Hello Honora Fans!  You may know me from Honora’s Facebook page from the Nic’s Pick’s posts where I choose a new color or style that I love every week.  For those of you who may not know me, I’m Nicole!  I work in Honora’s main office and am a big pearl fan.  One of my favorite perks of working here is trying on and playing with all of the newest pearl jewelry that L’array and Julie are creating.  Since you guys seem to enjoy Nic’s Pick’s we thought it was time to take it to the “next level”, so be sure to check back as I will be posting monthly on all things fashion!

Making sure you guys get the most out of your pearls is so important to us here at Honora, so today I want to talk about getting more out of longer pearl necklaces.  If you are like me, versatility is super important and you want to get the most out of the clothes and accessories you buy.  One of my favorite lengths is 54”, I want to show you just some of the many ways this can be worn:

It can be worn once around for a dramatic effect that really elongates the torso.

You can also “double up” longer pearl necklaces, or even triple them for a great layered look.

A fun “throw back” to the 1920’s is taking the pearl rope and knotting it around the midpoint.

If you have a pearl shortener you can torsade a necklace by holding it at both ends and twisting it, and using the shortener to clasp it.

I personally have taken one of these longer pearl necklaces and worn it so it hangs down my back like the famous photograph of Coco Chanel shown at the start of this post.  This was answered by rave reviews from friends at a formal New Years Eve party.

Whatever the look you are going for, whether it’s formal or fashion, longer pearl necklaces are the perfect way to make a statement.  It really doesn’t matter if I am just running errands or going to a gala, I love experimenting with these longer looks.  Let me know what you think in the comments section, which look is your favorite?  Have you tried something I didn’t think of?  Tune in next month or subscribe to The Honora Blog for pearl fashion tips and be sure to check out my weekly Nic’s Pick over on Facebook!

One my favorite new pieces from our upcoming "snake-inspired" collection!

Hey Fans and Friends! It’s time for our third get together!  Last blog I teased you with a few new pearl jewelry concepts we are working on.   It only seems fair that I show you some pictures to make sure I get your full attention this time around!  As I mentioned in my previous post, I am seriously distracted by all of the animal prints showing up on the Fall Runways!  With that in mind, I want to give you a peek at our snakeskin themed group today.  I want to call it ‘Upscale’ (get it? Scale?) or we can go with Ralph’s suggestion of the ‘Cobra Collection’.

How about we let you decide! Please let me know your preference for ‘Upscale’ or ‘Cobra’ on the poll at the bottom of this post.

Anyway, as you know from our signature Pallini, Floral and new Cobblestone pearl jewelry collections, Honora is great at producing silver with intricate patterns and textures.  Sometimes we use oxidation to accent these engraved lines and give a lot of depth to the surface, sometimes the background is left matte and the surface shiny to show off the detail.  This time around I thought, “Why don’t we play off fall fashion with a fun texture like they’re showing on the latest boots and bags?”  All kinds of critters have also been popular of late and we chose the snake. Some pieces will just surround one of our unique Freshwater Pearl beauties with a subtle snake skin texture while others are will be a little more illustrative of the creature as a whole with curving sterling tails and garnets for eyes.

A sneak peak at some of the designs you can expect from this new collection!

Okay, okay, I know some of you are squeamish about these fabulous reptiles. I can just hear my mother recoiling as she reads this latest installment! The truth is the snake really gets a bad rap.  He has suffered from bad publicity since he showed up uninvited in Adam and Eve’s garden, and convinced Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Really, does one deceitful creature ruin things forever for the entire species?!  Aside from that tragic story the snake has been known in different cultures around the world as a symbol of fertility, birth, and eternity. He’s  been linked to Mother Earth, credited for sustainable crops and has often stood for wisdom.  A pretty impressive resume, huh?

We hope we’ve done this infamous reptile some justice (and maybe even helped to improve their reputation) by pairing him with our beloved pearls. The collection of pearl jewelry has something for everyone (we hope!) in that it offers subtle hints of skin for a more conservative customer to over the top fashion coil bracelets for those daring ladies who appreciate making a statement.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peak, let me know in the comments and I just might show you guys some more next month!  Don’t forget to vote in the poll below for the collection name, I need your help to get my name over Ralph’s!  If you have a better suggestion, please leave it in the comments section for us to debate.  Thanks as always for indulging me.

Your Girl with the Pearls,
Julie

While we always do our best to help you to learn more about Freshwater Pearls, nothing beats hearing it directly from our CEO, Joel Schechter.  Joel was one of the first to see the potential in these astounding Cultured Pearls back when they were only available in the small low quality shapes we lovingly called “Rice Crispies”.  This video is a little longer than the Honora TV episodes that we usually post , but we wanted to offer you the same video that we created for our retail partners to help them to better understand what goes into creating our pearl jewelry.

If you have 8 minutes to spare,  Joel can teach you a lot about the qualities that draw everyone here at Honora to Freshwater Cultured Pearls.  He helps you to understand everything from how these pearls are grown, to learning about the pearl colors and even takes you behind-the-scenes at a Freshwater Pearl Farm in China.  Joel even goes out of his way to explain why these pearls are so affordable.  It is a true beginners course that focuses entirely on Freshwater and a must watch for anyone who truly loves these astounding gemstones!

If you prefer text, you can also check out our Freshwater Pearls Made Simple series (new posts coming soon!), it is a great way to get to know these pearls a little at a time.  We hope you enjoy the video and feel free to leave any questions you might have in the comments section.  We will be sure to answer them here or in future posts!  We would also appreciate it if you would let us know what you thought of this video.  Is this something you would like to see more of here on The Honora Blog?

As those of you who received our monthly newsletter already know, almost everyone in the office is working frantically on the annual trade show in Las Vegas. It’s the countdown to JCK and the whole industry is scrambling to wrap up their new collections and to unveil them to the world.  The Design department, on the other hand, is a very different story.  While everyone else is focused on the now, we are already living in the future working out collections for 2011! It should be nice and quiet here next week…

What will be different at Honora next year? While we are just starting to work on this, I can tell you that we are looking to infuse more metal into the line alongside our popular pearl color mixes.  The past few years we have focused on creating our exclusive colored pearls, now we are ready to take this to the next level.  One of our thoughts for 2011 are to expand upon the popularity of these strands by adding sterling silver designs and gemstones to differentiate the line.

Just to get you thinking, here is what what we’re inspired by so far….

• Honora’s heritage: learning all about the company is inspiring me to design a collection that celebrates Honora’s history in the industry, we are after all heading into our 64th year!  Retire at 65?!  I think not!  We are just getting started!  The goal of this signature collection is to take traditional Honora elements that you know and love and present them in a fresh way.  Think modern classic.
• I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely crazy for Coin pearls! What a sophisticated shape! I love how smooth they are and how they lay perfectly flat against the skin. We are toying with the idea of complimenting these unique beauties with coordinating semi precious stones.
• Summer’s coming and I know I should be out looking for deals on swimwear, but the magazines are already showing Fall runway and I can’t help but be inspired by the wild new accessories! Croco, python, leopard, oh my!  I have a sneaking suspicion that something sexy will slither its way into Honora for 2011. These luxury materials easily translate to exciting new textures for sterling (& way more animal friendly in case you were worried!)
• There’s no time like Honora time! Never miss Ralph and Joel on QVC again! The girls and I are are working to make Honora one to “watch” as the design team plays up some ideas that really “tick”!

Ok, that’s enough top secret info for the moment.  Let me know which of these concepts you are most excited to see come to life in the comments section.  Perhaps I can arrange a sneak peek next month… tune in next time!  Your Girl with the Pearls – Julie

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York (Canarsie to be exact) and started making jewelry at a young age. My family belonged to the Seaview Pool for 3 years, all of which I hated- except for 5pm when the day camp would close and I would scrounge around under their picnic tables and find beads that dropped into the sand. I would collect them, take them home and wash them off, then sort them in Hot Wheels carrying cases- quite a process! Not only did that keep me busy for hours (when I could have been fighting with my brother) I was also producing stuff my mom would wear, so she was pretty happy!

I first heard of the High School of Art & Design through a friend’s older brother, I knew I had to go there! No, it’s not “the Fame school” (Laguardia) there was no dancing in the hallways- just design.  My best friend Renee introduced me to Sculpey modeling compound and Canal Street plastics.  I was making jewelry out of acrylic and beads as well as keys, bottle caps, nail polish, nuts and bolts from my dad’s garage- anything that wasn’t nailed down.  After graduating A&D as an illustration major I entered Syracuse University’s Metalsmithing program. I learned soldering, casting, wax carving and other bench working basics as well as doing a semester abroad in Florence.

I began working right after college for a few family run businesses like Erickson Beamon, Robert Rose, and Michael Anthony. I then started working for larger companies and designed for Nine West Jewelry and Avon. I can definitely say my varied experiences in different facets of the industry have led me to the right place- here with you!

I look forward to blogging with you on a monthly basis. I would like to use this platform to preview new ideas and get your (honest) feedback. I’ll also be giving you a behind the scenes account of what we’re working on, inspiration we’ve found, upcoming shows and places we’ve gone all in the name of pearls! Most importantly our conversations will keep you up to date with what’s coming next for Honora (before all the other kids see it!!!) and keep me up to date with what you really want from Honora. Please be encouraged to leave requests in the comments section, I promise I will read them!

See you next month!  Your Girl With the Pearls, Julie

To celebrate the launch of The Sunrise Collection and our upcoming Pearl Harvest shows on QVC, we are holding a contest for a chance to win a Sterling Silver 8-9MM Baroque Sunrise Collection 36″ Necklace.  Click here to enter into the contest and be sure to share the news! If we get to 3000 fans on the Honora Facebook Fan Page, Joel and Ralph are going to double the prize and offer a second necklace to members of our mailing list (by entering this contest, you automatically join that list).

See our newest collection of pearl jewelry and let us know what you think of Sunrise in the comments section.  To learn more about our April 3rd and 4th Pearl Harvest shows on QVC, check out our latest post on our QVC Blog.

[If you cannot see the video, click here]

Women are constantly worried about finding the perfect occasion to wear their Honora pearl jewelry. So in this week’s episode, we hope to show you the time and place is anytime and anywhere!

Join Honora TV Host, Anna Swanson and Special Guest, Costume Designer Michael Bevins, as they compliment a wide range of outfits with Honora’s Freshwater Pearls.  Whether its casual or formal, never be intimidated to incorporate Pearls into your everyday wardrobe. Then, in the second half of this episode, watch as a single strand of Honora Freshwater Pearls is magically transformed into a one-piece-suits-all-occasions accessory!

Let us know how you mix and match your pearl jewelry and outfits in the comments section and keep an eye out for brand-new episodes of Honora TV.

Anna Swanson – Host

Sterling Silver Denim Baroque Freshwater Pearl 36″ Necklace – HN1360DEN36
Sterling Silver Denim Coin Freshwater Pearl 36″ Necklace – HN1298DEN36
Sterling Silver Denim Baroque Freshwater Pearl 36″ Necklace - LN4193DEN3

Robin DeMarco – Guest

Sterling Silver Onyx and Freshwater Pearl 60″ Necklace – LN5459WB60
Sterling Silver White Freshwater Pearl Hoop Earrings – LE4800WH

Emily Morse – Guest

Sterling Silver Black Freshwater Pearl Ring – LR3605BL
Sterling Silver Black Freshwater Pearl Pendant – LR3910BL
Sterling Silver Black Freshwater Pearl Earring – LE4355BL

Beth Murphy – Guest

Sterling Silver Black Keshi Freshwater Pearl 36″ Necklace – From the “Make Your Own Pearl” section of The Honora Store

All the Guests -

Baroque Freshwater Pearl 125″ Ropes – Various Colors

This image depicts the words that most commonly appeared in all of your stories!

I really want to thank everyone who shared their touching stories for the “Nic Picks Your Most Romantic Story Contest”, I truly enjoyed reading each and every one!!!  Whether it was a friend, a spouse or family member, each story centered around one of my favorite themes, LOVE. As usual, everyone who shared made it impossible to pick a winner, as each story so romantic in its own way.  I really connected with Margaret Motto’s story about Jim and her sister Anne.  I love how fate brought them together in the end even though they had been right in front of each other the whole time.  I hope you all enjoy their’s story as much as I did (and Margaret, I hope you LOVE your new necklace!  Be sure to share it with Anne from time to time!).

In the Fall of 1998 my mother, a teacher, was assigned to hall duty during 7th period. A young man teaching 4th grade happened to have 7th period free as well and socialized with her in the hall. She had been his teacher years prior and having gone from teacher and student to then colleauges presented an interesting relationship. My mother would say to him ” you’re such a nice guy, why don’t you have a girlfriend”. He replied that in our small town there were not a lot of eligible ladies. My mother said “I have a daugher coming home from college for Christmas”.  It was all set. Jim, the younger teacher had been given the daughter’s phone number and the rest was “up to him”.
December 23, 1998 Anne, having arrived via train from college earlier in the day, was eating dinner with her family when the phone rang. Anne, the youngest, knew the call was coming and in hopes to avoid the ears of her siblings took the call in a quiet room. They talked for 45 minutes in which Jim asked Anne for a date on the day after Christmas and to a concert a month later. Anne was surprised that this guy was so eager to spend time with her when they had not even met, but she was excited and the anticipation of meeting him filled her for the next few days.
On December 26 Jim picked Anne up in the early afternoon. They spent a 2 hour car ride together talking easily as they drove to their destination. Jim planned a view from a lighthouse as the sunset, dinner at a nice restaurant, and a place with live music to top off the night. They returned to Anne’s house at midnight and continued to stay up talking until 3 am. The date lasted over 10 hours and they had not run out of conversation.

There was this feeling inside them that they were meant to be together. The conversation was easy but fruitful. The attraction to the whole person was there and they kept saying to themselves that it was uncanny that Anne’s mother had introduced them. And more surprising having grown up in the same small town and attended rival high schools they had many friends in common but had never met.

In July of 2003 Anne and Jim marry. In September of 2009 they welcomed their son, Samuel into the world. In June of 2009 Anne’s mother retired from teaching and in her retirement speach she thanked the school for having given her a job for so many years, the joy of the staff and the students and giving her a son-in-law she loves very much. She said in her speach – you never know when your destiny is putting people in your life or situations in front of you to prompt you to unite with what was always meant to be.

While Anne’s mother did the “matchmaking” Anne and Jim believe that their meeting was predetermined Divinely. And, they have the proof.   June of 1997, a year and 6 months before their first date Jim attended a party at a friend’s house. It was the last day of school for Jim and the end of his first year as a teacher. A photograph from that night has Jim standing with his arms in the air on his friend’s backyard patio. His smile fills the picture.   And underneath his right arm, sitting on a bench not too far away, is Anne.   As a gift to Anne, Jim framed the photo and gave it to her as a wedding gift because he said he wanted her to know that she was his destiny.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to share their stories with us and I cannot wait for the next Nic Pick’s You Contest here on The Honora Blog.  Let us know what you think of Jim and Anne’s story below and feel free to share your own in the comments section!

I cannot wait to read your entries and may even be inspired to share my own!  Don’t worry if this has nothing to do with our Freshwater Pearls, we just really would love to hear your own romantic story.  As it has been a while since our last contest, we have something special for the winner!  The author of my favorite story will receive one of our newest Cherry pieces, a 13-14MM Coin Freshwater Pearl 36″ Necklace valued at $490 MSRP that is pictured in this post.  This item is so new, that it isn’t even featured on our Pearl Jewelry Collection pages yet!

Please tell us your story in the comments section below to ensure that you are entered into the contest.  We will accept entries through Wednesday, February 17th and I will feature the winner and their romantic story here on The Honora Blog the very next day.  If you haven’t joined us on our Facebook Fan Page, be sure to check it out and be on the lookout for my weekly pics!  I am looking forward to a difficult decision!

This evocative color collection of Cultured Pearls felt like the perfect way to start the new year.  Our Sr. Merchandising Manager, Larry Lippert, “L’array”, who creates our color combinations, had this to say, “Denim is center-stage in fashion again and I wanted to work with our newest blue tones to make a statement, even when dressing casually.”

We think you will love the 8-9 MM selection featured in our NY Times ad.  You can click here to see our entire selection of Blue Moon designs on our Collections Page.  These items are available now at our retail store on Madison Avenue and at your local authorized Honora dealer.

You can always reach us for more information by calling us at 212.308.8707, emailing us at retail57@honora.com or go to our Where to Buy page for your local retailer.