Gorgeous sparkler from the 1920s, featured at Erie Basin. This is such a unique style which is done in 18k & platinum, with 1.5 carats total of diamonds. Price$3350, look for it later this week online.
I am really loving the garnet and onyx rings. The garnet has some beautiful filigree work going on, it is from the 1900s (unfortunately it is already sold). The onyx is from the 1900s and has a very pretty diamond, in white gold. Funny how I picked up two rings on my trip to California that are incredibly similar--look for a photo of them in tomorrow's post! Read More
Jennifer Fisher's jewelry line is described by the designer as having a "casual edge." I say it is gorgeous, but what I am most fond of is how her collection of necklace charms is the coolest I've seen. Each charm is one that I would wear--and it is a neat concept to start with one charm, and then continually add more. This idea will create your very own customized necklace story. Jennifer Fisher designs each piece so it can be worn alone or layered, so whether you wear a necklace with one charm or several, it will look great.
Besides charms, Jennifer Fisher has some other amazing jewelry pieces such as two-finger rings encrusted in black diamonds, studded cuffs and rings, gothic letter necklaces, and insect earrings. Check them out for yourself here. You can also find her jewels at Broken English.
Flower key $660
Malabar crest $750
Quill with diamonds $2500
Green Tahitian Pearl $1000
Gray Tahitian Pearl $1000
Spider with Sapphire & Ruby $1560
Wishbone branch $800
18k feather $800
Medium circle, black diamonds $2500
Antler $400
Ivy crest $715
Star with diamonds $720
Jennifer Fisher Jewelry ♦ 270 Lafayette Street Suite #1206 New York, NY 10012 ♦ 212.625.2380 Read More
After my trip to California, I arrived home with a lot of new, little goodies. The sad part is almost always when I purchase a ring, it needs to be sized before I can wear it--that means I have to part with the new jewels for a week. Just when I was about to get excited to wear them! More about those soon.
Luckily one of the rings that I picked up was actually my size. It is the bottom band in the stack--the 5 diamond, slightly curved band ring. These types of rings often get overlooked or stereotyped as "anniversary bands" or "wedding bands." I hardly see them as so. They are great for stacking, like seen how I did in the photo. I was only playing around with different ring combinations, and when came up with this it became my new favorite. Do you like it?
[14k yellow gold
chocolate & white diamond
swirl ring from
Ross-Simons
purchased in 2004]
[18k yellow gold
slightly curved diamond
band ring from
Empire Antiques, San Diego]
[14k white gold
sapphire eternity band
from DoverJewelry]
[14k yellow gold
textured band
from QVC] Read More
Polaroid credit
Do you have a favorite movie which stars Charlize Theron? Not really sure what mine is, but I do have a few favorite jewelry looks of hers. I've noticed she wears the best earrings. Check them out below, along with similar earrings so you can get her red carpet looks.
This look is elegant and formal--the earrings are dripping in diamonds that are very Art Deco in a drop style. These are very similar, done in platinum from the 1920s with 76 diamonds total. From John Salibello Jewelry, featured at 1stdibs and priced at $6800.
Here Charlize Theron is dressed down with some fun gold stud earrings. These are 14k yellow gold by Lena Wald, found at Aloha Rag. They come in three different sizes, the medium is priced at $175 for one.
Black onyx drop earrings are always so chic. The similar pair is from Beladora and are done in 18k white gold with diamonds and onyx. These are characterized with so much detail and are priced at $995.
Charlize Theron looks great with this style of earrings--it consists of a large cushion cut gemstone with surrounded by diamonds. I like the chunkiness of the look, with our choice being more radiant with a dark plum garnet. These earrings are 18k yellow gold designed by Dov Padeh and can be found at Delamina, price: $2200 Read More
Rago Arts is an auction house which specializes in fine art, decorative arts, furnishings, ethnographic artifacts and my favorite--jewelry! Although they have a worldwide marketplace and global outreach, the personal service they provide is something Rago Arts is proud of. The big jewelry auction is every December, and this year's date is the 6th and is sure to be full of beautiful pieces. I recently got a chance to ask Rago Arts' Jewelry Specialist, Sarah Churgin, a few questions to get more details. She has also sent me a few "sneak peeks" of a few pieces that will be in December's sale. Enjoy reading and looking at the fine jewels!
GemGossip: How long has Rago Arts offered a selection of jewelry for auction?
Sarah Churgin: Rago Auctions had offered some jewelry since it's inception 28 years ago. The identity of the auction house is connected to " 20th Century Design". For two years prior to my arrival in 2001, Bakelite and Designer Costume Jewelry had been the direction of the jewelry department. We still love those collectibles but now we cover gems, fine jewelry and antique categories as well. A recent trend has been a growing market for late 20th century studio artisan jewelry.
GemGossip: Where do you get most of your pieces that get auctioned off?
Sarah Churgin: All of our pieces come from estate or inherited consignments. With very few exceptions we do not take anything from jewelry dealers.
Some of our best pieces come in during our weekly open appraisal event.
GemGossip: How many lots of jewelry are you expecting for this year’s December sale? More or less than last year?
Sarah Churgin: Now in it's 9th season, the December Great Estates Sale has a growing following, and the auction house is becoming recognized as a good place to sell estate jewelry. We have expanded our multi departmental semi-annual Discovery Sales to accommodate the increased number of consignment so the average lot in the upcoming sale is of higher quality than the average lot of any year to date. We estimate a 325 lot jewelry sale. Many of those lots consist of multiple pieces.
GemGossip: Have you ever acquired a piece of jewelry that ended up in your jewelry box rather than the bidding block? Have you come across a really interesting/unique piece of jewelry that you will never forget?
Sarah Churgin: I love jewelry. I wear it, study it, dream about it. Would I be happy to get some of the lots into my own jewelry box? ....Of course! .... Many of the consignments inspire lust. I am only human. But it would be unethical for me to offer a consignor a cash buy-out. The market sets the price. The pieces I really like always end up selling for way more than I could pay for them. Still I do get to try-on almost everything.
Innumerable important and memeorable pieces have come through. Some of then now reside at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Every sale offers it's rare finds. this year's sale includes a Cartier Stars and Stripes brooch, c. 1927, unearthed from among a group of much lesser worth. The moment of discovery is such a thrill!
GemGossip: If someone is interested in bidding, what are the steps they would have to take?
Sarah Churgin: The auction preview will be on the website by mid-November. Anyone interested in bidding should contact us at "www.ragoarts.com" Read More
My pick of the week comes from Manya & Roumen, a husband and wife duo with some amazing jewelry designs. Love this cute owl and cat team handing out on this ring from their "Stories Collection." This ring is done in 18k yellow gold with tsavorite garnets and white sapphires for eyes, and a pink tourmaline. Funny to realize that their jewelry designing talent sprang from a promise that Manya made to Roumen stating that she would make their wedding rings. Their collaboration has created jewels with a whimsical feel, filled with nature-inspired subjects. They put it best by saying, "Each piece tells a story, but each wearer interprets the story differently." Read More
