Magazine
Welcome to the New Tracy Matthews Magazine
Exciting news — the Tracy Matthews website has been rebuilt with a fresh new look while keeping the same luxe, elegant brand you know and love.
Inherited Jewelry 101: Tips for what to do with inherited jewelry (when you don’t like it)
Inherited Jewelry redesign specialist, Tracy Matthews, takes you thorough the options of what to do with inherited jewelry (or other pieces of jewelry that are considered family heirlooms), when you don't really like it!
The Colored Diamond Guide for Alternative Brides
Colored diamonds are my favorite! Especially for engagement rings. I just love it when a bride comes to me and say, forget the traditional white diamond, let’s go for a colored stone The spectrum of colored diamonds really runs the gamut from pink to blue to yellow to champagne to black….and more shades in between....
A Puzzling Engagement (Ring) Story
Summer is a constant reminder of all things blue... light blue water and serious blue skies. Dark blue skies filled with stars (if you aren’t in the city). And I’m seriously sad that summer vacation season is somewhat coming to an end. What about you? Which reminds me that before summer comes Spring (which...
What’s the Story Behind the Rose-Cut Diamond?
For those of you who have been following my work for some time, you have seen me “pimp” rosecut diamonds.
Stunning Opals: A Trend Here to Stay
Lately, I’ve been totally enamored by opals, especially opal cocktail rings. Opals have become popular amongst designers more recently, but I like to think the opal holds a special, nostalgic place in my heart. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of a cocktail ring that my sister inherited from my grandmother (that lucky lady)! Or maybe...
Italian Design Inspiration
Are you inspired when you travel? Traveling has always felt like design research for me… Crystal blue waters, ancient architecture and cultural experience are HUGE on my inspiration list. That’s why I feel pretty blessed that I've been able to travel to Italy twice in the past two years! There is something about Italy...
Padparadscha Sapphires: The Sunset Gemstone
Over the past few years, I’ve had a lot of fun designing cocktail rings engagement rings with alternative stones. From stunning opals to rose gold, I love playing around with unique and eye-catching metals and stones.
A Trend Here to Stay: Rose Gold Engagement Rings
Recently, I’ve been designing loads of rings in one of my favorite metals, Rose Gold. The pink hued metal was quite popular back in the art deco period and was first popularized by Cartier’s trinity ring! Since the rose tint accents just about any stone perfectly, it has such a ‘modern classic’ vibe. I’m going to...
2014 in Review: My Favorite Alternative Bridal Inspirations
2015 is here and I am so grateful! As 2014 comes to a close, I am ringing in the New Year with a hefty dose of gratitude an overwhelming appreciation. I’ve been a little quiet here and haven’t been writing many articles for my “magazine.” However, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been busy at...
My 3 Fave Instagram Feeds for Vintage Jewelry Inspiration
Do you love vintage jewelry as much as I do? Since I was I was a girl, I’ve been obsessed with the jewelry that was in my mother’s jewelry box. As an adult, I started collecting my own vintage jewelry and antique pieces from all over the world. In fact, vintage jewelry has become an...
Drool Worthy Emerald and Diamond Convertible Drop Earrings
I’m obsessed Emeralds! So I was thrilled to be bombarded with an influx of custom design opportunities all featuring green stones. From emeralds to tourmaline, green stones are just stunning and perfect for jewelry of all types. Earlier this summer...
How to Select the Perfect Diamond
Selecting the perfect diamond for an engagement ring can be a stressful endeavor! Are you confused about where to start? You might have heard of “The 4 C’s” in passing. You may even know the actual C’s – Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat weight. But when it comes down to it, many people don’t know...
The story behind my passion for heirloom redesign jewelry
I look just like my mother, just with dark hair instead of blond. We have the same laugh, the same smile, the same amount of energy, and I inherited a lot of my creativity from her. 21 years ago today, she passed away... Her death was surprising! Sudden. A shock to my family. She was...
My Favorite Engagement Rings From 2013
We are already a few weeks into 2014… where does the time go? I’m not really sure. While this was meant to go live before the year ended, I was having too much fun in California with my nieces and decided that sometimes family is more important than getting a blog post together on time....
The New "Not So" Classic Engagement Rings
I’ve been having a lot of fun lately! I can’t believe it’s mid September and the holiday season is just around the corner. I have been so busy that I haven’t had much time to write. However, over the next few weeks, I have a lot of fantastic stories coming to you about inspiration, amazing...
Style Rockstars: The Edgiest Jewelry of the 2013 Grammys
As you all know by now, I love awards season. Style watching is always prime, and the celebs of the music world bring out the big guns for the Grammys. Whereas the Oscars are all about Hollywood glam, the Grammys can get a little bit edgier – a little bit rock n’ roll. So, in...
Spring Bridal Trends that I Love
Love is in the air! Spring is the time of flowers, hummingbirds, and of course, gorgeous weddings! You all know I’m a wedding (and love) fanatic! I’ve been tracking my favorite trends in spring bridal fashion this year and here is a list of my top ten. PEPLUM DRESSES Peplum style wedding dresses are my...
How to Wear Pantone’s Color of the Year: Emerald Green
2013 is all about Emerald Green. Every year, Pantone LLC names a color of the year based on current trends and predicted sustainability. The color is everywhere and it’s fabulous. It’s a balanced shade of green, representing love, calmness, serenity, rejuvenation and eternity. In Hindu culture, Emerald Green is the color used to align the...
3 Pieces That Every Woman Must Have in Her Jewelry Box
Have you ever wondered what is missing your your jewelry box? It's true: jewelry is totally a personal thing. However, there are some basic items that every woman 'Must Have' in her jewelry wardrobe. They can be classic and timeless or a little edgy but always reflective of your personal style. So let's talk about...
Vintage Jewelry: Hard to Leave Behind
It’s no secret that I love vintage jewelry! A huge source of my inspiration comes from all things Vintage.
The Anatomy of a Mother’s Necklace: This is How I Do It
If you are familiar with my work, you know that my passion is designing customized, heirloom jewelry for individuals that represent their lives, their personality or their families.
Platinum vs. White Gold: What’s the big difference anyway?
As a designer, I work with clients all of the time who ask me these questions. White precious metals really allow diamonds to sparkle and have been the traditional choice for many who are in the market for an engagement ring.
The Inner Power and Outer Beauty of the Sapphire
There is no one who can deny the beauty of a deep blue sapphire. That is probably why they are used so often in fine jewelry.
4 Gemstones that Radiate LOVE Energy
As you may have read in my recent guest blog posts, January has been the month of the healing power of stones.
For the Love of Light – an Ayurvedic Approach to Healing What Ails You With Gemstones
Life takes us all in directions. We zig zag through the tunnels and byways of learning, finding our true selves, rejecting parts and then reconnecting again.
How does it work anyway?
I just love connecting with other entrepreneurs. That's why it makes sense that recently I joined a Mastermind group of female entreprenuers. The other day...
Finding The Perfect Eco-Friendly Wedding Ring
Planning a green wedding is not just a trend these days, it is part of a lifestyle. So, it makes sense that the symbol representing your marriage is eco-friendly as well. Among your countless choices in brands and styles of wedding bands, you can find many designers using recycled and renewed fine metals for their...
Jewelry Insider Secret: How to Trade In Old Gold for Beautiful, Custom Jewelry
You know that broken, gold snake chain that has been collecting dust in your jewelry armoire for years? It is time to put it to good use. Gold prices are at an all time high! Just last week gold’s value reached a record high of just over $1,800. What a great...
How I turned something old into something new (and saved my client a ton of money in the process)
Over the years, many of us start to build an amazing collection of jewelry. Our parents gift us things for important birthdays and events, a love buys us a special gift that was coveted until the relationship crumbled, we splurged on something expensive and special that we swore we would wear all the time but...
Heirloom Unworn to Gorgeous Reborn
Heirloom and Diamond Ring I love this ring! From generation to generation, heirloom stones and jewelry are passed along from mothers to daughters, from grandmothers to grandchildren. Let's face it- sometimes what was in style in 1965 is super cool but possibly less than functional in 2010. So what do you do when you've been...