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

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Antique gold, amethyst, and seed pearl fringe necklace.

This seed pearl fringe necklace is seriously pretty.

Antique gold, amethyst, and seed pearl fringe necklace, circa 1900.

This lovely thing was made in 1900. That’s a huge picture, but I wanted you to see how all the details work together. I think the delicate, floral chain perfectly accentuates the golden, openwork plaques of the necklaces, with their floating gold-and-pearl fringe and luscious amethysts.

Can you imagine what this necklace must look like when worn? It’s 16.25 inches, so the tips of that fringe would dangle – tantalizing but elegant – an inch or two above a lady’s decolletage.

This seed pearl fringe necklace was listed in Doyle New York’s October 2012 Important Estate Jewelry sale. All images and info are thanks to Doyle New York.

Ring roundup: emeralds with friends.

One of my favorite things about emeralds is how they pop when they’re well placed with other gemstones. Let’s take a look.

Sapphire, emerald, and diamond ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I pinned this ring on Pinterest ages ago and I’ve been trying to find the original source again so that I could show it to you on here…and I finally found it!

Isn’t it gorgeous? Not the best picture, but you can tell what it looks like. I’d wear it all the time. It’s set with an emerald-cut sapphire measuring approx. 10.40 x 9.20 x 6.10 mm, flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds and framed by fancy-cut emeralds. Unique shape, stunning color combination. An example of a ring I would go to great lengths to buy rather than just admiring. Divine.

Art Deco emerald and diamond ring, circa 1920. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This Art Deco emerald and diamond ring is another long-time favorite and another that I would dearly love to own (this is rapidly becoming a dangerous post). Just look at that delicate composition, the perfect marriage of colors, shapes and textures. This ring, circa 1920, “glistens with a bright-green central emerald-cut emerald and four half-moon emeralds lovingly framed in platinum and teeny-tiny rose-cut diamonds.” I adore it.

Art Deco navette-shaped emerald, sapphire, and diamond ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This Art Deco ring has the same color combination as the first one but a very different design. The navette-shaped, diamond-adorned setting centers a 1.40 carat deep blue sapphire, accented by an outer border of calibre-cut emeralds. I think the contrast of the thin line of green with the intense pop of blue and the light sparkle of the diamonds makes for a lively, eye-catching and lovely piece.

Oscar Heyman cocktail ring with a 1.38 carat diamond surrounded by 1.18 carats of additional diamonds and 6.29 carats total of emeralds and sapphires. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This Oscar Heyman cocktail ring is an estate piece – it looks like it’s at least inspire by the fabulous vintage cocktail rings of the 50’s and 60’s, but it could just be the chunky, colorful Oscar Heyman signature. The ring centers a 1.38 carat diamond surrounded by 1.18 carats of additional diamonds and 6.29 carats total of emeralds and sapphires.

Cabochon emerald, diamond, and sapphire ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This ring is a little different from the others in one obvious way; its emerald is a cabochon. It’s undated, but it looks to me like it has some Edwardian influence in the design. As I mentioned, it centers a deep-green emerald cabochon (5.10 cts) surrounded by cabochon sapphires (1.70 cts) and set in white gold adorned with diamonds. Fabulous.

All images and info in this post are thanks to the seller of each piece. Please see the link in each description for sources.

This blog post is called "emeralds with friends" and it's all about the admiration of rings that feature emeralds looking amazing alongside other gemstones like diamonds and sapphires. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Antique diamond necklace, Cartier.

I think it’s a real shame that the only profession that pays in jewelry is one that I’m not particularly interested in (although, as the world’s oldest profession, it does have a distinguished history). What promoted this introspection, you ask?

Antique diamond necklace, Cartier. Paris, circa 1905. Via Diamonds in the Library.
This antique diamond necklace.

Cartier Paris, circa 1905. Sparkling ribbons of ethereal perfection.Created in 18th-century style, this necklace is centered by an openwork ribbon tied bow with similar drop, each with principal brilliant cut diamond to the middle in beaded collet mount, on a row of lozenge shaped cluster links joined by ribbon bows, all set throughout with rose cut diamonds, close set in silver and gold.

Detail - Antique diamond necklace, Cartier. Paris, circa 1905. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I would love to touch it, or at least see it in person and bask in its glory. Doesn’t it blow your mind to think that something like this antique diamond necklace can actually be owned by someone? It would sit in a jewelry box until its owner felt like wearing it, and then said owner could just put it on if he or she felt like it. Like for a gala or formal vacuuming. Crazy times.

Antique diamond necklace by Cartier. Paris, circa 1905

This scintillating confection of diamonds and amazingness is marked on the inside with serial number 1952.

This antique diamond necklace is currently for sale at S.J. Philips. All images and info are thanks to S.J. Philips.

 

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