The primary birthstone for January is garnet.

The Origins and Cultural Significance of Garnet
Because garnet ranks high on the Mohs hardness scale (at about 6.5-7.5), artifacts of garnet jewelry dating as far back as 3,100 BC remain today. From these relics, we know ancient Egyptians believed garnet was the symbol of life and would entomb pharaohs with jewelry inlaid with garnet to have in the afterlife.

Ancient Romans in the 3rd and 4th century prized garnet as they believed it could ward off diseases like the plague and protect soldiers during wartime. Carved garnet was also frequently placed within signet rings which were used to stamp the wax seal of important and confidential documents.

When huge deposits of red garnet were found in central Europe in 1500, the stone that was once largely reserved for royalty, nobility, and the clergy became more commonly available. Garnet was particularly popular during the Victorian Era (1837-1901) when it was commonly used in engagement and wedding rings.

Notable Garnet Pieces
Garnet comes in a huge array of colors, orange, yellow, purple, pink, and the most popular of all red. But the rarest shade is blue garnet. Blue garnet was first mined in the 1990s in Madagascar. Blue garnet has high amounts of the metal vanadium which makes the gem look soft blue-green in daylight and then vivid purple under incandescent light. In 2003, the most expensive blue garnet (4.2 carats) sold for a whopping $6.8 million making it one of the most expensive gemstones in the world at roughly $1.5 million per carat.

The Properties and Hardness of Garnet
Garnet is a hard gemstone at 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale with harder garnet stones being used industrially to cut steel or as a replacement for silica sand in sand blasting.

Garnets have been found naturally in orange, yellow, purple, pink, green, blue, and even colorless. The most common (and therefore most popular) shade of garnet is red and it’s oftentimes used as an affordable alternative to the rarer and more expensive ruby.

A handsome blend of history, functionality, and technical advancements, Panerai’s uniquely-shaped watch cases are perfect for the watch lover who wants a handsome and respectable timepiece that still feels ultimately special and personal.

Throughout its history, Panerai has largely rooted its innovations in its two core models: the Radiomir and the Luminor. Each model has undergone updates to its technology but with only a modest fine-tuning of its fundamental and signature Panerai aesthetic.

Here we take a high-level view of Panerai’s most iconic watch models, their fascinating history, and what distinguishes the sometimes similar-looking Radiomir and Luminor.

Panerai Radiomir

Panerai was a well-established watch brand, supplying precision and reliable timepieces to the Royal Italian Navy, by 1936 when the Panerai Radiomir was first introduced. Even still, the Radiomir was a huge step up in Panerai’s game as it continued to innovate its precise watches to deliver better and better watches to the navy. The Radiomir offered brilliant and then-unparalleled luminosity, thanks to a break through radium-based powder used to illuminate the dials.

In 1938, Panerai unveiled an updated Radiomir. This latest iteration featured what would ultimately become the Radiomir’s signature design: the sandwich dial. Instead of affixing hour markers to a flat dial, Radiomir’s dial is actually made of overlapping plates. The bottom layer is made of the luminescent radium and the second layer is all black with the numerals stenciled out to further improve the Radimoir’s underwater legibility.

Today, the Radiomir ranks as a beloved Panerai classic, emblematic of the brand’s unique naval history and ongoing technical improvements.

Panerai Luminor

In 1949, Panerai built upon its strong foundation of luminescent watches and released the appropriately named Luminor. The Luminor boasted an improved luminous tritium-based material which would eventually replace the radium-based material in all Radiomir models, too.

The Luminor was a natural evolution in the shape of the Radiomir with some very few refinements and updates. While the Luminor preserved the cushion-shaped case of the Radiomir, the bezel was flatter and wider. The Luminor was also the first Panerai watch to feature Panerai’s distinctive crown-protecting bridge. This tight seal device secured the winding crown in place to make the Luminor incredibly water resistant.

Modern collectors are usually drawn to Panerai’s unique design aesthetic and the crown-protecting bridge underscores the conversation-starting look of the Luminor.

Panerai Luminor Marina

The Panerai Luminor Marina was a part of the first collection released by Panerai after the brand was bought out (and brought out of relative obscurity) by the Richemont Group in 1997. The Luminor Marina pays tribute to the original Luminor design, with some updates to make the fundamental design more appealing to modern tastes.

Unlike the Luminor, the Luminor Marina is larger (bumped up to 47mm from 44mm of the 1993 version) and the crystal has a slight dome shape for a more elegant silhouette. The Luminor Marina also has a small seconds subdial at the 9 o’clock which further distinguishes it from the Luminor Base models.

Panerai Luminor Submersible

Given Panerai’s long history of building and perfecting diving watches, their watches don’t exactly scream “diving watch”; they’re a bit more understated. That said, the Luminor Submersible is Panerai’s most casual and overtly diving watch model.

It still has that signature Panerai clean black dial but features a unidirectional rotating bezel. In order to make it easier to spin the bezel, Panerai added teeth around the bezel’s circumference which further distinguishes the Luminor Submersible from its related Luminor Base and Luminor Marina styles.

To delve even further into the history, design, and functionality of the Luminor, check out our blog post here!

Pilot watches hold a special fascination for many seasoned and new collectors. Mid-century innovations in commercial air travel pushed many brands to truly innovate their watch technology so many pilot watches were their first of their kind.

Here we round up the world’s most iconic, historically significant, and best-selling pilot watches to add to your watch collection!

IWC Pilot Watch

IWC’s Pilot watch harkens back to the early days of aviation, blending together functionality with IWC’s signature pared down look for a distinctive watch that feels elegant while offering the same utilitarian features of traditional pilot’s watch. The crown, for example, is slightly over-sized to make it easier for early pilots (who had to fly in unheated cockpits) to set and wind their watch while wearing thick gloves and a padded flight suit.

Another key design feature of the IWC Pilot Watch is the equilateral triangle, flanked by two dots, at the 12 o’clock hour marker. This substitution was inspired by the cockpit-instrument look of 1930s and 1940s pilot watches and improved the dial’s legibility.

Breitling Navitimer

After developing the first independent chronograph push-piece in 1923, Breitling has long been considered the gold standard in aviation watches. Since that breakthrough, Breitling has focused heavily on precision timepieces specially designed for airline pilots. And in 1952, as commercial flight was booming, Breitling introduced the Navitimer.

The Navitimer was another novel design by Breitling that featured a slide rule bezel. This new rotating bezel allowed pilots to quickly calculate distance, air speed, flight time, fuel consumption, rate and time of climb and descent. The Navitimer remains one of the most beloved pilot watches, immediately recognizable for its distinctive and revolutionary bezel.

Rolex GMT Master

The Rolex GMT-Master was first introduced in 1954 for Pan American Airways pilots to wear during their long-haul and international flights. What made the Rolex GMT-Master an immediate sensation among Pan Am pilots was its rotating bezel. This breakthrough functionality allowed pilots to set the local time and a second time zone (usually Greenwich Mean Time which was then the world’s time standard) by simply rotating the 24-hour scale bezel.

Over the decades, the GMT-Master grown into an iconic Rolex model, thanks in large part to its colorful bezel which makes this classic model truly stand out from the pack.

Omega Speedmaster

The Omega Speedmaster is readily recognized for its affiliation to the early days of space exploration. (To wit: it’s regularly referred to as the “First Watch on the Moon,” after astronaut Buzz Aldrin wore his NASA-certified Omega Speedmaster during his historic walk on the moon’s surface in 1969.) However, the Speedmaster only really became the watch-of-choice for astronauts because it was such a precise pilot watch.

As NASA was beefing up its space program in the late 1950s, it largely recruited seasoned test pilots. Given that the chronograph had long since been a fundamental part of a pilot’s equipment, it was naturally, in turn, adopted as a part of an astronaut’s equipment. When NASA began accepting bids for a chronograph watch that could withstand the huge range of atmospheric conditions, only the Omega Speedmaster passed NASA’s rigorous tests.

Since then, Omega’s pilot-turned-astronaut Speedmaster watch has been an iconic chronograph and is a prized piece in any collection.

Hamilton Khaki Pilot Watch

The Hamilton Watch company began in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was known for its high-quality watches. In short order, Hamilton began producing its original pilot watches in 1919; was selected as the watch brand to be worn by the first American Airmail service; and was the official watch of TWA, Eastern, United, and Northwest airlines in the 1930s. The American brand was also selected by the American forces during World War II to supply watches to its wartime pilots.

While Hamilton watches are now produced in Switzerland, its modern watch styles preserve its long history in the world of aviation as Hamilton’s brand aesthetic regularly brings military design cues into its signature styles. The Hamilton Khaki Pilot is a quintessential example of the brand’s proud tradition of developing reliable and robust pilot watches.

Since ancient times, certain gemstones and precious metals have been ascribed properties that range from the ability to promote spiritual healing to the ability to open up one’s heart. People all over the world collect stones and crystals and use them to release mental, spiritual, and sometimes physical blockages within themselves. In fact, it is for these reasons that gemstones started to be incorporated into jewelry in the first place.

Whether you or your loved ones believe in these spiritual practices or not, a jewelry gift featuring a stone imbibed with spiritual significance would be an excellent choice this holiday season, as a piece could be treasured not just for its beautiful appearance, but also for its deeper meaning.

To help you find a gift that would be incredibly meaningful for yourself or for your loved ones, we’ve put together some gemstones that are commonly used in jewelry and we explore the spiritual significance of each stone and metal.

Amethyst
Previously believed to keep the wearer from getting drunk and cleansing them of toxins, this gemstone is now commonly associated with cleansing the body and soul of negative energy. Amethyst, with its calming purple hue, is a “stress reliever,” of sorts, as it is said that the wearer just needs to press the stone against their skin to calm their senses.

Aquamarine

Associated with the life-giving source of water, the greenish-blue Aquamarine is also thought to “wash away” stress and fear. Sometimes called the “courage stone,” this gemstone is said to have the ability to remove doubt and negative energy and to influence the growth of self-respect and inner peace. Because of its connection to water, it is also rumoured to increase psychic power.

Carnelian

Carnelian is a very high-energy stone. Thought to inspire creativity, self-confidence, focus, and movement, this is the best stone to gift to the creative in your life who has been having trouble manifesting their vision into reality. Its bright orange color is sure to bring vibrancy and vitality to any jewelry wardrobe, but its vibration-spiking spiritual properties would be especially valuable to those who’ve been stuck in a rut.

Citrine

Commonly associated with the concept of sunshine, and especially sunrise, citrine is said to bring prosperity and self-confidence to its wearer. Mostly symbolic of new beginnings, especially in business and relationships, this gorgeous sunshine-yellow gemstone would make an excellent gift around the holidays as a way to usher in a prosperous new year.

Emerald

Unsurprisingly, this vibrant green gemstone symbolizes prosperity and abundance, in addition to balance, wisdom, and maturity. Emerald’s color, which refreshes the eyes and is said to revitalize the body, would make a beautiful statement-making piece in a loved one’s jewelry wardrobe.

Garnet

Found in brownish-black to vibrant red colors, the garnet is a gemstone that is particularly well-known for its healing properties, especially among the Chinese. It is said to clear energy blockages and to influence the wearer to abandon unhealthy mental patterns. Its blood red hue imbues it with intense passion, but it also represents faith and truth—a wonderful gift for a significant other to rejuvenate the relationship and ensure a warm holiday season together.

Jade

Like the green of the emerald, the unique green of jade is said to bring prosperity and abundance to its wearer. It’s the stone of good luck and spiritual guidance, as indicated by its nickname, “the Jewel of Heaven.” Thought to symbolize peace and mental purity, this stone also enhances psychic ability and concentration. This is the gemstone to give the young professional in your life who would benefit from a little extra luck.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is thought to increase one’s spiritual potential. Its appearance—the dreamy blue-black of a sky speckled with white stars and the veins of galaxies—connects it to the spiritual world, and so this stone is said to bring enlightenment and develop wisdom, intuition, and meditation in the wearer. As a stone meant to enhance spiritual awakenings, this is a good gift for the loved one who meditates every day and leaves space for new beginnings in their life.

Peridot

Another green gemstone that brings prosperity and wealth to the wearer, peridot is also said to remove feelings of jealousy, anger, and stress. This bright green stone replaces those toxic feelings with ones that encourage personal freedom and self expression, as well as ones that help heal damaged relationships and hurt egos. For the superstitious person in your life, this would make a good present, as it is also said to ward off evil.

Rose Quartz

The stone of unconditional love, as rose quartz is sometimes called, certainly looks the part with its sweet, light pink hue. This gemstone clears the wearer of fear and resentment and instead fills them with feelings of happiness, forgiveness, and peace. This would be excellent for someone who’s been unlucky in love, as rose quartz is said to invite love into the wearer’s life.

Ruby

Like the garnet, the ruby is said to have great healing abilities, especially relating to blood flow and the heart. This stone is also important to the Chinese culture, as it is believed to help decision-making and improve family matters by improving the wearer’s self-esteem and ability to negotiate. Red is also a color of good luck, passion, and creativity—perfect for a loved one with significant business ventures on the horizon.

Sapphire

The deep, calming blue of this gemstone perfectly reflects its spiritual meaning: sapphire is thought to stimulate thoughts of peace and beauty while eliminating negative energy. Thought to inspire truth and promote a positive attitude towards life, this stone would be a valuable addition to anyone’s jewelry collection.

Topaz

Like the other gold and yellow gemstones, topaz is an energizing crystal with the ability to stimulate mental clarity and wisdom. This stone is also thought to ward off mental exhaustion and help heal traumas. This stone would make an excellent present for someone who’s had a tough year; perhaps it can inspire and rejuvenate them for the new year ahead!

Turquoise

This stone is, for some cultures, the bridge between heaven and earth, sea and sky. Thought to protect and align the chakras, turquoise strengthens the mind and body, improving one’s mental condition, circulation, and meditation ability. This gemstone fosters open communication in relationships and encourages self-expression and spirituality. For the very spiritual person in your life, a piece of turquoise jewelry would make an especially powerful gift this holiday season.

Le Vian is renowned for its incredible range of jewelry styles– from dramatic colorful gemstone necklaces to elegantly understated ring– all of which wow on the red carpet. We round up the biggest celebrities and A-listers who completed their trend-right outfit with Le Vian jewelry in 2018.

“Pretty Little Liars” actress Shay Mitchell wore a stack of Le Vian rings to the E! People’s Choice Awards in November 2018.

Lady Gaga wore a pair of Le Vian earrings to the 3rd Annual SAG-AFTRA Foundation Patron of the Artists Awards in Los Angeles in November 2018.

International law and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney wore a pair of Le Vian earrings to the October 2018 Pennsylvania Conference for Women.

Pop star Rihanna wore a Le Vian Chocolate Diamonds® necklace and Chocolate quartz earring to this year’s 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Model and author Chrissy Teigen wore two Le Vian rings to the 2018 Creative Arts Ball in September 2018.

Singer Jennifer Hudson wore a Le Vian ring to the celebrity-studded event Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones in September 2018.

Jennifer Lopez wore a Le Vian ring to the American Music Awards in September 2018.

Jennifer Lopez was also spotted wearing Le Vian earrings and two rings while out and about in New York City in July 2018.

Get motivated to take on your New Year’s resolution—from getting fit, to saving money, or traveling more—with one of these relevant watch recommendations to help you crush your 2019 goal!

Resolution #1: Get fit.
Watch Recommendation: Omega Speedmaster
Whether you’re training for a marathon or just trying to get back into the healthy groove of working out regularly, treat yourself to a chronograph watch like the Omega Speedmaster. A chronograph is basically a stopwatch and, even better, the Speedmaster features a tachymeter scale, which measures your speed over a fixed distance—super helpful if you’re trying to improve your race time or simply track your progress. (Learn more about how to use your tachymeter here.) Regardless of which type of chronograph you get, though, consider swapping out the metal bracelet with a rubber or NATO strap that makes for easier cleaning after breaking a sweat!

Resolution #2: Travel more.
Watch Recommendation: Rolex GMT Master II
If you’re planning on racking up the frequent flyer miles in 2019, invest in a Rolex GMT Master II. Invented in the 1950s during the advent of commercial air travel, the GMT bezel allows you to read the local time and a second time zone. The Rolex GMT Master is a robust and durable watch that will be able to keep up with your packed travel schedule and easily keep track of the time back home! To learn more about how to set and read a GMT bezel, check out our post on the topic here!

Resolution #3: Focus on self-care and get more sleep.
Watch Recommendation: Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch
A common resolution is carving a little more “me time” in the day. For some people, that means a few minutes of meditation or treating yourself to a relaxing massage, and, for others, that simply means getting some more sleep. To help you clock in a full 7-9 hours of sleep a night, consider the Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch. You’d never know that this elegant watch is actually a smartwatch that pairs with your phone to send you push notifications, track your activity, and monitor your sleep cycle.

Resolution #4: Spend more time outdoors.
Watch Recommendation: Traser P96 Outdoor Pioneer
Breathing in crisp, fresh air has been shown to lower your blood pressure and heart rate and strengthen your immune system, which is why many people aim to spend more time outdoors in the new year. So, to prep for your alfresco excursions, you should check out the Traser P96 Outdoor Pioneer watch. This rugged timepiece was designed for emergency and rescue teams and the most adventurous hikers; its water-resistant features, 10-year lifespan, and trademark self-illuminating Trigalight technology signature to the Traser brand all make it perfect for an experience as adventurous as you are. The P96 Outdoor Pioneer watch is a reliable bit of camping equipment to have in your pack.

Resolution #5: Save more money.
Watch Recommendation: Consign Your Current Watch
If you’d rather save money than spend it in the new year, consider pulling out that old watch that’s been sitting in your dresser drawer and start putting it to work earning money for you! Consign or list a watch that you’re no longer wearing with TrueFacet and you can earn 80% of the list price. Take your payout and squirrel it away for a rainy day—or, hey, another watch in the future!

Roosmarijn de Kok’s modeling career began at, of all places, a dinner party. A model friend ofRoosmarijn (or Roos, pronounced rose, to her family and friends) snapped a photo of her and sent it off to a modeling agent in New York City. The agent quickly asked Roos to come to New York and sign with the agency.

What was supposed to be an adventurous gap year between high school and majoring in economics and business at university, grew into a serious modeling career for the young Roos. Since moving to New York, Roos’s beautiful Dutch face has graced campaigns for international fashion houses like Balmain and Tom Ford. But Roos’s career really took off when she was invited to walk in the exclusive Victoria’s Secret Runway Show, a kind of It-girls club for the modeling elite.

Aside from her wildly successful modeling career, Roos is a female entrepreneur. She recently founded Roos Unlimited, an impressive investment portfolio of smaller brands, like Thursday Boot Co. and Van Leeuwen, that Roos supports and actively collaborates with. Through Roos Unlimited, Roos is also highly involved with the non-profit charity: water.

Charity: water’s mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Roos recently partnered with the charitable organization by sponsoring a birthday well, asking friends and family to donate to charity: water to fund a drinking well in lieu of gifts.

Inspired by her passion and entrepreneurial spirit, TrueFacet connected with Roos to support her and charity: water’s cause. Together, TrueFacet and Roos have created a special collection of jewelry and watches, hand-picked by Roos, with 100% of TrueFacet’s proceeds benefiting charity: water. We sit down with Roos to discuss her work with charity: water and why the cause inspired her to contribute—plus her favorite pieces from her specially curated collection!

1. How did you connect with charity: water?
For me it’s really important when I donate or work closely with a charity to know they are 100% transparent with their expenses and that 100% of the money that is donated will go directly to the cause for which it was raised. When I was researching charities, charity: water kept reappearing as one of the best run non-profits and when I asked my friends, one actually knew the founder and connected me!

2. What about their cause resonated with you?
Besides the fact that 100% of the donated money actually goes to building a clean water well, I personally think clean drinking water is such an underrated luxury. People can go without food for 10 days but clean drinking water is such a necessity and it drives me insane to think so many in this world still don’t have access to it. I couldn’t imagine having to walk eight hours a day to get access to water.

3. What are your favorite jewelry or watch pieces within this Roosmarijn de Kok x charity: water curated collection?
I love the Love Collection from Cartier— can’t go wrong with that. The rest of the pieces I picked are mostly rose gold (“roos” gold) and very classic pieces that you can wear for all occasions.

4. What pieces of jewelry do you never leave the house without?
Gold hoop earrings!

5. What is at the top of your jewelry or watch wish-list?
I was planning on getting myself a rose gold Patek Philippe watch but I think it’s more important to donate money right now to my charity campaign. I’m thinking of buying myself something smaller for my birthday like a rose gold Love Bracelet from Cartier, so probably those two! I’m still young so I’m sure I will have plenty of opportunities in my life to collect the best pieces of jewelry that I love the most.

Shop this curated collection of watch and jewelry finds, thoughtfully selected by Roos, and TrueFacet will donate 100% of its proceeds* to Roos’s charity: water birthday well.

There is a noticeable difference in the how millennials shop compared to past generations—from preferring experiences and travel over material goods to seeking out socially-conscious brands over legacy names. And these modern tastes have translated into new “traditions” in jewelry shopping and gifts. Here we take a look at emerging trends and what young couples are swapping this holiday season!

Trend #1: Unbranded and vintage jewelry is on the rise.
Historically, couples largely preferred going to “big box” stores and well known jewelers (think Cartier, Harry Winston, and Tiffany & Co.) for any jewelry gift. More recently, couples have not been so hung up on brand names for their jewelry. Here at TrueFacet we’ve seen a marked uptick in unbranded and vintage jewelry purchases year over year.

Why? Because, across the board, luxury brands are not capturing the attention—and spending dollars—of millennials who are more taken with brands that speak to their personal lifestyle than legacy brands whose high price-tag is not just about quality materials but exclusivity. In turn, we see millennials shopping for more unbranded or vintage jewelry that suits their individual style and has more of its own history, too.

Trend #2: Women are buying more men’s watches for their partners.
In Europe, and particularly in France, it’s very common for women to give their new fiancé a handsome watch upon receiving their engagement ring. This tradition is making its way stateside as couples exchange jewelry or timepieces, instead of the woman only receiving a diamond ring. It’s a romantic way for couples to commemorate the moment and surprise each other with a thoughtful and deeply meaningful gift.

Trend #3: Colorful and semi-precious gemstones are the new diamonds.
While diamonds will probably always be the go-to center stone choice, colorful gemstones are an increasingly popular option for engagement rings.

Millennial couples are looking for engagement rings layered with even more meaning and feel uniquely “theirs.” Naturally, they’re seeking out non-traditional stones and settings for their dream ring and gravitating towards Fancy Color diamonds and semi-precious gemstones like blue topaz, morganite, or citrine. Even gemstones with symbolic or healing properties (like rose quartz, which is known as the love stone, or garnet, the stone of health and creativity) are more commonplace now than they have been in the past decade.

Trend #4: Couples regularly shop together.
In the past it was the “man’s duty” to covertly and independently find the dream engagement ring. Today, couples have zero qualms about shopping together for any piece of jewelry.

Shopping together definitely alleviates the stress of nailing the right size and perfect cut, setting, and style of the ring. But more importantly, younger couples consider ring shopping in particular the first step of their collaborative wedding planning (a responsibility that was usually assumed by women exclusively).

Trend #5: Pre-owned jewelry is quickly growing in popularity.
Pre-owned jewelry has a bad rep, believed to have the “bad juju” of broken engagements or, at the very least, were simply unwanted by the previous owner.

However, consumers across the board are more familiar than in the past about how not every “new” piece of jewelry is necessarily made with a freshly-mined diamond or gemstone. In fact, stones can be taken from earrings, necklaces, or a dated design and re-set into a modern ring.

And budget-conscious millennials are shirking these staid beliefs and realize they can get more bang for their buck with pre-owned jewelry. Shopping for pre-owned rings allows younger couples to save thousands on their dream ring or to upgrade to a larger stone size without eating into their budget.

For more on modern and alternative engagement rings, check out our post here!