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Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co.

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Tiffany & Co., the beloved jeweler of Holly Golightly as well as many before and after her.

I must admit, I’m not big on Tiffany’s most popular contemporary pieces: squiggly open hearts and chunky charm bracelets don’t do much for me. But I ardently admire their high jewelry and absolutely die for their older designs.

For example, this necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany:

An Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and an sapphire drop.As I mentioned, this spectacular piece is the creation of none other than the great Louis Comfort Tiffany. (It’s his family’s “Co.”) And looking at this piece, it’s not hard to see how the company ended up with such renown. It’s dazzling.

The simplicity and the complexity all in one just blow me away. Look at the interaction of the colors, the shapes of the enamel elements, the repeating patterns and pops of color. And all on such a small piece: this necklace is only 16.25 inches long.

I had a dream about this necklace. A nightmare, actually. I dreamed that my parents gave this to me for my birthday (I wish) and then I lost it in my couch (horrifying). The entire dream was me searching through the couch and panicking, knowing that the necklace was gone and that it was my fault. Feel free to psychoanalyze me now.

Full view of an Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and sapphire drop.This piece was made between 1914 and 1927, but I’m calling it Art Nouveau because of the style. It features a double-chain of small fancy-shaped links applied with champlevé enamel in shades of blue, green and plum, spaced at intervals by cabochon emeralds. The center of the chain is decorated with a large floral link enameled in blue and green and set with cabochon sapphires, rubies, and an emerald. The center of the chain supporting an unusual blue and plum colored sapphire drop.

Even the back of the links of the necklace are enameled to match the sapphire.

Pendant detail of an Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and an sapphire drop.

Let’s look at that sapphire for a minute. Deep blue at the top, fading to vivid purple – almost fuchsia – by the bottom. Have you ever seen anything like this in a piece of jewelry before? I haven’t. How spectacular, that Tiffany saw the promise in this exceptional gem and created this incredible chain to compliment it. Thank you, LCT. You rock my world.

This mind-blowingly beautiful necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany was sold in Sotheby’s December 2011 auction, Jewels from the Estate of William B. Dietrich Sold to Benefit the William B. Dietrich Foundation.

Guess what? You get a bonus today. Check out this incredible brooch, also by Louis Comfort Tiffany:

Art Nouveau opal, sapphire, garnet, and enamel brooch by Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co., circa 1910. Via Diamonds in the Library.This beauty was made in 1910. It centers on a black opal within a textured surround of vine leaves and fruit, decorated with blue and green enamel and accented with circular-cut sapphires and green garnets. It looks to me like the opal’s chipped, which is a shame, but it’s still a lush and memorable piece.

This brooch was listed in Sotheby’s April 2013 Jewels sale. All Images and info in this post are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 An Art Nouveau necklace by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co., circa 1914-1927. Champlevé enamel, emeralds, and a remarkable sapphire drop.

Precious vegetation from Michele della Valle.

Ready for more bright cheerfulness from Michele della Valle? I wouldn’t wear these together unless you’re starring as Titania in a particularly well-funded production of Midsummer; they’re all rather high-voltage (in the best possible way).

Carnation brooches by Michele della Valle. Set with 23.58 carats of diamonds. The stems are green tourmaline, and the red flower is set red spinel.

These carnation brooches are the most realistically-designed pieces we’re looking at today. Everything else is somewhat stylized. I think these are just beautiful.

Red carnation brooch by Michele della Valle. Set with 23.58 carats of diamonds. The stems are green tourmaline, and the red flower is red spinel.White carnation brooch by Michele della Valle, set with white diamonds in white gold and titanium. The lovely green stem is detailed in cabochon green tourmaline segments.

The two carnation brooches are set with a total of 23.58 carats round white diamonds. The red flower is set with round spinels weighing 2.97 carats. The lovely green stems are detailed in cabochon green tourmaline segments. Both brooches are set in white gold and titanium.

I think these would look lovely worn together or separately.

Ruby, sapphire, and diamond earrings by Michele della Valle. With pavé-set with circular-cut pink sapphires, cushion-shaped rubies, and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Each of these fabulous earrings is designed as a flower, the petals pavé-set with circular-cut pink sapphires. Each center is set with a cushion-shaped ruby within a border of brilliant-cut diamonds. I think they’re marvelous.

Michele della Valle's Ivy necklace. The flexible ivy branch is set with ten oval emeralds, totaling 30.00 carats, and leaves set with circular-cut emeralds (35.15 cts).

And finally: the bright, glamor of Michele della Valle’s “Ivy” necklace. (I’m pretty sure you can tell where the name came from).

The flexible ivy branch is set with ten oval emeralds, which weigh a total of approximately 30.00 carats, and highlighted by leaves set with circular-cut emeralds (adding an additional approximate 35.15 carats of emeralds). The necklace is mounted in yellow gold and is further embellished by approximately 2.20 carats of diamonds. Pretty fabulous. Not subtle.

The brooches were listed in Sotheby’s December 2010 Magnificent Jewels sale. The earrings were listed in Sotheby’s  November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale and the necklace was listed in Sotheby’s April 2013 Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale.  All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Sapphire and diamond necklace, late 19th century.

This necklace is spectacular. Really, what comes to mind when I look at it is the phrase “fit for a queen.”

Sapphire and diamond necklace, late 19th century. It detaches into 6 pieces so that the jewels can be worn separately.
This magnificent thing was made in the late 19th century. It is of bow and foliate swag design, millegrain-set with variously cut sapphires and circular-, single-, cushion-shaped and rose diamonds. It detaches into 6 pieces so that the jewels can be worn separately.

Closer view; antique sapphire and diamond necklace, late 19th century. It detaches into 6 pieces so that the jewels can be worn separately.

This piece was listed in Sotheby’s  November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

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