Indeed, First Lady Michelle Obama has good taste. She was spotted wearing up-and-coming jewelry designer Katie Decker cuff bracelets at the president’s fundraiser this past Tuesday evening.
These bangles are 18kt white gold diamond bangles and available here at Mystique. Wear one or stack them like the First Lady did. Shop now!
Local jewelry designers & artisans Andrea D’Ambrosia and Pam Mickley Albers will showcase their most recent work at a trunk show hosted by Mystique Jewelers of Old Town Alexandria. The trunk show will be held on Saturday, September 24th from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm at Mystique’s waterfront jewelry boutique, located at 211 The Strand.Andrea D’Ambrosia has been creating one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces in elegant, bold and clever designs of semi-precious gemstones and other beautiful, natural materials since 2006. Her most recent work incorporates vintage elements into classic designs like using a vintage brooch as a clasp or vintage rhinestone earrings as drops for the classic and versatile lariat.
Pam Mickley Albers, an architect in Middleburg, builds on her architectural background in her jewelry design, incorporating concepts based upon mouldings with classical elements and proportions. Her newest line features oxidized sterling with pearls and gemstones. Pam is also the owner of the Middleburg boutique PATINA, which carries her jewelry, antiques and gifts.
“I’m thrilled to host these two talented local designers, ” adds Mystique owner Elizabeth Mandros. “I love how Andrea blends the old with the new to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces. And Pam’s classical designs are both beautiful and versatile.”
I’m very excited and honored to announce that Mystique has won the Best of Alexandria in the Jewelers category for a second year in a row.
Read the press release:
NEW YORK, NY, April 14, 2011 — For the second consecutive year, Mystique Jewelers of Old Town has been selected for the 2011 Best of Alexandria Award in the Jewelers category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2011 Award recipients qualified as Two-Time Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
Girls rule the roost this week as we welcome jewelry designers Lauren K and Katie Decker to Mystique, and celebrate moms with fine jewels and flowers.
Lauren K Rings
Lauren K and Katie Decker – two very different designers who happen to share many similarities: Consider:
Both came to careers in jewelry design at young ages, but not directly. Lauren took a detour through law school; Katie studied finance.
Both were greatly influenced by family. Lauren is the 4th generation to work in her family’s jewelry business, N. Zaidens Co.. She learned the trade — both the mechanics and design — alongside her grandfather. Katie was inspired by her mother’s love of jewelry and designed her first piece for her mother.
Both design with women in mind. Completely wearable from day to night, in denims or gown!
Katie Decker
Their styles are both modern and classic, but that’s where the similarities end. Lauren’s collection boasts a profusion of colorful gems, using agates, labradorites, rainbow moonstones, and raw polished diamonds. Katie’s trademark is her elaborate goldwork and design — combined with diamonds – that draw comparisons to Gothic architecture.
Check out their collections first-hand and meet these up and coming designers this week: Lauren K Trunk Show on May 5th and Katie Decker Trunk Show on May 6th and 7th.
And let’s not forget Mom! Mystique is offering 20% off all jewelry — including Lauren’s and Kate’s — for a gift for all the mothers in your life. Plus, purchase that gift on Saturday, May 7th and you’ll receive a bouquet of flowers (by Enchanted Florist) to give to Mom, as well.
No invitation to the wedding of the century? No worries. Mystique Jewelers of Alexandria, VA, is throwing a Princess Party on April 28, 2011 to celebrate the impending nuptials of Kate Middleton and Prince William, and you’re invited. Guests will don tiaras, adorn jewelry fit for a Princess and toast the royal couple with champagne and cupcakes at this waterfront boutique from 5 to 8PM.
“There’s something special about royal weddings that draws us to them,” explains Elizabeth Mandros, owner of Mystique Jewelers, “The magic, the mystery, the romance of a Princess and her Prince, and we want to be a part of it. What better way than to have a party where we can let our inner Princesses out for the evening.”
The festivities kick off Mystique’s new offering of private Princess Parties, an elegant, fun and unique way to celebrate a loved one’s engagement, bridal shower, birthday, or anniversary. The guest of honor, crowned Princess for the evening, will sip champagne, enjoy dessert and try on beautiful jewelry with her family and friends. All guests will receive a special goodie bag and the Princess will leave with a piece of Mystique jewelry. “This is a woman’s dream come true,” adds Mandros.
This past weekend in LA , Designer Alberto Parada was glamming it up with the celebs of the
Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Preparing for the Golden Globe awards , many celebrities were seen at the hospitality suites for VIPs and guests to participate in a welcome looting fest. Of the many lucky guests who came out to enjoy the weekend hospitality were Kyle Richards, Taylor Armstrong, Mekhi Phifer, Izabella Miko, Jenny McCarthy, Josh Sussman, Ali Fedotowsky, Taryn Manning and many more.Parada’s new jewelry designs were a hit . From Old Town Alexandria, MYSTIQUE to Los Angeles, Ca. its a small world for Alberto being loved and adorned.
18kt Rose Gold Carnelian and diamond ring- Designer Alberto Parada
We just may have some great news in the near future of lavish designs made for these Hollywood stars.
Golden Globes spotlight Earrings and Bracelets!
From gowns in a rainbow of pinks to emerald green, one-shoulder sheaths to full-length sleeves, the fashions on display at Sunday night’s 68th Golden Globe Awards revealed a number of key trends. For jewelry, it seemed that most stylists and their stars received a similar style memo: choose either simple earlobe-hugging earrings or large, nearly shoulder-grazing pairs, matched with a bracelet or two.
Golden Globes winner Claire Danes, recognized for her role in the HBO miniseries Temple Grandin, went this route, pairing a yellow gold and diamond cuff with small diamond and platinum drop earrings.
Black Swan actress Mila Kunis, one of a handful of stars to wear emerald green to the Globes, went with a bracelet and earring combo, too, selecting a yellow gold and diamond cuff and diamond stud earring. And Mad Men’s January Jones, who wowed in a barely there Versace, was another actress to go the popular jewelry silhouette, selecting diamond and platinum column earrings and a trio of diamond and platinum bangle bracelets.
Congratulations to Mystique on being named as one of Washingtonian Bride & Groom’s 2011 recommended Stores. Romance , Passion and Love, well that sums up what we feel at Mystique Jewelers about getting engagaed . Thank you so much Washingtonian for this award! With the New Year ahead of us Mystique welcomes New couples looking for that special ring. You’ll find your “One of a Kind” , as you already have here at Mystique.
I’ve been living a sheltered life, jewelry-wise; I never knew that there were “golds” other than the usual suspects: yellow or platinum gold. I’ve now come to find out after errr… thirty odd years, that there is such a thing as “rose gold,” or even that the gold used in jewelry is an alloy (a combination of gold and other metals). In the case of rose gold, the other metal is copper and the reason for its reddish tint AND its name. Lucky for me, I met Alberto Parada, the award-winning jewelry designer. Not only is Alberto extremely talented but he is based here in the Washington, DC area and is a willing tutor.
Alberto has been using rose gold in his designs for about three years now. He likes the alloy’s warmth and the fact that it looks good on all skin colors. The use of rose gold, however, is nothing new in jewelry design. Rose gold was used in jewelry in the 1900s and, like any good fashion trend, has seen a resurgence in its popularity, but mostly in NYC and on the West Coast. With the help of Mystique Jewelers, Alberto has brought this style further south. Alberto combines the subtle tones of the rose gold, reclaimed diamonds and in some cases vibrant gem stones, like amethysts, to create jewelry that may be better described as pieces of art, something that you would see in MOMA. The architectural shape of his rings in particular are both bold, and simple in its elegance.
On December 4th, you too can have the chance to meet Alberto and learn why he has been recognized by the industry for his design talents as well as his commitment to using eco-friendly and ethically-harvested materials. See you there.
I love this time of day when I can actually sit down and reflect on all my wonderful customers and friends that come to see me at my store. Today was especially great because Erica Courtney came into town for our trunk show (starting tomorrow and continuing through Saturday) and together we looked over all of her beautiful jewelry. Being her first time in Alexandria, she got a bit turned around getting to the store and ended up closer to TC Williams. It turns out she is staying at Hotel Lorien, only 10 blocks away from Mystique. An hour later, Erica shows up in her running clothes. She has now hiked the distance between her hotel and store back and forth almost 10 miles. No wonder she is in such great shape.
Let’s talk about the jewelry – it is in fact Drop Dead Gorgeous. Erica showed me how her earrings have three tiers to them; starting with a diamond hoop, then a charm for fun, and finally the third for the DROP DEAD GORGEOUS look. With every piece, you think it’s pretty and then you look at the piece’s details and your mouth drops open. DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. I love it!!!
And check out this beautiful Tourmaline with diamonds ring that I’m sporting in an interview with WUSA9 TV for the upcoming trunk show. It costs about $100K. I love it!!!
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Local jewelry designers & artisans Andrea D’Ambrosia and Pam Mickley Albers will showcase their most recent work at a trunk show hosted by 
Pam Mickley Albers, an architect in Middleburg, builds on her architectural background in her jewelry design, incorporating concepts based upon mouldings with classical elements and proportions. Her newest line features oxidized sterling with pearls and gemstones. Pam is also the owner of the Middleburg boutique PATINA, which 
