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

Preparing to visit Lang Antiques!

Hello, my dears.

Wednesdays are normally my day off, but I need your input on something very exciting.

On Friday, I am journeying to California to finally visit the fabulous Lang Antiques in person. What I want to know is: is there anything you’d especially like to see me try on? It’s a quick trip, but I intend to make the most of it. Please peruse their website here or revisit pieces of theirs that I’ve blogged about before here or in the collages below.

Collage of Lang Antiques' jewelry featured on Diamonds in the Library (Part 1).

Stay with me, that’s only half of the Lang pretties I’ve featured. I just can’t help myself.

Collage of Lang Antiques' jewelry featured on Diamonds in the Library (Part 2).

xoxo,

Becky

Full disclosure: My trip to California is compliments of Lang Antiques, but my opinions remain my own.

 

Thin Space by Jody Casella.

My review of Thin Space by Jody Casella, a beautifully-written, haunting book about a teenage boy who has recently lost his twin brother in a car accident. Via Diamonds in the Library.Thin Space by Jody Casella.

This book is: dark and heart wrenching with a pinch of magical realism.
Other elements: twins, sibling relationships, the death of a teenage, identity,
Read it: if you love strong, complicated characters.
Overall rating: 7.75/10

One of the reviews I saw online for Thin Space described reading the novel as similar to being “trapped in a dream” and I think that’s pretty accurate. I read this book all in one sitting – it pulled me in and I didn’t want to break away until I knew where it was going.

The hero of Thin Space is a young man named Marsh, a teenage boy still reeling from his twin’s recent death. Marsh is consumed with finding a way to get in touch with his recently deceased brother, but not just any way: he wants to find a “thin space,” one of the portals of Celtic legend that his elderly neighbor told him about shortly before her death.

I was drawn entirely into Marsh’s mind while reading this book. I saw his world as he did, felt the cold ground under my bare feet, could put my hands up against the barrier of grief that separated Marsh from other people. It’s truly remarkable, then, that the author managed to pull off  a huge end-of-novel reveal. I knew there was a piece of information that I was missing about Marsh’s past, but I never suspected the truth.

Through Marsh, you get a glimpse of a small community that’s reeling from the tragic death of a young boy and the entire town’s inability to know how to act around the surviving twin. Eventually, with the help of a new neighbor who never knew Marsh as one half of a pair, he’s able to come to an important decision about he wants to live his post-twin life.

If you’re going to read Thin Space, I recommend that you steer clear of other reviews to make sure that no one spoils the ending for you! It’s worth the effort.

My thanks to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse/Beyond Words for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

More lovely antique rings from Erstwhile Jewelry Co.

My store profile of Erstwhile Jewelry Co. is still one of my favorite posts ever. Do you remember that antique engagement ring with the ribbon details? Gorgeous. I went to check in with Erstwhile recently to see what new treasures they’ve found since then.

As usual, Erstwhile’s selection of antique rings had me drooling on my keyboard (metaphorically). Let’s take a look.

This antique ring is Edwardian and centers a 2.80 carat diamond set in gold and platinum and framed by calibre cut emeralds and single cut diamonds in a scalloped outer border. Circa 1910. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This glorious antique ring is Edwardian, from 1910. It centers a 2.80 carat diamond set in gold and platinum and framed by calibre cut emeralds and single cut diamonds in a scalloped outer border. It’s lovely, light, and bold all at once.

Victorian antique engagement ring in gold and silver with a ruby and two old mine cut diamonds, circa 1875. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This Victorian beauty was probably made as an engagement ring, but it would be beautiful on any finger. Set in silver and gold, it was made in 1875 and features a ruby and two old mine cut diamonds.

Antique Art Deco engagement ring centered by a 1.18 carat old European cut diamond, and accented by single cut diamonds, lacy openwork in a sunrise or half-moon pattern, and millegrain details. Via Diamonds in the Library.

My favorite detail on this Art Deco engagement ring is the side view and how the opework gallery looks like a geometric sunrise. It’s also from 1920, is centered by a 1.18 carat old European cut diamond, and is accented by single cut diamonds and millegrain details.

2.3 carat antique Art Deco engagement ring with sparkling side stones, a filigree openwork gallery, and engraved details. Circa 1920. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This 2.3 carat antique ring was made in 1920 and it’s a dream come true. It’s listed as an engagement ring, but I’d be thrilled to wear this beauty on any finger. The gently engraved band sprinkled with sparkling stones; the elegant, architectural gallery, the old European cut stone in its octagonal setting.

Antique Art Deco emerald and diamond ring with millegrain details and elaborate engraving, circa 1920. Would be beautiful as a cocktail ring or an engagement ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This glorious Art Deco ring is from 1920 and it’s centered by a old European cut diamond prong set in a square setting framed in calibre cut emeralds. The shoulders feature a gorgeous triple-line design in diamonds that lends the effect of a split shank. It is decorated with millegrain details, elaborate engraving, and is the perfect size for my right hand.

Have I mentioned to you enough times recently how much I love engraving? I love engraving. This antique ring (actually, most of these antique rings) can remind you why.

Early Art Deco antique ring with a bezel set sapphire set within two octagonal millegrain-edged platinum borders set with diamonds in platinum over gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This early Art Deco sapphire and diamond ring is another that I’d love to see as an engagement ring or as any-finger bling. It was made in 1910 and centers a vivid bezel set sapphire within two octagonal millegrain-edged platinum borders set with diamonds. It’s platinum on gold, and I’ve rarely seen a more powerful argument for mixing metals. How incredible is that side view?

This antique Art Deco ring centers a 1 carat bezel-set emerald accented with single cut diamonds and calibre cut emeralds decorated with delicate millegrain details. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I think this Art Deco emerald and diamond ring is basically perfect (although I’d say that about most of these antique rings). The lines, the colors, the texture! It centers a 1 carat bezel-set emerald accented with single cut diamonds and calibre cut emeralds decorated with delicate millegrain details.

All images and info in this post are thanks to Erstwhile Jewelry Co. Please see individual descriptions above for links to each of these antique rings.

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