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
My trip to California was a quick one, and although there were so many things we wanted to do, the few that were chosen were amazing. An event that topped the list was a visit to the Beladora headquarters on Rodeo Drive! Never have I been on the infamous Rodeo Drive, but it is how most would describe it--unlike any other. The storefronts of places like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany & Co. had their biggest jewels displayed in the California sun. Bentleys and Rolls Royces zoomed by, and over-accessorized pets were prancing in step.
Once inside Beladora, I got to meet Nancy along with her mounds of vintage, antique and estate jewelry. The selection at Beladora is truly unprecedented--it has access to the best jewelry being on Rodeo Drive, while being able to give its worldwide customers the best prices. The variety and selection, along with prices which don't even compare to overpriced vintage boutiques is what keeps bringing me back to Beladora. I know when I am blogging and need some jewelry examples to represent a certain time period, Beladora is my first stop on my Internet searching adventure. They always seem to have just what I was imagining.
How cool is this lapis and jade apple pendant? It really stands out when you wear it and sits perfect when wearing a neckline like the one I'm in. The color combination is so vibrant. The pendant is from the '70s and I have a very similar ring that has the same stones--lapis and jade. I think I am drawn to those two colors together. There is even a small diamond hanging off of the stem. If you love this necklace, you can purchase it (chain and all!) at Beladora2 (Beladora's sister site).
The necklace is 16 inches long, on a 14k yellow gold chain. Price: $296.25 Click here to purchase. Read More
During the Art Deco Period within jewelry, automotive motifs became popular as a result of the first ever automobile. This era occurred during the 1920s & 1930s. I love all the vintage possibilities of this motif, and many of them are in the form of charms. During my trip to California, I was wooed by the awesomeness of the Blue Angels jets as they tore up the sky (it literally sounded like they were tearing up the sky!) At the Miramar Air Show I also got to see WWII war planes flying through the air. Not only did that sight sort of transported me back in time, but it helped me to understand why planes were made into pieces of jewelry.
{14k yellow gold British taxi, Price: $205 from CHARMCO}
{14k yellow gold with rubies airplane, Price: $215 from CHARMCO}
{14k yellow gold cruise ship, Price: $205 from CHARMCO}
{18k yellow gold propeller with diamond, Price: $225 from CHARMCO}
{14k yellow gold double-decker bus that opens, Price: $200 from Beladora2} Read More
Everyone has a favorite ring, whether it is because of the stone being a birthstone, because of the high value, or because it has significant sentimental value. I think it is safe to say that Mary-Kate's favorite ring is this huge emerald and yellow gold ring. She wears it quite often, no matter if the occasion is formal or not. Mary-Kate found the ring at a vintage shop on the Rue Saint Honore in Paris, France. One of the best parts about traveling is treasure hunting in antique shops, however if you are not lucky enough to do so, the Internet has so much to offer. Best resource for pieces that look like they are family heirlooms: Beladora. Want your own emerald stunner? Check out the ones I found below!
I love this choice because it is so similar. The green stone is actually jadeite rather than an emerald, it is circa 1970. The textured 18k yellow gold characterizes the seventies style of this ring. From Beladora2 and priced at $995.
Circa 1975, Beladora shows off this beautiful step cut emerald ring. This one is similar to Mary-Kate's because of its grandness--that emerald looks so regal. Not only is the stone 4 carats, but the diamonds surrounding it are .60 carats. It is set in 18k yellow gold and priced at $5550, from Beladora.
This vintage ring from the '60s features an emerald cut emerald. The emerald itself is 1.35 carats! It is set in 14k yellow gold with a few diamonds. This one-of-a-kind piece is from Ross-Simons Estate Collection and priced at $1195. Read More
