About

The Jewelry Brief and its author

The author is a jewelry historian, gemologist, and a passionate jewelry enthusiast! The purpose of the brief is to foster those already sharing the same passion for jewelry and to inspire those just curious through a mix of informative articles about the latest jewelry fashion trends, jewelry history, collecting and collections, and gemstones.

Jewelry is a decorative art, and should be collected like fine art. It has the ability to express love, power and glamour. The right jewelry can make any outfit.

Find out more about this jewelry …

Shown here is a fantastic pair of 18kt yellow gold and green enamel ear clips from the 1960s. The design is typical of the naturalistic motifs of the period, with its serpentine shape and bold green enamel in a scale-like pattern.
Greek goldsmith and jewelry designer Ilias Lalaounis created these ear clips.

Ilias Lalaounis was born in 1920 into a family of Greek goldsmiths. He began is great career in the 1940s, but gained international fame when Aristotle Onassis purchased gifts for Jacqueline Kennedy from his Athens salon. The company expanded worldwide in the 1960s and 70s. In 1994 the family opened a museum honoring the entire family’s contribution to jewelry and gold smithy, which can be visited at the south side of the Acropolis or online at www.lalounis-jewelrymuseum.gr
Also shown: a strand of 10mm (!) Chinese freshwater pearls…see pearls brief for more information, and an 18kt yellow gold and cabochon coral ring.