Art Deco Archives

Art Deco ruby bead and diamond cluster bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels.

February 18, 2013

There are few things I love more than an Art Deco bracelet…and an extremely fabulous, colorful Art Deco bracelet is really hard to beat.

This festival of gorgeousness was made by Van Cleef and Arpels, Paris, in 1934. It is strung with seven rows of strung with polished ruby beads and finished with a stylized geometric buckle clasp set round brilliant, baguette, and half-moon shaped stones. The rows of ruby beads are interspersed with two intermediate diamond line spacers. It is signed Van Cleef & Arpels Paris, No. 42323.

Glamorous in the extreme. Can you imagine how this must be on a wrist, the ruby beads draping along the line of the arm, moving as the lady wearing it sips her cocktail? Sigh.

This Art Deco ruby bead bracelet is currently for sale at S.J. Philips. All images and info are thanks to S.J. Philips.

Emerald, ruby and diamond bracelet, Oscar Heyman and Bros.

February 17, 2013

This bracelet is simple and lovely.

Art Deco emerald, ruby and diamond bracelet, Oscar Heyman and Bros. Circa 1935. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This little beauty was made by Oscar Heyman and Brothers in 1935, making it later Art Deco. It’s set with single-, circular- , triangular and baguette diamonds, highlighted at the center with a step-cut diamond within calibré-cut emeralds, cabochon ruby and carved emerald leaves.

There are grander, more eye-catching bracelets out there, but this one is just so pretty I can’t help loving it wholeheartedly. In a world where my bank account was no object, I would collect Art Deco bracelets like this and wear stacks of them at a time. Or just sit around in my jewelry closet (because I would have a jewelry closet) and admire them.

This bracelet was listed in Sotheby’s November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

3.26 carat antique diamond engagement ring.

February 13, 2013

When I saw this ring, I said “WHOA” out loud in an empty room.

This 3.26 carat antique diamond engagement ring is a solitaire, but it’s so large and the setting is so detailed that it gives the impression of being much more ornate. The diamond, a 3.26 carat European cut stone, also gives the impression of being larger (perhaps 4 carats) due to the nature of the cut.

This side angle is so coy – it’s like the ring is flirting with me. Hello 😉

Looking at all of that openwork in the setting, I bet it’s really sparkly. The ring is late Edwardian or early Art Deco so it’s no shocker that I’m a fan.

I don’t usually go for solitaires (I like some adornment on the shoulders) but this one is a-okay.

Let’s see everyone all together:

Breathtaking.

This 3.26 carat antique diamond engagement ring is currently for sale at Lang Antiques. All images and info are thanks to Lang.

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