treasure box 3

I think my friend's mom like these ivory knot designs. I tried to find out what they were called without success. I'm sure they mean eternity, love or strength. Will someone write in and tell me more? The long necklace below, although needing a tiny fix, has so many interesting beads, jade, agate, jasper and my favorite, the carved black ebony one.

treaure box 2

Here are three interesting pieces from the above treasure box. The first is a modernist carving of an elephant made into a pendant. I really like its elongated legs and minimalist style. The second is a shell cameo broach. It's really interesting in that it swivels around to show a backside which must have once held a portrait. Now there is just an empty frame with a glass inset. The third piece is so finely carved it might be French ivory (Bakelite plastic). Behind the carved pendant is a cosmetic mirror. This is so great an idea! I frequently want to discreetly check my lipstick, especially after a meal. I can't think of what could be more elegant than to use your ivory pendant which doubles as a mirror. It puts me in the mind of 007.

treasure box 1

The first things I pull out of the mystery box are these lovely strands of graduated ivory beads. You can tell the whiter one is the newer of the two since ivory yellows as it ages. They both have the traditional ivory clasp which is a elongated half bead that screws into another elongated half bead. I've mentioned before that although I wouldn't buy any ivory pieces today and abhor the poaching of elephants and other ivory bearing animals, when pieces come to me, I try to take care of them and even wear them. I'm not sure about this being the right thing to do, but I can't bring myself to forgo these beautiful pieces for which animals were sacrificed. I collect ivory colored lace T-shirts and were my ivory with them.

mystery box

My friend Janet emailed me that she had some of her mother's jewelry that she wanted to give me. Imagine my surprise when she handed me this lovely lacquered box. I love the crane design. The weight was heavy, and I had to wait several hours before I could bring myself to open this treasure trove. When I did, look what I saw! It will take me a week to unpack and discover what exactly this box contains.

The Black Orlov

According to the legend, the Black Orlov is said to have taken its name from the Russian Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov who owned it for time during the mid-eighteenth century. It is a 67.50-carat cushion-cut stone, a so-called black diamond (actually, a very dark gun-metal color). It is reported to have belonged to a nineteenth-century shrine near Pondicherry, India, and to have weighed 195 carats in the rough. Unfortunately the Indian origin of this stone is almost certainly false. There is no documentation of Russia having had a princess by that name, or of India having produced any black diamonds of note.
The stone has been exhibited widely, including at the American Museum of Natural History in 1951, the Wonderful World of Fine Jewelry & Gifts at the 1964 Texas State Fair, Dallas, and the Diamond Pavilion in Johannesburg in 1967.

The Black Orlov was owned by Charles F. Winson, New York City gem dealer, who valued it at $150,000. It is mounted in a modern diamond-and-platinum necklace. An alternate name is the Eye of Brahma Diamond. In 1969, the stone was sold for $300,000. It was resold in 1990 at Sothebys for $99,000. On October 11th, 2006, the necklace containing the stone figured as lot #433 in a Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale where it sold for $352,000. Its estimate had been $100,000 to $200,000. Source: Diamonds - Famous, Notable and Unique by GIA, the Gemstone Forecaster, and the Cartier archives.http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/blackorlovdiamond.html

black heart

The famous Swiss jeweller Fawaz Gruosi is credited for starting the current enthusiasm for black diamond jewelry, launching the current fashion for black diamond in 1996 by creating some eye-catching collections of jewelry and watches set with black diamonds.
He is now exhibiting a heart-shaped black diamond, the largest black diamond of such cut in the world, weighing 115.34 carats. This heart is the centrepiece of a necklace made of 58.77 carats of smaller black diamonds, 378 white diamonds and 14.10 carats of tsavorite garnets, set in white gold.
It took three years to cut the Gruosi Diamond. Received rough in 1998 from India and weighing 300.12 carats, it was originally planned to have an oval shape, but as cutting progressed, the material of the stone proved extremely fragile and very difficult to work. (This is not uncommon. The Amsterdam Diamond, another famous black diamond, is a stone whose rough form was originally intended for industrial use. When they tried to saw the diamond apart, they realized it was tougher than most industrial diamond material, a characteristic of a gem-quality black diamond. It was faceted from a 55-carat rough into a 33-carat pear shape.) Another famous black diamond is the 67-carat Black Orlov.
The decision was made to cut this diamond in a heart shape, despite the considerable loss of carat-weight. In fact, the final weight loss after cutting and polishing was approximately 184.78 carats. This heart-shaped diamond was cut in Antwerp by one of the greatest black diamond cutting specialists in the world.http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/famousdiamonds.html

Versace's one idea

Take one idea, say the head of Medusa, and put it on everything for years and years, and you create a classic. It doesn't hurt if your one idea appeals to a bunch of Rap stars. Unfortunately because he was so cruelly murdered, Versace, himself, didn't get a say in this selling strategy. He was such a genius, I can't help but think he'd be doing something else by now had he lived. Still the one great idea lives on in memory of his talent, and if you get yourself one of these Medusa pieces you will be in style forever.

black diamonds

I'm really into black diamonds. The first two rings here are Jamie Wolf and the last, Armenta. These rings are very fashionable right now. But their cost, prohibative, unless you plan to use any of these as wedding bands. Then they are reasonable. The craftmanship is lovely. And they are handmade in the USA.

moons

I have tried to blog about this set of carved moon faces before but can't get the pictures right. What doesn't show up on the photos is the carved moons in the moonstone pieces. They are very subtle and sweet. The face on the moonstone ring is a sleeping moon. I had the idea of turning the earrings into rings one for each of my neices. But my sister, Cary says they're too young to appreciate them and will probably lose them. She says, "Wait until they're 40!"

Tiffany silver

I like Tiffany silver rings. Simple, iconic, they hold their value well. If you were going to wear only one ring, you couldn't go very wrong by choosing one of these. Enjoy the pics!

Armani's Proletarian Chic

Above is the dress my son bought for his girlfriend for her birthday. She looks wonderful in it. It got me wondering what sorts of rings were being sold to accompany this look of "proletarian chic." I think the ring at the top with the screw heads is the most appropraitely "proletarian." My favorites though are the one with the "diamonds" and the simple signet ring. Maybe one of these would make a good Christmas present?

Barry Kieselstein Cord Alligators

From Gem Gossip

There's always a cheaper version of the things we love!

I've been obsessed with the Barry Kieselstein Cord alligators since they came out in 1988, the year my son was born (pictures of rings from Gem Gossip). A Barry Kieselstein Cord alligator ring is one of my jewelry goals that I have yet to meet. But that's a good thing since we can't be happy if we get everything we want at once. There would be nothing to look forward to! They are 18 kt. gold with a matt finish and so detailed. I'm afraid if I got one I'd never take it off.

summer hearts

Red is making a valiant attempt at a come-back. Either of these red hearts looks good with a black and white summer dress I have. I'm adding red into my wardrobe again in small doses. (Secretly I have two or three solid red dresses hidden away.) Either of the other two hearts looks good with a short sleeve, long white sweater I have, glitz for evening and a ribbon wrapped chain for daytime. Love hearts, especially the classic red ones.

charms

Once again charms are on my mind. They are so fun to wear as collections. I wear the two gold medallions above together and pair a little jewel with the Las Vegas lion. The charms below can all be mixed and matched in any combination. Of course you can also pair gold and silver together!

My hands

These are the rings I've been wearing lately. I don't change my rings everyday, but I do get bored and change them from time to time. Right now I can't get enough turquoise, hearts and diamonds. I am wearing an amethest which is a stone I haven't worn in years. But on the thumb it feels fresh. I love rings more than any other type of jewelry, and I have a big collection to choose from when I get tired of one combination. Sparkly jewels seem better for the winter.

little people

The Kokopelli ring in the center of the above picture inspired this post. I just got it in another box from my cousin in New Orleans, Malinda. It made me think of the little inlaid people I got from the only Western store in Honolulu back in the '80's. I don't wear these things anymore because I believe they are more than just fashion statements. I've become much more sensitive to American Indian issues since I moved to Northern California 20 years ago this August 10th. If I don't understand it, I leave it alone.