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So long, 2017, and thanks for all the fish.

December 31, 2017

I hadn’t planned on doing a New Year’s post this year – I already told you I was signing off for a winter hiatus, and I intend to get back to that after this – but I wanted to acknowledge something before the year officially ended.

2017 was a hard year for many reasons, both personal and political, but it was a fantastic year for Diamonds in the Library.

2017 brought my first visit to the gem shows in Tucson and my first Aryle Pink Diamond Tender (which was incredible, although hard to photograph). I went to my third Miami Antique Show, my third AGTA Spectrum Award Press Preview, my second Vegas jewelry week, and my fourth GlobalDesign, JCK Luxury Prive, and Baltimore Summer Antique Show.

I spoke on panels, from JCK Las Vegas to Jewelry’s Night Out in DC to my Philly WJA appearance, where we had 13 people in the room and 600+ watching online, from places as far away as Sydney and Hong Kong. I stood close to but was afraid to introduce myself to Iris Apful.

I went to my 3rd VicenzaOro in Italy and then to Paris Fashion Week, which I haven’t even had time to tell you about yet! I took one of my favorite pictures of all time: my antique gargoyle ring in front of Notre Dame in Paris. I was interviewed by JCK (who also named me an “Agent of Change”), Engagement 101’s Facebook Live, Jewelers Mutual, and in Italian by VO+ Daily. I was also interviewed for in The Futurist Trendbook 2018, which features both photos and quotes from me.

This was the year I tried on Catherine the Great’s bracelet and George Washington’s signet ring (I’m not allowed to share that picture). I put so many tiaras on my head this year: from Lydia Courteille’s contemporary masterpiece to some of Fred Leighton’s antique treasures. This was the year of my magnificent Halloween bling-o-lantern and the invention of my new favorite thing, Instastory polls!

I talked about politics, which some of you loved, most of you ignored, and a few of you got very angry about. I stuck to my jewelry buying goal of acquiring fewer, better pieces: and I’m in love with my cat’s eye chrysoberyl ring.

Thank you, 2017, for all of the wonderful moments you brought into my life. It wasn’t all good, but what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store.

Happy New Year, my darlings. Thank you all for the very important part you play in making this all possible. I’ll see you in 2018!

xoxo,
Becky

Your favorite jewels of 2017.

December 29, 2017

All right, my darlings. It’s here: our final post of 2017.

What better use for such a momentous occasion than to review what you loved the most this year? I’m talking, of course, about our limited context: which Diamonds in the Library posts you shared the most frequently and read the most often in 2017.

It’s a great mix of antique and contemporary jewelry, show recaps, how-to’s, and designer features. So many of my favorite posts of the year are on here (including both my suffragette post and my feminist jewelry post!). Take a gander at the list below and let me know what you think.

Is there anything in particular you’d like to see more of 2018? I’m always open to suggestions.

I’m going to take a few weeks off to celebrate the new year and get some great stuff ready for you for the upcoming months. I’ll see you in 2018!

xoxo,
Becky

15. Meet Apollo and Artemis, the world’s most expensive earrings.

I’m not at all surprised to see this one on the top list. I mean…look at those earrings!! If any of you are visiting this post on a daily basis, I wouldn’t be shocked.

14. How I make money blogging: peek behind the scenes.

I wasn’t sure about this post when I was writing it, but it’s become one of the posts that people ask me about the most frequently when they meet me in person.

I want to do some more content about the business of blogging in 2018 – I personally find it really interesting, and I think it’s good for the jewelry industry as a whole if we keep discussion open about how all of this works, how we want it to work, and what’s possible with new media.

13. Treasure hunting at the 2017 Original Miami Antique Show.

Woohoo! I’m glad to see this here, because the 2018 Original Miami Antique Show and I hope to go again and write you another big, juice recap like this one.

12. Dark and true: the jewels of Acanthus.

I love Acanthus’ designs and I’m glad you do, too.

11. Jewels for votes for women: let’s talk suffragette jewelry.

I’m so excited that this post is here! It’s one of my own favorite posts from the past year and I’m so glad that it resonated with so many of you too. I adore you, my smart, strong, bold readers.

Same for the next post:

10. Feminist jewelry to wear while you smash the patriarchy.

Hellllll yes, readers.

9. Ethereal chic with Ruta Reifen.

Apparently many of you are mermaid goddesses with excellent taste!

12 vintage engagement rings from Victor Barbone.

December 19, 2017

Are you familiar with Victor Barbone, my darlings? They’re vintage engagement ring specialists: all vintage engagement rings, all the time.

In other words: they’re our kind of people.

There isn’t much I love more than a vintage engagement ring. The romance, the unique details, the soulful sense of history and individuality!

Another bonus of vintage engagement rings – and one that isn’t discussed enough, in my opinion – is the total clarity of conscience that they offer. If you want to make sure your engagement ring has as low an environmental impact as possible, why not choose one that already exists, instead of going for new production? It’s hard to make a more sustainable/ethical choice than recycling!

Now we’re going to look at a dozen of Victor Barbone’s vintage engagement rings one by one and drool happily all over our screens.

Ready?

THIS is Mira. She requires occasional all caps, because HOLY MOLY.

Her vibe is Art Nouveau, but Mira is early Edwardian, from 1905. Are you a wood nymph who dreams of a shimmering antique diamond wreathed in golden flowers? If so: this is your perfect ring.

You’ll never see another vintage engagement ring like this one. If she feels right to you, you should buy her immediately.

Have we talked about my ruby feelings recently? I never used to appreciate rubies, but somehow they’ve become one of my favorite gems.

This ring – the fiery Everly – is a low-profile Art Deco platinum setting with a 1.06 carat transitional cut diamond and 17 rich, rosy rubies. An outwardly simple design made unforgettable by the glowing pop of color. Rubies represent passion, which couldn’t be more perfect for a proposal.

Oh hello, beautiful. This is September, a platinum seductress made in the same year as my own engagement ring: 1930.

Look at those elegant scrolling sides, nimble openwork, and of course that irresistible 2.18 carat old European cut diamond in its sleek bezel setting. This ring is quiet elegance personified, with a heavy dose of glamour on top of that.

Bezel settings are having a moment in contemporary design, but September is gorgeous proof that the concept is a classic, rather than a trend.

This is the luminous Catalina. That’s a 2.21 carat old European cut diamond in the center with another 1.75 carats of diamonds surrounding it.

There’s nothing like a diamond cluster ring for pure volume on the finger. From afar, every one of those facets will catch the light and this baby will blaze like a 5 carat stone.

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