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Belle Epoque diamond and ruby plaque-de-cou.

I’ve got some May flowers for you right here!

Detail of a wonderful Belle Epoque diamond and ruby plaque-de-cou, circa 1905.

This is a ruby and diamond plaque-de-cou from 1905. A plaque-de-cou was a variation of the “collier de chien” that was popular in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. If you took as much high school French as I did, you might be sitting there scratching your head and thinking, “seriously? They put these on DOGS?”

Sadly for the dogs, they didn’t. Collier de chien (or “dog collar”) was just what choker-style necklaces were called. A plaque-de-cou is a collier de chien featuring a large rectangular or square plaque suspended on a ribbon or strands of pearls. (Source.)

Belle Epoque diamond and ruby plaque-de-cou, circa 1905.

This one is particularly ornate. The center of the design is an elaborate openwork basket full of flowers, suspended from the diamond-studded bow at the top of the plaque. The basket is also set with rose diamonds and accented with calibré-cut rubies.

The basket full of flowers is within a frame of ribbon, bow and floral swag design similarly set with rose-cut diamonds. A pear-shaped diamond drop dangles from the bottom of the plaque. The plaque is suspended on a wide moiré silk ribbon.

This lovely piece was listed in Sotheby’s December 2012 Fine Jewels auction. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 A lovely Belle Epoque diamond and ruby plaque-de-cou, circa 1905.

A celebration of tiaras.

Today is my little sister’s birthday. Happy birthday, sister!

I asked her what jewelry she wanted to oogle on her day and she requested tiaras. Tiaras she shall have!

This is also my 300th post (!!!), which makes it extra special.

An antique diamond and pearl tiara, circa 1900.This classic diamond and pearl tiara screams fairy tale princess – or, rather, it calmly but firmly announces fairy tale princess. This tiara would never scream. Made in 1900, it’s designed as a series of graduated open work garlands of floral and foliate motifs, featuring seven natural saltwater pearls. The floral and foliate elements are  millegrain-set with rose, cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds. The tiara is accompanied by three screwdrivers, a uniform line of collet-set circular-cut diamonds with screw fittings length, and a pendant fitting.  These may be used to transform it into a diadem, a smaller tiara or a pendant on a fine chain.

A convertible emerald and diamond tiara, with emerald drops that detach and can be worn as a brooch and earrings.This emerald and diamond tiara would look incredible tucked into a crown of dark hair – can you imagine how the emeralds would pop? This beautiful piece is designed in graduated scrolls highlighted with three sprays set with cabochon emerald drops and with rose, French-, single- and circular-cut diamonds. The emeralds detach and can be worn as earrings and a brooch, so really it’s a 4-in-1.

An antique chased gold and diamond tiara with rose and table cut diamonds. From the early 19th century.This delicate gold beauty is the oldest of the tiaras in this post; it dates back to the early 19th century. It’s comprised of a chased gold frame supporting a row of pinched collet-set table-cut and rose diamonds, to a surmount with floral and foliate gold work, capped with similarly cut stones. I think it’s perfectly lovely.
 A dainty pearl and diamond tiara designed as a series of scroll and stylized foliate motifs, set with pearls, circular-cut and rose diamonds. It can also be worn as a necklace.This delicate tiara is ideal for when you don’t want your head wear to steal all the focus – although it’s so pretty that it might steal thunder anyway. It’s designed as a series of scroll and stylized foliate motifs, set at intervals with pearls of various sizes, circular-cut and rose diamonds. It may also be worn as a necklace.
An antique turquoise cabochon and diamond tiara, circa 1880’s.
I think this turquoise and diamond tiara looks pretty contemporary, considering it’s from the 1880’s. This tiara is made in an interwoven foliate and ribbon design and is set with circular-cut and rose diamonds, adorned at intervals with five clusters of cabochon turquoise within borders of cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds.
A gold, sapphire, and diamond tiara from the early 1900’s. This piece is designed as a series of thirteen graduated stylized ribbon and scroll elements.
This tiara is almost too detailed to photograph well. It dates to the early 1900s is designed as a series of thirteen graduated stylized ribbon and scroll elements. The ribbons and scrolls are set with circular-, single-cut, cushion-shaped and oval diamonds and each highlighted in the center with an oval sapphire.

Edwardian tiara, circa 1910. With 6.50 carats of white single-cut and rose-cut diamonds and 3.25 carats colored old-cut diamonds, in gold and platinum.

This Edwardian beauty was made in 1910 and features a gently scrolling design with foliate elements. It features  6.50 carats of old European-cut, single-cut and rose-cut diamonds, accentuated by 3.25 carats of colored old European-cut and old mine colored diamonds, mounted in gold and platinum.

What do you think of these tiaras? Which would you pick?

All images and info in this post are thanks to Sotheby’s. Please see the links in the individual descriptions above for original listings of the tiaras.

Antique diamond and pearl tiara, circa 1900.An antique Edwardian tiara, circa 1910. With 6.50 carats of white single-cut and rose-cut diamonds and 3.25 carats colored old-cut diamonds, in gold and platinum. Convertible emerald and diamond tiara, with emerald drops that detach and can be worn as a brooch and earrings.A beautiful antique turquoise cabochon and diamond tiara, circa 1880’s.An antique chased gold and diamond tiara with rose and table cut diamonds; three levels of detail. From the early 19th century.A dainty pearl and diamond tiara designed as a series of scroll and stylized foliate motifs, set with pearls and circular-cut and rose diamonds. It may also be worn as a necklace.An antique gold, sapphire, and diamond tiara from the early 1900’s. This piece is designed as a series of thirteen graduated stylized ribbon and scroll elements.Three antique and vintage diamond tiaras; one with pearls, one with emeralds, and one with colored diamonds. Three antique diamond tiaras; one with pearls, one with turquoise, and one in yellow gold.

Art Nouveau cherry blossom choker with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

The past few weeks have been cherry blossom season in DC, which is one of my favorite times of the year. What better way to celebrate than with cherry blossom-adorned jewelry?

Art Nouveau cherry blossom choker with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. By Emile Froment-Meurice, circa 1900. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Could that possibly be prettier? Look at the gold-limned flower petals, the diamond accents. It’s perfect.

This beautiful thing was created by Emile Froment-Meurice in 1900. It’s an articulated openwork choker designed as meandering sprays of cherry blossoms realistically enameled in shades of pink and white. The cherry blossoms are enhanced by old European-cut diamonds and round and cushion-shaped emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The entire design is bordered rose-cut diamonds mounted in gold and silver. At 12 inches long, this necklace is definitely a choker.

Let’s take a really close look. You know you want to.

Detail - an Art Nouveau cherry blossom choker with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. By Emile Froment-Meurice, circa 1900. Via Diamonds in the Library.

At this magnification, you can see the shading and lines on each individual blossom. I can’t imagine the amount of time that went into this. It’s mind blowing.

An Art Nouveau cherry blossom choker with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. By Emile Froment-Meurice, circa 1900. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Aren’t the bold rubies, emeralds, and sapphires an interesting color choice to accompany the delicate cherry blossoms? Sort of a departure from the expected color scheme. I would have expected something more pastel; aquamarines, perhaps.

This piece was listed in Sotheby’s December 2008 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 A antique Art Nouveau cherry blossom choker with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

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