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

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Buccellati gold lace and diamond bracelet.

\I have a bracelet here that is going to teach you about the magic of the house of Buccellati, if that is something that you’re not yet familiar with.

Buccellati gold lace and diamond bracelet. Via Diamonds in the Library.
It looks like lace made out of gold and diamonds.

Detail; a Buccellati gold lace and diamond bracelet. Via Diamonds in the Library.
This bracelet is a hinged bangle of openwork foliate design set with round diamonds (weighing approximately 4.00 carats) and mounted in 18 karat white and yellow gold. It is signed M. Buccellati, Italy.

This Buccellati gold lace and diamond bracelet was listed in Sotheby’s December 2011 Magnificent Jewels auction. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 

Twin pearl and gemset lavaliere.

This necklace is an exceptionally pretty little lavaliere.

Antique twin pearl and gemset lavaliere. Via Diamonds in the Library.

It appears very simple at first, but it’s actually not. Look at the scalloped detail of the diamond-set cross bar, the diamond embellishment on the pearl settings, the contrast of the mixed-metal setting. I also love that one pearl is cream and the other is gray; I think that (along with the aforementioned details) really take this necklace up a notch from “oh, that’s pretty” to being something special.

This extraordinarily fabulous piece was sold by Humphy Butler and is currently listed in their archive. All images and info are thanks to Humphry Butler.

Two diamond and aquamarine rings, by Tony Duquette.

I am about to show you two very big, bold, fierce rings by Tony Duquette. They’re both aquamarine and diamond, an always lovely combination. Both of these are very serious rings; fantastical, abstract, attention-grabbers.

These pieces are both listed in the October 15th, 2012  Bonhams Tony Duquette: Jewels of Enchantment Auction. All images and information are thanks to Bonhams.

Diamond and aquamarine ring by Tony Duquette. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This first ring is centered by a 78.8 carat oval cabochon aquamarine. It’s mounted in fluted gold, detailed with round brilliant-cut diamonds and circular-cut aquamarines. I think it looks like something out of Lord of the Rings – a supernatural eye with jeweled eyelashes, or some powerful stone set at the end of a wizard’s staff. I’m feeling whimsical today, apparently. Designed by Tony Duquette.

A diamond and aquamarine ring by Tony Duquette. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This second ring looks even more like part of some fantastical creature. The emerald-cut aquamarine is 55 carats, and it’s held by what Bonhams calls “an elaborate surround of pavé-set diamond prongs within a heavy mount” and what I call “the claw of a monster made of diamonds.” Total diamond weight of the monster claw is 7.55 carats. Also designed by Tony Duquette.

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