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

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Antique diamond and ruby festoon necklace.

If you’re in the mood for something simple today, you should go away now and come back later. I actually saw this diamond and ruby festoon necklace ages ago but lost the link, and I’ve been hunting for it ever since because I wanted to show it to you. Ready?

Antique diamond and ruby festoon necklace, circa 1860. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Made in 1860, this diamond and ruby festoon necklace is embellished with old mine cut diamonds and decorated with four old mine-cut diamond and ruby pierced bows, suspending an old mine and rose-cut diamond foliate swag, bezel-set with a series of cushion and oval-cut rubies, suspending a fringe of bezel-set pear-shaped diamonds and rubies, to the knife-edge collet-set diamond neckchain, mounted in silver-topped gold.

Detail; an antique diamond and ruby festoon necklace, circa 1860. Via Diamonds in the Library.
 This kind of necklace is known as a “festoon” necklace for obvious reason. It is a necklace with which one festoons oneself. If I owned this necklace, I would make it a personal mission to wear it to every holiday party in my immediate area. For now, I’m just going to stare at it some more.

This diamond and ruby festoon necklace was sold as part of Christie’s October 21, 2009 Rare Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

Tiffany and Co kunzite and diamond ring.

I know it’s Tuesday reviewsday but I could not wait one more minute to show you this Tiffany and Co kunzite and diamond ring.

Tiffany and Co kunzite and diamond ring. Via Diamonds in the Library.

 

This spectacular specimen of gorgeousness is a 25.29-carat kunzite and diamond ring by the estimable Tiffany and Co. It is bold, bright, and beautiful.  The setting and the kunzite would both be remarkable on their own, but together they’re really a remarkable piece. This is some high-caliber bling.

The purplish-pink gemstone kunzite was apparently first introduced to the world by Tiffany and Co after it was discovered (and named after) Tiffany gemologist Dr. George Kunz in 1902.

All images and info in this post are thanks to the Tiffany and Co Tumblr.

Opal and diamond pendant.

I love all of the jewelry I post, but I love it in different ways. Some I think is totally insane and it warms my heart that the world is silly enough for it to exist. Some blows my mind with its creativity and workmanship, even if it isn’t my personal style. And some I want to have for myself and wear it every day until you have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

This opal and diamond pendant fits into that final category:

Opal and diamond pendant. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I would like to venture the assertion that this pendant could not actually be prettier. (Ugh, sorry. I wrote that in total seriousness. Can you tell that I write for the Federal government as my day job?)

It’s undated, but that pierced open work screams Art deco influence. The star of this pendant is that luscious opal drop, highlighted with brilliant-, single-cut and rose diamonds. It looks like there’s also a black enamel or onyx border in there, but the Sotheby’s description doesn’t mention it.

This pendant comes with a seed pearl chain that was not pictured in the listing.

This lovely opal and diamond pendant was listed in Sotheby’s July 2011 Fine Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 

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