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A lady with a love for literature and shiny things discusses books & bling.

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New pieces from the Mimi So ZoZo opal collection.

We’ve discussed (and drooled over) the one-of-a-kind opal masterpieces of the  Mimi So ZoZo collection before. If you’ve seen them, I’m sure you remember. Last Friday in my post about meeting Mimi So at JCK Privé NY, I let slip that I had amazing photos of new Mimi So ZoZo pieces to share with you. I won’t make you wait any longer.

Mimi So ZoZo opal collection gold, diamond, and opal rings. Via Diamonds in the Library.

As you may remember from the last time we discussed Mimi So ZoZo, this collection focuses on huge, glorious boulder opals and takes its inspiration from the sea. It is high-wattage glamor at its finest, in my opinion.

 Necklace from the Mimi So ZoZo opal collection with opal, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond and blue topaz. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This necklace is my favorite of the bunch. I can’t even pretend otherwise. It’s just spectacular. Here’s a closer look at the stones.

Detail; Necklace from the Mimi So ZoZo opal collection with opal, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond and blue topaz. Via Diamonds in the Library.
As you can see, this incredible piece integrates diamonds, amethysts, aquamarines, and blue topaz to pick up and enhance the colors in the opals. It’s to-die-for.
Mimi So ZoZo collection boulder opal and diamond earrings. Via Diamonds in the Library.
These earrings are like the little sister of these earrings, which we looked at last time. I’m usually not much of a fan of matchy-matchey, but I think they’d be great with the necklace above.
Mimi So ZoZo collection opal and gemstone bracelet. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This fabulous bracelet would be a slightly more subtle way to wear the Mimi So ZoZo collection. It’s beautiful, but somewhat more understated than some of the other pieces.

 Mimi So ZoZo collection opal and diamond necklace with yellow gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Finally, we have this lovely gold, diamond and opal necklace. Another slightly more restrained – but still very beautiful – way to wear ZoZo.

I attempted to photograph these pieces when I saw them in person in New York, but my iPhone snaps were so far from doing the opals justice that I’m not even going to bother showing you those. These beautiful images are courtesy of the Mimi So team, who were kind enough to send them to me for the purposes of sharing them to you. Thank you, Mimi, for designing these and Molly for sending along the photos!

 

Art Deco aquamarine, sapphire and diamond bracelet, Cartier.

Good morning, darlings.

I have fabulous news! I’m signing up for my first class with the GIA. I decided it was time for me to get some serious jewelry education, instead of just learning what I can on my own. I’m very excited about this for all kinds of reasons, and I hope to be able to share some of what I’m learning with you through my blog.

My biggest priority going forward is to make sure that I have enough time for both my classes and this blog. In order to do this, I’m going switch up my posting schedule a bit.

If you go into withdrawal, please don’t hesitate to consult my Pinterest for many pretty shiny things and plenty of fabulous book-related pins.

As always, thanks for reading!

– Becky

I’ve been finding so many pretty bracelets lately! This Art Deco aquamarine, sapphire, and diamond piece is one of the best.
Art Deco aquamarine, sapphire, and diamond bracelet, Cartier.

It’s Art Deco Cartier, like many of the best things are. This beauty’s from the later end of the era, circa 1935. It’s designed as two segments of channel-set rectangular aquamarines with stirrup-shaped terminals pavé–set with with round and single cut diamonds. The center and clasp of the bracelet are decorated with arched links of calibré cut sapphires, all set in platinum. Total diamond weight of this piece is 2.75 carats.

Detail - Art Deco aquamarine, sapphire, and diamond bracelet, Cartier.

There’s a closer look at that fabulous center detail. Look how precisely the sapphires and aquamarines are set in place. Perfection.

Alternate view; Art Deco aquamarine, sapphire, and diamond bracelet, Cartier.

Isn’t it cool? I’ve just never seen anything quite like it. There aren’t many finer combinations than sapphires and aquamarines.

This beauty was sold in Sotheby’s December 2007 Magnificent Jewels auction. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Ring roundup: weirdos.

These rings all struck me as unusual in some way. But fabulous, of course.

Side view; Tutti-frutti Art Deco dinner ring, circa 1925. An unusual design with carved emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, citrines, and diamonds within a border of black enamel.Here’s the ring that inspired this post. It’s insane. Almost off-putting. It looks like a blank ring was covered in glue and dropped into a jeweler’s work tray. But the longer I looked at it, the more I came to love it. It’s beautiful – an abstract collage of varicolored gemstones set in a platinum and diamond canvas.

A Tutti-frutti Art Deco dinner ring, circa 1925. An unusual design incorporating carved emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, citrines, and diamonds within a border of black enamel.If you look closely, can see that the emeralds and rubies are carved, tutti-frutti style. The varying opacity of the stones mean that this beauty would catch the light in a really interesting way. It’s an Art Deco dinner ring from 1925, and the lovelies it’s set with include carved emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, citrines, and diamonds. The whole melange is framed within a border of black enamel.

Tutti-frutti Art Deco dinner ring, circa 1925. An unusual design incorporating carved emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, citrines, and diamonds within a border of black enamel.

I would wear it. Let’s see some more unusual rings!

28 carat emerald-cut aquamarine and diamond cocktail ring in two-tone gold, circa 1960s-1980s. Via Diamonds in the Library.
This ring looks like a porcupine trying to swallow an aquamarine that’s too large for its mouth. You know you see it too. But I mean that in the best way. It’s vintage, from the later part of the 20th century. With its ropelike mixed-metal details, baguette diamond accents, and giant aquamarine, I think this is an exceptionally cool piece.
A very unusual Victorian shell cameo ring in 9 karat rose gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.
This guy is really, seriously weird. Even the good folks at Lang Antiques aren’t sure what the figure is supposed to be (they identified him as “An ancient bearded ancestor of Gene Simmons (of the band Kiss),” which I am 99.9% sure is a joke). This unusual cameo, which is set in rose gold, is Victorian and does indeed feature a bearded man sticking his tongue out. I have a weakness for unusual cameos and I’d wear this one in a heartbeat.
Victorian conch pearl and diamond ring in platinum and yellow gold. Total diamond weight, 1.15 carats, circa 1880. Via Diamonds in the Library.This ring might look a little bit like a squid but it’s the prettiest squid you ever did see. It features a natural pink conch pearl (you know how I love conch pearls) and three sparkling white European-cut diamonds, totaling 1.15 carats. The diamonds are arranged in a pattern somewhat reminiscent of a fleur d’ leis. The ring is Victorian, circa 1880, and is set in platinum and yellow gold.
Vintage gold and ruby dragon ring in 18k gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.
I’m reasonably sure you don’t need me to explain to you what I love about this ring. But I will anyway: look at his little face!! Those ruby eyes are full of personality. That, and the incredible detailing of the gold – look at the horns, don’t they look like two elaborately coiled springs? And I love how the twisted motif goes all around the shank. This beauty is vintage, made Greece at an unknown date, and it’s set in 18 K gold.

If you’re hungry for more unusual rings, please revisit some of the memorable weirdos I’ve posted in the past, like the Chopard rubber duckie ring, the coral wizard ring, the diamond turkey ring, the Piaget cocktail-shaped cocktail rings, and Wallace Chan’s abstract serpentine masterpiece.

All of the pretties in this post were listed for sale at the fabulous Lang Antiques. All images and info are thanks to Lang.

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