Diamonds in the Library

What I’m reading: Vol. 82.

May 18, 2017

Good morning, darlings,

I both can’t believe it’s already Thursday and also can’t believe it isn’t Friday yet. May has certainly been a busy month.

Mr. DitL and I are settling into our new house just in time to jet off for Vegas jewelry week June 1st! But first, we’re sneaking away for a few days to celebrate our two year wedding anniversary just a touch early.

I’ll be back next week!

xoxo,
Becky

What I’m reading:

Made for Love by Alissa Nutting: I just started this and it’s craaaaaaaazy so far. Good, but crazy. CRAZY.

The Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare: I’ve read this series before and I’m sure I’ll read it again – utterly delightful historical romance by one of my favorite authors. A collection of bold, brave, misfit ladies finding love. What’s not to adore?

Internets:

An Anthropological Look at Weapons of War as Objects of Art.

From Paris to NYC; hedgehog hair, circa 1785.

I don’t care if it’s a trend, I want all Millennial pink furniture. I love this color.

Tiara Thursday: The Westminster Halo Tiara.

Pirate Jack Sparrow’s jewellery ‘valued’ at £225,000 by F Hinds.

The British Pennies Defaced in Protest by a Suffragette. SO COOL.

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Andreoli’s beautiful, bountiful briolettes.

May 16, 2017

Good morning, my darlings!

I love clever jewelry and subtle jewelry and everyday jewelry, but sometimes you just want to feast your eyes on a big, juicy, brain-boggling showstopper. That’s what we’re going to do today, with a little help from Andreoli.

BAM.

The thing that makes these Andreoli pieces so remarkable – besides the obvious characteristics of size, color, and sheer glamour – is the enthusiastic use of briolettes. In this piece, the largest gems are briolettes: the ones that look like lush, trembling droplets of purple dew.

A briolette is a charismatic, opulent way of cutting a gem. A faceted teardrop-esque shape with many varieties, briolettes shimmer from every angle, presenting a constant, ever-changing sparkle rather than the concentrated flash of a modern round brilliant cut, for example.

Briolettes are frequently set in a way that allows them to move, reflecting light from their many factets in an ever changing dance. In other words, they’re a super sexy gemstone cut, sultry and opulent.

For example: imagine this Andreoli necklace when worn. Each luscious peridot briolette would rest gently against the curves of the lucky wearer’s décolletage, shifting gently from side to side with every breath she took. With each subtle movement, the faceted drop would capture the light in a slightly different way, trembling with a constant rain of shimmer.

Pardon me, I need to fan myself now. Read More

Elisa Solomon Mama collection: because moms are chic, too.

May 14, 2017

I don’t think I’ve ever done a Mother’s Day jewelry post before, but when I saw the Elisa Solomon Mama collection, I just knew I had to share it with you.

There’s something so touching and genuine about these pieces. Perhaps it’s the context: the fabulous Elisa, this collection’s designer, is expecting her own first child.

The Elisa Solomon Mama collection doesn’t have any of the gimmicks you often seen in jewelry marketed toward mothers – just the word “mama” in slightly childlike but still elegant balloon-style letters, embellished with two twinkling diamonds each.

Working mamas – or mamas who just like to look amazing – could wear these chic little pieces anywhere, with anything, from cocktail dresses to yoga pants.

I don’t have any kids myself, but I’ve watched some of my friends become mothers and it’s a profound change, even when you’re just watching from the outside. You go from not being anyone’s mother to being a mother all day, every day, for the rest of your life.

Isn’t that a transformation that deserves to be marked by a piece of jewelry? I think it is.

Ideally I would have shown you the Elisa Solomon Mama collection a week or two ago for those of you shopping for Mother’s Day presents…but I was too slow!

It’s okay: you can buy your mom a present anytime, just because. I also think that any of these would be the world’s sweetest baby shower gift.

And on that note: I’m off to meet my own family for a stroll around a garden followed by a BBQ! The garden stroll is our usual tradition, the BBQ is a recent addition due to the fact that my sister’s boyfriend makes the best burgers ever.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day, whether you’re celebrating Mother’s day for yourself, for your mom, for someone who feels like your mom, or whether it’s just another day to you.

Images c/o Elisa Solomon.