MUSINGS & MOMENTS

One of the things I love most about my business is watching my clients’ faces light up when they find the perfect piece for them—watching a smile appear as they look at themselves in the mirror when trying on the right piece of jewelry and seeing how it compliments them perfectly. Marilyn Monroe in the 1952 movie, Don’t Bother to Knock. In this powerful scene, she is trying on jewelry and recognizes her own beauty in the mirror.

As I look ahead to the upcoming year, I wonder what will unfold for me. Do you read your horoscope to see what the stars have in store for you? Horoscopes and signs have made their way into jewelry designs over the years.   A vintage Gemini ring in Vanessa's personal collection.

From tinsel to flickering decorative lights, the holidays give us tons of sparkle. It’s easy to adorn yourself in something glittery for holiday festivities and rhinestones are always a sure bet. Have you ever wondered what a rhinestone technically is?  These 1960s Sandor ear clips give off brilliant sparkle. Shop them on our website.

When looking for vintage, I am thankful when I see the dead—dead stock that is! The expression “dead stock” means old inventory from a store that has closed. Vintage dead stock Paolo Gucci earrings from the 1980s available for purchase on our website.  

Snake, insect, and big cat jewelry has been around ever since ancient times. Depending on the culture, snakes were symbolic of death or destruction, or resurrection due to the shedding of its skin. In Hinduism, the cobra is a symbol of the god Vishnu and knowledge, wisdom, and eternity.  An Art Deco silver fly necklace available on our website.

As we shift from summer to Fall fashion, adjustable outfits with layers to fit the changes in weather are a staple. Changeable jewelry also allows you flexibility with style. A 1970s Monet necklace that could convert to a shorter choker and matching bracelet.

As the world swelters in unprecedented heat, it can feel like a furnace out there. Brutalist jewelry stylistically reflected the harsh and unfinished metals created in the fires of metalsmiths and mills. A brutalist style cuff bracelet from Oscar de la Renta that sold from our collection. 

As summer is in full steam, let’s take a look at how sailing and mariner themes have been used in fashion. Besides the typical Breton French blue and white striped shirts, or Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel breaking tradition by radically wearing sailor pants in 1928, this seafaring theme also applies to jewelry. This amazing unsigned large ship necklace in our collection was probably made for a runway or costume in the 1970s.

The wedding day tradition of having “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” came from the 19th Century English belief that if you carried small tokens representing these good-luck symbols you would ward off the evil eye. For brides, they were meant to protect them from spells that stopped their fertility. A bride wore a blue vintage ring from our collection with her emerald engagement ring from Greenwich St. Jewelers. Photo by Sylvie Rosokoff.