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

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Twin pearl and gemset lavaliere.

This necklace is an exceptionally pretty little lavaliere.

Antique twin pearl and gemset lavaliere. Via Diamonds in the Library.

It appears very simple at first, but it’s actually not. Look at the scalloped detail of the diamond-set cross bar, the diamond embellishment on the pearl settings, the contrast of the mixed-metal setting. I also love that one pearl is cream and the other is gray; I think that (along with the aforementioned details) really take this necklace up a notch from “oh, that’s pretty” to being something special.

This extraordinarily fabulous piece was sold by Humphy Butler and is currently listed in their archive. All images and info are thanks to Humphry Butler.

Victorian enamel, diamond, gem-set and pearl bracelet.

How amazing is it that something this intricate has survived for more than 100 years?

Victorian enamel, diamond, gem-set and pearl bracelet, circa 1880. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This beauty is Victorian, circa 1880, made in Renaissance Revival style. I think it’s impossibly lovely. Very ornate, certainly, but I think the shapes and colors all work marvelously together.

The bracelet centers a square-shaped plaque of openwork scroll motif applied with white and black enamel. This square plaque centers one rose-cut diamond, quartered by 4 pearls, accented by 6 round sapphires and rubies. The chain is composed of alternating white and black enamel clover-shaped links set with 3 rose-cut diamonds and 4 sapphires, joined by oval gold links.

Detail; Victorian enamel, diamond, gem-set and pearl bracelet, circa 1880. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This bracelet was listed in Doyle New York’s October 2012 Important Estate Jewelry sale. All images and info are thanks to Doyle New York.

A Victorian enamel, diamond, gem-set and pearl bracelet, circa 1880. Via Diamonds in the Library.

 

Antique diamond and ruby festoon necklace.

If you’re in the mood for something simple today, you should go away now and come back later. I actually saw this diamond and ruby festoon necklace ages ago but lost the link, and I’ve been hunting for it ever since because I wanted to show it to you. Ready?

Antique diamond and ruby festoon necklace, circa 1860. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Made in 1860, this diamond and ruby festoon necklace is embellished with old mine cut diamonds and decorated with four old mine-cut diamond and ruby pierced bows, suspending an old mine and rose-cut diamond foliate swag, bezel-set with a series of cushion and oval-cut rubies, suspending a fringe of bezel-set pear-shaped diamonds and rubies, to the knife-edge collet-set diamond neckchain, mounted in silver-topped gold.

Detail; an antique diamond and ruby festoon necklace, circa 1860. Via Diamonds in the Library.
 This kind of necklace is known as a “festoon” necklace for obvious reason. It is a necklace with which one festoons oneself. If I owned this necklace, I would make it a personal mission to wear it to every holiday party in my immediate area. For now, I’m just going to stare at it some more.

This diamond and ruby festoon necklace was sold as part of Christie’s October 21, 2009 Rare Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

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