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

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Precious vegetation from Michele della Valle.

Ready for more bright cheerfulness from Michele della Valle? I wouldn’t wear these together unless you’re starring as Titania in a particularly well-funded production of Midsummer; they’re all rather high-voltage (in the best possible way).

Carnation brooches by Michele della Valle. Set with 23.58 carats of diamonds. The stems are green tourmaline, and the red flower is set red spinel.

These carnation brooches are the most realistically-designed pieces we’re looking at today. Everything else is somewhat stylized. I think these are just beautiful.

Red carnation brooch by Michele della Valle. Set with 23.58 carats of diamonds. The stems are green tourmaline, and the red flower is red spinel.White carnation brooch by Michele della Valle, set with white diamonds in white gold and titanium. The lovely green stem is detailed in cabochon green tourmaline segments.

The two carnation brooches are set with a total of 23.58 carats round white diamonds. The red flower is set with round spinels weighing 2.97 carats. The lovely green stems are detailed in cabochon green tourmaline segments. Both brooches are set in white gold and titanium.

I think these would look lovely worn together or separately.

Ruby, sapphire, and diamond earrings by Michele della Valle. With pavé-set with circular-cut pink sapphires, cushion-shaped rubies, and brilliant-cut diamonds.

Each of these fabulous earrings is designed as a flower, the petals pavé-set with circular-cut pink sapphires. Each center is set with a cushion-shaped ruby within a border of brilliant-cut diamonds. I think they’re marvelous.

Michele della Valle's Ivy necklace. The flexible ivy branch is set with ten oval emeralds, totaling 30.00 carats, and leaves set with circular-cut emeralds (35.15 cts).

And finally: the bright, glamor of Michele della Valle’s “Ivy” necklace. (I’m pretty sure you can tell where the name came from).

The flexible ivy branch is set with ten oval emeralds, which weigh a total of approximately 30.00 carats, and highlighted by leaves set with circular-cut emeralds (adding an additional approximate 35.15 carats of emeralds). The necklace is mounted in yellow gold and is further embellished by approximately 2.20 carats of diamonds. Pretty fabulous. Not subtle.

The brooches were listed in Sotheby’s December 2010 Magnificent Jewels sale. The earrings were listed in Sotheby’s  November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale and the necklace was listed in Sotheby’s April 2013 Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale.  All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Ring roundup: rectangular(ish).

Is “rectangular(ish)” a weird theme for a roundup? It’s accurate, I promise. And they’re pretty!

Edwardian emerald and diamond plaque ring, circa 1910.How glorious and colorful is this Edwardian emerald and diamond plaque ring? I just love the way the white diamonds, green emeralds, and buttery gold play off of each other. Made in 1910, this beauty is millegrain rubover-set vertically with four old brilliant-cut diamonds weighing approximately a total of 0.60 carats. The four diamonds are surrounded by a calibre-cut emerald cluster set in yellow gold, within a old brilliant-cut diamond surround. The design is further embellished by a yellow gold scrolled mount and beautiful, delicate diamond-set leaf-adorned shoulders.

Late Art Deco ring with a 3.22 carat aquamarine set within a fancy diamond set surround, millegrain-set to a pierced mount hallmarked 18 carat white gold. Via Diamonds in the Library.This late Art Deco ring just might be my favorite of this roundup, if it’s possible to choose just one. It features a 3.22 carat aquamarine set within a fancy diamond set surround which is millegrain-set to a pierced mount hallmarked 18 carat white gold. It was made in 1930 and I think it’s glorious.

1930's Art Deco ruby and diamond double cluster ring, set with a central ruby of approximately 1 carat.Okay, it’s a square. I’m cheating. But it’s quadrilateral, so I say: close enough. Plus, isn’t it great? It’s a 1930’s Art Deco ruby and diamond double cluster ring, set with a central ruby of approximately 1 carat. The central ruby is encircled by an old-cut diamond cluster surround, all within a border of calibre-cut rubies set in platinum. The ring is finished by a lovely ornate scroll-design pierced gallery and a square-section platinum shank with diamond-set shoulders.

Edwardian pierced tablet cluster ring. Created in 1910, this beauty centers a flower-shaped cluster of old brilliant-cut diamonds, all set in platinum with diamond-set shoulders and pierced scroll gallery. Via Diamonds in the Library.I adore the contrast of curves and angles on this Edwardian pierced tablet cluster ring. Created in 1910, this beauty centers a flower-shaped cluster of old brilliant-cut diamonds, all set in platinum with diamond-set shoulders and pierced scroll gallery. I love the delicate details on the shoulders and on the side of the ring as well.

Art Deco-style sapphire and diamond table ring.How spectacular is this sapphire and diamond table ring? I think it looks like a quilt, with the way the gems are fitted perfectly together. It’s Art Deco style, but it’s a contemporary design. The center stone is an old brilliant-cut diamond (approx 0.50 carats), set vertically to either side with seven square-cut sapphires and surrounded by a diamond border.I think it looks like a quilt, with the way the gems are fitted perfectly together.

These rings are all currently for sale at Bentley Skinner – please see individual descriptions for links. All images and info are thanks to Bentley Skinner.

Chanel Jardin de Camélias collection (three more pieces).

I’ve shown you part of this collection before – these pieces are a little bit different. They’re colorless, for the most part, and are as sleek, sophisticated, and streamlined as the Camélia Origami suite was is exuberant and playful.

The Chanel Collier Camélia Ganse from the Chanel Jardin de Camélias collection. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby present to you the Chanel Collier Camélia Ganse. I think this necklace is basically perfect. The color scheme and the overall simplicity of the design are an homage to the House of Chanel’s Art Deco origins while the fluidly modern lines of the stylized leaves and flowers are all contemporary.

This necklace would be a perfect accessory for any number of ensembles – in my head,  am wearing it to glamorous cocktail events with this bright Kate Ermilio. I can also picture it adorning a richly-hued gown on a red carpet, dangling over my bathrobe as I read trashy books on my couch…the possibilities are infinite.

The Camélia Coromandel brooch from the Chanel Jardin de Camélias collection.This is the Camélia Coromandel brooch. How spectacularly beautiful is that piece? It’s understated and yet not at all simple. It looks like an embroidered bit of fabric, but it’s all set out in diamonds.

And not small diamonds, either: this brooch is set a 4.3 carat cushion-cut yellow diamond, 324 brilliant-cut diamonds (6.8 carats), 37 pear-cut diamonds (4.7 carats), 3 marquise-cut yellow diamonds (1 carat) and 65 brilliant-cut yellow diamonds. The brooch itself is composed of white and yellow gold.

Chanel's Ruban de Camélia ring from the Jardin de Camélias collection. Via Diamonds in the Library.

And finally, the Ruban de Camélia ring. This piece is an interesting riff on the black and white flower theme; it’s simple and light in terms of lines and color, but the weight is very different. It’s chunky. Not overly so – it’s still elegant, but it’s a much more substantial-feeling piece than the others we’ve looked at so far. Just look at the necklace at the beginning of this post. It’s elaborate, but still looks like it could float. This ring is much more solid.

The Ruban de Camélia’ ring is also set in white gold, with 584 brilliant-cut diamonds (8.7 carats) and 310 brilliant-cut black spinels (1.5 carats). I just love how the black spinels are on the sides of the petals – such a beautiful take on outlining.

All images and info in this post are thanks to The Jewellery Editor.

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