animal-shaped jewelry Archives

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!

Pretty birds from Lord Jewelry.

August 30, 2018

I’m headed to Baltimore for the opening of the Baltimore Summer Antique Show today (follow me on Instagram to for a BTS peek at the action!) so we’re going to have a simple little Thursday post. It’s time to admire some pretty, pretty birds from the one and only Lord Jewelry!

How pretty is this bracelet? So delicate, so perfectly balanced. I love the touch of mixed metals, the warm gold, the careful texture of the tiny text. And we can’t forget that vivid emerald eye. I also love how the bird and the nest are slightly offset, instead of meeting perfectly in the middle.

The pretty little blue eggs in this piece are enameled; if you look closely, you can tell the color is more complex than a simple gemstone would be.

Enamel is Lord Jewelry’s specialty; many of their pieces are completely enameled using the techniques of the old masters. There’s not much enamel in this post; but you can see a spectacular example here.

Here’s another beauty from the same Lord Jewelry collection! These two pieces may be some of the brand’s simplest designs, but they’re still exquisitely lovely.

Lord Jewelry first came to my notice at the AGTA Spectrum Awards Gala, when I met the lovely Lena of Lord Jewelry in the line for the ladies’ room at the gala and her glorious enamel necklace caught my attention. (Ladies’ rooms at jewelry events are major networking hotspots.)

What do you think, my darlings? Can you hear the singing of these pretty birds, too? Which do you love the most: the bracelet or the necklace?

Images c/o Lord Jewelry.

The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry headed to Las Vegas!

May 24, 2018

When I think of Italy, I think of pasta, romance, and extraordinary Italian jewelry; three of my favorite very things!

I have had the good fortune to visit Italy several times to see The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry at the VicenzaOro show, but I’m also about to have a chance to meet with some of Italy’s finest jewelry brands right here in the US!

A jewelry box full of glamour at Pasquale Bruni.

Considered a global trendsetter since the days of the Renaissance, Italy has long since secured its status as a hotbed of cultural and artistic inspiration. Generations of Italian artists have enriched the world with notable developments in architecture, music, art, fashion, and (of course) The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry design.

In our ever-changing world, the allure of The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry is more potent that ever. Rather than getting bogged down in the past, Italian jewelers and goldsmiths are constantly on the cutting edge of design, using skill to blend their region’s rich creative history with a keen eye for evolving fashions to introduce innovative, breathtaking, game-changing jewels.

An incredible diamond ring by Picchiotti.

I am so excited to be partnering with the Italian Trade Agency to help bring you an insider’s look at The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry during Las Vegas jewelry week! This week – also sometimes called jewelry market week – is one of the most important events in the global jewelry business: one week, one city, all the most significant trades shows in the industry.

It kicks off on Thursday, May 31st and you can bet I’m going to be there!

I’ll be highlighting The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry in Las Vegas both through my Instagram coverage while I’m there and with a dedicated blog post recap after I come home. There’s going to be so much Italian jewelry to love!

There will be more than 100 Italian jewelry brands at the two biggest Vegas trade shows, JCK and Couture. Find the full list along with all the information you could need to find them or book appointments here on the Italian Trade Agency’s website.

Enjoying Diva Gioielli’s celestial collections.

From simple gold chains to the most exquisite one of a kind masterpiece, The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry continues to spread across the world.

In an age when many luxury markets are struggling, Italian jewelry flourishes. Italian jewelry imports to the US reached $1.3 billion in 2017, the highest number since the 2008 crisis. 2018 is living up to the prior year’s promise, with the first trimester already registering a 10% increase.

Jewelry production in Italy is concentrated in the regions of Arezzo, Vicenza, Valenza, and Naples/Marcianise/Torre del Greco; production in these areas employs thousands of skilled workers and accounts for more than 85% of the sector’s exports. 80% of that is exported internationally, with 25% coming to North America.

Italian jewelry design ranges widely from gold and silver to cameos and coral, precious gemstones, and pearls, and precious diamond creations.

An amazing Roberto Coin ring with a bejeweled bunny rabbit.

All of the images in this post show examples of The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry that I have personally met and loved in my past travels! You can also see my VicenzaOro adventures here, here, here, and here.

Want more of The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry?

Follow the Italian Trade Agency on Twitter and Instagram (also here and here) or check out their website for full and detailed lists of all of the The Extraordinary Italian Jewelry brands exhibiting in Las Vegas.