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A lady with a love for literature and shiny things discusses books & bling.

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Retro emerald and diamond brooch, Van Cleef and Arpels.

I think this brooch is great for winter parties. It’s seasonally appropriate in terms of color scheme without being kitschy or holiday specific. It says “I am aware that it is winter. Also, I am classy and fabulous.”

 Retro emerald and diamond brooch, Van Cleef and Arpels.

Van Cleef and Arpels designed this brooch in 1966. The brooch is shaped like a spray of flowers on a baguette-cut diamond scrolling stem and leaves. The six circular-cut diamond blossoms each center upon a cluster of sugarloaf cabochon emeralds and extend a spray of baguette-cut diamonds. It is mounted in platinum and white gold.

This brooch was sold as part of Christie’s October 21, 2009 Rare Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

 

Elephant Family brooch by Cartier.

I’ve decided that my general dislike of animal-shaped jewelry has three main exceptions: total absurdity, elephants, and Cartier.

"Elephant Family" brooch, Cartier. Gold, diamonds, and emeralds. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This brooch, which was made by Cartier in the 1990’s, features a tiny elephant family out for a tiny walk. Please note how they are adorably holding each others’ tiny tails with their tiny trunks. Each elephant has a tiny emerald eye and the central elephant (which looks like the mama, to me) is encrusted with diamonds. Also, one of them is a baby. An itty-bitty, teeny-tiny, baby elephant made of gold! I have no words.

"Elephant Family" brooch, Cartier. Gold, diamonds, and emeralds. Via Diamonds in the Library.

The brooch is made of 18 k yellow gold and set with 2 carats of diamonds as well as several tiny emeralds. I want to hold it in my hand and make the elephants walk around my desk. Let’s look at more baby elephants.

This brooch is for sale at Fortrove, listing available via 1stdibs. Thanks to Fortrove and 1stdibs for the images and info.

 

Conch pearl, cultured pearl, and diamond brooch.

A lot of the time I feel like I need to have several brooches in the same post in order to make them interesting enough to put on the blog. That’s not the case with this one.

Conch pearl, cultured pearl, and diamond brooch. Silver-topped gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Stunning, yes?

This brooch, made of silver-topped gold, is designed with a folate motif of leaves and acorns. Each acorn is set with a pearl: one conch pearl (approximately 12.7 by 13.5 by 11.2 mm), one baroque cultured pearl of silver hue (approximately 26.6 by 17.7 by 14.7 mm), and one baroque cultured pearl of dark gray hue (approximately 23.3 by 15.6 by 10.0 mm).

The leaves – which I can’t stop looking at – are silver-topped gold of openwork design,and are set throughout with old mine and rose-cut diamonds totaling approximately 8.00 carats.

This beauty was listed in Sotheby’s December 2012 Magnificent Jewels from the Collection of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman auction. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 

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