Nature’s untouched masterpiece

When dawn breaks in the Maldives, the Indian Ocean is already warm enough to swim in. During my six-month stay in this island paradise, my morning routine was almost always the same: as the sky ripened, I would take my snorkelling gear, prepped the night before, down to the beach.

The water’s embrace never failed to make me feel as though I was at home. Peeking below the surface, I would feast my eyes a brilliant subterranean world: shoals of orange clownfish, multicoloured parrotfish, iron-grey manta rays, crimson starfish, multicolored corals and more. Nothing else ever came close to that initial rush of seeing such a community thrive beneath my feet. Most days, I would see the same shark darting between pastel-coloured coral ledges as it hunted for food. Then there was the island’s resident turtle, with whom I shared a special bond. I christened her Sophie. Whenever I spotted her, it would remind of the time I spent in Sri Lanka helping baby turtles to hatch and releasing them into the sea to become part of nature’s cycle. More often than not she would approach me, and I would reach out and stroke her shell, and in response she would bob from side to side. It is the kind of priceless experience only a natural environment can provide. I would also spend time marvelling at the conches, clams, snails and mussels that lined the seabed. These are creatures I’ve been fascinated with since childhood. Their magnificent shells are equal parts robust and delicate – much like my own jewellerycreations. After a morning of exploration, I would reluctantly swim back to shore, lie on the soft sand and dry out under the sun. And while my footprints in the sand would disappear the next time the tide came in, I knew my impressions of this place will last a lifetime.

I wake, pack my rucksack and head out at dawn. My jeep rattles along mud tracks and through puddles of water that lie on the ground like mirrors. Morning mist winds around tree trunks, insects call out in a thousand musical voices, and multicoloured spiders craft intricate silver webs. I pull over and take photos, envisaging a collection of bracelets that allow the wearer to feel a connection with this place – and with their ancient self who once called a place like this home. Then I continue on, deeper into the forest, where dappled sunlight gilds the great green leaves – Monstera, banana, orchid – as they dip towards the earthy track. More visions, this time of delicate gold-en earrings that replicate nature’s works of art.

Fühlt ihr auch diese starke Sehnsucht, das Kribbeln und die kaum zu bändigende Lust auf den Frühling? Auf den jährlichen Neuanfang, mit dem die Natur uns immer wieder beschenkt und mit einem Spektakel an Farben und Düften zelebriert? Geniesst ihr auch jeden noch so kleinen Sonnenstrahl, der sich auf eurer Haut verirrt hat und räkelt euch danach wie (Sonnen-) Süchtige? Gelingt euch das Aufstehen am Morgen nicht auch schon viel besser, da es mit Vogelgesang begleitet wird? - Nun, wir von MYGLITTERSTORY können uns kaum halten vor Vorfreude auf einen prachtvollen Frühling!

Apropos, wusstet ihr, dass die Neuauferstehung der Natur von einem winzig kleinen Insekt, nämlich der Biene, abhängt? Ein Schwarm dieser kleinen und durchaus arbeitstüchtigen Tierchen können auf ihrer Suche nach Nektar bis zu 20 Millionen Blüten an einem Tag mit Pollen bestäuben! Schon Albert Einstein hat die Wichtigkeit der Bienen erkannt und prophezeit, dass wenn die Bienen einmal von der Erde verschwinden würden, der Mensch nur noch vier Jahre zu leben hätte. Und wusstet ihr schon, dass Honig eine heilende Wirkung bei beispielsweise Hals- oder Hautproblemen hat? Ausserdem sagt man ihm nach, dass er mittels Selbsttherapie mit Honig aus der eigenen Region Heuschnupfen effektiv beseitigen kann. Beeindruckend, nicht wahr?

Wir finden, dass all dies Grund genug ist, die Biene zu feiern und zu lieben! Deswegen haben wir uns entschlossen, dieser kleinen Kreatur eine unserer Kollektionen zu widmen. Von Ringen bis zu Halsketten könnt ihr einiges finden, um euch euren ganz eigenen Bienchenschwarm zuzutun - it can bee yours. Be(e) a queen and feel loved! Bee(you)tiful...

P.s. Gibt es unter euch auch richtige Bienchenfanatiker? Dann empfehlen wir euch das Buch "Die Geschichte der Bienen" von Maja Lunde. Viel Spass damit!

Winter can be tough. As the mornings get darker and the streets icier, I sometimes find myself longing for the bright sunshine and soft breezes of spring. But there’s still plenty to enjoy at this time of year, from delicious hot chocolate to elegant knitwear and sparkling festive gemstones – and the long dark evenings make a cosy night in at home all the more tempting.

And then there’s Christmas! Who doesn’t love this festival of glittering lights, fairytale magic, and goodwill to the world? The preparations keep everyone busy, whether you’re venturing out into the snow to haul home a tree, cooking up fragrant mulled wine and spicy gingerbread in the kitchen, or stuffing stockings with oranges. Not to mention the presents – as long as you’ve been good this year, of course! Meanwhile, Christmas parties are the perfect opportunity to show off your unique style with dazzling statement jewellery.

I love Christmas, but thinking about my favourite traditions made me wonder – how do other countries celebrate this time of year? Well, it turns out that if you’re from Denmark, you don’t even have to wait until Christmas Day for your presents: lots of people receive advent gifts all the way through December! And while decorating the Christmas tree is my favourite part of the holiday, other countries do things a bit differently – Australia has a ‘Christmas bush’, and palm trees are also popular in hotter climates. And, naturally, nothing beats the US for sheer variety: from a Christmas tree made of tumbleweed in Arizona toa light display in a cave in Kentucky, this country really has it all.

But no matter where you celebrate, from the sunny Australian beaches to the snowy wilds of Alaska, one thing’s for certain: Christmas is definitely the most magical time of the year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU,

Alexandra Manini and the Steinkult Team

WEIHNACHTEN

Der Winter kann hart sein. Die Vormittage werden dunkler und die Straßen eisiger, manchmal haben ich gar Sehnsucht nach strahlendem Sonnenschein und den sanften Brisen des Frühlings. Aber es gibt auch vieles von dieser Jahreszeit, die die langen dunklen Abende in eine gemütliche Nacht zu Hause verwandeln, wie beispielsweise kuschelige, elegante Strickwaren, romantische Kerzen, eine heisse Schokolade geniessen, das Feuer am Cheminée während draussen beispielsweise ein Schneesturm tobt.

Und dann ist da Weihnachten! Wer liebt es nicht, dieses Fest der glitzernden Lichtern und der Liebe? Die Vorbereitungen halten uns alle beschäftigt, egal ob beim nach Hause schleppen eines Weihnachtsbaumes mitten im Schnee, ob beim Kochen von duftendem Glühwein und würzigem Lebkuchen in der Küche oder beim Dekorieren unseres Hauses. Ganz zu schweigen vom Einkauf der passenden Geschenke für seine Verwandte und Freunde – solange sich alle während des Jahres anständig benommen hatten ;)

Ich liebe Weihnachten, dabei machte ich mir auch Gedanken wie wohl andere Länder diese Zeit des Jahres feiern? Nun, beim Recherchieren stellte sich heraus, dass beispielweise Menschen aus Dänemark gar nicht erst bis zu Weihnachten mit dem Geschenke übergeben warten, sondern sie erhalten die Geschenke im Verlauf des Dezember während des ganzen Advents bis hin zu Weihnachten.

Und während das Schmücken des Weihnachtsbaumes zu einen meiner Lieblingstätigkeiten gehört, so tut man auch dies in anderen Ländern etwas anders: Australien hat einen "Christmas-Busch" und sowohl dort wie auch beispielsweise in Florida schmückt man auch tropische Palmen wunderschön mit Lichtern. Die USA ist wirklich sehr vielfältig: von einem Weihnachtsbaum aus Stroh aus Arizona, wunderschön beleuchtete Wohnviertel im ganzen Land bis hin zu einer Lichtshow in einer Höhle in Kentucky, dieses Land hat wirklich alles.

Aber egal, wo Sie, von den sonnigen australischen Stränden in die verschneite Wildnis von Alaska, eine Sache für bestimmte feiern: Weihnachten ist definitiv die magische Zeit des Jahres.

IHNEN WÜNSCHE ICH VON HERZEN SCHÖNE WEIHNACHTEN,

Alexandra Manini und das ganze Steinkult Team

Choker: der Trend der 90er ist längst bei uns angekommen. Die engen Bänder um den Hals gibt es mittlerweile in den unterschiedlichsten Variationen mit Spitzen, kleinen Steinen verziert oder sogar mit Anhänger daran. Nicht nur junge Mädchen sondern auch gestandene Popdiven und Supermodels tragen diesen Trendschmuck. Was im 15 Jahrhundert bereits seinen Ursprung fand, in den 90er dann einen modischen Trend setzte, ist heut wohl auf dem Höhepunkt angelangt.

Das von uns verkaufte Label Steinkult setzt mit einem einzigartigen Design auf eine trendige Variation von Choker. Der in Gold oder Silber erhältliche Halsschmuck überzeugt durch die einzelnen feinen Glieder, welche mit Steinen verziert sind. Neben dem einzigartigen Halsschmuck gibt es dasselbe Design auch als Armband. Passend dazu findet man unter der Rubrik Resort eine Auswahl an passenden Ohrringen mit dem Muschelsymbol.

Egal ob jung oder alt, blond oder brau, gross oder klein, dieser edle Choker ist ein Schmuckstück für ein vielseitiges Publikum.

Text: Mia Augsburger von www.miaandthemouse.com

Mit diesem roten Stein setzen sie gekonnt das erste Highlight in Richtung Trendfarbe rot. Doch was bedeutet die Farbe eigentlich? Erstens einmal ist rot eine Farbe die auffällt. Wer Kleidungsstücke in dieser Farbe trägt zeigt Selbstbewusstsein zudem lässt die Farbe aber einem auch automatisch selbstbewusster auftreten.

Je nach Anlass ist Rot aber nicht empfehlenswert, da man dadurch einen zu dominanten Eindruck hinterlassen kann. Die Wirkung auf Körper und Geist ist belebend und lässt uns zum handeln motivieren. Neben dem selbstbewussteren Auftreten sagt man der Farbe auch nach, dass sie bei Konzentrationsschwäche oder auch Müdigkeitserscheinungen positiv beeinflussen kann. Dennoch ist es die Farbe der Liebe. Egal ob rote Lippen, die man küssen soll, oder gleichfarbige Nägel, es ist eine Assoziation zur Weiblichkeit.

Andere Länder, andere Sitten, so besagt es das Sprichwort und wenn man die Bedeutung in den verschiedenen Ländern anschaut könnte diese wohl nicht unterschiedlicher sein. Besonders beliebt ist die Farbe ich China, denn sie symbolisiert Glück und Reichtum.

Da der schöne Steinkultschmuck mit Steinen verziert ist, liegt es auf der Hand die nachgesagte Bedeutung der verschiedenen Steinen hier auch etwas genauer zu betrachten.

Man sagt, der Rubin soll verantwortlich für das seelische Gleichgewicht und die Entschlusskraft sein und sei zudem der Stein der Liebe.

Wenn man einen Granat bekomme, dann sei dies hingegen ein freundschaftliches Zeichen.

Ja, und der Achat solle wohl vor jedem wichtigen Erlebnis zur Hand genommen werden, denn er bedeute Glück.

Abschliessend lässt sich sagen, dass nicht nur die Vielfalt der Steine und deren Bedeutung beeindruckt und sondern auch die Wirkung und Vielfalt der Kleidung. Rot ist also definitiv mehr als man auf den ersten Augenblick wahrnehmen kann.

Text: Mia Augsburger von www.miaandthemouse.com

Ganz herzlichen Dank an Luisa Rossi und Anouk Haimoff für den tollen Beitrag auf ihrem Lifestyle-Videoblog:

Zum Artikel in der Schweizer Illustrierten

Schmuck am Strand ist heutzutage kaum mehr weg zu denken. Betrachtet man die vielen Ferienbilder auf Instagram und Co. findet man neben zahlreichen Hüten und coolen Brillen vor allem auch Schmuck. Der Trend in der Sache meint aber auf keinen Fall klein und fein sondern eher gross und bombastisch. Grosse Ketten mit auffälligen Anhängern lassen sich toll zum schlichten Badeanzug oder einer schönen weissen Tunika kombinieren. Auffällige Ohrringe sind hier ausserdem ein weiterer Trend, der es weit über den Strand hinaus geschafft hat zu brillieren. Die graziösen, dreiteiligen Kreolen aus der „Delphia Collection“ von Steinkult, sind ein «Musthave» weit über die Saison hinaus.

Steinkult biete eine grossartige Auswahl an Schmuckdesigns, bei welchen es für jeden etwas dabei hat. So zum Beispiel sind passend zum Sonnenlicht am Strand funkelnde Steine aus der „Celebration“ Kollektion total angesagt, oder aber passend zum Leoeinteiler findet man in der „Safari Glam“ einige tierisch heisse Schmuckstücke. Schliesslich macht der Name dieser Kollektion „Paraiso“ nicht nur namentlich alles richtig sondern überzeugt auch durch die filigranen Blumendesigns und Palmenblätter in Ringen, Armreifen, Halsketten und Ohrringen die nur ein kleiner Teil dieser wunderbaren Schmuckkollektion sind. Obwohl der Sommer in der Schweiz langsam aber sicher vorbei ist, steht bestimmt auch bei Ihnen bereits der eine oder andere Ferienplan. Bis dahin tragen sie die wunderbaren Schmuckstücke einfach zu Rollkragenpulli und Jumpsuit.

In Zusammenarbeit mit Mia Augsburger von www.miaandthemouse.com

CELEBRATION Collection by Steinkult.

SAFARI GLAM Collection by Steinkult

PARAISO Collection by Steinkult

Cute model and fashionblogger Mia_and_the_mouse wearing Steinkult Jewelry during last Silvesternight...

Here you can read what she wrote about Steinkult Jewelry: Shine bright

Photos by Aline Gerber www.alinegerber.ch

Behind the scenes... Shooting 2016

As the sun rose above the city of Barcelona and we felt its warmth wash over us, we knew it was going to be a good day. It was early, yet our spirits were high and we were full of energy. And so, after much organisation and preparation, we were ready to get started with the photoshoot.

After Anna Fons, our hair and make-up queen, had worked her magic on our beautiful model Cristina, we packed up and moved on to Sitges, a hidden paradise 30 km south of Barcelona. Here we found a small beach that seemed the perfect setting for our first shoot of the day. Our photographer Brenda Roqué was just getting started when we noticed a man taking off his clothes nearby. Maybe he’s trying to impress Cristina, we joked, until we realised everyone on the beach was naked – we’d landed on a nudist beach! Slightly bemused but determined to carry on, Brenda did a great job keeping nudists out of shot and took a series of wonderful photographs. We loved working with Brenda – with a keen eye for beauty she knows exactly what she wants to shoot and captures the moment without hesitation. Cristina also responded brilliantly – she’s expressive and a natural.

We later moved on to the nearby El Vivero Beach Club with its gorgeous views of the beach, Mediterranean and Sitges cathedral. Not only did we get some stunning images, we were also pampered with delicious mojitos courtesy of the bartender. It was then time for a new look: thanks to her experience working on TV sets, Anna is extremely focused and works quickly – it’s a pleasure to see her in action!

As soon as we arrived in Sitges, we were captivated by the town’s magical quality. Like the writers, artists and intellectuals that came to this enclave of bohemian cool at the end of the 19th century, we too were inspired by one of the most beautiful sailor villages on the Catalonian coast. The whitewashed buildings and magnificent architecture provided a striking backdrop for the last shoot of the day.

From sunrise to sunset, the stars aligned for the perfect day – everything seemed to go to plan. And best of all, the photos are absolutely beautiful.

The making of

In hours of intense work they form step by step our new earrings...

Skilled Artists carefully work out every detail

all is carefully crafted ...

Made with love: our new Veracruz Earrings with Corals (available also in silverplating).

A balmy night in a garden in Morocco. The lush greenery is a verdant curtain that masks the hustle and bustle of the city. High above, a brocade of stars sparkles in the depthless sky. As I sip a refreshing thé à la menthe, a gentle breeze sighs with the scent of jasmine and roses. It's the sirocco wind.

Snapshots of my journey through this incredible country flash through my mind - the architecture, the desert, the zillij patterns. They are memories of long lost dreams. My senses are overwhelmed by the rich colours and flavours, the experience of navigating the urban sprawl and exploring the natural surroundings. I close my eyes and listen. I hear the wind sing. Its seductive whisper tells me to let go - and I surrender.

The cuffs come with or without stones (my partner has one of those without stones). Combine  with soft pastel nail polish, stacking and/or statement rings, a necklace and earrings from the collection - then get ready to drink champagne and dance on the table ;-)

A few years ago, I was travelling around the world, living out of a suitcase and temporarily calling hotels my home. One of those trips brought me to Kenya. The Steinkult Safari collection was inspired by the beautiful and passionate continent with its white beaches and starry skies.

Kenya’s biggest attraction is it’s abundance of wildlife. The country’s diverse and beautiful landscape is home to a wide variety of animals. Leopards, lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, rhinos, giraffes … they all call the diverse terrain their home.

I will never forget my first day on a safari trip: sitting comfortably inside an open-top Land Rover as a pride of lions slowly made their way beside the vehicle was one of the most surreal experiences in my life.

Where to stay: due to the popularity of Kenya’s reserves, there are many accommodation options. For a taste of intimate luxury, stay at Finch Hatton's camp at the heart of Tsavo National Park. The setting is magical.

Denys Finch Hatton was an aristocratic game hunter and one of Kenya’s great adventurers. He was also the lover of Baroness Karen Blixen, a Danish noblewoman who wrote about him in her autobiographical book Out of Africa, first published in 1937. Finch Hatton devoted his life to exploring the wild in style. At his camp, dinner was served on fine china with silver and crystal, while the gentle strains of Mozart played in the background. In Tsavo, where he lived and died, this tradition lives on.

Venha comigo para o Brasil!

Coming to Brazil with us? Right on time for the football World Cup, we take you on a virtual tour of the home of countless precious stones. Would you believe that there’s a lot more than football and samba to discover? For example, the real caipirinha or the Brazilian trends that are taking over the world.

Olá spirit of life!

Four kilometres of the finest sand with Sugarloaf Mountain perched in the background – Rio’s Copacabana is a magical place. Snatches of samba music dance on the air and all you need now is the right drink: how about a fresh coconut? Here you can get them everywhere. The coconut, by the way, is totally hot right now: it’s a light treat, it contains almost all the important nutrients and it tastes of holidays – heavenly!

Caipirinha – know your stuff

Feel more like a caipirinha? Then simply cut a lime into eight pieces (cut off the ends first), put the pieces into a tumbler, sprinkle two dessert spoons of sugar over the top and crush with a mortar. Add 6 cl of cachaça and then fill the glass with crushed ice. With this cocktail, you’ll conjure up the Brazilian spirit in no time up on your balcony or down on the terrace. Did you know that in Brazil they use white sugar for the caipirinha? When the recipe was imported to Switzerland, the word for cane sugar (‘Rohrzucker’) was mistaken for raw sugar (‘Rohzucker’).

Since no one can live on caipirinha alone, we’ll follow that up with a tip for the barbecue: put a skewer of fresh pineapple on the barbecue. Before eating it, roll the hot pineapple in grated coconut and allow this special Brazilian treat to melt on your tongue. Mmmm!

Models and labels...

If you travel to Brazil, even if it’s only a virtual trip, you can’t escape the models. The Brazilian Gisele Bündchen is, according to Claudia Schiffer, the ‘last supermodel’. She is also making a splash as a designer and has set a new trend worldwide with her iPANEMA flip-flops. The name of the range comes from the famous Ipanema Beach in Rio, part of a neighbourhood with the same name.

Speaking of trends, Brazil has many more to offer. There’s the coffee (no other country exports as much as Brazil), the music (samba and bossa nova conquered the world in the middle of the last century) and finally the football artistes who have reinvented the game – they don’t so much shoot with the ball as dance with it.

Viver e ser feliz

The inhabitants of Brazil are united by an irresistible combination of passion and a sunny temperament guaranteed to bring a smile. ‘Viver e ser feliz’, live and be happy, is the motto they live by.

Is it any wonder that the precious stones that come from this country, abundantly rich in species of flora and fauna, also radiate its happiness?

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A trip to India is a celebration for the senses. Everything is bursting – with people, noise, sunlight, heat. The energy is incredible. And in chaotic streets overrun with cars, motorcycles, rickshaw, bicycles, cows, elephants and other animals, people eat and drink, shop and bargain, meet friends and spend time together. It is so different from back home that you’re completely out of your comfort zone. And it feels exhilarating.

Heightening this feeling of exhilaration are the locals, who offer the warmest smiles in any situation. Diwali, the great festival of lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness. I am possessed by this spirit in every encounter I have with this dense, vivid and multifaceted culture. Delicious sweet treats and burning candles will forever remind me of the friends I have met here.

This amazing country is now my second home. It encourages people to open their minds and listen carefully – you might even hear Ganesh, the great god of wisdom, gently urging you to embark on your own personal journey…

Do you sometimes like to dream of a lagoon? Where the turquoise water shimmers, the air smells wonderfully salty, a weightlessness lies over everything and on the horizon you can just make out the dolphins swimming? It is turquoise that brings this feeling – even in the depths of winter. People have fallen in love with it for thousands of years, though, for many more reasons.

Coveted through the ages...

It has a refreshingly elegant and modern feel – and yet it is among the oldest gemstones in the world: turquoise. Its name comes from the French (pierre turquoise meaning Turkish stone), the stone itself from Iran. But it was the Ancient Egyptians who first recognised the potential of turquoise as a gemstone and began to make jewellery from it. Did you know that even the famous death mask of the pharaoh Tutankhamen was richly decorated with turquoise gems? On the other side of the world, in South America, turquoise adorned ceremonial masks; human skulls were covered with turquoise and laid in the graves of tribal chiefs.

Happiness and wealth

But what was it about this stone, which stands for summer, sea, freedom, charm and grace, that fascinated the people of long ago? It was the legends that to this day surround the turquoise stone. And the promises that came with it. For example, it is said that turquoise has been known to change its colour to warn its owner of disaster. Among the Persians, turquoise was considered to be a talisman of happiness and wealth. “The hand that wears turquoise and therewith makes its seal, will never be poor,” said the Persian scholar al-Qazwini. In Europe, horse lovers put their trust in the ‘stone of protection for steed and rider’. And finally turquoise has the honour of being immortalised in the Bible, specifically in the book of Exodus. There – along with agate – it forms part of the ‘priestly breastplate’.

The lovers’ secret

The irresistible appeal of this semi-precious stone has not changed a bit to the present day. Maybe it’s just down to its sheer beauty: is it the colours that shimmer in magical tones of blue and green and remind us of the ocean? Is it the veins of other minerals and surrounding rocks that thread through turquoise and lend each individual stone its unique appearance? Or is it simply the intoxicating feeling of wearing a piece of summer happiness all the time? Or all these things? The answer remains the secret of all those who have fallen in love with turquoise.

Do you have a penchant for full moons and magical moments, and do you tend towards the feminine? Then the moonstone is just the stone for you. But where does its name come from? Why is it women that go crazy for it? And just what makes it so irresistible? We reveal the mysteries of the moonstone.

It was a searing hot September day when I got an email from a close friend inviting me to experience their beautiful property in Ceylon (also known as „Sri Lanka“, an Island with the form of a teardrop...). It began with the warmest of welcomes at the Hotel Villa Walauwa in Bentota, where I got to meet the team who are now managing the property. You know how there are places that feel like an oasis and the moment you step into one, you automatically breathe in deep and feel totally relaxed? Well, Villa Walauwa is exactly like that.

Have you ever visited Ceylon? Well, then I suggest you’d explore Sinharaja Rain Forest, a biodiversity hotspot on the south of the Island. It is of international significance and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The reserve’s name translates as Lion (sinha) King (raja). The vegetaition may be described as tropical wet evergreen forest. Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not easily seen as at dry-zone Yala National Park.

I also got some work done; I visited a wonderful stonedealer and spent hours (!) selecting beautiful moonstones for our new collections to come. This place is heaven for saphires, aquamarines and moonstones.

I’ll be back soon!