Guess what, darlings?
Diamonds in the Library is two years old as of TODAY.
In the past 24 months, I’ve gone from being able to look at my page views and attribute each one to a member of my family to connecting with thousands of jewelry lovers all over the world and being invited to fabulous jewelry industry events in NYC and Paris.
This is my 552nd post. (Remember how I used to update every day? I was crazy to think I could sustain that.)
I am thrilled and humbled when I realize how far I’ve come, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next.
None of this would be possible without you, my faithful and fabulous readers. Therefore, to celebrate my blog’s second birthday, I’m going to give you a present.
This beautiful Art Nouveau starburst or flower pendant – donated by the fabulous Maejean Vintage – was dates to the early 1900’s. It’s made of 10k rose gold set with many tiny pearls and one genuine diamond.
The pendant hangs on a 1940’s gold-filled chain (not original to the piece). The pendant is approximately 1 x 1 inches and the chain is 20 inches long.
It’s also convertible: the back of the pendant has a pin fitting, so the piece can also be worn as a brooch. It weighs 3.8 grams total.
This antique pearl and diamond beauty was originally priced by Maejean Vintage at over $200. Now it’s going to go to one of you as a gift.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The only thing you must do to enter is to log in above and complete the first action. You can triple your chance of winning if you do all of the additional actions, but they’re not mandatory.
The lucky winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecoptor and must claim the prize within one week of email notification, otherwise the prize will be forfeit and a new winner will be chosen.
A huge and heartfelt thank you to Maejean Vintage for donating this beautiful antique pearl and diamond necklace and making this giveaway possible. These lovely images of the prize are c/o Maejean Vintage as well. Good luck to all those entering the giveaway!
(That gold and diamond crown I’m wearing at the top of the post is by Thyreos Vassiliki and I promise to tell you more about it soon.)
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I love all the old photos you post here and on instagram of fabulous jewels from times gone by!
My favorite is extremely recent- the Art Deco Boucheron pearl necklace. I’ve been following on tumblr for a while, and I just fell completely in love as soon as it showed up on my dash.
That one’s glorious, isn’t it?!? I often bookmark jewelry to feature later, but I started writing a blog post the second I saw that necklace.
My favourite post was the one featuring the ballerina-set diamond ring!!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Boucheron Art Deco Pearl Necklace with the Vase!!
I like all the posts regarding Edwardian era and Art Deco jewelry.
I really enjoyed this post Exceptional gemstone and diamond rings.
I love the featured rings. Big single stones.
I love Art Deco jewelry, so I enjoyed your post about engagement rings. Even though I’ve been married for many years!!
I especially liked the Disney princess collection rings, but everything you post is beautiful!
Thanks, Danielle!
Congrats! I’m a fan of books and shiny things, so I’m going to pic a book review as my favorite post. I like post on The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. It made me want to read the book.
A great choice! I adored that book and I’m glad to hear I did it justice 🙂
I think one of my favorite posts is the post featuring Designs by Jocelyn . Love those things.
I love Treat yo’ self: summer fling bling under $150. I love cool looks but I love finding a bargain!
One of my favorite posts was your review of the jewelry at the Met Gala, but I love ALL of your posts – I must be your sistah from another mother, because books and jewelry are my passions as well!!
Thanks so much, Kimberly!! I’m thrilled to have you as a reader. <3
The Disney princess engagement ring posts were my absolute favorite – so fun!!
You know, I almost didn’t post those because I was worried they were too silly. But they’ve ended up being some of my favorites as well!
I guess I’m late to the party (to the pretty?), but I just discovered your blog and absolutely love it!
Latecomers are entirely welcome to this party. I’m glad you’re here!
I love your Antique jewellery posts!
Thanks, Jenna!
Favorite post is the store profile for Maejean Vintage!
They have great stuff, don’t they?
I have only been reading your blog for a year, but I enjoy every post.
Thanks!
And…I love the posts when you visit jewelry stores and get to try on fabulous items.
A year is pretty good! I’m happy to have you as a reader.
And I love the posts when I try on fabulous jewelry, too! 😉
My favorite post was the one about the 2013 Baltimore Antiques show — loved all the “eye candy” photos. Makes me want to get up to Baltimore fot the show…
It’s so worth it. I just went again to this year’s! Post to come soon.
I love the “Treat yo’self” entries and “Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Cartier jewels at Hillwood”. I think it’s an important reminder to take care of ourselves as I know, I’m often thinking about my husband, son and other responsibilities. And I also love anything historical and seeing the craftsmanship of Cartier and to see which jewels were part of someone’s life is fascinating. Oh, and congrats on the blog anniversary! 😉
Thanks, Jennifer!! I
Followed your tumblr for ages now and I love it! The modern and antique stuff you post is amazing!!! Happy 2-year anniversary
Thanks so much, Lucianna!!
MaeJean Vintage led me to your blog – and I love your “Etsy Wishlist: all the antique rings”….LOVING that opal and pearl gold ring! It’s just gorgeous. I will need to be checking out your “beginner’s guide to buying antique jewelry on etsy” as well.
Thanks, Amanda Jane! Welcome, and thanks so much for checking me out!
Really enjoyed the store profiles posting, including the one about Maejean vintage.
Thanks, Rebecca! Those are some of the most fun to write.
Of course the pictures are wonderful but my favourite post was the ‘Scratty Nails’ thread. The poorly placed comment totally missed the point although it’s an expression I’ve factored into my personal phrase book!
That’s hilarious, Lynn!! I totally say that sometimes since then, too. I love that I have inside jokes with my readers now 🙂
A friend told me about this blog a few months ago and I check it to see the pretty things posted almost as much as I check my work email.
Thanks, Cristen! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the pretties.
My favourite post was the Ring roundup: random antique beauties!
Oh my goodness, the rings on that post are phenomenal!! Especially the twin hearts with the pearls! That one is to die for!!
Thank you! That’s one of my favorites, too.
I think the Edwardian cabochon sapphire and diamond ring from Lang Antiques post is my favourite. Simply because I love that ring, and the colour is even more beautiful in your photos with it! Lang’s is my best site to online window shop haha. I have to say that I also am a fan of the treat yo self series. Hopefully there are more planned for the future.
That ring is really spectacular, isn’t it?? I’m glad you’re enjoying the treat yo’self posts. I promise many more to come.
my favorite? perhaps the one about opals…i love opals.
Loved “J Lo’s Emerald and diamond party” blog post.
Thanks, Heather! I had a lot of fun writing that one.
the disney princess series is mine and my daughters favorite
Aw, yay! I’m glad. That’s one of my favorites, too.
Gorgeous pendant! 🙂
So hard to pick one favorite post! I just love seeing your amazing finds!
Thank you, Hillary!!
DITL is my favorite blog by far because of the pretties and wit! But mostly because of its blogger.
<3
I LOVE the starfish you’re giving away. My father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away in the past 1 and 3 years (respectively). They moved to Maui over 50 years ago when hardly anyone had heard of it. Both worked early on with whale preservation and a host of environmental issues. I inherited a beautiful gold stingray necklace and earrings dad had made for mom as well as a uniqued whale. She never bought any of her lovely and unique jewelry. Dad knew what she loved and would have a jeweler hand craft something unique just for her. This starfish reminds me so much of them, their wonderful love for each other and for Maui and all things ocean.
What a beautiful story, Jonelle! No wonder you feel a connection to this piece. I’m sorry for your loss, but glad you have such lovely memories. Thank you for sharing with us.
I like your tips for buying jewelry on Ebay.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
Just discovered your blog and I’m loving every sparkly moment! Happy Anniversary!
What a lovely comment. Thank you, and welcome!
You know what? I really liked your review of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? I remember reading that one when I first learned about your site and enjoying how you reviewed things.
Awesome. I still love that book. Let’s drink wine again soon!
My favorite post was the beautiful diamond tennis bracelets; I still would like to get one someday. Someday.
Amen.
The stories are the best part, the jewelry is an added bonus!!
i like the tiffany black opal ring post since i like opals .
intl. thanks
I love that one too.
I love the Tiffany and co. Black opal and diamond estate ring that you uncovered!
That one’s a beauty, isn’t it??
I really can’t choose. But maybe seeing your engagement ring was the best of all. Yes, that was it.
Aww, that’s a lovely answer. Thank you, Charlotte!
It’s also true. The ring is just so very you. Nothing generic about it.
Its so hard to choose! But I have a special fondness for every post with Victorian snake jewelry.
Very reasonable of you 🙂
My favourite post? Showing a lot of blue and telling me about treating myself 😉 so “Treat yo’self: easy, breezey, blue under $90.”
Happy blog b-day! Loved browsing through the art deco engagement ring posts, that was one of my favorites. I was also thinking, you know what would be kind of fun, would be to spend some time daydreaming about jewelry that might belong to beloved characters, like, say, what piece do you imagine would belong in Molly Bloom’s jewelry box? I think she’d actually like this particular necklace 🙂
Thanks, Silvia! I love that idea. I’ve actually done something sort of similar on Book Riot, a book blog I also write for: http://bookriot.com/2013/07/25/jewelry-for-fictional-characters/
I think my favorite post is the one about the nephrite brooches. The inclusions it the green were so cool! I also love seeing Cartier animals. .. especially the panthers.
Those are gorgeous, weren’t they? Thanks for commenting!
I love any post about vintage jewelry. Especially when it leads me to a shop
In that case: have you seen my page dedicated to mini jewelry store reviews? I think it might be just your cup of tea: http://diamondsinthelibrary.com/jewelry-stores/
Well, can’t hurt to try! I found you because of your Disney rings – they were well thought out and not trying to look exactly like the princesses. I have enjoyed most of your ring posts as well – especially when the rings are big, bold and out there (not that those work on my fingers, but I love looking at them!).
Thank you! I had a great time writing those. I’m glad you enjoy them too 🙂
I loved your Disney princess ring series 🙂 Thanks for the fab blog!
Thank you! It’s my pleasure.
I love all of the amazing jewelry you post, but more than that, I LOVE the stories behind them!
Thanks Kieran!
Congratulations Becky! You look good in a crown….
Thank you, Cheryl!!
How pretty!!