Rebecca Zemans Jewelry Blog — Jewelry

  In September, the Illinois Artisan Gallery contacted me to submit a design to create a brooch that would serve as an award to honor a woman in Illinois that exemplifies Dawn Clark Netsch. I was extremely honored and excited to win the commission. Not only is Mrs. Netsch a role model for many, it was extra special because my mother worked with her and I had always heard so many wonderful things about Mrs. Netsch growing up.  Mrs. Netsch is a pioneer in education, law, and politics. In addition to being a professor at Northwestern University, she was a...

Topaz, the birthstone of November has been known for being quite the miracle worker. The Greeks believed this gem gave them strength, cooled their tempers, cured asthma, relieved insomnia and even saved them from sudden death. People in India had similar beliefs in this precious gem, and were convinced that a topaz worn above the heart assures a long life, beauty and intelligence. In many of these beliefs the power of the topaz increased or decreased with phases of the moon. People often use this stone to celebrate their sixteenth wedding anniversary. The blue topaz specifically can be used to...

What a wonderful Autumn we are having in Chicago! I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful fall weather as much as I am. I love to see the leaves change and get cozy on my couch with a nice cup of tea after a long day of work. Because this time of year brings a sense of change and reflection, I decided to dedicate this post to everything that is new at Rebecca Zemans Jewelry. Of course if you see something that you like, but you would like to add your own personal touch, then we are, as always, available...

Did you know that opals, which is the birthstone of October and the star of this blog post, were once considered to bring bad luck? In the mid-1800s people believed that witches used them for witchcraft and they were themes in several novels, each time ruining the main character's life. Today, we know that all these myths surrounding this beautiful gem are nothing but made up stories. To wear an opal doesn't bring bad luck, even if you weren't born in October. Another myth is that opals have the ability to change their colors depending on one's mood...that is just...

As some of you may remember, in the beginning of 2012 I created a jewelry collection for Mark Shale, a Chicago-based department store that opened its doors in 1929. The store is known to greatly value design, craftsmanship, and individuality as well as care deeply about the environment, the city of Chicago and the way women dress. Last December, the Mark Shale team decided to showcase a few local designers and singled my work out. We then met to create a customized exclusive collection just for the store. The pieces were elegant, simple and made out of sterling silver and gold-filled. Most...