emeralds Archives

Ring roundup: a passel of pearl rings.

August 15, 2013

I am loving pearl rings today. Let’s look at some!

This is the ring that got me thinking about pearls. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. It’s Victorian, made of gold, and set with three colored pearls, each flanked by rubies, emeralds or diamonds, and further diamonds on the sides. I love how the differently colored pearls are matched with differently colored gemstones. I bet this looks amazing on.

This pearl ring comes to us from Cartier, and it was made in 1925, so you can bet your buttons I love it and its Art Deco loveliness. The center cream pearl is bordered by a frame of baguette and princess-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum. The ring is signed Cartier to the bezel edge. It’s very simple, but I think it’s great. There is almost nothing this wouldn’t go with.

This is another pearl-and-gemstone combination, and a really whimsical and pretty one. It’s antique; made in France in 1905. The central round pearl is bordered by calibre cut rubies and old cut diamonds. The gemstones are all open set in platinum and gold, on a triple strand gold wire band. I love that it feels slightly floral without being cheesy or overdone.

This simple, linear beauty is the work of Tiffany & Co., circa 1905. It features one creamy pearl flanked vertically by two old-mine cut pear-shaped diamonds which weigh a total of approximately 5.91 cts. Lovely.

To finish, here is another pearl and diamond ring. Also made in 1905, this three stone pearl and diamond cluster ring has three graduated pearls set vertically within a shaped double border of diamonds, millegrain set in platinum, with diamonds to the shoulders. This one’s more overtly formal than the Cartier pearl and diamond ring up above, but still entirely versatile in terms of what colors you could wear with it.

Now, remember: pearls are delicate. If you’re going to wear pearl rings it’s a good idea to take them off before washing your hands or touching anything that could possibly erode them, like soaps, vinegars, or other harsh substances. (Unless you’re trying to perform a particularly impressive party trick.

All images and info in this post are thanks to the original poster of each ring. Please see individual descriptions above for links.

Three Art Deco emerald and diamond pieces.

August 12, 2013

Art Deco pretties with diamonds and emeralds! I don’t need to tell you how utterly these three are my cup of tea.

Art Deco emerald and diamond brooch, circa 1930's. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This fabulous feast for the eyes dates to the 1930’s. Designed as an openwork geometric plaque set with circular, single-cut, and baguette diamonds, this brooch also suspends three marquise-shaped emerald and diamond drops. I think it is a marvelous example of clean but bewitching Art Deco emerald and diamond perfection, with its clean lines, restrained color scheme, and ration of positive to negative space.

Art Deco emerald and diamond ring, circa 1910. The center diamond - a circular cut stone of 2.07 carats.

Jewel #2 today is this fabulous Art Deco emerald and diamond ring. It’s not the first we’ve seen along these lines and it won’t be the last, given that this is my blog and I love this kind of thing.

The ring predates the brooch; it was made in 1910. The center diamond – a circular cut stone of 2.07 carats – is set within a millegrain surround of circular and single cut rose diamonds and accented by emerald details.

Art Deco emerald and diamond earrings by Cartier, circa 1935. Each earring is hung with a polished emerald within an open diamond-set frame.

These Art Deco emerald and diamond geometric earrings are the work of the ever marvelous Cartier. They’re contemporaries of the brooch, circa 1935. Each earring is hung with a polished emerald within an open diamond-set frame. The frames are each divided by a line of baguette diamonds and with fancy kite shaped diamond, from diamond set circle-and-dot tops, millegrain set.

I love the contrast of hard and soft here, with the straight lines of the frames, the liquidey emerald drops, and the perfectly round surmounts.

Please see the individual descriptions of each Art Deco emerald and diamond piece for source links. All image and info in this post are thanks to the original poster of each item.

Ring roundup: weirdos.

August 8, 2013

These rings all struck me as unusual in some way. But fabulous, of course.

Here’s the ring that inspired this post. It’s insane. Almost off-putting. It looks like a blank ring was covered in glue and dropped into a jeweler’s work tray. But the longer I looked at it, the more I came to love it. It’s beautiful – an abstract collage of varicolored gemstones set in a platinum and diamond canvas.

If you look closely, can see that the emeralds and rubies are carved, tutti-frutti style. The varying opacity of the stones mean that this beauty would catch the light in a really interesting way. It’s an Art Deco dinner ring from 1925, and the lovelies it’s set with include carved emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, citrines, and diamonds. The whole melange is framed within a border of black enamel.

Tutti-frutti Art Deco dinner ring, circa 1925. An unusual design incorporating carved emeralds, sapphires, rubies, amethysts, citrines, and diamonds within a border of black enamel.

I would wear it. Let’s see some more unusual rings!

28 carat emerald-cut aquamarine and diamond cocktail ring in two-tone gold, circa 1960s-1980s. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This ring looks like a porcupine trying to swallow an aquamarine that’s too large for its mouth. You know you see it too. But I mean that in the best way. It’s vintage, from the later part of the 20th century. With its ropelike mixed-metal details, baguette diamond accents, and giant aquamarine, I think this is an exceptionally cool piece.

A very unusual Victorian shell cameo ring in 9 karat rose gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This guy is really, seriously weird. Even the good folks at Lang Antiques aren’t sure what the figure is supposed to be (they identified him as “An ancient bearded ancestor of Gene Simmons (of the band Kiss),” which I am 99.9% sure is a joke). This unusual cameo, which is set in rose gold, is Victorian and does indeed feature a bearded man sticking his tongue out. I have a weakness for unusual cameos and I’d wear this one in a heartbeat.

Victorian conch pearl and diamond ring in platinum and yellow gold. Total diamond weight, 1.15 carats, circa 1880. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This ring might look a little bit like a squid but it’s the prettiest squid you ever did see. It features a natural pink conch pearl (you know how I love conch pearls) and three sparkling white European-cut diamonds, totaling 1.15 carats. The diamonds are arranged in a pattern somewhat reminiscent of a fleur d’ leis. The ring is Victorian, circa 1880, and is set in platinum and yellow gold.

Vintage gold and ruby dragon ring in 18k gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I’m reasonably sure you don’t need me to explain to you what I love about this ring. But I will anyway: look at his little face!! Those ruby eyes are full of personality. That, and the incredible detailing of the gold – look at the horns, don’t they look like two elaborately coiled springs? And I love how the twisted motif goes all around the shank. This beauty is vintage, made Greece at an unknown date, and it’s set in 18 K gold.

If you’re hungry for more unusual rings, please revisit some of the memorable weirdos I’ve posted in the past, like the Chopard rubber duckie ring, the coral wizard ring, the diamond turkey ring, the Piaget cocktail-shaped cocktail rings, and Wallace Chan’s abstract serpentine masterpiece.

All of the pretties in this post were listed for sale at the fabulous Lang Antiques. All images and info are thanks to Lang.

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