RED

Ravishing
Exquisite
Divine

Mini Champagne Diamond And Sapphire Ring by DANIELA VILLEGAS

So Insomnight Ruby Iridescent Ring by Baccarat

Mobius Ring by Klaus Spies

Class One Croisiere Ring by CHAUMET

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

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.

Important estate jewels @ Sotheby’s, New York

Ten more days till the Sotheby's auction in New York and probably a lot of plans and enthusiasm among jewelry collectors.

I would be too very eager to attend the event and buy exquisite jewels if I had the chance. I know that day will come though, but until then let’s just settle for knowing what other “important jewels” are on the market.

Oh, yes, I fell in love with these ones:

18 KARAT GOLD, PLATINUM, LAPISLAZULI AND DIAMOND BRACELET, WANDER, FRANCE

GOLD, ENAMEL, SAPPHIRE ANDDIAMOND BANGLE-BRACELET, GEORGE E. MARCUS

18 KARAT GOLD, DEMANTOID GARNETAND ENAMEL RING, LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY

18 KARAT GOLD, CITRINE, WOOD,SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND CUFF-BRACELET, AUSTRIA

14 KARAT GOLD, PLATINUM AND DIAMOND RING

18 KARAT GOLD, COLORED STONEAND DIAMOND PENDANT-BROOCH, DAVID WEBB

I can't decide between these two - I love the green in one and the red in the other:

18KARAT GOLD, PLATINUM, CHRYSOPRASE BEAD AND DIAMOND BRACELET, DAVID WEBB

18 KARAT GOLD, SYNTHETIC RUBY,RUBY, EMERALD BEAD AND DIAMOND BRACELET, MICHELE DELLA VALLE

I would have probably had to buy them both, right? I'd better stay home... :)

Birthstones and recommended jewelry for you – part 1 (June – September)

Since I've noticed that the most read post on my blog is Zodiac signs and we all are so interested in this kind of stuff, I've decided to write about birthstones. Find out which gem is associated with the month you were born in and some facts about it. I’ll even recommend you an exquisite piece of jewelry with that specific gemstone.

I’ll start with June, the month we are in. The first 4 birthstones are presented below, while the next 8 ones will be shown in my next two posts. So all of you born in October – May interval stay tuned for it!

June: Pearl

* The pearl symbolizes purity, wisdom, charity and loyalty. 

* In ancient Greece, it was believed that pearls had the power to prevent newly wed brides from crying and to promote happiness among all those who wore them.

* More than 2.000 years ago, ancient Chinese believed pearls had the power to perpetuate eternal youth.

Magnolia 16 mm White South Sea Cultured Pearl, Akoya Cultured Pearl and 5.14 ct Diamond Necklace set in 18k White Gold, by Mikimoto

July: Ruby

* Ruby has been the gem of passion and the heart's desire since the dawn of time. 

* Mystics used rubies to stimulate spiritual creativity and religious devotion. 

* Ancient Greek women believed that wearing ruby could bring them love and physical beauty.

* Rubies were considered the wedding stone through the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, as they were supposed to keep passion alive and promote lasting love and contentment in marriage.

Ruby and diamond necklace by Harry Winston, via Christies

August: Peridot

* Medieval alchemists used peridot in amulets to protect the wearer from demons, but by Renaissance times, peridot had become a love stone, worn to attract romance.

* It has also been alleged to encourage a positive emotional outlook on life, to prevent fear or guilt, and to help develop patience.

18k White Gold Diamond & Peridot Ring by Cartier. With 34 round brilliant cut diamonds, VS1 clarity, G color. Total Diamond Weight: .34ct. 

September: Blue Sapphire

* Blue sapphire was valued by ancient Hindu mystics as the key to developing wisdom and spiritual progress.  

* The Romans thought this gem attracted divine favor to their owners.

* All through the Middle Ages, sapphires were alleged to bring a great destiny to their wearers, and were often used in court and royal jewelry. 

* Alchemists believed that blue sapphires would help them develop clairvoyance, telepathy and divine wisdom.

Luscious Blue Sapphire and Diamond Earrings with 148 Round Stones. 64.82 Total Carats

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

Art Deco jewelry

The design of Art Deco jewelry (1915 - 1935) is very popular and much appreciated today as it was back then. It is defined by geometric shapes and bright colors and you will often find combinations of diamonds and colored gems like rubies, sapphires or emeralds in Art Deco jewelry.

High auction results for Art Deco creations reveal that this category is one of the most sought after jewelry. 

If you're wondering why, take a look at these amazing pieces:

Van Cleef & Arpels earrings with golden and blue sapphires, diamonds and emeralds

Cartier Art Deco Aquamarine Brooch, via Pinterest

Lacloche Freres 33.06 Carat Natural, 'no heat' sapphire and diamond

And this is not all. I invite you to check out other impressive Art Deco creations on Fred Leighton's website. I came across their online platform while researching for this kind of jewelry and I found there beautiful collections of adornments from different periods of time, starting the 18th century.

Here are just three examples of what kind of jewelry you can find on their website:

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Greek Key Bracelet Fred Leighton

Art Deco Sapphire Diamond Greek Key Bracelet Fred Leighton

Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Pendant Earrings, circa 1950s Fred Leighton

Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Pendant Earrings, circa 1950s Fred Leighton

Old European Cut Diamond and Emerald Ring, circa 1915 Fred Leighton

Old European Cut Diamond and Emerald Ring, circa 1915 Fred Leighton

Amazing bracelets

Imagine you wear a simple, refined and comfortable outfit. You feel good and not at all tied up and you just love the freedom it gives you in movement. Yet you know that something is missing and your outfit looks kind of tame. Don’t you worry! There are several ways to make your clothes sparkle. One of them is wearing fabulous accessories and today I’ll only recommend you some gorgeous bracelets to turn the plain into chic:

Floral porcelain bead bracelet - Silvia Furmanovich jewelry  (18 kt gold, porcelain beads, Kevlar thread, 0.73 ct brown diamonds, 25.06 ct Brazilian green tourmaline, gold magnetic clasp fastening)

de GRISOGONO - bracelet in pink gold with black mineral powder set with 68 white diamonds of 8.08 carats

SIDNEY GARBER Silver & Ruby IL Serpente Bracelet - Sterling silver three-coil 'Il Serpente' bracelet with ruby eyes

Cartier Trinity Bracelet - 18K 3-gold bracelet, large model, with paved white diamonds

Later edit:

New models on my mind :) :

Via K di Kuore - Pink gold and white diamonds bracelet

Van Cleef & Arpels - Diamond, Onyx, Pearl & Carved Emerald  Bangle