A Brandt and Son Archives

Store profile: A Brandt and Son.

May 9, 2016

Good morning, my darlings! It’s been a while since we’ve done a good old fashioned store profile, but I’ve got a great one for you here today. We’re going to be taking a look at the fantastic A Brandt and Son, a family-owned antique and vintage jewelry store outside of Philly.

I was in Philly for a weekend away with my husband (a weekend that I do admit was supposed to be jewelry-free) when the patient Mr. DitL agreed that sure, we could stop by just one jewelry store. I’d been following A Brandt and Son online for a while and had seen some of their treasures once at the NYC Big Flea, so I was thrilled to have a chance to go visit them in person.

A Brandt and Son‘s online description is “A. Brandt + Son offers an extensive collection of Antique and Estate Jewelry, specializing in pieces from the Georgian era through the Contemporary period.” This sounds vague, but I assure you it’s completely accurate.

They do specialize in everything between Georgian and Contemporary. Their selection is exceptional, and it ranges evenly across all of those eras. I saw exceptional antique chains, Georgian necklaces, Edwardian pendants, engagement rings from all eras, mourning rings, and more – not to mention the swoonworthy motherload of Victorian lockets (see please above and drool).

Let’s take a look at some of the treasures I saw there.

A Brandt and Son had one of the best in-store selections of midrange Art Deco engagement rings I’ve seen anywhere. The kind that the majority of people will actually be able to afford: bigger than a twinkle but smaller than a boulder, and with plenty of knee-weakening detail. But I admit I’m biased; my own ring would fit into this stack perfectly.

One of my favorite things about A Brandt and Son is that they really did have excellent examples of pieces from all categories, from the most accessible – classic Art Deco engagement rings – to the unusual, like this Victorian skeleton key pendant.

Each key features a retractable hidden function. The left key hides a small knife blade and the right, a pencil.

One of the best man-in-the-moon rings I’ve ever seen!

This beauty is Victorian, and the man in the moon is actually carved rock crystal rather than moonstone, which is more commonly used in pieces like this. It reflects light in a ghostly glow, ethereal and captivating.

2015 gift guide: $15,000 – $50,000.

November 19, 2015

Up, up, and up we soar, into the truly luxurious echelons of price point. The more zeros at the end of the price tag, the more possibilities.

Here in $15k – $50k, we see Georgian diamonds, precious opals, slabs of gorgeous malachite, fossilized woolly mammoth bone…almost anything you desire. Here’s what we’ve covered already, in case you’re craving a recap: jewelry under $100; $100 – $200; $200 – $350; $350 – $500, $500 – $1,000, $1,000 – $3,000, $3,000 – $7,000, and $7,000 – $15,000.

Victorian 15k yellow gold, diamond, and black enamel earrings. Circa 1880.

Kara Ross large Cava cuff in malachite with blue topaz inset.

Nak Armstrong earrings in 18k rose gold with black spinel, dark aquamarine, and brown sapphire.

Enamel serpent ring by Juan daSilva in gold with blue enamel and fancy-cut diamonds.

Stone and Strand Estate Collection diamond wing earrings from the 1940’s. With 10 carats of diamonds.

Arunashi ring in black rhodium with 8.66cts of tanzanite and 2.97cts of diamonds.

Monique Péan sapphire slice and diamond earrings.

Antique 2.12 carat oval diamond ring with amazing emerald halo.
(This is one of my favorite currently available pieces of jewelry anywhere, at any price.)

Arunashi black opal egg drop earrings with diamonds.

Monique Pean hand-carved fossilized jet necklace with fossilized woolly mammoth and diamond inlay.

Sharon Khazzam Sateem drop earrings with citrine, pink-green tourmaline, white diamonds, black diamonds, pink sapphires.

Amethyst Opening Night necklace from Katherine Jetter, with a moonstone and rose gold chain.

Antique diamond and emerald earrings in silver. Spanish in origin, circa 1780.

Naomi Sarna multicolored diamond and sapphire petal ring in white gold.

Miseno’s Ventaglio Diamond and Pearl Earrings – 6.71cts white diamonds and 4.57cts pearls set in 18K white gold.

Edwardian Old Mine Diamond Necklace in platinum topped 18k gold. Seventeen buttercup set Old Mine cut diamonds and sixteen bezel set Old Mine cut diamonds all weighing app. 10ctw, with knife wire links. French, circa 1915.

2015 gift guide: $7,000 – $15,000.

November 18, 2015

Here’s what we’ve covered already, in case you’re craving a recap: jewelry under $100; $100 – $200; $200 – $350; $350 – $500, $500 – $1,000, $1,000 – $3,000 and $3,000 – $7,000.

Sevan Biçakçi painted seascape padlock with orange sapphires.

Huge antique Georgian chrysoberyl ring in 12k gold.

Lauren Chisholm gold starburst 3 pendant necklace in solid 14k gold with a diamond.

Ray Griffiths’ multicolored sapphire square ring. At Stone and Strand.

18th century Iberian gold and emerald earrings. Hand made in 18k gold and emeralds, sourced in colonial mines in Columbia and Peru.

Judy Geib cuboid-link necklace in satin-finished 24k and 18k gold.

Kara Ross Petra one of a kind drop earrings in uvarovite and chrysocola.

Anabel Higgins Georgina Necklace; Victorian-inspired design with pearls in 14k gold with detachable brooch.

Kataoka snowflake bracelet in diamonds.

Caspita jewelry’s multicolor 7 chakras bracelet with diamonds and precious gemstones in gold.
At Stone and Strand.

Antique diamond and pearl stylized bow convertible necklace, set with Old Mine and Single cut diamonds, suspended from a link chain with diamond and pearl stations. Fashioned in platinum and 18k white gold. French, circa 1910. Chain becomes two bracelets and bow can convert to a brooch.