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

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Betteridge Collection pear-shaped black opal cocktail ring with pink sapphire.

I don’t mean to neglect contemporary jewelry, it’s just that I love the old stuff so much. But there are things happening in modern jewelry that are definitely worth a gander also.

Betteridge Collection pear-shaped black opal cocktail ring with pink sapphire.

This ring was made by Manuel Bouvier specifically for the Betteridge Collection at Betteridge. The ring rose gold and is centered by a black opal (5.08 carats) surrounded by 75 round-cut pink sapphires (0.71 total carats).

I think it’s fun without being cheesy and genuinely beautiful. I can’t get enough of the way the pink sapphires pick up the warmer flecks of color in the opal.

This ring has been sold but you can still ogle it (and the many other beautiful things in the Betteridge Collection) on Betteridge’s website. All images and information are thanks to Betteridge.

Art Deco purplish-pink sapphire and diamond ring.

This ring embodies the perfection of the clean Art Deco design aesthetic that I love so dearly.

Art Deco purplish-pink sapphire and diamond ring, circa 1920. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Geometric shapes and the lines of their intersections meld to create this simple, luxurious, and eye catching beauty. It was made in 1920, so its perfect Art Deco-ness makes a lot of sense.

The ring is centered by a cushion cut, purplish-pink Ceylon sapphire weighing approximately 4.65 cts. The central sapphire is flanked by baguette-cut diamonds, which lead to further diamonds on the shank. The ring also appears to have delicate millegrain embellishment on the edges of most of the stone’s settings and around the edges of the shank, although this detail isn’t mentioned in the listing.

This ring is currently for sale at FD Gallery, listing available via 1stdibs. All images and info are thanks to FD Gallery.

Ring roundup: vintage/ antique diamonds.

For your left ring finger or any other! Vintage and antique diamonds.

Art Deco platinum and diamond engagement ring, circa 1920. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I adore the openwork on this .60 carat Art Deco platinum and diamond engagement ring. This ring was made in the 1920’s-1930’s. The central diamond is accentuated by a straight baguette diamond set in a bullet shape setting and is outlined in a gracefully scalloped diamond-set frame. Hand engraving at the top of the shank provides a final, lovely detail. I’d love to see this on a finger (I volunteer my own).

.83 carat vintage diamond engagement ring made in the 1940s. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This lovely .83 carat vintage diamond engagement ring was made in the 1940’s. The sparkling round diamond is highlighted on each side with a charming trefoil leaf motif set with tiny, twinkling, single-cut antique diamonds.

Edwardian twin-stone diamond ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

More of a right-hander than a typical engagement ring, this leafy Edwardian twin-stone diamond ring is exceptional. This ring, crafted in platinum over gold, dates back the very end the nineteenth century. It features  a matched pair of old mine-cut diamonds weighing .45 carats set diagonally among a leafy motif shimmering with tiny rose cut diamonds.

Mid-century 2.01 carat diamond engagement ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This mid-century 2.01 carat diamond engagement ring is bold and glamorous. The diamond is embraced by split shoulders set with long, slender baguette cut diamonds punctuated with a round brilliant cut on either side. I do love a split shoulder.

.83 carat Edwardian diamond engagement ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This .83 carat Edwardian diamond engagement ring is so curvacous and unique.  The .83 carat old Eurpean-cut diamond is set in platinum and surrounded by beautiful openwork and  four tiny twinkling old mine diamonds. I think this one is really dainty and beautiful. (Very similar to my engagement ring!)

These rings have all been sold by Lang Antiques, I found them in the Archive. I’m sorry to break your heart by showing you rings that already belong to people, but even sold rings are worth admiring.

Vintage and antique engagement rings. Diamonds from the Edwardian era to Art Deco and MidCentury.

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