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

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Two Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelets.

Happy Friday, darlings! I’ve got a twofer for you today – a pair of very different but equally thrilling Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelets.

Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet #1 is big and bold. It’s circa 1925, but possesses a magnificent boldness that  I generally associate with Deco pieces from closer to 1940. It looks like it should go with bias-cut satin, not flapper beads.

This glorious Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet is by Cartier, Paris. The top is two gem-encrusted dress clips, both of which detach. Circa 1925.

But I’m not complaining. It’s a forward-thinking piece of heaven. Also, the top part of the piece – the juicy, gemmy part – is two matching Art Deco emerald and diamond dress clips that detach and can be worn separately.

The dress clips are platinum with old, circular, baguette and square-cut diamonds and rectangular-cut emeralds. The bangle attachment is 18k white gold. Both dress clips and the bangle are signed Cartier, Paris. Please also note the yellow gold prongs around the emeralds. So wonderful.

I wonder if it’s possible that the dress clips predate the bangle? If so, this is a wonderful after-the-fact convertible piece.

Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet with a fabulous diamond tassel. Circa 1925.

On to beauty #2 – this Art Deco emerald and diamond stunner is sensual and sophisticated in a way that is simultaneously classic and exotic, bold and delicate. You know I love a tassel.

This beauty is also from 1925, and also French, although it’s unsigned. It features a flexible openwork bracelet with circular, baguette and hexagonal-cut collet-set diamonds alongside richly green rectangular-cut emeralds, leading to a delightful tassel of circular-cut diamonds.

I think my very favorite part is that tiny ring of emeralds just before the fringes of the tassel begin. Such a perfect touch.

It reminds me of this all-diamond Van Cleef and Arpels tassel bracelet, which is from the same era. And as much as I love bracelet #1….I would choose Mr. Tassel here over it in a heartbeat.

What about you, darlings? Who is Team Tassel and who is Team Dress Clip Bangle?

These Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelets were both listed in Christie’s April 2016 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

 Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet with a fabulous diamond tassel. Circa 1925. This glorious Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet is by Cartier, Paris. The top is two gem-encrusted dress clips, both of which detach. Circa 1925.

Diamond studs: 37 ways.

Happy Friday, my dears!

As you may know, I took the plunge about 6 months ago to get my ears pierced for the second time (actually for the third time, thanks to a 9 year old me screwing things up on attempt #1).

I’ve been surprised – and delighted – with the difference it makes to be able to wear 4 earrings at a time instead of just two. Picking out earrings is a completely different undertaking now: I get to consider how the four earrings will interact with each other and the negative space that will exist between the earrings on each lobe. I love it.

Seeing my ear as a canvas rather than as an appendage with the ability to suspend a single decorative object has given me a whole new world of appreciation for stud earrings. They’re made for mixing. I especially enjoy the artful combination of studs of different design that still have something in common: for example, the sparkle of a diamond.

I’m currently wearing square pave diamond studs with a pair of heart shaped opals in gold: one of my favorite combos.

In celebration of the fun I’ve been having mixing and matching on my ear lobes, here are 37 pairs of diamond studs (all of which I would like to own).

A variety of diamond studs by Workhorse jewelry.Let’s start out with a glorious variety of diamond studs from Workhorse Jewelry. These babies come in alllllll kinds of styles, and the price points start at a very comfortable level.

Diamond studs in yellow gold from Zoe ChiccoVariations on a classic from Zoe Chicco: diamond studs in yellow gold. I want every single one.Diamond stud earrings in white, rose, and yellow gold. By Suzanne Kalan.Hell to the yes. These six pairs of diamond studs are by the talented Suzanne Kalan (if you hadn’t guessed from the use of baguettes).

Edgy, stylish diamond stud earrings by Zoe Chicco.
And more beauties from Zoe Chicco: this batch of ZC diamond studs is even edgier, more unexpected designs.

In summary: I think I need more piercings.

To purchase any of the diamond studs above, please contact Suzanne Kalan, Workhorse, or Zoe Chicco.

An exquisite 19th century ruby and diamond flower necklace.

I stumbled across this beautiful 19th century ruby and diamond flower necklace in the Christie’s auction archives the other week and I was going to just pin it to Pinterest, but I decided that this level of beauty deserves its very own post.

Sadly I don’t know very much about this Victorian masterpiece, so this is going to be a lot of “ooh look, isn’t it pretty?”. But I don’t think you’ll mind. It’s REALLY pretty.

A stunning late ruby and diamond flower necklace from Victorian era, circa 1880.

Yeah.

THAT is how you do a diamond flower necklace. Look at those heavy, naturalistic blooms, bursting with old-cut diamonds and accented by richly red ruby buds. Exquisite. This, my darlings, is luxury.

The diamonds are old mine cut: you can see a few beautifully chunky old collet settings around the edges of the flowers that hold diamonds as well as those that hold circular-cut rubies.

Let’s get closer.

Detail view; a stunning late ruby and diamond flower necklace from Victorian era, circa 1880.

I just can’t with these flowers. They’re perfect.

The necklace itself is about 15 inches long, so it’s fairly short. It would wreathe its wearer’s neck in elegant voluptuous blossoms, leaving a wide expanse of collarbone and decolletage bare beneath. (Assuming a low-cut gown, which is what I’m pair this glorious diamond flower necklace with in my mind wardrobe.)

But back to actual information: the settings are a mix of silver and gold. The flowers themselves seem to be set mostly in silver, while there’s a definite use of yellow gold near all of the rubies. You can get a better look at the mix of metals in a detail view of the back of the piece.

Top detail view; a stunning late ruby and diamond flower necklace from Victorian era, circa 1880.

Also: the there is so much gold along the base of the necklace, the core circle that goes around the neck, that it creates the effect of glorious diamond flowers blooming on a golden branch with ruby buds. I wonder what those ruby buds would bloom into if they could?

An exquisite 19th century ruby and diamond flower necklace, with detail view.

What do you think, my darlings? Do you love this Victorian ruby and diamond flower necklace as much as I do? If not: what would you change?

And the most fun question: what would you wear this with if it were yours?

This 19th century ruby and diamond flower necklace was listed in a 2009 Christie’s auction. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

 An exquisite 18th century ruby and diamond flower necklace in silver and gold. Victorian era. Detail views of back and front. An exquisite 18th century ruby and diamond flower necklace in silver and gold. Victorian era.

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