rubies Archives

Finn’s V-day perfect heart and snake pendant.

February 12, 2016

I called this pendant “V-day perfect” in my title and I stick by that, although some might feel that the snake gives it an eerie, somewhat darker feel than a simple heart would.

That’s actually what I love about it. There are a thousand heart necklaces out there – more, probably. This one is special.

Isn’t it gorgeous? The ruby pave heart and snake pendant hangs on 15 inches on 18k gold cable chain (I don’t believe that includes the pendant, so I’d expect it to hang like a 16 inch necklace).

The heart features .53 carats of pave rubies, and that sinuous golden snake has two twinkling diamond eyes.

Here’s a back view. The heart and snake pendant really is three-dimensional all the way around – look how the curves of the snake twine around the lines of the heart. Because of how it’s attached to the chain, you would never really see the back of this when it’s worn. But that makes me like it even more; there’s an impressive amount of attention to detail on this little piece.

The snake is actually as appropriate for Valentine’s Day as the heart is. Snakes have long been considered a symbol of passion and everlasting love, as well as representing knowledge and the idea of eternity.

Which brings me to my most important point: I think you should buy this for YOURSELF for Valentine’s day. Declare your everlasting love for yourself. I’ve long believed the idea that women should sit around and wait for men to buy them jewelry is bullshit. You are the one you will always have in your life, no matter what. Treat yourself right.

And happy Valentine’s Day weekend, my darlings. Know that I adore you, and please eat some chocolate.

This fantastic snake pendant necklace by Finn is currently for sale at Barney’s New York. All images and info are thanks to Barney’s.

A red ruby ring roundup.

February 8, 2016

One of the best parts of my jewelry blogging journey has been that I’ve had the opportunity to learn to appreciate new things. The more I see, the more new things I learn to love. For example: the ruby.

I never used to care much about rubies. They just didn’t excite me. But I’ve changed my tune: rubies are lush and luminous; the best ones glow in your hand like a captive ember. They symbolize passion: intense, all-consuming, unbridled passion. It’s also been thought to carry protective properties or represent prosperity.

Rubies – like their chemical counterpart, sapphires – are a 9/10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which makes them almost as resilient as diamonds (which are a 10/10). That means they’re a great option for engagement rings or everyday wear; they’re much less likely to crack or wear than something more fragile, like emeralds, opals, or pearls.

It’s also glorious to look at, which is where we’re going next. Let’s dive into a ruby ring roundup!

Let’s start out with something bold and old. This ring from Lang Antiques is Art Deco, circa 1930, and features a magnificent Burma ruby in platinum with diamonds. I love love love the color of that central ruby and the fascinating use differently-shaped diamond cuts in this unique piece.

This ruby ring is also Art Deco, but with a completely different feeling, thanks to its rounded cabochon of a center stone and gentle, almost foliate, shoulders.

Here’s a ruby ring that will make the rest of these antiques look new: this one dates to the 16th century. Featuring a table cut ruby in a quatrefoil setting of high-karat gold and traces of black enamel.

The ruby in this ring is small, but it’s an important part of the visual effect. This crowned heart beauty dates to 1900, and features the most wonderful rose-cut diamonds.

Melanie Casey jewelry.

July 6, 2015

Happy Monday, my dears. Not the finest day the week has to offer, is it? At least, it tends not to be. Never fear: I have something truly wonderful for you today.

I first found Melanie Casey jewelry on Etsy years ago – for proof, please see my first ever holiday gift guide (right here). When I rediscovered her recently through Instagram, I was delighted to see how her brand has blossomed in the past few years: I was treated to a wide selection of lovely stacking rings, which I remembered from before, as well as entirely new collections of gorgeous original jewelry.

Melanie Casey’s jewelry backstory is my favorite kind of jewelry backstory: she started out working in finance, a field that became very stressful in the housing crisis of the early 2000’s. Hoping to find a relaxing hobby, Melanie took a jewelry design class and fell in love. After gradually developing her technical ability on nights and weekends, Melanie started selling her work on Etsy and eventually made the switch to full time jewelry designer in 2011.

Sounds more than a little like me and blogging. The first part, at least…I’m still working on next few steps 🙂

These ruby and garnet earrings are the piece that caught my eye on Instagram. Aren’t they wonderful? Such luscious, juicy gems nestled in that knobbly gold setting.

I’m a sucker for Victorian jewelry with discolored turquoises – I think the combination of all those different shades of blue and green is stunning. This ring from Melanie Casey’s Wisteria collection gives the same feeling by ringing an emerald-cut aquamarine with sapphires, turquoise, and topaz.

Much like yours truly, Melanie Casey has a soft spot for antique jewelry, especially pieces that date to the 1930’s and earlier. When she told me that, I immediately thought of this morganite and diamond ring. Something about this beauty feels 1930’s to me – it’s simple silhouette, gently softened by color and curves, perhaps?

I love seeing a morganite in yellow gold. I know they’re frequently set in rose gold, and I understand that choice…but I think that the way the soft pink pops gently against the yellow setting is wonderful.

Rubies and garnet again. Apparently I have a weakness for this color combination. Can you blame me?

Here’s something brighter. I love how the pearls around this citrine wake up the brightness of the central stone.

Can I interest anyone in some brilliantly colored gemstone earrings? I think both of these are great, but it’s the gently faceted pair of peridots in the back that really caught my eye.

This ring is one of my personal favorites: a beautiful, marquise-cut blue kyanite set on a band of delicate gold leaves. I love the contrast between the crisp points of the kyanite’s bezel and the more plumply rounded leaves of the band.

Here are a few of the classic Melanie Casey stacking ring sets – they come in rose, yellow, and white gold; all kinds of textures, and in almost any gemstone. The possibilities for customization are endless.

These three beauties are billed as wedding bands, but I think they’d be fantastic on any finger. Which is your favorite?

All images and info in this post are thanks to the fabulous Melanie Casey jewelry. Find these pieces and more on Melanie Casey’s website.

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