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

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Gorgeous diamond drop earrings.

Oh, my darlings. Is there anything like a luscious pair of diamond drop earrings? They’re so juicy and sparkly and swing-ey.

We’re going to keep in simple today and just look at two pretty, pretty pairs of diamond earrings.

Edwardian 6.37 carat antique diamond drop earrings.

This first matched pair of beauties is antique, dating to the early 20th century.

As lovely as the diamonds are, they’re actually not my favorite part of these. I love love love the way the large diamonds at the end are suspended by a sort of split-setting. I think that bit of negative space above the generous stones makes these into something really special. And there’s millegraining! You know how I feel about millegraining.

 

These babies are a show-stopper of a pair, aren’t they? They’re vintage-style, but they’re actually all modern.

At 6.87 cts, they’re also very similar in carat weight to the first pair; but they have the majority of that weight concentrated in just two stones instead of spread over four. They’re pretty straightforward and just as remarkable.

Which of these pairs of diamond drop earrings would you choose if you could only have one? It’s the first pair for me, but it’s not like I’d turn down #2 if they showed up at my door.

These two pairs of diamond drop earrings are for sale via 1stdibs. Please see individual descriptions for source links. All images and info are thanks to the seller of each item.

Autumnal perfection: Buccellati branch brooch.

Good morning, my dears!

I have something gorgeous for you today. This Buccellati branch brooch, delicately rendered in white and yellow gold with carved emeralds and pearls, is a perfect visual representation of what I love about the Fall.

Buccellati white and yellow gold branch brooch with carved emeralds and pearls.

It’s perfect, isn’t it? So quiet – like a whisper – but perfectly elegant, formed with impeccable precision. It’s by Buccellati (Milan) and it’s amazing.

An 18k white gold branch with with 18k yellow gold leaves and details, carved emerald leaves, and pearls. Just look at the details:

Detail Buccellati white and yellow gold branch brooch with carved emeralds and pearls.

Isn’t it lovely? It’s really more of a tiny sculpture than just an accessory. I can almost smell the crisp evening breeze, see the glow of the moon against the white gold whorls of the bark.

I wish I could get even closer to it.

Buccellati white and yellow gold branch brooch with carved emeralds and pearls, with detail

How would you style this beauty, brooch wearers? At a tilt on the lapel of a cobalt wool wrap coat? On the sash of a gown at a classy Autumnal event? I want to know!

This beautiful Buccellati branch brooch is currently for sale at Carlo Eleuteri via 1stdibs. All images and info are thanks to Carlo Eleuteri and 1stdibs.

Ring roundup: gold filigree engagement rings.

I was talking to a friend recently about engagement rings and she said that she’s been daydreaming of yellow gold filigree.

Yellow gold and filigree haven’t been wildly popular at the same time, so it’s much more common to see delicate Edwardian and Art Deco rings in white metals. But that doesn’t mean that yellow gold lacy goodness isn’t out there.

Let’s take a look at some yellow gold filigree engagement rings.

Antique Art Deco engagement ring in yellow gold filigree and an old European cut diamond in a platinum bezel.

Here’s a classic Art Deco beauty to kick things off! A low and lovely die-struck setting from the 1930’s, this beauty centers an old European cut diamond in a platinum bezel. This is a perfect example of the kind of filigree that is much more common in white metals; to find it in yellow gold makes this piece more remarkable.

Antique Art Deco engagement ring with yellow gold filigree and an old European cut diamond in a platinum bezel. At Lang Antiques. .

Here’s a look at it all together. This yellow gold filigree engagement ring is at my beloved Lang Antiques, if you didn’t recognize that gorgeous photography.

Fred Leighton yellow gold filigree engagement ring with a 4.62 carat JVS1 Old Mine cut diamond center stone.

Sadly, this is the only photo of this Fred Leighton ring (which I believe merits the technical term “amazeballs”) that I could find online, but OH what a picture it is. It’s a contemporary ring, with a deliciously juicy 4.62 carat J/VS1 Old Mine cut diamond in yellow gold filigree.

Yellow gold engagement ring by Single Stone; a beautiful antique-inspired style with millegrain details, engraving, and a 2 carat old European cut diamond.

This stunner is a contemporary setting by Single Stone set with a glorious 2 carat Old European cut diamond. It doesn’t really involve any actual filigree, but its intricate details and open gallery evoke a similar feeling of lush delicacy.

Antique inspired yellow gold filigree and diamond ring by Trumpet and Horn.

All of the yellow gold filigree engagement rings we’ve looked at so far have been variations on the diamond solitaire theme. This beauty, a contemporary design by Trumpet and Horn, is a less typical engagement ring design.

Antique Edwardian yellow gold filigree engagement ring with a 1.63 carat Old European Cut diamond.

Here’s a classic Edwardian beauty with a 1.63 carat diamond in the center. Just so lovely.

White and yellow gold filigree engagement ring; antique Art Deco setting with a more modern round brilliant cut diamond.

This lovely is at Lang Antiques, too. Let’s see it from every angle:

White and yellow gold filigree engagement ring; Art Deco setting with a more modern round brilliant cut diamond.

Yep. I’d wear it. Love that color contrast of the white gold hexagonal bezel around the center diamond. Pure pretty.

All images and info in this post are thanks to the various seller of each yellow gold filigree engagement ring; please see individual descriptions for source links.

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