coral Archives

Art Deco carved hardstone and diamond bracelet.

July 31, 2013

I rearranged my posting schedule so that I could show you this bracelet sooner rather than later. It’s incredible.

An Art Deco carved hardstone and diamond bracelet with diamonds, coral, carnelian, chalcedony, malachite and lapis lazuli. Circa 1925.

Circa 1925, this stunning Art Deco carved hardstone bracelet takes the form of an articulated band decorated with panels of hardstone flowers within a border of single cut diamonds. The hardstone panels are crafted from meticulously carved pieces of coral, carnelian, chalcedony, and malachite fitted together and set against a lapis lazuli background.

Antique Art Deco carved hardstone and diamond bracelet with diamonds, coral, carnelian, chalcedony, malachite and lapis lazuli. Circa 1925.

Here’s the long view. How amazing are those Art Deco carved hardstone panels? They’re all different and a few of theme seem to continue behind the diamond frames (the final two at the bottom are a great example of this). The craftsmanship involved in creating something like this just blows my mind.

This is a shot of the bracelet from the back, which gives a better sense of the precision involved in creating the hardstone panels. The reverse is rather beautiful in its own right, even if it won’t normally be seen.

This Art Deco carved hardstone and diamond bracelet was listed in Sotheby’s December 2007 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Have you entered the my giveaway yet? I’m giving away a free pair of diamond earrings!

Coral, amethyst and diamond earrings and bracelet, Van Cleef and Arpels.

April 8, 2013

These pieces were listed in separate Sotheby’s lots but I’m going to talk about them together. They look a lot like these Van Cleef and Arpels’ pieces from the late, great Elizabeth Taylor’s collection, but they’re not exactly the same and there’s no mention of her in these pieces’ provenance notes.

Coral, amethyst and diamond earrings, Van Cleef and Arpels.

These earrings, made in 1970 by Van Cleef and Arpels, are each of cluster design, set with cabochon corals, oval and circular-cut amethysts, and brilliant-cut diamonds. The pendants are detachable.

The matching bracelet was also made by Van Cleef and Arpels in 1970. The bracelet is made up of clusters set with cabochon corals, circular-cut amethysts and brilliant-cut diamonds.

These pieces were both listed in Sotheby’s November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Insane carved coral and diamond ring.

March 16, 2013

This ring is nuts. It looks like a fairy tale character ran afoul of the wrong witch and ended up imprisoned in coral for eternity. I love it.

It would be like having a friend on your finger! A really awesome, probably cantankerous friend with fearsome eyebrows. My friends at Lang refer to this ring as “distinguished and mysterious” and “beautifully bizarre.” My favorite part is how he’s not looking straight out – he’s peering to the side, as if to say, “Hey, what’s going on over there?” or “Really, those are your life choices?”

This piece is Italian and is an antique. You have to wonder what the artist’s original inspiration was. The ring is 1.5 inches long and features a gnarled gentleman carved from red coral, who is giving you a sideways look out of his white gold and diamond frame.

The white gold frame is set with 52 rose-cut diamonds for a total diamond weight of .50 carats. The bezel, the ring shank and undergallery are all 18 karat yellow gold.

I would hold him up to people’s faces and make him say things in an old man voice. He would be my finger Gandalf. Better: my finger Dumbledore. Or maybe this is Merlin’s true fate? How many old wizards can I reference in one post?

This ring is currently for sale at Lang Antiques. All images and info are thanks to Lang. If you buy this ring, please tell me so that I can marvel at how cool you are.

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