Rings Archives

Precious fireworks: star sapphires for the 4th.

July 4, 2014

Good morning, darlings.

Today is the U S of A’s birthday. I’m not really one for going on and on in a nationalist fashion (and, really, I’m not always thrilled with my country and/or its Supreme Court), but you know what I do always love? Holidays. Fireworks. And thematically appropriate dressing.

I’m dedicating today to star sapphires. The technical term for the star of light on these beauties these is an “asterism.” And it’s gorgeous.

This glorious thing is a a black star sapphire necklace by Andrew Grima, circa 1975. So fabulous.

This Art Deco ring is one big firework: a 32 carat star sapphire set in platinum with diamonds, circa 1935.

Okay, these earrings are cheating. They’re chalcedony stars with sapphires, not star sapphires. But they’re festive and they’re Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., so I couldn’t resist.

How fabulous is this chunky star sapphire and diamond cluster ring? Also, I just learned from Google that “star sapphire” is apparently also the name of a ladysuper hero who likes to wear pink and show a lot of clavicle.

I have to show you an Art Deco diamond bracelet or you won’t know whose blog you’re reading. This beauty is from 1930,with 50.00 carats of star sapphires and 9.25 carats of diamonds.

How about this star sapphire and diamond pendant? Simpler than some of the others, but still spectacular.

Here’s one that’s currently for sale at Lang Antiques: this one’s a delicious, cornflower blue star sapphire in a gorgeous 1930’s Art Deco diamond setting. Sign me up.

This gorgeous Mary Kretsinger bracelet features diamonds and star sapphires set in chunky textured gold links. For when you want to wear lots of little fireworks instead of one big one.

Here’s an Art Deco Mauboussin stunner (circa 1926) with onyx, diamonds, carved sapphire and a 86.53 carat (!!) star sapphire. You can bet your buttons it’s the one I’d pick from this bunch. (Found via Jewelery Nerd.)

Another that’s for sale at Lang: an 11 carat stunner of a star sapphire set with diamonds by J.E. Caldwell.

I hope you all have a marvelous day today, my darlings, weather it means anything to you or not. Put some fireworks on your fingers.

Please see the individual descriptions above for source links. All images and info are thanks to the original source of each item.

Etsy wishlist: all the antique rings.

June 11, 2014

There are so many lovely antique rings I want to buy on Etsy right now that I can’t even handle it. My dears, won’t some of you please give these pretties a home before I buy them myself?

Really, the issue is that I’ve discovered some really amazing Etsy stores recently through Instagram, and I should give you store profiles on all of them. It’s possible I’m hoarding knowledge from you, darlings. I’ll try to convince myself to share.

I’ve developed the desire for a twin heart ring. I’m not sure where it came from, but apparently that’s another thing to add to my mental jewelry bucket list. This one is glorious. you know how I feel about turquoise and diamonds together.

This beauty is an Art Deco era piece by Raymond Yard. It actually poses no danger to my wallet because I could never afford it in a million years.

It’s gorgeous, though, isn’t it? It dates to the 1920’s. That aquamarine is just under 4 carats, and the side diamonds and engraved platinum are simply divine.

Take a gander at this amazing opal and pearl antique ring. This rose gold beauty is Victorian, with seed pearls and a central opal. The gold work on this one leaves me speechless.

I’ve had a crush on this bizarre Art Nouveau sapphire and diamond ring ever since it appeared on Maejean Vintage’s Instagram a while ago. Look how weird and dainty it is! I just love it.

This carved carnelian ring isn’t actually described as antique, but it looks Art Deco to me; certainly Art Deco-inspired, even if it’s not actually an antique ring. Just look at that luscious white gold filigree! and the carved flowers on the carnelian. Exquisite.

My desire to own this amethyst and diamond antique ring is really rather severe. I love the shape, the colors, basically everything about it. It’s Victorian, with amethysts and rose-cut diamonds set in 15k gold. A real little beauty.

All images and info in this post are thanks to the Etsy store that is offering each of these antique rings for sale. Please see the links in each individual description for original source. For my beginner’s guide to buying antique jewelry on Etsy, please click here.

Two exceptional 1920s engagement rings.

May 23, 2014

What’s that? You think I post too many 1920s engagement rings? (Just kidding. Who would say anything so ridiculous?)

The two I have for you today don’t have anything really in common, they just both struck me as exceptional so I decided to lump them together. Plus, they look like they get along well, don’t you think?

Let’s take a look at this beauty first. Oh my goodness, do I love an East-West marquise. (“East-West” means that the center stone is set with the long ends pointing to the sides, instead of straight up and down.) This one was made in 1925 by none other than Tiffany & Co., so it’s no wonder it’s a beauty.

Oh, yes. You’re no average 1920s engagement ring, are you, my pretty? Just look at the twisting, ribbon-like details on the sides of the center stone, the engraving along the shank! Glorious. Let’s get even closer.

When it’s this close in, you can really see how the center stone is floating in its millegrained elliptical halo.

I couldn’t resist taking a last, full look. This ring is a queen of refined simplicity; a collection of tiny details and one remarkable stone that form a glorious whole.

Ring #2 reminds me of a peacock. The other one got all that florid prose, this one just gets “looks like a peacock.”

My favorite thing about this early Art Deco stunner – which dates to 1920 and only narrowly makes my cut for “1920s engagement rings” – is that the sapphire side stones vary in color. If that turns out to be a trick of the light in which this piece was photographed, I will be very sad.

You see what I mean about the color of the sapphires? Of course, the rest of the ring is magnificent on its own: just look at that engraving! And I love the shape of it; it has such presence. No one’s going to fail to notice this beauty on your finger.

Sigh. My heart goes pitter-patter.

You know what I’m going to ask, because it’s my favorite question: which of these would you choose if you could only choose one?

Both of these wonderful 1920s engagement rings are currently available at Erstwhile Jewelry Co – please see descriptions above for links. All images and info in this post are thanks to Erstwhile Jewelry Co.

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