Gem Gossip

Vintage Jewels: Piano Playing Combo

2012-05-25T01:59:21Z

This shot taken from a 1930s film called Always Goodbye is a great example of Art Deco jewelry. Actress Elissa Landi poses at a piano wearing diamond and pearl stud earrings, a multiple strand pearl necklace, along with a couple of bracelets, including a 5-strand pearl bracelet with gemstone clasp. The synopsis of the film declares that the movie is about a girlfriend of a gentleman crook who falls in love with a diamond merchant. Makes me want to see the movie even more. These antique jewels from Dover Jewelry will give you a similar look--check them out!

Diamond bezel earclips with pearls hanging below--more specifically South Sea pearls! Each pearl is approximately 10mm hanging from 18k gold bezel diamonds that are 0.40 carats each. Priced at $1699 from Dover Jewelry.

This gorgeous double-strand choker from the 1920s has the most beautiful clasp--set with a 1.25 carat Old European cut diamond! Such a pretty piece alone, the clasp really outdoes itself! Priced at $5999 from Dover Jewelry.

Platinum diamond and sapphire bracelet with approximately eight carats of diamonds which are all Old European cut. The motif on this bracelet looks very similar to the pearl bracelet clasp in the picture. This bracelet is $13499 from Dover Jewelry.

Rose cut diamonds accentuate this Edwardian bracelet, dating it back to turn of the century! Pearls line the bracelet all set in 18k yellow gold and silver. Priced at $11999 from Dover Jewelry.

Obsession: Gregio Charm Rings

2012-05-24T01:18:33Z

Love getting insights from other jewelry lovers--this one comes from Suzanne who wrote to me and wanted me to check out Gregio. She thought I would like these charm rings, and she was right! I love the cross one the best; each is done in 14k gold with black diamonds. Gregio is a jewelry company based in Greece that started in the 1970s. There designs have evolved and so has their reach--being sold worldwide! Love them!

Preview JCK Show 2012

2012-05-20T16:50:21Z

So incredibly disappointed I won't be able to attend the JCK Vegas Show this year. I will have to reminisce about last year I guess. The lookbook that was put together to highlight some of the exhibitors is dripping with jewels--so many up-and-coming designers to look forward to! I've picked out my favorites above and would've loved to have seen these designs in person. However, their websites will have to suffice!

Khushboo Lakhi

Alberian & Aulde

Amali Jewelry

Vianna Brasil

Margery Hirschey

YNY Jewels

Q & A with Jewelry Designer Ray Griffiths

2012-05-18T01:01:21Z

Ray Griffiths' Australian roots translate extremely well into jewelry--the prettiest diamonds, opals and sapphires come from the sunny gem mines of Australia--and so do the prettiest jewelry designs. Ray's techniques involve intricate "crownwork" that sort of mimic crown molding in a house--it finishes it off and looks exquisite.

I also admire his love for antiquity, which you can see throughout his work.

I got a chance to catch up with the designer and get some interesting questions answered:

I am really enjoying developing our pendants and charms. I have always loved a big glamorous charm bracelet and am expanding the charm line.

I bought some really beautiful agate drops at the gem show in Tucson – crème brulee, guava and mint agate. I am currently working on some really great earrings to make these stones pop and frame them in my crown work.

I also love working with my private customers of custom pieces, I have a particularly juicy 5ct yellow diamond that I am working on right now. It's going to be quite a rock when I am done!

Earrings are the best seller for us but there is a particular necklace that I just cannot keep in stock. Its a triple wrap with 18ct Yellow Gold crown work clover leafs strung with black tourmaline, pearl, chrysoprase or turquoise. It can we worn long, doubled or tripled, and is designed so the clover leafs line up however you wear it. It's one of those great jewels that you can wear with jeans or a t-shirt or to a black tie event depending on how you style it.

Growing my business and brand in New York. I had a very successful career in Australia and giving that up to start over was not easy. Many years of hard work and sacrifice followed my move to Manhattan but realizing my vision for my own line of fine jewelry was worth it. Moving the company to our beautiful showroom on 5th avenue last year was a defining moment for me and the business.

I want to continue to grow the brand in the US and eventually abroad. I am developing a new cabochon line that I hope to be fully realised by next year. I would also love to see my jewels at the Oscars and in the pages of Vogue!

I am very much a jewelry wearer, it's why my own designs are so comfortable. I have about 6 signet rings that I have made over the years, I kinda like them all equally and I never leave the house without a ring on !!

That would be like forgetting to put pants on !

SHOW ME YOUR RINGS! XXII

2012-05-17T11:46:17Z

{from top to bottom:

reader Erin with some of her rings she has featured on her Etsy shop Erin Antiques

Twitter-er Nicole who tweeted this photo of her mom wearing all her gorgeous rings

Loved when MK&A used to block their faces from the papprazzi, they would show us their rings

newly discovered jewelry designer from Japan, Hirotaka

jewelry editor of InStyle, Marion Fasel, wearing Bess, Carolyn Ellen and Kathy Rose at Roseark

model Jess Gold of Oyster Magazine wearing some awesome rings

reader Izzy and her collection of pretty diamond rings with lots of dangles

designer Atelier Minyon showing off some of their designs

my friend Emily who I met at GIA wearing a bunch of rings where she works}

LIKE Gem Gossip on Facebook

2012-05-15T01:29:14Z

Gem Gossip has finally caved and started a page on Facebook. We've held out this long because we felt there wasn't a need to have another outlet which just reiterates what is on our blog--so our Facebook page has a separate focus. The page is dedicated to the upcoming jewelry line as well as the SHOW ME YOUR RINGS project. We want our fans and readers to post their ring pictures, share jewelry designers they love, and leave comments/suggestions. See you over on Facebook!

The above photo is a glimpse into the past, what Gem Gossip looked like back in 2008 when we first launched!

Updates from Walton's Antique Jewelry

2012-05-14T18:50:52Z

Focusing on work these past few months have helped me source my energy into a few creative shots with new rings. At Walton's Antique Jewelry, we get in at least 20-30 new rings for our inventory every week--it is my job to clean them up, price them, and inventory them, before setting each out into the glorious display cases. Of course some of the prettiest don't leave my sight until they are cleverly photographed. Each ring tells a story, which is what I hope to portray in each photograph. Hope you like what I've done! If you are interested in any of these, email me and I will let you know details, prices, availability!

Jessica Stam at 2012 Met Gala

2012-05-10T01:00:30Z

Been looking through lots of photo galleries of the 2012 Met Gala. By far my favorite event celebrities get dolled up for--the gowns seem more extravagent and grand, along with the jewelry. My favorite look from this year's Met Gala is definitely Jessica Stam. Her gown is very sculptural and her jewelry is piled on. Her bracelets are all Lorraine Schwartz--mixed diamond and sapphire cuffs and bangles, white and brown diamond drop earrings, and a yellow and white diamond pinky ring.

Pick of the Week: Erie Basin's 1940s diamond ring

2012-05-09T00:42:49Z

How cool and unique is this ring from Erie Basin? It has a fan-shape, which was popular during the 1940s, however this one is more sleek and futuristic. This one is $2050 and has approximately 0.70 carats total.

On the Block: Jewelry Auction Houses

2012-05-07T20:47:40Z

One of the most convenient aspects of the Internet in the jewelry biz is being able to search thousands of pieces online in upcoming auctions. There are lots of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces that go up for auction in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London, etc--places that are thousands of miles away, but with a computer we can not only see photos of that item but Live bid as well. This has shaped and changed the way auction houses do business, and created a lot of buzz over upcoming auctions online. Catalogues are published online everyday with full descriptions, photos and an estimated bid price. I've been able to search and learn for hours on this subject--even aides me on many appraisal writeups.

Here are my favorite Auction Houses:

*Artfact is a directory and database of auctions.

photos courtesy of Google Images