Fred Leighton's bracelet collection

A simple search on the internet can return amazing results to you. Be it images or stories, they can inspire you or simply amaze you. It’s such a pleasure to discover virtual springs of beauty and good taste, don’t you think? This is how I felt as I was looking through the collections of Fred Leighton a couple of days ago. Oh, how many beautiful pieces it has to offer!

Just look at these bracelets made between 1860 and 1940s and you’ll see what I mean.

14 Karat Green and Rose Gold Retro Bracelet, circa 1940s

Enamel, Ruby and Diamond Bracelet, circa 1907

Art Nouveau Blue Enamel Bird Motif Bracelet by Carter Gough, circa 1900

Amethyst, Pearl and Enamel Bangle by Carlo Giuliano, circa 1890

Antique Archeological Revival Jeweled Bracelet, circa 1860

Star-accessories – exquisite earrings

If a woman wants to stand out because of her accessories, then it’s mandatory for her to wear a star-accessory that will draw others’ attention to her. When a woman decides what jewels she’ll wear in a certain circumstance and she’ll opt for something else than a parure, she’ll have a preferred adornment for sure. It is the statement jewelry item that will be much praised by the others.

These amazing earrings are definitely perfect for the role of star-accessory of an outfit.

Carved Fossilized Mammoth Penguin And Diamond Earrings by BOCHIC

ANA DE COSTA - GANDHI ZAMBIAN EMERALD EARRINGS

Georgian Yellow Gold and Amethyst Long Iberian Pendant Earrings, circa 1750 - Fred Leighton Estate Jewels

 BOGH-ART Earrings - white & rose gold, white & grey natural pearl, pink & colorless diamond earrings

Faraone Mennella Earrings - 18kt gold with green tourmaline, smoky quartz and white diamonds pave'

Wonderful bangle from Estate Betteridge Collection

I often find myself admiring the beautiful jewelry items worn by the women I meet. It's lovely to see an amazing jewel but it’s more exciting to meet a woman with a sexy attitude, who is confident and proud of her look and accessories.

Imagine the person who would wear the bracelet below. Interesting character, don't you think?

Estate Betteridge Collection Antique Oval Amethyst & Pearl Bangle, via www.betteridge.com

ReneSim earrings

I admit it! I like 1stdibs.com very much and I constantly search for exquisite jewelry pieces on this platform. For those of you who don’t know, 1stdibs is an online luxury marketplace that delivers a tremendous collection of unique items, including jewelry and watches, to people around the world.

Last time I checked it, I found these amazing RenéSim earrings, designed by Maximilian Hemmerle. The vivid colors of the gemstones catch your eye instantly and they are really beautiful.

RenéSim Platinum Earrings with Topaz and Sapphires

RenéSim Gemstone Earrings

RenéSim Earrings with Sapphires, Tourmalines and Tahiti Pearls

RenéSim Amethyst Rose Gold Earrings

See other beautiful jewels from 1stdibs.com in "The roaring 20s or crazy 60s? Take your pick!" article.

Beauty & Emotion in estate jewelry

Let’s say you’re buying estate jewelry. Have you ever wondered how the woman that first wore that piece of jewelry looked like? What was her story? Where did she wear it?

There’s more than just metal and gems in such a piece. There’s emotion. Now it’s your turn to have that jewelry witness a new story. Yours.

I am impressed by the beautiful creations you can find at Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry. Earrings, necklaces, rings, watches…anything you want. And they’re beautiful, believe me. I was charmed by these bracelets the minute I set my eyes on them:

French Antique Turquoise and Enamel Bracelet and Brooch Set

Diamond Cuff Bracelet

Georgian Mourning Bracelet with Amethyst, c.'1828'

Victorian Diamond Bracelet

Antique Carnelian Bracelet

Ruser Diamond, Pearl, 18K Yellow Gold Bracelet

Retro Tourmaline Bracelet

Victorian Ruby Bracelet

Retro Cabochon Emerald Bracelet

I’ll take the challenge and play this game – how did SHE look like? Did she have an interesting life? Can she inspire me?

Use your imagination and do the same. It’s so good to dream with your eyes open sometimes.

Necklaces I’d buy at Sotheby’s auction in September

I've just found out that Sotheby's is going to organize the “Important Jewels” auction this September in New York. I spent my whole weekend looking through the amazing fine jewelry that is on sale and I simply fell in love with some items. 

What would I buy if I had the money? Oh God, a lot! Here are the necklaces I love the most and I promise I’ll show you soon the bracelets, rings and earrings I've chosen. The necklaces couldn't be worn alone, right? 

18 KARAT GOLD, PLATINUM, SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, MARCHAK

18 KARAT TWO-COLOR GOLD, EMERALD AND RUBY NECKLACE AND EARCLIPS,CAZZANIGA

18 KARAT GOLD, CORAL BEAD, ENAMEL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, SCHLUMBERGER,PARIS

18 KARAT GOLD, EMERALD, SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE AND BRACELET

GOLD, SILVER, SAPPHIRE BEAD AND RUBY NECKLACE, RENÉ BOIVIN, FRANCE

18 KARAT GOLD, COLORED STONE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE,BULGARI, AND A PAIR OF 14 KARAT GOLD, AMETHYST AND DIAMOND EARRINGS

Estimated value: 100.500 - 142.000 USD. If you wonder how much these pieces would cost...

Birthstones and recommended jewelry for you – part 3 (February - May)

It’s time for the last part of our series dedicated to birthstones, so this post is especially for those of you born between February and May:

February: Amethyst

* The ancient Egyptians believed amethyst could keep a person from being poisoned.

* Medieval churchmen used amethyst rings and jewels to promote divine revelations and wisdom, since amethyst was considered a symbol of Christian love and sacrifice.

* Amethyst also was said to enhance courage and creativity, to promote intuition, psychic development and even self-esteem, to deflect anger, and protect the wearer against evil.

Attrape-moi…si tu m'aimes "Galet" ring in 18-carat white gold, diamonds and facetted amethyst - by Chaumet

 March: Aquamarine

* It was called "The Sailor's Stone", due to its sea-like colors, and was thought to protect sailors and people traveling over water.

* In the perception of Hindu mystics, the amethyst helped to promote mental clarity and to improve one's public speaking.

* In today’s belief, this gem provides inner calm and enhances both verbal and written communication. 

Antique Diamond and Aquamarine Pendant Earrings, circa 1890 - via Fred Leighton

 April: Diamond

*Diamonds’ unique hardness and high refractive index have inspired legends:

-> to the Greeks, they were teardrops from the gods

-> to the Romans, they came from the falling stars that tipped the arrow of Eros, the god of love

-> for Hindus, diamonds were the lightning that armed the hand of the god Indra

Open lattice bracelet - 340 round diamonds, 25.84 , platinum setting - by Harry Winston

May: Emerald

*Ancient people believed that emerald could heal maladies or improve vision.

* In ancient times, it was also believed that emeralds could help people see into the future.

Emerald Cuff by BOGH-ART

What’s their meaning? Part III

Hello everybody! It’s time for our third episode in “what’s their meaning” miniseries.

Today’s characters are:

• Ruby comes from the Latin rubeus, meaning red and it is the symbol of courage and strength; it also symbolizes love and passion. In Sanskrit, the word for ruby is ratnaraj, meaning king of precious stones.

Harry Winston ring -  Oval ruby, 5.40 carats; 2 tapered baguettes, 0.58 carats; platinum and yellow gold setting

• Blue Chalcedony owes its name to a city situated at a crossing-point on the Bosphorus in ancient times.

"DUNAY" CHALCEDONY CABOCHON RING. THE BLUE CHALCEDONY HAS A CARAT WEIGHT OF 19.11 CARATS SET IN PLATINUM AND 18KT GOLD 

I bet you wouldn't have expected this - the findings were a surprise for me as well:

• Amethyst comes from the Greek word amethustos, meaning without drunkenness and it is believed to protect one from poison. Iolite, still often called cordierite in honor of the French geologist Pierre-Louis Cordier, owes its name to the Greek ion meaning the flower violet. 

 "Byzantine" ring set with amethyst, peridots, iolites and diamonds from the CHANEL Fine Jewelry "COCO" Collection

• Morganite was named after financier J. P. Morgan, as he was the best customer of the gemologist who found the pink beryl.

 

18-karat blackened white gold, diamond and morganite earrings - by  Lydia Courteille