Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels

On December 9^th Sotheby’s will hold a jewelry auction in their Manhattan showroom. The sale contains a collection of magnificent jewelery spanning over a hundred years of jewelry history and several loose stones that are poised to sell at new record prices, including a 30.48ct D, Flawless, oval brilliant cut diamond.

The sale includes some museum quality pieces, both in rarity and beauty. Lot 88 is a pearl, diamonds, enamel and glass brooch by Rene Lalique, circa 1900. The piece features three pinkish-orange glass roses in a cluster framed in red enamel branches, diamond-set branches and button pearls. The shape is very organic and represents nature in all of its splendor and perils, beware of the thorns. The sale also includes a rare and important Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond and emeralds ring (lot 222), by Louis Comfort Tiffany, circa 1910-1915. The full page catalog description of the ring was written by Janet Zapata, renowned jewelry historian and author of many books including The Jewelry and Enamels of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The sale would not be complete without some stunning pieces by Cartier, the famed French jewelry house that is celebrating its 100^th anniversary in the United States. Finally, offered for sale is a collection of jewelry and fabulous Cartier handbags from the late Brazilian model and philanthropist, Lucia Moreira Salles, which includes the three rings shown here designed by JAR.

Sotheby’s website is also quite spectacular and easy to navigate. It hosts a new e-catalog where each lot is photographed and can be examined up close, with a condition report available at a click of the mouse. I looked at the online catalog before I had the book and found it more captivating. The photographs are the same color and quality as the catalog, but the e-catalog features each lot separately, so no jewel is overshadowed by another that it might share a page with in the catalog. The public exhibition will be held in New York the week prior to the sale.

Your Own Piece of The Crown Jewels

While I rarely watch television, or like what I am watching, every so often something great comes along. I have throughly enjoyed Showtime’s The Tudors. The series chronicles the early years of the reign of Henry VIII. The episodes seem to be historically accurate and portray Court in all of its intrigue, politics and splendor.

The costumes, designed by Joan Bergin, are Emmy award winning. I discovered recently, quite by accident, that most of the jewelry is from the costume jewelry company Sorrelli. The company was founded in 1983 by Lisa Oswald together with her sisters, hence the name. Sorrelli has an extensive line of jewelry, much of it historically inspired. While the website does not promote the pieces worn in The Tudors, a quick google search produced the style numbers of some of the featured pieces, like the “Vintage Inspired Elegant Crystal Necklace” and “Floral Crystal Drop Earrings” worn here by Anne Boleyn, portrayed by actress Natalie Dormer.

The Tudors is currently in between seasons 3 and 4. The first seasons can be rented or viewed On Demand just in time to get you up to speed for the fourth season coming in Spring of 2010.

Antique Jewelry Shows

Antique jewelry shows are a wonderful way to expand your knowledge about jewelry by viewing a large assortment of antique and estate jewelry at one time.  You can learn a great deal by looking, comparing and asking questions; most of the dealers will be friendly and informative. Jewelry and watch shows happen all around the country. This weekend the Jewelry Brief will be tweeting from The Miami Beach Antique Jewelry & Watch Show.

When attending a show you should bring a loupe, which you have already taken the time to learn how to use.  10x is appropriate for viewing jewelry. Use your loupe to make sure the piece has not been altered from its original design and is not damaged. Ask the professionals questions about period, quality, craftsmanship and anything else that you can think of before you make a purchase. Ask if the piece has a provenance. The provenance is like a pedigree, who has owned the piece, which can often be the clincher to a sale if you can connect with a jewel on an emotional level.

I do not recommend making any type of large impulse purchases away from you local jeweler, which they might later have to repair or help you with in some way.  It is okay, and prudent, to check up on a dealer before making a purchase.  This can be as simple as asking another exhibiter that you have had a good experience with if they know the dealer or if they might look at the piece for you.

Remember to follow the Jewelry Brief on Twitter and get more info on great finds, new trends, links and more direct from The Miami Beach Show. For other show listings check The Jewelry Brief Calendar, your local paper or www.dmgantiqueshows.com for larger shows on the east coast and Las Vegas.

Not All That Glitters Is Gold

Every outfit looks better with the right accessories. This season several of my favorite designers have introduced fantastic jewelry collections to compliment their latest looks.

Tory Burch has come out with a line of statement necklaces and several cuffs that are just to die for. My favorite is the wide Studded Cuff. The bracelet has a bold, geometric, high polish gold look to it, but the edges are soft and would be the perfect splash of style to your favorite skinny jeans outfit.

J. Crew launched new jewelry to accessorize their style of the season: many soft, often sheer layers and ruffled collars in earth tones and neutral pastels. The Duchess Stone (emerald cut glass) pendant necklaces, bracelets and ear pendants are very eye catching. The colors of the rectangular step cut glass mimic the warm, deep neutrals of quartz. The necklace is designed as a gold tone chain suspending seven of these large stones, and the earring is a drop featuring one of these stones accented by smaller brilliant cut stones. The bracelet is bolder; it is a straight line bracelet composed of the over size glass pieces, really featuring the depth of color of the glass.

Kate Spade has a wide range of jewels this season from casual to evening. Her use of pearls in multi-strands is a great look for day or evening, but my favorites are the enamel bangles (shown here). In a range of color choices, to compliment any outfit, the bold enamels are crisp and geometric in design, and are easily stackable.