Diamonds in the Library

Man in the Moon: Penny Preville’s lunar lovelies.

October 30, 2018

Today’s post is dedicated to something dreamy and soulful, some stunning pieces that feel like they’re straight out of a storybook. It’s Penny Preville’s Man in the Moon collection.

Aren’t they wonderful??

I adore the crescent of diamonds on the rose gold man in the moon pendant and the cascades of diamonds and gold stars on the earrings. I especially love how the stars are stylized and angular: it suggests motion and keeps things feeling magical and mysterious.

As you might surmise, these beauties are available in several different metals.

The carved man in the moon moonstone is a classic design element we’ve seen and loved before in lovely antique man in the moon jewels I’ve encountered occasionally – usually rings. I’ve shown you one from The Three Graces and also A Brandt and Son in Philly.

The antique pieces are very hard to find, so I’m glad to see a contemporary designer whose finding inspiration in these wonderful carved moonstone faces.

The antique carved man in the moon moonstones tend to be a little more serious in expression than the modern ones here, but they’re just as charming in their own way.

I love all of the Penny Preville man in the moon pieces, but the one I imagine myself wearing is the pendant. It’s just so peaceful and comforting, somehow.

Here are some ultraglam Penny Preville stars to go along with the man in the moon pieces! Men in the moons? Man in the moons? This post is an unending grammatical conundrum.

Also: I can’t tell you how hard I tried to make the subject of those post fully alliterative. I failed, though. “Pretty Penny Preville pMoons”? “Penny Preville’s Precious pMoon Pretties?” I can’t make it work.

Please let me know if any of you can crack the alliteration puzzle! If you can, I’ll use your alternate title in my Instagam post caption later today.

Photos c/o Penny Preville.

The Art Deco dragon bracelet of my dreams.

October 23, 2018

I’ve met this Art Deco dragon bracelet several times over the years now, and I’ve tried to photograph it every single time. I don’t think I’ll ever do it justice, but these photos are better than what I’ve gotten in prior years so I’m going to share it with you so that you can be in love with it too.

Okay. I don’t know what you pictured when you read “Art Deco dragon bracelet” but I bet you didn’t expect it to be quite this incredible.

This stunning treasure was made in 1935 and the design is attributed to Gustav Manz. Look at those lashing ruby tongues, the flashing ruby eyes, the spectacular, half-raised diamond wings! Are the dragons fighting? Are they flirting? Are they both trying to eat the marquis and trillion cut diamonds in the center? Are the diamond columns in the background part of some fantastic castle or fortress that the diamond dragons are guarding?

I can barely look at this Art Deco dragon bracelet, it gets me all in a tizzy. Who expects to see magnificent mythical beasts like these rendered in classic Art Deco geometry? It’s so amazing!!

I’m dying to know how this Art Deco dragon bracelet even came to be. Did it just come into Gustav Manz’s mind one day? Or perhaps a special commission for a Jazz age Khaleesi flapper badass?

It’s so unusual that I think there’s a good chance it was a special commission, but we’ll never know. You absolutely need to see a video of this Art Deco dragon bracelet. I will post it on Instagram later today, so stand by.

A huge thanks to Pat Saling, for letting me fondle this Art Deco dragon bracelet at several different antique shows (it was still for sale, the last I heard!). I still pine for these dragons and I will probably ask to touch them again in the future, unless some dragon enthusiast with excellent taste and a large budget snaps it up!

What I’m reading: Vol. 104.

October 18, 2018

Good morning, my darlings!

My goodness – autumn is really here, isn’t it? In Maryland we’ve got full on falling leaves, crisp breezes, and gourds on our stoops. I love this time of year, although it often feels all too brief. Soon I’ll be whining about the cold, but right now I’m super excited about scarves and cardigans.

Talking about fall weather was a silly way to start this post, actually, because I’m about leave it! I’m heading South to Miami today, to bring you live coverage of the illustrious Italian Pavilion at the JIS Miami trade show!

I’m super excited about this project. I’m going to be partnering with the Italian Trade Agency (like I did in Vegas!) to bring you an exclusive look at some of the best extraordinary Italian jewelry for sale on American soil.

Follow me on Instagram to see the action as it’s happening, or stand by for a full recap here on the blog when I get home!

xoxo,
Becky

What I’m reading:

The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox: I tried to read this book late last night…but there was a creepy part about a possible ghost and it was too scary to read alone while hopped up on cold meds at 2 am so I had to put it down!! A promising start besides my wimpiness, though. I look forward to reading this some more during daylight hours.

Thief of Cahraman: A Retelling of Aladdin by Lucy Tempest: I didn’t particularly like the beginning of this book, but I was on a bus so I kept reading and it really picked up. It’s not the most original plot ever created, but it has enough twists to it that it’s interesting and the main character is feisty in a way that makes the story feel fresh. Silly but quite enjoyable, with powerful female friendships at the forefront.

Thief of Cahraman is being billed as “for fans of The Selection” but I like this book MUCH more than I liked any of The Selection series (read my review of The Selection here). The primary difference – #spoileralert – is that the heroine of The Selection is an irritating idiot and while the Thief of Cahraman has a bold and resourceful young woman at its center.