Diamonds in the Library

The Marquis of man brooch magic.

June 28, 2018

There’s a new star in the Instagram jewelry world! His real world stylings of gorgeous brooches and stickpins – mainly dainty Georgian era antiques – caught my eye on IG a few weeks ago and I absolutely must share his man brooch mastery with you.

This dapper mystery gentleman prefers to keep his real world identity a secret, I’m going to take my cue from his Instagram username and simply refer to him as Le Marquis.

Jewelry Instagrammer LeMarquisdeMahieu displaying his incredible Georgian mourning brooch collection.

This is probably most showstopping photo Le Marquis has shared to date, a bold showcase shot of his staggering collection of small antique mourning pins. Little pieces like this are wonderful individually, but seeing them all together like this is jaw-dropping.

The majority of Le Marquis’ Instagram snaps are real life man brooch jewelry stylings, rather than amazing showcase photos like the one above. The day to day styles may not be quite as spectacular, but they’re even more inspiring. So many men shy away from jewelry, but Le Marquis seamlessly integrates his little historical treasures into day-to-day looks that are both professional and chic.

Fantastic man brooch looks from Instagrammer LeMarquisdeMahieu.

You know I’m a longtime wannabe brooch wearer: I admire brooches on other people but I’m not great at wearing them myself. Following Le Marquis on IG has given me a world of new brooch inspiration. It would never have occurred to style any of the above pins together…but they’re all so perfect!!

Some of his style moves are specific to men’s clothing (you know I enjoy a well-placed man brooch) but the principles are applicable to ladies’ clothes too…and who says ties are just for men, also?

Jewelry Instagrammer LeMarquisdeMahieu displaying some of his incredible Georgian mourning brooch collection!

Sometimes Le Marquis matches colors, sometimes he goes for contrast. Sometimes he tells a story, sometimes he just accentuates shape. Other times there are placements that seem random, but which somehow work perfectly. Through his Instagram, Le Marquis is teaching us all a visual lesson in how to seamlessly and gloriously integrate antique brooches into the modern day to day wardrobe.

Le Marquis also sometimes shares planning photos: a single brooch with multiple tie options, or a tie with a handful of brooches. I love these behind the scenes peeks.

Fantastic man brooch photos from Instagrammer LeMarquisdeMahieu, featuring his antique Victorian and Georgian era stickpins and brooches.

As the trend for converting brooches and stickpins into rings, necklaces, and stud earrings rages, it’s refreshing to see Le Marquis wearing these little beauties as they were meant to be worn.

Not that I’m opposed to a good conversion piece: but I do worry that the antique jewelry community has become a little overzealous in that department. Some pins should get to be pins!

What do you think of this man brooch magic, my darlings? Are you ready to run out and buy some pins?

All photos c/o Le Marquis.

What I’m reading: Vol. 99.

June 26, 2018

Good morning, my darlings!

If you’ve been watching my social media you may already know that it’s wedding central around here right now: one of my very best friends gets hitched this Saturday(!!!) and then my own little sister’s wedding is coming up fast in July!! I’ve been busy with bridal showers, bachelorettes, dress fittings, hotel block crises….etc.

It’s very exciting and lots of fun but a little chaotic!

Have any of you had multiple of your IRL VIPs get married just a few weeks apart? Do you have any tips for me to juggle it all?

xoxo,
Becky

What I’m reading:

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and it’s just as delightful as the first. Contemporary romance, highly recommended!

Internets:

How Elle Decor, IKEA, and the Rising Cost of Healthcare Decimated Antiques Dealers.

There’s some great advice in this Gem Gossip post on what you should know before buying antique jewelry online.

This Algae Species is Like a Living Opal! So pretty.

Have you seen the “Woke Charlotte” Instagram account? It’s delightful.

Documenting Nameplate Necklaces from Around the World.

Apparently jeweled hair is happening! I’m into the look, but doesn’t it seem like it would hurt to take off?

Fat unicorn cakes are a thing. Trust me, you want to see them.

This post contains affiliate links.

Market Square Jewelers’ staggering selection.

June 21, 2018

I’ve been following Market Square Jewelers online for years, so I was surprised when I finally sat down to write about them and I found myself stumped.

Should I focus on their stellar lineup of dainty, wearable Art Deco darlings? Their buttery Victorian gold collection? Their reset antique mountings? How to do justice to their knack for gemstones? Every time I thought I’d narrowed in on a standout category, I’d get distracted by another one.

Finally, I realized the answer was staring me in the face: this incredible versatility, the very fact of Market Square Jewelers’ disparate delights, was actually the perfect characteristic to highlight.

Many jewelry stores offer a wide selection, but usually one or two sections are noticeably stronger than the others. Market Square Jewelers is genuinely strong in a truly impressive array of categories.

Pictured: camphor glass pin / diamond ring / cameo / brooch / onyx ring / sapphire ring / cameo ring / bracelet

I first discovered Market Square Jewelers in my early days of Etsy jewelry browsing, when I used to search for things like “Art Deco” and scroll through the results for hours. It’s no wonder this led me to Market Square Jewelers – their Art Deco collection is fabulous – but they’re more than that.

Unlike the many online-only shops I’ve featured, Market Square Jewelers has a strong brick and mortar presence: they have five physical stores in the New England area. They’re a true family business, owned and run by Peter Henry and his daughter Elizabeth, who grew up taking naps in the back of her father’s jewelry store.

Read more in a fantastic interview with Elizabeth on the Market Square Jewelers blog.

Pictured: opal / alexandrite / tanzanite / tourmaline / citrine / tourmaline navette / orange zircon / tanzanite / peridot / opal / peridot / garnet / iolite / dravite tourmaline / aquamarine / aquamarine / pink tourmaline

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a minute to focus on Market Square Jewelers’ gemstones, particularly their rings. They have a particular passion for rescuing vintage and antique ring mountings with damaged or missing stones and giving them new life by finding the perfect gemstone to complete the piece.

Market Square Jewelers owner Peter Henry has such a passion for gems that he travels the world to select the best possible stones for the store. It’s no surprise that such care leads to spectacular results.

Take a gander at the gemstone rings section of their website if you want more examples! They have some true beauties.

Pictured: earrings / necklace / bracelet

I couldn’t resist giving you a peek at some of Market Square Jewelers’ Victorian treasures!! I’m pining for that tassel necklace pretty hard.

In addition to the antiques on offer, my fellow vintage lovers should also look into the Elizabeth Henry line, which is dedicated to producing new reissues of Victorian, Art Deco, Retro, and Mid-Century pieces.

That means that, for the Elizabeth Henry pieces, Market Square Jewelers actually owns the original master model from which the piece was created. This line marries true antique/vintage design with guaranteed quality and complete customizability. Customers can select their favorite antique piece and have it made in any color gold or platinum, and set with the gem of their choice.

Pretty cool, yes? I haven’t had the pleasure of buying anything from Market Square Jewelers yet, but the research for this post definitely added a few pretties to my wishlist. What about you, my darlings? See anything you like?