Top

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

You are here: Home / Archives for sapphires

Ring roundup: several spectacular sapphire rings (III).

I like this particular ring roundup theme that I’ve done it two times before. I promise it’ll still delight you.

Sapphires are just so great. The variety in color, the richness of the deep blues, the wonder of a perfect cornflower glint. They’re a great choice for rings, because it’s a strong stone. Since it ties with its corundum cousin, ruby, on the Mohs hardness scale (just below diamonds) it’s safe for everyday wear.

Without further ado: I give you several spectacular sapphire rings. For the third time.

An antique French Belle Epoque ring with a 7 carat sapphire and a diamond-set platinum setting.How fantastic is this French Belle Epoque sapphire ring from Lang Antiques? That’s a 7 carat sapphire in that diamond-covered platinum setting.

An Omi Prive sapphire ring with pave diamonds. That center stone is 20.03 carats!

This glorious sapphire ring from Omi Prive features a 20.03 carat center stone in a glamorous pave diamond setting.

A 7.18 Carat no heat sapphire platinum and diamond ring.7.18 carats of luscious blue sapphire perfection, between two delicious epaulette-cut diamonds and accented with further diamonds on the sides. Yes.

Read More

A blue and yellow sapphire necklace by Cartier.

Today’s piece is all about color. Glorious color! This blue and yellow sapphire necklace is exceptional in many ways, all of which will be immediately apparent when I show you the picture.

Are you ready??

A retro blue and yellow sapphire necklace by Cartier, with diamonds. Circa 1957.

Helllll to the yes.

This luscious blue and yellow sapphire necklace is the work of the incomparable Cartier. It’s gold and platinum, set with a fringe of alternating rectangular cut blue and yellow sapphires, alongside circular and marquise cut diamonds.

It’s 15 inches long, so it would sit close to the neck. I think my very favorite part – except for those amazing stones – is the fact that the gemstone fringe goes all the around. So decadent, so glamorous. Do you need sapphires on the back of your neck? No. But why not have them, if you can?

This beauty is retro, dating to 1957. Can’t you see it at a glamorous late 1950’s cocktail party? The bright gemstones would sure pick up the colors of  what ever stunning cocktail dress its glamorous owner would surely have been wearing.

Detail; a retro blue and yellow sapphire necklace by Cartier, with diamonds. Circa 1957.

Yes, yes, and yes. Aren’t sapphires magnificent?

If this color scheme is working for you too, check out this post from my archive. Apparently this is a combo that’s caught my eye before.

What do you think, my darlings? Do you love this necklace as much as I do?

This blue and yellow sapphire necklace by Cartier was listed in a recent Christie’s auction. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s, unless otherwise specified.

 A blue and yellow sapphire necklace by Cartier, with diamonds. Retro, circa 1957. A vibrant blue and yellow sapphire necklace by Cartier, with diamonds. Retro, circa 1957.

Jewelry hunting at the 2016 Original Miami Beach Antique Show.

About a month ago, I achieved one of my jewelry dreams: I attended the Original Miami Beach Antique Show.

Miami is really not the worst destination for a business trip in January.This massive 5-day event draws dealers, buyers, and enthusiasts from all over the world to create one of the most dynamic, treasure-filled antique shows out there – in a location that’s delightful in late January, especially when one has 29 inches of snow at home.

I’ve wanted to go for years, but I couldn’t exactly take time off from my day job for “a really cool antiques show.” As soon as I became my own boss, attending the Original Miami Beach Antique Show went straight to the top of my list.

My badge for the Jewelry History Series at the Original Miami Beach Antiques ShowThanks to my antique jewelry fairy godmother, the one and only Lenore Dailey, I also had the great privilege of attending the 2016 Jewelry History Series; two days of lectures alllllllll about antique jewelry.

There is nothing like being in a room full of people who are as passionate as you are about your favorite thing. It made my nerdy little heart sing, and my new knowledge lent greater context to the treasures I would see over my days at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show.

It also gave me a chance to get to know some of my favorite Instagram buddies IRL, which was a wonderful added bonus. And to try on said buddies’ jewelry.

My encounter with the Olsen twins, the legendary pair of diamond earrings belonging to the fabulous proprietress of Jewels by Grace.These antique diamond earrings of my dreams are better known around Instagram as the legendary Olsen twins, property of the incandescent Grace Lavarro.

So: my brain primed with knowledge, glowing with the wonder of having touched the Olsen twins (you know what I mean), I set foot onto the floor of the Miami Beach Antique Show within 10 mins of opening on the first day. And oh my goodness, the treasures I saw.

Read More

Follow along with me on Instagram