diamonds Archives

My 2014 Emmy jewelry faves.

August 26, 2014

Good morning, my dears!

We had some fun last night, didn’t we? I was delighted with the participation in my Emmy jewelry drinking game and the wealth of good humor and jewelry-related opinions to be found on #EmmyJewelry last night. Yes, the Emmy jewelry was slightly disappointing overall, but the celebs who brought their A game REALLY brought it. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge those who excelled in accessorizing last night.

Laverne Cox looks like an Old Hollywood goddess in a flowing gown that I wish were a real color (emerald green? lavender?), but it’s my favorite use of a neutral from the whole evening.

More importantly: Ms. Cox’s gorgeous Fred Leighton jewelry. Her swooping retro diamond earrings are delicious, as is her lovely diamond bracelet. But why is she at the top of my list for wearing diamonds with white? Those brooches!

This is what I was dreaming of when I added “unusual deployment of brooches” to my Emmy jewelry wishlist. They perfectly enhance her whole look: the placement is fresh, interesting, and beautiful. More of this please.

Speaking of women who looked like goddesses on the red carpet…we need to talk about Christina Hendricks. The actress positively glowed in a scarlet and gold gown accessorized with gold Neil Lane jewelry. Her stylist Lawren Sample was kind enough to Instagram a photo of the jewels, much to my delight.

It would have been so easy to wimp out on this and decide the dress was enough look, but I’m so, so, so glad that Team Hendricks (with an assist from LoveGold Live) went for the gold instead. It’s glorious.

Speaking of notable gold jewels: we have to talk about Michelle Dockery in Ana Khouri. She went for delicate gold, modern where Christina Hendricks went antique, and it was simply delightful. The two finger ring and ear climbers are chic, but what lands her solidly on this list is this divine gold hair accessory.

You’re doing it right, Michelle Dockery. Thanks to the actress and her style team for Instagramming these photos.

Also noteworthy: Kate Walsh in this Chopard stunner, one of the only true statement necklaces of the night.

Sarah Hyland’s Lorraine Schwarz earrings and rings were just as young and fresh as the actress herself.

And a great mani on Hyland too, am I right?

Jessica Pare went mid-century fabulous in this beautiful and interesting Fred Leighton retro platinum and diamond necklace. Thanks to her stylist for this great Instagram snap of it.

Reliable bombshell and bling-lover Sofia Vergara brought the sparkle just as we would have expected: big Lorraine Schwarz accessories with a curve-hugging gown. You see those huge earrings and the pop of color from her emerald rings?

My fave of Sofia’s bling picks? This amazing ribbon-like diamond tassel bracelet.

Radiant mama-to-be Hayden glowed in Fred Leighton diamond earrings and a diamond headband.

It’s actually somewhat reminiscent of Lupita Nyong’o’s memorable Oscars look, but I think Hayden succeeds in looking fresh rather than derivative.

And finally: Heidi Klum and Zac Posen. This delightful duo each excelled in their own way: Klum in gloriously ample Lorraine Schwartz earrings, emerald bracelet, and pinky ring and Posen with a smattering of jaunty brooches. (Photo credit: Heidi’s Instagram.)

Klum in a dress instead of a towel, and a detail shot of her ring and bracelet. Heidi tried to talk about her diamonds on the red carpet and the interviewer just changed the subject, much to the chagrin of everyone in the #EmmyJewelry chat.

Here’s a look at Posen with his delightful brooch duo. Gotta love well-executed manbling.

What do you think of the celebrities’ 2014 Emmy jewelry? Who was your favorite? Did I miss anyone that you think deserved jewelry recognition?

Speaking of fabulous jewels…don’t miss your chance to win some of your own! Have you entered my birthday giveaway yet?

Images via Just Jared, HitFix, LoveGold Live, E online, FabSugar, and Emmys.com, unless otherwise credited.

Giveaway: win an antique pearl and diamond pendant!

August 22, 2014

Guess what, darlings?

Diamonds in the Library is two years old as of TODAY.

In the past 24 months, I’ve gone from being able to look at my page views and attribute each one to a member of my family to connecting with thousands of jewelry lovers all over the world and being invited to fabulous jewelry industry events in NYC and Paris.

This is my 552nd post. (Remember how I used to update every day? I was crazy to think I could sustain that.)

I am thrilled and humbled when I realize how far I’ve come, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next.

None of this would be possible without you, my faithful and fabulous readers. Therefore, to celebrate my blog’s second birthday, I’m going to give you a present.

This beautiful Art Nouveau starburst or flower pendant – donated by the fabulous Maejean Vintage – was dates to the early 1900’s. It’s made of 10k rose gold set with many tiny pearls and one genuine diamond.

The pendant hangs on a 1940’s gold-filled chain (not original to the piece). The pendant is approximately 1 x 1 inches and the chain is 20 inches long.

It’s also convertible: the back of the pendant has a pin fitting, so the piece can also be worn as a brooch. It weighs 3.8 grams total.

This antique pearl and diamond beauty was originally priced by Maejean Vintage at over $200. Now it’s going to go to one of you as a gift.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The only thing you must do to enter is to log in above and complete the first action. You can triple your chance of winning if you do all of the additional actions, but they’re not mandatory.

The lucky winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecoptor and must claim the prize within one week of email notification, otherwise the prize will be forfeit and a new winner will be chosen.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to Maejean Vintage for donating this beautiful antique pearl and diamond necklace and making this giveaway possible. These lovely images of the prize are c/o Maejean Vintage as well. Good luck to all those entering the giveaway!

(That gold and diamond crown I’m wearing at the top of the post is by Thyreos Vassiliki and I promise to tell you more about it soon.)

Store profile: Maejean Vintage.

August 22, 2014

Meajean Vintage is a store I’ve mentioned before, more than once. These vintage-loving sisters have an incredible selection of costume and fine jewelry, both vintage and antique, ranging from less than $30 to about $1,300. It’s one of the online jewelry stores I check regularly and I always find something that I love.

Their stock is always beautifully photographed, which is something I appreciate even more now that I’ve spend so much time experiencing firsthand how hard it is to take decent photos of jewelry.

Speaking of photos: Maejean Vintage has a fabulous Instagram account, too. And if you like something they post, don’t wait for it to come up in their shop: I’ve seen more than one piece of theirs snapped up before it even made it into the shop. You can also follow their behind-the-scenes adventures on their blog.

Enough talk. Let’s look at some of my favorite pieces currently available in the Maejean Vintage Etsy store.

Maejean Vintage has three categories of particular excellence, in my totally biased opinion: pretty little antique necklaces, gold lockets, and pretty little antique rings; all of which I usually want to buy and which are often in my personal Kryptonite price range of $150-$450. This 1930’s-1940’s lavalier is a great example: it’s sweet, lovely, eminently wearable, and under $400.

I’m severely lusting after these three sapphire and diamond rings. This trio began their lives as antique stick pins, but have been converted into rings. They’re tiny, lovely, unique, and extremely wearable.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this Victorian two-sided agate fob necklace sells before I get this post online. It’s just so cool – and so affordable. I want it for myself. This may be a very dangerous Store Profile for me to be writing.

A trio of gorgeous antique amethyst rings.

Maejean Vintage is also a pretty reliable source for antique camphor glass necklaces, which you know are something that I can’t get enough of. I’ve considered buying this particular one more than once.

Just look at that delicious paperclip chain! I’ve resisted so far. Maybe it’s meant for one of you?

Or how about this 1920’s ring to go with it? I haven’t added one of these to my personal collection yet, but it’s definitely occupying a spot on my ring bucket list (a list that Mr. DitL is wont to make gentle jokes about with fear in his eyes).

The more jewelry I look at, the more I lean towards unusual pieces. I adore all of these charismatic antique rings, especially the little garnet and pearl Victorian band and the Roman warrior hematite.

Could this guy be any prettier? I purchased a lavalier somewhat similar to this at last year’s Baltimore Summer Antiques show last year and I wear it alllll the time. People stop me on the street to ask me where I found it.

If you wear ties and you don’t own any sword-shaped tie clips with which to adorn those ties, you are squandering an opportunity for awesomeness.

Anyone looking for a modest but still stunning engagement ring would be well served by checking out Maejean’s stock. This is only a selection of the currently available diamond rings, not a one over $1,500.

Now the most exciting part: check back this afternoon for the chance to WIN a beautiful piece of antique jewelry from Maejean Vintage in honor of my 2 year blogging anniversary, which happens to be today!!!

All images and info in this post are thanks to the fabulous Maejean Vintage.

< Newer
1
…
12
13
14
15
16
…
134
Older >

Follow along with me on Instagram