Elements of Style” in the November 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. True to form, he delivers his lines with wit and charm, focusing not only on trends but on the creation of a unique and standout style. When talking about when it is appropriate to splurge, Isaac and the editors combine a dress from the Isaac Mizrahi New York Women’s collection with our one of a kind, 18kt gold, fire opal in matrix, cognac diamond ring.

“Knowing when to splurge is an art. There are just two rules: Splurge on the most classic thing in the world - you will have it and cherish it forever. Splurge on the most insane thing in the world. You will have it and cherish it forever.”

We couldn’t agree more.

brenda stowers.

Brenda Stowers was the first retailer to discover me as a fine jewelry designer. Graceful and independent minded, Brenda managed the San Francisco Saks Fifth Avenue fine and designer jewelry departments. Always willing to offer me advice or words of encouragement, she recognized and encouraged the talent of other jewelry designers - many who have become internationally renowned.

We found out that Brenda passed away from cancer just days ago. Since our inception, we have as a company, donated fine jewelry and time to a variety of worthwhile causes including the prevention and cure of cancer.

And suddenly it is personal.

On Saturday we will fundraise and participate in the City of Hope “Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer.” We will walk to honor our mentor, colleague and friend.

Image from here.

the end of summer.

I’ve got a touch of melancholy as summer draws to a close. Even though it doesn’t officially end until September 21 this year, Labor Day was always the signal that the days were getting shorter and that the start of school was around the corner. But the end of something always means the beginning of something new. As a kid, it meant new Saturday morning cartoons and new classmates. And now, it means a new season and new jewelry collections.

Stay tuned for our updates on the latest jewelry designs from Vicente Agor!

the knot, summer 2009.

The Knot magazine featured our 18kt chain and diamond necklace in their Summer 2009 issue. Given its matinee length, the magazine used it as an example of a great necklace for a bride to wear, especially if the she has a higher neckline on her gown. Thank you to the wonderful editorial team at The Knot! 

eunice shriver.

Eunice Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, took a personal life experience and created an organization that now benefits millions of individuals with mental disabilities.

When this visionary passed away, her daughter, Maria Shriver read a eulogy about her mother:

“She took adversity and turned it into advantage. Inspired by the rejection she saw many women face, especially her sister Rosemary and her mother, and other mothers of special children; she turned that into her life’s focus and her life’s passion and mission. Her own brand of what I’d call maternal feminism. She believed 100 percent in the power and the gifts of women to change the language, the tempo, and the character of this world.”

Personally, I grew up with two sisters and several mentors throughout my professional life were women. As a result of listening, talking, watching and growing up with these women, I gained an insight and respect for the complex choices that a modern woman must face. It is one of the reasons why as a jewelry design company, our mythical muse - the person we design for - is a smart, remarkable and empowered woman. A woman who understands that femininity and brains are not mutually exclusive.

The beautiful eulogy describes a daughter’s love for her mother and the love expressed in return.  Though it is obviously a personal homage, it a relevant read for women and men.  For me, it serves as an inspirational reminder that it is okay to be different, to think different, to do the best and be the best. I invite you to read the tribute in its entirety here.  Rest in peace, Mrs. Shriver.

Image from eunicekennedyshriver.org

Update: As I was posting this entry, I learned that her brother, Ted Kennedy passed away. Condolences to the Kennedy family.