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

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19th century turquoise, ruby, and pearl snake necklace.

Snakes aren’t one of my usual motifs when it comes to accessories. I usually favor bows or flowers. But for this snake necklace, I’d make an exception.

A 19th century turquoise, ruby, and pearl snake necklace. Victorian era. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Could this necklace possible be any cooler? Only if you consider the fact that it’s from the mid-19th century and still looks amazing. Seriously.

Snakes were a big deal in the Victorian era – Queen Victoria’s engagement ring was actually a snake. It’s a symbol of eternal love and wisdom.

19th century turquoise, ruby, and pearl snake necklace. Victorian era. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This snake necklace is designed as a series of links shaped like coiled snakes, alternating in size and also graduated. Each snake is set with cabochon turquoises along the body with a pearl head and ruby eyes. Several snakes suspend additional pearl drops.

I don’t even have any more words. This is amazing. Please admire it with me.

Detail view of a 19th century turquoise, ruby, and pearl snake necklace. Victorian era. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This Victorian snake necklace was listed in Sotheby’s December 2012 The Jewellery Collection of the Late Michael Wellby: An Eclectic Eye – Jewels Spanning Four Centuries sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 A Victorian era turquoise, ruby, and pearl snake necklace. 19th century.

Glorious cool-colored earrings by Cartier.

Oh, Cartier. It’s possible I should try to post less of you, but I just can’t help it.

Turquoise, amethyst and diamond earrings by Cartier, Paris. Via Diamonds in the Library.

These marvelous earrings are by Cartier, Paris. I think they are simply bursting with fabulousness.

Each surmount of is of cluster design and set with circular-cut amethysts, cabochon turquoise, and brilliant-cut diamonds. Each surmount suspends a detachable drop similarly set with turquoise, diamonds and pear-shaped amethysts, mounted in gold and platinum.

These earrings were sold as part of Sotheby’s November 2011 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

But the title of this post was plural, remember? I couldn’t resist giving you a double-hitter today. (Did that make sense? I am only marginally sports-literate.)

Sapphire and diamond earrings by Cartier. Set with pear-shaped sapphires and brilliant-cut and baguette diamonds. The bottom pendants detach.
Fabulous earrings #2 are set with pear-shaped sapphires and brilliant-cut and baguette diamonds. The bottom pendants detach so that you have the option of slightly less formal earrings, if that’s what you want. The earrings are signed Cartier and numbered, French assay marks.
These earrings were sold in Sotheby’s May 2012 Suburb Jewels auction. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

 

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.

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