We’ve made it, darlings. Two FULL WEEKS of gift guide posts…all leading up to today.
Today’s gift guide is filled to the brim with unimaginable treasures, pieces to tempt anyone but accessible only to a lucky few. They’re great daydream material for the rest of us, though.
Without further ado, I present the final chapter of Diamonds in the Library’s 2015 jewelry gift guide:
Antique Bailey, Banks and Biddle diamond scroll tiara, circa 1900.
The Dragon & Knight Maneater ring from Wendy Brandes.
(Note the real, opening treasure chest and vanquished knight slowly digesting in the dragon’s stomach.)
Antique Victorian ruby and diamond earrings, circa 1880.
Todd Reed Octahedron chain bracelet in 18k yellow gold. With 45.86 carats of diamond octahedrons.
Judy Geib’s Colombian emerald Rivière with 66.73 cts of bezel-set Colombian emeralds in 22k gold.
Glorious 9.46 carat antique cushion cut diamond drop earrings.
19th century vari-colored gem, pearl and gold cluster pendant necklace, English c.1840.
Arunashi conch pearl and diamond earrings.
Two spectacular diamond riviere necklaces from Doyle and Doyle. Victorian on the left, with 15.60 cts of Old European cut diamonds in cut down collet settings; contemporary on the right, with nine antique fancy yellow Old Mine cut diamonds (8.90ctw) and 45 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing app. 6.51ctw
Irene Neuwirth wide gemstone cuff in 18k gold with emeralds and turquoise cabochons.
Important Art Deco pearl and diamond earrings, circa 1920.
Verdura amethyst and aquamarine necklace in gold.
Naomi Sarna multicolored diamond and sapphire petal brooch in white
Antique graduated diamond necklace; 85.90 carats.
Seaman Schepps emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamond gold link bracelet.
Thanks so much for joining me for my fourth annual jewelry gift guide!! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Here’s what we’ve covered already, in case you’re craving a recap: jewelry under $100; $100 – $200; $200 – $350; $350 – $500, $500 – $1,000, $1,000 – $3,000, $3,000 – $7,000, $7,000 – $15,000, and $15,000 – $50,000.
These babies from Gregore Morin of Gregore Joailliers were one of my very very favorites of the whole AGTA Spectrum 2016 event. Thin, perfectly hewn panels of lapis lazuli set with pink tourmaline in 18k yellow gold. To-die-for.
This ring from the fabulous Wendy Brandes is simply one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s rose and white gold with platinum; studded with 4.5 cts of tsavorite garnets along with brown diamonds, white diamonds, rubies, and Kashi pearls.
It’s from her Maneater series, so it has a secret: when you flip the ring over, you can see the body of a vanquished knight digesting in the dragon’s stomach. It’s called the Dragon and Knight ring.
This is the Erica Courtney “Starburst” necklace with a 15.25 carat opal, accented with pink spinels, demantoid garnets, and diamonds. I just love that chain with its bright, precious fringe.
Have you heard that emerald engagement rings are back? 
Another super favorite of the day: this is the Galaxy bracelet from Michael Endlich of Pave Fine Jewelry. It’s silver with 22k yellow gold with sapphires and diamonds. It’s one of the subtler pieces I saw at AGTA Spectrum 2016, but I think it’s just fantastic.
Detail of the Galaxy bracelet. I love the texture and the understated colors with the rich yellow gold sprinkled across it.
These earrings from William Travis Jewelry were incredible – the gemstone components have their own glow.
Another very unique – but more understated – piece from William Travis Jewelry is this green tourmaline ring. The tourmaline is stunning, but what caught my eye was the setting: structural yellow gold with tiny, dangling rose gold chain fringes.
These brooches are both by Naomi Sarna Designs – one with a baroque freshwater cultured pearl and colored sapphires, amethysts and diamonds on both. Naomi Sarna had a number of pieces in the AGTA Spectrum 2016 showcase and I loved every single one.
Aren’t the colors on this wedding set wonderful? It’s mostly aquamarine (5.96 ct center stone) with tsavorite garnets and diamonds. By Robert Pellicca at JR Dunn Jewelers.
And that side view! Swoon.
How about these bi-color tourmaline pieces of heaven? By Julie Lamb.
I loved the color contrast and the details on these earrings by Brenda Smith. 22k gold leaves and cultured pearls on silver.
Badass Eclat Jewels’ bracelet with a 105 ct aquamarine in 18k yellow gold and black enamel.
Is this, or is this not the prettiest bug ever? I think it is.
How perfectly lovely is this set of rings by Laurence Bruyninckx? 14k white and rose gold set with diamonds, pink tourmaline, and pink sapphires. I love the effect of the diversely clustered marquise stones.
I had a wonderful conversation once with Pamela Huizenga, the designer of this piece, about how she wished she could just attach precious stones to her skin. I’m glad she still has to make them into jewelry, because that’s how this fire opal stingray brooch happened. So good.
Here’s a really cool piece – the “Peacock Slave” ring by Cynthia Back. Amthyst and demantoid garnet in 18 gold.
I had to put these of Annie Fensterstock earrings on as soon as I saw them. I claim these in the name of Team Brunette.
Hello, beautiful. I have a thing for antique snake rings, and I didn’t think they had a contemporary equivalent until I met this wonder by Juan Da Silva.
This bracelet was one of the pieces from AGTA Spectrum 2016 that I most wanted to added to my personal jewelry wardrobe. It’s by K Brunini Jewels, and it’s ridiculously cool. The joined triangles make it look like a starburst on your arm when it’s worn; the triangles feature black opals on one side and rich, brown cocobolo wood on the other side, with yellow diamonds for added pizzazz.
How’s this for a statement ring? By Jennifer R. Morin of Gregore Joailliers, this sterling silver ring features a 30.70 ct fire agate cabochon set in mother of pearl with green garnets. Such mesmerizing iridescence.
These pearl-on-pearl Finestro earrings were getting a lot of attention, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re not the flashiest, but the extremely cool texture of the tiny cultured freshwater pearls set into the opening in a larger freshwater cultured pearl is fascinating.
This spectacular trio can be separated and worn individually, but I love how they stack all together. The top ring is white gold with diamonds and a 5.84ct tanzanite, the middle has a 2.47 pink spinel with diamonds and small pink spinels, and the third ring has diamonds in white gold with a 4.56 ct red spinel. By Gulgun Buldanlioglu of Maya Fine Jewelry.
These Campbellian earrings won Best Use of Color and it’s not hard to see why. 17.05 carats of green tourmaline with 4.14 carats of emeralds. (You see what I mean about green gemstones trending?)
I’m not going to lie to you, I just wore this necklace around the event for a while. This peacock feather necklace by Robert Pellicca of J.R. Dunn Jewelers start with a 7.78 carat opal and just gets better from there.
THIS is the Tempest ring by Lindhardt Designs. Made from oxidized sterling silver and yellow sapphires, it’s another well-deserving award winner. So visually interesting, and much more comfortable to wear than you might expect.
These babies were the very last piece I saw. The kind AGTA Spectrum folks has already called a car for me and I was waiting by the door with my purse and my coat when I realized I’d missed these earrings. I dropped my things on the ground (like a lady) and ran off to get one last photo. Totally worth it.
