A Brandt and Son Archives

2015 gift guide: $3,000 – $7,000.

November 17, 2015

Hello again, my dears! Let’s continue our glorious climb up the wide world of jewelry – all gifts waiting to delight, weather give to others or oneself (because #treatyoself).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, and $1,000 – $3,000.

Antique Victorian 15k gold locket with turquoise and diamonds.

Arman Sarkisyan 22k gold snake ring with black diamonds and pink tourmaline. At Stone and Strand.

Kara Ross Petra raw stud earrings in rubellite.

Georgian Emerald and Diamond Ring in 18k and 10k gold. Closed back settings, circa 1830.

Two Victorian Etruscan revival bracelets in gold with blue enamel. One wider, one with diamonds.

Todd Reed oval pendant with diamonds in 18k yellow gold.

Polly Wales Fleur de Lys sapphire halo V ring in yellow gold with diamonds.

Marla Aaron Greek Key bracelet in 18k gold and sterling silver with 18K regular lock.

Unhada’s Star Machine necklace with malachite and diamonds set in silver.

Nak Armstrong mosaic earrings with emeralds, chrysocolla, and rainbow moonstone in 18k gold.

Eva Fehren “Ombre X” pendant necklace with white, black, and gray diamonds in blackened white gold.

Deanna Hamro organic boulder opal and diamond ring in gold.

48″ strand of XL Baroque pearls finished in rose gold with a silver and rose gold Marla Aaron lock.

Two Todd Reed leather belts with buckles set with white and colored diamonds.

Aida Bergsen petite ivy ring in 14k rose gold with diamonds. At Stone and Strand.

A Halloween roundup: spider jewelry.

October 30, 2015

I must begin this post with a message to my sister:

Dear Laura,

If you have somehow clicked on this post without reading the title, I’m sorry. Click away. You won’t like it.

Love,
Becky

PS: Anyone else with a hatred of eight-legged beasties will want to come back another day, too.

From Anansi to Aragog, spiders are a frequent fixture both in literature, mythology, and our daily lives. Terrifying when they sneak up on you in bed, but beneficial for killing other, less pleasant insects (like my eternal foe, the mosquito).

I’ve seen references to the fact that spiders are sometimes considered good luck and also to the spider’s fierce defense of its young – but my personal opinion is that most spider motifs just symbolize the fact that spiders look really cool as jewelry.

These Daniela Villegas earrings have a whole lot of awesome going on.

First up: they’re rose gold. How often do you see a pretty-in-pink spider? Then: those tourmalines! Yeah. Hard to resist. And finally the subtle spider surmounts, tourmaline-bodied, which cling to the earlobe. Badass.

There are three things I love about this spider brooch: the fact that its body is Tiger’s Eye, its delicate spindley legs, and the awesome angle that Bonhams’ photographer used to capture this beauty here.

This piece is estate (pre-owned), but not not dated.

Anna Ruth Henriques makes some of the coolest spider jewelry I’ve ever seen (thanks to JCK Marketplace for introducing me). The above are in silver with rubies, diamonds, and moonstone.

More Anna Ruth Henriques. The black pearl earrings are via Stone and Strand, the rest are from the artist’s website. I’ve chosen my very favorites, but if you like what you see, I urge you to look into more of her work.

This next piece of spider jewelry is antique – late Victorian, to be precise. It’s a light and lovely piece that looks to me like a spider sitting on top of an ice cube (although that wouldn’t make much sense, really).

The largest piece of the pendant is faceted rock quartz crystal on a 14k gold bail. The front features a delicate spider crouching on the surface of the crystal, with 8 tiny gold wire legs, and rose cut diamond and sapphire body. The spider is attached by a rived that goes through the rock crystal, ending in a golden point on the back side.

The fabulous Jennie Kwon has this small series of spiderweb jewelry, which I think is adorable. The above are all from Twist Online; Catbird also offers a pair of Jennie Kwon spiderweb earrings. Bezel-set diamonds in the webs suggest spiders (or dewdrops?) but these webs’ architects are not present.

Catbird gets extra points for naming the pieces after Charlotte’s Web but Twist has the bangle, which is my favorite piece.

All of this spider jewelry requires at least a dose of chutzpah to wear, but this crystal Saint Laurent brooch is especially bold. Damn if it doesn’t look cool, though, on that black blazer. I’m convinced.

This beauty is similar in era to the previous piece of spider jewelry, but very different in execution. This Art Nouveau stickpin is streamlined compared to its predecessor, but its bold diamond-set body and curved extremities make a statement all the same.

And finally HAPPY ALMOST HALLOWEEN!!! I love this time of year. Go eat something bad for you and take a moment to believe that something magical could be real.

xoxo,
Becky

Stunning Victorian carved lapis ring.

September 28, 2015

I often find myself telling people that the more jewelry I see, the more I appreciate the weird ones. So many pieces are beautiful – they’re always delightful to look at, but there’s something extra special about seeing something beautiful that is also unusual.

There she is – the Lady in Blue (her nickname from yours truly. Can you tell I’ve had my eye on this for a while?).

This carved lapis lovely is a Victorian ring dating to around 1800. She’s wonderful, isn’t she? Like a ghost rising out of the deep blue sea.

Let’s get closer.

Oh Lady in Blue, how plentiful are your virtues.

First things first: that incredible carved lapis in the center. She’s carved cameo-style, but in rich blue lapis lazuli rather than shell. Look at the carefully hewn details of her eyes and nose, and the tendrils of her blue hair. She has a flower or two tucked behind her ear, too, if I’m not mistaken.

Second is a double whammy: the warm, yellow textured gold of her setting, adorned by four bezel-set old mine cut diamonds, and a wide swath of blue enamel to match the Lady in Blue’s personal hue.

Third is THIS.

You know how much I love a ring with a good side view. Our carved lapis lady has some truly exceptional shoulders: those split shank details, the lightly scored gold, the perfect geometric detail framed by negative space, which is echoed by that line of blue enamel going around the back of the shank.

I feel a little rude encouraging you to ogle the underside of a ring I’ve been discussing as if it were a person, but really, this baby’s gallery is too good not to mention. The lightness here of the scalloped gold is the perfect foil to our carved lapis lady’s serious color up above.

And lastly, here she is on a hand.

Seeing our carved lapis lady on a hand really emphasizes the beautiful kite-like shape of the piece as a whole. Narrower points at the north and south make this ring one that’s sure to flatter any finger. Plus – that peep of the enamel shoulder detail! Definitely my favorite part.

I’ve had to edit this post to add the anecdote that I’ve now met the Lady in Blue in real life! I was strolling the NYC Big Flea – as you already know if you follow me on Instagram – when what should I see gazing up at me but this lovely blue visage? It turned out that A Brandt and Son had made a last minute decision to enter the Flea, and they brought Lady Blue along. Jewelry fate.

She’s even more wonderful in person – seeing her little features in that rich blue hardstone is just incredible. Hard to photograph, though.

Psst – did you hear that I’m doing a giveaway? There’s a lovely Art Nouveau necklace at stake.

This beautiful Victorian carved lapis ring is currently for sale at A Brandt and Son. All images and info are thanks to A Brandt and Son.

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