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.

Off the Cuff

 

Bold yet easy to wear, cuff bracelets are our new (old) favorite. The statement making bracelets can be found in every material; and they look just as great with a sweater and jeans as they do with a little black dress.

The best classic cuff design is the Maltese Cross by Verdura. Originally designed in 1936 by Duke Fulco di Verdura for Coco Chanel, the bracelet is still produced by Verdura today. Each bracelet is fitted to the customer’s wrist and some of the bracelets have a detachable cross that can be interchanged with cuffs of various materials. Elsa Peretti’s Bone Cuff for Tiffany & Co. is quite possibly the sexiest piece of jewelry around. The classic organic design is available in 18kt yellow gold, silver, or ruthenium over copper for the budget conscious.

Bakelite, which is a dense synthetic resin, is a colorful option for cuffs. Invented in 1907, it was popular in kitchen items and jewelry through the 1940s because of the ease with which it could be molded and carved. It can be found in modern and vintage jewelry; although some of the very colorful, unusual period pieces can be as expensive as their precious metal counter parts.

If you dare follow in the path of the great style icon Coco Chanel you may want to stack your cuffs or wear a pair, one on each wrist.

Diamonds by the Yard

Diamond-set chains have been popular throughout jewelry history. Examples from the Edwardian Period, early 20th Century, can still be readily found.   It was not until 1974, when the Italian designer Elsa Peretti joined Tiffany & Co. that they became known as “Diamonds By the Yard”.  This name is a wonderful play of words equating diamonds with other common apparel components that are sold by the yard. Peretti’s necklaces are designed as a neck chain, often a cable link, accented with bezel-set round brilliant cut diamonds at measured distances.  This style of chain can make a simple elegant statement or a Wow! with ribbons of never ending diamonds.

Diamonds-by-the-yard-style necklaces come in many variations of size and number of diamonds. The number of diamonds is generally an odd number, beginning with one very small round brilliant cut diamond to the limit of your imagination. These necklaces are elegant, yet casual enough for everyday, but take on a whole new look when worn in a dramatic rope length chain that can be worn long or wrapped around the nape of the neck or a combination of the two lengths. This style looks great with the tunic tops and dresses that are so popular this Summer.

On Memorial Day

Thank you to our men and women in uniform.

“Ev’ry heart beats true ‘neath the Red, White and Blue” -George M. Cohan

This beautiful gem-set representation of the American Flag was created by Tiffany  & Company.

One of the greatest names in the history of American Jewelry manufacturing, began as a stationery and fancy good store in 1837. Within ten years, it had expanded to include jewelry and silver items. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, Tiffany & Co. was at the international forefront of design and gemology, thanks to men like Paulding Farnham and George Fredrick Kunz.  The company’s reputation was established for good with the designs of Louis Comfort Tiffany. His enamel jewelry, but also his silver and lamp designs are  still highly regarded and sought after by collectors and scholars worldwide. From the second half of the 19th century through today, Tiffany & Co. continues to be the home of design icons: Jean Schlumberger, Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Fank Ghery, to name a few.

Look for future briefs that delve deeper into some of the storied  designs of  Tiffany & Company.

Jewelry to Celebrate the Modern Mom

The Modern Mom is constantly on the go, with the source of her motivation always on her mind. There are several designers that now have lines dedicated to the celebration of milestones and memories using hip styles that women want to wear while multi-tasking their way through the day.

One current theme running through this type of jewelry is the charm, but the choices are creative and diverse. Ready to wear commemorative motifs are available, but many designers will allow the client to customize the charms and pendants of different sizes.  Gold discs with  a child’s initial or a diamond set initial, and a birth date engraved on the verso, is easy to wear and will be cherished by Moms of all ages. One of the many choices is Heather B. Moore, who has a very fun website where the client “builds” their own necklace. Her delicate and feminine necklaces are designed around personalized disc charms with pearl, or faceted gemstone spacers.  Another great resource for these necklaces is www.shimmerandstone.com. The necklaces look sweet with one or multiple charms, and can be worn from playground to downtown.

Mother’s rings have always been popular, but the looks have change. It is not just about birthstones any more.  Tiffany & Co. is marketing pink sapphire or blue sapphire stacking bands for Mom.  And Hidalgo, the popular Spanish enamel company, can special order any name onto the band of your choice: design coordinating bands with your children’s names or one special band for “Grandma”. These rings are great to collect and stack together.

Mother’s Day is May 10th!