"In the past, people were born royal,
Nowadays, royalty comes from
what you do."
-Gianni Versace
Necklace?.. A form of jewellery worn around the neck. They come in a variety of shapes and lengths - Chain Necklace, Choker, Lariat, Graduation Necklace, Matinee Length, Neck Chain, Necklet, Princess Length, Opera Length, Rope Length and Y Necklace.
*MAIKO* was designed with Japanese maiko (apprentice geisha) in mind, wearing her colourful kimono, heavy make-up and high clogs.
Chain Necklaces are made of various materials such as alloy chains, gold, platinum or silver chains, set or decorated with a great variety of gemstones, glass and wooden beads.
The relatively shorter and lighter counterpart is called the Neck Chain which is also used to wear pendants.
Chokers are shorter in length (approx. 15 inches) and are made of uniformly sized beads.
Very short necklaces are called Necklets.
"The essence of sculpture is for me the perception of space, the continuum
of our existence"
-
Isamu Noguchi
In a Graduation necklace, the beads are arranged so that they gradually increase in size towards the centre of the necklace.
Y necklaces are usually 16 to 18 inches in length. This style of necklace gets its name from its shape which features a dangle forming a Y-shape around the neck.
Lariat is a cord worn as a necklace with the ends of the cord dangling like a necktie. It can be tied into a knot or secured by a sliding brooch.
There are also several names given to necklaces according to their length - Princess 17 inches, Matinee 21 inches, Opera 28 inches and Rope 42 inches or longer.
"Fashions fade,
style is eternal."
-Yves Saint Laurent
Atelier Harumi's jewelers fashion their uniquely designed pieces in strict accordance with world's best practices - only more slowly.
From Atelier Harumi's earliest groundings in the ancestral tradecraft at Osaka Japan, to the growth in Singapore of the Atelier's reputation as a designer and crafter of fine jewelry, the quality of the handmade jewelry items has always met the highest standards of contemporary Haute Couture. Throughout Melbourne Australia's high fashion shopping precincts of Prahran and South Yarra, to the boutique jewellers of Toorak and Kew, Atelier Harumi's designs remain unsurpassed in uniqueness and appeal.
On-Line shopping now brings the browsing and ordering experience closer to the internet shopper in search of high fashion accessories or a gifts catalogue. Costume jewelry of individual design and of extremely limited editions or fine crafted adornments with semi-precious stones and quality workmanship can be viewed and ordered from a catalogue that is updated almost daily.
"It is the inescapable duty of the finest jewelers to deepen the mystery"
-Christian Dior
Designer recognition and brand identity of the Atelier Harumi Marque are simply the result of the stylish marriage of contemporary European and Japanese influences.
The re-establishment in Melbourne Australia of the Atelier's House of Design, has driven the focus of the jewellers influences to meeting the expectations of high fashion houses in the dress conscious districts of South Yarra, Armadale and Prahran.
Boutique styles and trends may fade and contemporary styling can become Retro, but the Atelier's hallmark designs of East Meets West remain at the forefront of the 2007 Fashion Season.
"We don't want to push our ideas on to customers, we simply want to make
what they want."
-Laura Ashley
The abundancy of unique designs and shapes of the necklaces in the 2007 Collection are masterfully crafted to complement the natural curves of the neck and shoulders. Very limited quantities of the Atelier jewellers' designs, often only one or two, are carefully photographed and presented for online shopping.
Atelier Harumi remains prolific in the crafting of flawless and unique pieces of individually styled necklaces. While selecting designs that bring joy through the expression of giving, quality of materials and harmony of design last through the gift giving season, and remind the wearer of the delivery at all occasions.