This bracelet is simple and lovely.
This bracelet is simple and lovely.
I thought this would be an excellent palate-cleanser for the day after Valentine’s day. We’ll never get tired of these pretty, pretty snakes on these pretty, pretty bangles!
(You see what I did there? Eh?)
First up is this beautiful Victorian bangle from 1860. I love the colors and the richness of the contrasting textures of the different elements. The woven mesh bracelet terminates in a serpent head applied with blue enamel, topped and accented by split pearls and garnet eyes, and flanked by a granulated gold ball. The other end of the bracelet is tipped by a blue enamel tail.
Next up is an undated bangle that Doyle New York characterizes as “antique.” This bangle is also rich in texture and color. This bracelet engraved with detailed, stylized scales applied with apple green enamel. The enamel is spaced by gold bands engraved with a leaf motif and five engraved panels centering rose-cut diamonds. The bracelet terminates in a snake head topped with 8 oval and cushion-shaped rubies and 11 rose-cut diamonds, tipped on the other end by a diamond-set gold tail
Also, how cute are both of these snakes’ faces? I think I would spend all day talking to my wrists if I was wearing either of these.
Both of these bangles were listed in Doyle New York’s October 2012 Important Estate Jewelry sale. All images and info are thanks to Doyle New York.
Saying this is a diamond bracelet doesn’t do it justice. This Art Deco diamond and ruby bracelet, my friends, is diamond-encrusted.
This gorgeous thing was made by Lacloche in the 1920’s. The tapered bangle with openwork diamond-set scale patterns is enhanced by calibré-cut ruby lines, to the stylized acorn swiveling terminals. It is signed Lacloche.
I imagine it doesn’t fit everyone, since it certainty doesn’t look like it can be sized. Fingers crossed that it’s for a small wrist – in case I’m ever in a room with it, I like to think it would fit me.
This Art Deco diamond and ruby bracelet was listed in Christie’s November 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.
This bracelet is on the simple side, but I think it’s very pretty.
Made in 18 karat gold, this bracelet is set with one round-cut ruby; two square-cut emeralds; four pear-shaped sapphires; and 24 round brilliant cut diamonds, VS clarity, G color. Total diamond weight is 1.50 carats. It was made by Cartier Paris in 1994 and is stamped “Cartier.” Comes in original Cartier box.
This lovely bracelet is for sale at Fortrove, listing available via 1stdibs. Thanks to Fortrove and 1stdibs for the images and info.
This piece is really something special. (Someday I’ll have to go back through all of my posts and find out how many times I’ve said that.)
You have to agree with me this time, though. This is an extraordinary bracelet. Look at the pattern, how it mimics a top and bottom layer of gemstones, with the top layer receding to show what’s beneath. It takes a great mind to come up with this and a master jeweler to create it. Incredible design, impeccably executed.
This bracelet, described by Christie’s as a “wave” bracelet, was created by Rubel Freres in 1925.
This Art Deco beauty has a wide articulated band designed as an old European and circular-cut diamond undulating upper panel, set with five pierced flowers. Each flower in this upper layer is bezel-set with a pear-shaped diamond pistil and calibré-cut black onyx stems and detail. The upper layer is further enhanced by buff-top emerald accents. Framing the upper layer is the lower layer, with calibré-cut emeralds, rubies and sapphires depicting a floral scene, mounted in platinum.
This bracelet was sold as part of Christie’s October 21, 2009 Rare Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.
And the fun’s not over! Fabulous blogger Natalie of Jewels du Jour just featured a stunning photo of this bracelet on her blog, and I couldn’t resist editing this post to include it. I think you can see why:
Amazing, isn’t it? From this angle, you can really get a sense of the texture and dimensionality of the bracelet. Sigh. I love it even more than I did before.
For some reason, rubies just aren’t my favorite stone. I often love pieces with rubies, but the thought of rubies in general doesn’t thrill me like the idea of sapphires, diamonds, or emeralds. This ruby and diamond necklace is a great reminder that the poor neglected ruby has a lot to offer and I should pay better attention to it.
Isn’t it fabulous? I love the way the line of diamonds snakes around itself and how the rubies seem to be either dripping off the sides or growing on the diamonds like leaves. I think this would be really flattering to the collarbone area.
This ruby and diamond necklace was listed in Sotheby’s 09 October 2012 Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.