coral Archives

Coral, gold, and pearl bracelet by Seaman Schepps.

November 8, 2013

This bracelet knows what it wants, and what it wants is to be adorned with large roses.

Carved coral, gold, and pearl roses and bamboo bracelet by Seaman Schepps. Via Diamonds in the Library.

A bold piece, to be sure, but a beautifully executed one. The two exquisitely carved coral roses are suspended by four rows of gold chains, which are dotted with sixteen light gray baroque cultured pearls. The bracelet is punctuated by three gold bars; which, if you look closely, you can tell are shaped like bamboo. The piece is by Seaman Schepps, and it’s signed.

I have to ask: why the combination of roses and bamboo? Roses don’t grow on bamboo. Is there there any significence there that I’m missing, or did the designer just think it looked nice?

What do you think? Too much for you, or just enough? What kind of outfit would you put this with?

This bracelet by Seaman Schepps was listed in Sotheby’s December 2007 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Gold, coral, and diamond bracelet and pendant.

October 28, 2013

How do you like these gold, coral, and diamond beauties:

They were listed in the same Bonhams auction and photographed together, but not sold as a set. I think they make a glorious pair.

Let’s look at the pendant first. Such an interesting shape, isn’t it? It’s designed as a pavé-set round brilliant-cut diamond ribbon suspending two coral drops. It’s bigger than you might imagine from the picture: the length is listed as 4.5 inches and total diamond weight as 8.35 carats.

I really wish there was a picture of it a on a chain; I want to know where the pendant loop is and if it would hang vertically or list to the side. I’d love to see this on a longish chain. Maybe 20 inches?

The bracelet is 18 karat gold and features pale pink coral cabochons and 28 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds in a textured wirework mount.

The design in general feels a little dated, but I think this pretty piece could be brought into the 2000’s pretty easily with the right styling. You’d just need to contrast the sweetness with something angular and tough, maybe pair it with leather or and asymmetrical LBD. You’d also have to not have my skin tone – which is almost identical to that coral.

Here’s a side view. It really is a piece with a lot of volume, and such marvelous texture. What do you think, would you wear it? How about the pendant?

Both of these gold, coral, and diamond pieces were listed in an October 2013 Bonhams auction. All images and info are thanks to Bonhams.

Ring roundup: cocktail rings.

September 13, 2013

My own personal definition for “cocktail rings” is: a ring, preferably large and colorful, which is as fun as it possibly can be.

This bouquet of gems is by Oscar Heyman for J.E. Caldwell. I would wear it all night long. It’s fun, exuberant, and eye-catching. The ring shank is 18k yellow gold and it’s set with natural pink and blue ceylon sapphires, and natural yellow and white diamonds totaling 2.50 carats.

This platinum ring by Tamir is set with a pair of rare, magnificent round, greenish blue tourmalines totaling 6.04 carats, surrounded by 0.43 carats total of round brilliant diamonds. I have rarely seen anything that was such a spectacular color. This ring is currently for sale by Tamir, listing available via 1stdibs.

Turquoise and gemstone cocktail ring by Van Cleef & Arpels, made in France in the 1950s. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This retro beauty is Van Cleef & Arpels, made in France in the 1950’s. It’s another cluster ring, composed of a central turquoise cabochon within a border of circular-cut rubies, embellished by an outer ring of turquoise cabochons accented with rubies and diamonds. I think the color combination is to-die-for. How bright and happy. This one ties with the Oscar Heyman for my favorite of the bunch. I swoon for that rich turquoise every time.

9.53 carat colored diamond and diamond engagement ring or cocktail ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This high-voltage stunner would be a knee-weakener of an engagement ring, but with its flashy setting and jaw-dropping center stone, it would also be great as a cocktail ring. It centers a Y to Z color diamond (that’s why it looks yellow) of 9.53 cts encircled by by 16 round diamonds totaling approximately 1.45 carats.

Vintage opal, jade, and diamond cocktail ring, circa 1950. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I’m not entirely sure what’s going on with this vintage opal, jade, and diamond ring but I know I really like it. It’s sort of like blowing bubbles in a forest, ideally on St. Patrick’s day. It’s vintage, as I mentioned – from 1950. The iridescent opal is surrounded by curling branches of diamond flowers and accentuated by a trip of leaf-shaped jades. Fabulous.

If you could only have one of these cocktail rings, which would you chose? I think my heart has been stolen by the Oscar Heyman at the top.

All images and info are thanks to the original source of each of the cocktail rings. Please see individual descriptions for source links.

Follow along with me on Instagram