tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77126821024563802522024-03-12T16:43:42.704-07:00EraGem BlogEraGem is located near Seattle in downtown Bellevue WA. We are Owner Operated, Michael & Weston will ensure you receive the highest quality of customer service, please contact us by phone or email for any reason. We are also jewelry buyers and offer jewelry consignment services.EraGem Estate Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09036168725430876960noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-38803769215005613712017-04-24T10:44:00.005-07:002017-04-24T10:52:44.477-07:00EraGem Favorite Sold Items Spring 2017It is both with great happiness and some sadness that we said goodbye to these beauties recently. They have moved on from our inventory to their new forever homes but we wanted to preserve their images as they are some of our favorites.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eragem.com/sapphire-engagement-rings"><img alt=" sapphire engagement rings" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziJF8kBXDNVnhcSHgqD6BEcTKacwuTTvOVMX1WHdkgMM-d7Dz3WjntB98O2oE9P_X0uZO_jPux_a8tAEgFVzExbhDAPswL0icOwoW_nqh4X1M1cIlxkqzJ_N6msJMjXRefLsbbfA4Nci9/s400/sapphire-rose-diamond-engagement-ring-wmx9738e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This magnificent oval <a href="http://eragem.com/sapphire-engagement-rings">sapphire engagement ring</a> is centered with a 1.89 carat natural blue sapphire. Accenting the sapphire are two rose cut diamonds and a halo of round brilliant cut diamonds. The sapphire's color is phenomenal and the rose cut diamonds give a perfect unique touch. The ring is crafted of solid 18k white gold and is finished with milgrain details. The sapphire shows extremely light wear, but the wear is not noticeable without magnification. The ring is in very good overall condition and will arrive with a fresh polish looking superb for your engagement.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings"><img alt=" vintage engagement rings" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQodIF8R4Q63BYdgww7Kid7TmU-twt2Hp8X6tzlWxoHzh_SwKAhJjSW4HNZG903cXkubcySGa7_e7XhJr5ZmCJe0CzpEONQ0BvCwnktXaji79E1X13Sh3xtVqi7TzKrSXZcMJAlcUbBhW2/s400/wm8151e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This gorgeous <a href="http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings">antique filigree ring</a> dates from the 1930's and is set with a .67 carat old european cut diamond grading G in color and SI2 in clarity. The diamond has an amazing sparkle. The setting features lovely filigree openwork and a wonderful unique design.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eragem.com/ruby-rings"><img alt=" ruby rings" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAsJrVGNC692L-Svm5i2Ag90qNJ_dUN5w3HVRlzoO300IoxiUU81oGfsBqg6WE2boxBGods60x5he3YuhWfsR_mNH5AndWU8I8_7U3ywlAjiIAX9z75FJH0okqIMedtVKHryCQEfy4aFt/s400/wm10038e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This lovely Etruscan style <a href="http://eragem.com/ruby-rings">ruby ring</a> is bezel set with a 1.29 carat oval cut red ruby. The ruby sits in a high bezel between two domed and textured shoulders. The juxtaposition of the high polished gold next to the darker textured gold really gives this ring a lot of interest. Each shoulder is accented with a bezel set round brilliant cut diamond. The ring is crafted of solid 18k yellow gold and is in very good condition with a nice natural patina.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings"><img alt=" vintage engagement rings" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHKzzglO2T1XZ7AhwUA9F2NdmW1gV-na61FJ8QmAfYoMldu3x_Agl-xlyjdUTgB-wl9Lsr9-gdOO8JObGoINF1t5dFZV6NRcp_v40F_WUU0fOdWdlD4hmhU9koO4qLouOXO6uYXOgQ00i/s400/wm12112a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This perfect <a href="http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings">vintage diamond engagement ring</a> features an heirloom old European cut diamond and a 1950's mounting with single cut diamonds and great details. The center stone is just shy of a carat and the ring is in overall great condition.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings"><img alt=" tourmaline rings" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrFYnAiv7wyB7u0Ar7abWR881GUuuctV88POcLI3xTNx0tmDjR4Ewsrcpd-bwGR_Q69Cbk3_weQ3xSTZezp0c5_khIw6H5EhFW_ZFpLx2Me3zw3RQZAHF0GtlwRQpOEVFADHUGHe9TMUu/s400/wms11792a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This vintage cocktail ring is centered with a gorgeous emerald cut <a href="https://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings">tourmaline gemstone </a>with incredible vibrant blue-green color. The tourmaline is surrounded by 28 single cut diamonds, looking like a sparkling frame around a stone that you could get lost in. The ring is crafted of 14k white gold and while having a nice presence on the finger it also has a nice low profile.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings"><img alt=" antique engagement rings" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBH5fJ9cDP60UfeH3Jx58EOwvMm_u0xQpDy6dTq_dhHZauGwcYmMPekQ7WrYvyQqDXCgtXXyj0ZJTwW-f5hG3s1s3-H-L6_vuM75n5U3Ci5b68fZ2iIiwoAY_i5MWtUWAEV15uj0UVAPL/s400/perfect-antique-engagement-ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a perfect <a href="http://eragem.com/vintage-engagement-rings">antique diamond engagement ring</a> crafted of platinum featuring an Old European cut diamond and baguette and single cut diamond accents and is likely from the late 1930s however we were not able to confirm its age. As you can tell from the first sentence we can run on and on about this one but looking at the pictures is better than reading the words.</div>
<br />EraGem Estate Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09036168725430876960noreply@blogger.comEraGem47.6177443 -122.1789734000000222.095709799999998 -163.48756740000002 73.1397788 -80.870379400000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-88349417831254022982016-05-11T11:51:00.000-07:002016-05-11T11:51:01.926-07:00Rub-Over Settings: History + Characteristics<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgiAcOSvH-MRxR0vQl00soHcLZtqPoJ90orUkOsNfuVQkdLKAgMiOKpnde5S9IiPLvJIppHnqUlaIY5AhhYxA-ky9vf5Iu7MvF3Qoh7kQ9Q_DCKc2q_GsQfududIA5FKbvT10jicbM5Ij/s1600/Blue+Sapphire+%2526+Diamond+Wedding+Set+with+Rub-Over+Setting.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgiAcOSvH-MRxR0vQl00soHcLZtqPoJ90orUkOsNfuVQkdLKAgMiOKpnde5S9IiPLvJIppHnqUlaIY5AhhYxA-ky9vf5Iu7MvF3Qoh7kQ9Q_DCKc2q_GsQfududIA5FKbvT10jicbM5Ij/s400/Blue+Sapphire+%2526+Diamond+Wedding+Set+with+Rub-Over+Setting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This stunning sapphire engagement ring, fashioned entirely of solid 18k white gold, features diamond-encrusted shoulders set channel style. The wedding band is notched to fit snugly against the engagement ring. Central to the engagement ring is a high-quality 1.15-carat natural blue sapphire set within a diamond-studded halo. The sapphire is housed in a beautiful 18k white gold rub-over setting.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rub-over settings are another name for bezel settings, and they are the premiere setting for security of a stone. With so much metal holding a stone in place, it is unlikely that daily wear will loosen the stone. Rub-over settings are fashioned out of fairly soft metals, including yellow gold or silver.<br />
<br />
While the rub-over setting is suitable for any kind of gemstones, including faceted stones, it has most often been used for cabochons. These lend themselves most easily to rub-over settings since they are typically flattened on the back side and rounded in shape.<br />
<br />
While a stone set bezel-style may lose some access to the light, there are many advantages to rub-over settings. The first is the security of the stone. As mentioned before, once a stone is set in a bezel it would take a pry bar to pull it out. Second, they are easier to wear and keep clean. Without any prongs or distinct edges to snag your clothes, they make for smooth and easy wearing. Also, they are easy to polish with a soft cloth, keeping them shiny and brilliant even without routine care by a jeweler.<br />
<br />
In addition, the framing of a rub-over setting creates an illusion that the stone is actually larger than it is. This is especially true when a white diamond is set bezel style in platinum or white gold. The radiance of the metal and the diamond combine to provide maximum shimmer.<br />
<br />
The rub-over setting is an ancient style. There was a time when almost all jewels were set in bezel settings. That being said, there is nearly nothing more modern than a bezel-set jewel. There is something timeless about the elegant framing provided by a rub-over setting, a special quality that defies the ages. Many modern styles include bezels, including this stunning blue sapphire bridal set.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to purchase a timeless engagement ring for your bride-to-be, then we invite you to come in and take a look at our collection of bezel-style engagement rings. We look forward to hearing from you.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-56480692665174530682016-04-27T14:42:00.000-07:002017-01-05T14:42:57.809-08:00Natural Tourmaline Rings for Engagement Rings?<div style="text-align: left;">
If it weren't for tradition and advertising our guess is that many more brides to be would prefer to have some color in their engagement ring. <a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings">Tourmaline Rings</a> come in nearly every color of the rainbow and tourmaline is also one of the traditional Birthstones of October.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings"><img alt="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355822 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/pariaba-tourmaline-engagement-ring.jpg" height="500" title="pariaba tourmaline engagement ring" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
As stated above, <a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings">tourmaline jewelry</a> comes in nearly every desirable color and is generally available in its natural form, no treatments such as heating are normally necessary. It is sometimes heated or irradiated.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings"><img alt="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355823 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/vintage-tourmaline-engagement-ring.jpg" height="500" title="vintage tourmaline engagement rings" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Tourmaline is relatively durable and has a Mohs scale hardness of 7.0-7.5. In smaller sized stones, being fairly tough, it makes for a fine choice for an engagement ring that can be worn daily.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings"><img alt="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355824 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/green-tourmaline-engagement-ring.jpg" height="500" title="green tourmaline engagement rings" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
The green color of the <a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings">chrome tourmaline jewelry</a> is captivating and often features deeper color and better clarity and durability than emerald.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings"><img alt="http://eragem.com/tourmaline-rings" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355825 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/pink-tourmaline-engagement-rings.jpg" height="500" title="pink tourmaline engagement rings" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Pink colored tourmalines are also very desirable and beautiful. Tourmalines often have very good clarity even in larger sizes but are still affordable relative to the other precious gemstones that feature similar colors.<br />
<br />
<img alt="vera-wang-tourmaline-ring" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355826 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/vera-wang-tourmaline-ring.jpg" height="500" title="vera wang tourmaline ring" width="500" /><br />
<br />
Jewelry designers like working with tourmaline to add color to their classic designs like the above ring from Vera Wang and the Tiffany & Co Legacy Collection tourmaline ring pictured below.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjF6sP0v1oCIKrBsHziHyEJUj-vj7Pud95mDXfuBobCacTC5gSpS3cmKE8UYXGCWFUCLFnhmDuN8Uf5qJqaHGL9ipSBrBRR5_QKt-15kogT5XzbaN4FjLrpxh-A3XlLGDF4mQb5y4Qnai24QaT1VVNlh-OwrIJ9WIAenVbO2fTv7ciXGqpjzc1q2F45AcTLR99usF_QvvKNY_-WVQr2Uhc=" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tiffany-Legacy-tourmaline-engagement-ring" border="0" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355827 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tiffany-Legacy-tourmaline-engagement-ring.jpg" height="300" title="Tiffany Legacy Tourmaline Ring" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
EraGem features a wide range of <a href="http://eragem.com/rings?stoneprimaryfilter=14">tourmaline engagement ring</a> options. Our collection are primarily estate vintage pieces and as well as pre-owned modern and designer rings. Please enjoy a few more pictures of <a href="http://eragem.com/rings?stoneprimaryfilter=14">natural tourmaline rings</a> that customers of EraGem are currently enjoying .<br />
<br />
<img alt="green-tourmaline-diamond-engagement-ring" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355828 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/green-tourmaline-diamond-engagement-ring.jpg" height="300" title="green tourmaline gemstone engagement ring" width="300" /><img alt="vintage-cocktail-ring-tourmaline-diamond-18k-gold" class="aligncenter wp-image-1355829 size-full" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/vintage-cocktail-ring-tourmaline-diamond-18k-gold.jpg" height="300" title="vintage tourmaline ring" width="300" />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Feragem.com%2Fnews%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F04%2FTiffany-Legacy-tourmaline-engagement-ring.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjF6sP0v1oCIKrBsHziHyEJUj-vj7Pud95mDXfuBobCacTC5gSpS3cmKE8UYXGCWFUCLFnhmDuN8Uf5qJqaHGL9ipSBrBRR5_QKt-15kogT5XzbaN4FjLrpxh-A3XlLGDF4mQb5y4Qnai24QaT1VVNlh-OwrIJ9WIAenVbO2fTv7ciXGqpjzc1q2F45AcTLR99usF_QvvKNY_-WVQr2Uhc=" -->EraGem Estate Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09036168725430876960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-24650453015026823982016-04-27T11:48:00.000-07:002016-04-27T11:48:08.568-07:00Dinner Rings: History + Characteristics<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JkcE_BDqfKayPFOn_iOcKFeivVTSL7_6L09g7dcd90iddEvs6ChCZ15kWlXLkeU9F2VmUvXva_kZXycpts_C8LK-jHkD9of1zxurgoD84FAMa9Dccd2ejYNNKWcE9DgcoM4MVaRO0isz/s1600/Art+Deco+6.5-carat+Diamond+Dinner+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JkcE_BDqfKayPFOn_iOcKFeivVTSL7_6L09g7dcd90iddEvs6ChCZ15kWlXLkeU9F2VmUvXva_kZXycpts_C8LK-jHkD9of1zxurgoD84FAMa9Dccd2ejYNNKWcE9DgcoM4MVaRO0isz/s400/Art+Deco+6.5-carat+Diamond+Dinner+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This authentic Art Deco north-south dinner ring dates from the 1920s and is absolutely breathtaking. It features two amazing fraternal twin diamonds weighing 2 carats or more. The larger of the two, a 2.16-carat old mine cut diamond, graded I in color and VS2 in clarity, is set bezel style right in the center of the ring. Set just below this stunner is a 2-carat pillow shaped diamond exploding with character. This stone is also bezel set, graded G in color and VS2 in clarity, and will take your breath away.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If these two sparklers are not enough to make you swoon, then consider the 2.39 carats of accent diamonds encrusting the gorgeous filigree openwork that comprises the remainder of this absolutely stunning ring. Care was taken with every last detail of this astonishing dinner ring set in platinum. All told, this delicate platinum setting showcases over 6.5 carats of crystal-clear white diamonds, making it the quintessential dinner ring.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Dinner rings made their debut during the height of Prohibition, along with flappers, speakeasies, and cocktail parties. With the ban of alcohol, drinking went undercover. Underground, dimly lit venues became the place for these illicit soirees, which called for a special kind of style. Short, sexy cocktail dresses adorned with shimmering sequins, dark red lipstick, sexy black Kohl eyeliner, and long red fingernails became the rage. Along with this look came the long cigarettes, cocktail glasses, and of course the ubiquitous cocktail ring.<br />
<br />
These cocktail rings were glamorous, over-the-top creations that shimmered and sparkled in the dimly lit speakeasies. The bigger the better, as far as most were concerned. These rings were purchased, not by husbands or lovers, but by the liberated women themselves. They became a status symbol, a sign of independence and power. At first cocktail rings were styled much in the way the above ring was styled, mostly comprised of large diamonds surrounded by smaller but no less brilliant diamonds.<br />
<br />
However, as times changed and Prohibition was lifted, these gorgeous cocktail rings gained a different sort of prominence. Beginning in the 1930s and carrying through into the 1950s and 1960s, cocktail parties turned into prominent dinners. Thus, the era of the Dinner Ring began.<br />
<br />
Dinner rings continued to be large and glamorous, though diamonds began to play second fiddle to some of the most beautiful and tantalizing colored gemstones imaginable. Massive garnets, aquamarines, and citrines took center stage on the fingers of the wives of powerful leaders in business and politics.<br />
<br />
These prominent dinners were high-class affairs, and women attended them on the arms of their husbands, lovers, or business partners. As women took a more prominent role in politics and business, they continued to assert themselves as independent agents of power. Thus, dinner rings continued to be brassy and bold. The bigger the better remained the motto.<br />
<br />
Today, dinner rings have resumed their original appellation, cocktail rings. They are still worn to cocktail parties and fancy dinner parties. However, now they can also be seen on red carpets, at Hollywood after and premiere parties, and at weddings and other formal affairs. While it is true that women continue to purchase cocktail/dinner rings for themselves, they have lost a little of their distinction as a sign of female independence. It is now <i>en vogue </i>for a man to buy a cocktail ring for his lover.<br />
<br />
In fact, a dinner ring of this distinction, with its pristine white diamonds and its antique design, would be the perfect anniversary gift for that woman you love. Why not come on in and view it in person? If this is not the one for your beautiful bride, then perhaps we can find another dinner ring to suit her?<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-2485317777155131972016-04-13T16:41:00.000-07:002016-04-13T16:41:02.619-07:00Designer Spotlight: Krementz<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Richard Krementz 7 Carat Imperial Topaz Ring" src="http://media.eragem.com/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x500/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/p/b/pb10641e.jpg" height="400" id="image" title="Richard Krementz 7 Carat Imperial Topaz Ring" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Central to the design of this ring is a 7-carat, untreated Imperial topaz. This cushion-cut topaz is brilliantly colored an eye-clean, reddish-orange. The cut grade is high, with no windowing. It is prong set with double corner prongs in solid 18k yellow gold. Surrounding the stone is a deep halo lined with exquisitely -cut round brilliant accent diamonds of considerable size. Smaller diamonds pave the split-shank shoulders. Everything about this ring - the stunning color, the classic lines, the exquisite pairing of perfect diamonds - screams Richard Krementz.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The feminine beauty of this Krementz ring belies the manly origins of this brand. While today Krementz is associated with flashing colors in every hue on the spectrum, dramatic feminine designs, and precious and semi-precious gemstones from around the world, there was a time when gemstones didn't even factor into the Krementz lineup.<br />
<br />
In 1866, a group of German cousins formed a jewelry manufacturing firm. Though the partnership soon dissolved, George Krementz, one of the cousins, went on to establish his own niche at a time when the market was flooded with demand for men's collar buttons. An innovative mind like George's saw the potential in the machines used to make cartridge shells. After six or seven years of experimentation, George finally perfected a method for making a collar button out of a single sheet of solid gold. These were in high demand in the late 1800s.<br />
<br />
As time passed, the middle class began to rise, and Mr. Krementz saw a new market emerge. He developed a method for designing collar buttons that were made with a gold overlay, making them far less expensive than his original designs. As time went on, Krementz developed a full line of men's jewelry, including cuff links and dress studs.<br />
<br />
As often happens, fashions changed, and collar buttons eventually became obsolete. Not to be dismayed, George Krementz turned his hand to electroplated jewelry. So successful was he in this endeavor that he soon had enough capital to buy out many of Newark's struggling jewelry firms. In 1938, with the purchase of Jones & Woodland, Krementz expanded to include high-end jewelry. Wedding and engagement rings came in 1940 with the purchase of Abelson and Braun.<br />
<br />
During the 1960s, George's grandson, Richard, took the helm, leading the way into colored gemstones. These stones were sourced from Idar-Oberstein in Germany, and were swiftly incorporated into the high-end jewelry designs acquired from Jones & Woodland. Richard Krementz had hoped that his son, Richard, Jr., would continue in the family business.<br />
<br />
After several years of starting and stopping and starting again, it was decided that Richard Krementz, Sr. would be the last reigning founder of Krementz Jewelry. During the 1990s, many of the firm's holdings were sold off, leaving only the colored gemstones to Richard, Sr.<br />
<br />
At the helm of his newly organized company, now called Richard Krementz Gemstones, Richard, Sr. continued to scout the world over for the most fabulous colored gemstones he could find. These stones went into collections designed by premier designers in the industry. Richard's passion for stones remained high until the day he died, which sadly happened on November 21, 2012. As written by Richard Krementz, Jr. shortly after his father's passing, "After 147 years, the Krementz family no longer is in the jewelry business."<br />
<br />
The last of their holdings were sold to the Colibri Group in 2009. While it is always a little sad to see the end come, it is a privilege to be able to offer our customers such a beautiful piece fashioned by a company with such integrity in the industry. If you would like to see this beautiful testament to the powerful Krementz legacy, we invite you to make an appointment to visit our showroom.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-86638111798346799452016-03-23T16:22:00.000-07:002016-03-23T16:22:00.184-07:00Designer Spotlight: Kwiat<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00J8CtOFb9Nfil09ADM9bhHkicVr7iQQdEEiP9yX3X74A9c82QD3mf3iJ3kYfQESP19hdzF2uiJLRW2gbmY25-2NrvTdAz9MPHDgVMRVHMDdWZjZ9YtjNFxLNBHwbhpqyWxm_5XpSQQSN/s1600/Kwiat+Jasmine+Huggie+Earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00J8CtOFb9Nfil09ADM9bhHkicVr7iQQdEEiP9yX3X74A9c82QD3mf3iJ3kYfQESP19hdzF2uiJLRW2gbmY25-2NrvTdAz9MPHDgVMRVHMDdWZjZ9YtjNFxLNBHwbhpqyWxm_5XpSQQSN/s400/Kwiat+Jasmine+Huggie+Earrings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Crafted of solid 18k white gold, featuring high-quality round brilliant diamonds totaling over 1 full carat and designed in huggie earring style, these gorgeous Kwiat jewels hail from the reputable design firm's Jasmine Collection.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Kwiat is revered for its exquisite <i>haute couture</i> designs. Catering to black tie and red carpet affairs, every Kwiat jewel is sophisticated in style and exquisite in design. Their jewelry has a timeless elegance, which ensures that even as time passes their artistry will remain chic and stylish. Their collections are airy and feminine, inspired by architecture, textiles, and nature's most beautiful flowers.<br />
<br />
The Kwiat name is backed by four generations of skilled jewelers. Sam Kwiat began his career in 1907, as a diamond trader on Canal Street in Manhattan. He specialized in refinishing older stones to enhance their brilliance. His passion for diamonds was contagious, sparking an interest in his son David who joined the firm in 1933 at the age of 17.<br />
<br />
David brought art into the business of diamonds, and Kwiat began designing and manufacturing intricate settings for their diamonds. In the 1960s and 1970s, David's sons Sheldon and Lowell joined the family firm, starting as apprentices to master craftsmen at the bench. Their diamonds and designs became the notable collections of such diamantaires as Harry Winston.<br />
<br />
Then in 2001, Sheldon and Lowell encouraged their forebears to launch their own brand. This led to exclusive Kwiat collections, designed primarily by Janice DeBell, formerly of Tiffany & Co. Their latest designs have strolled the red carpet with such Hollywood mavens as Sharon Stone and Halle Berry.<br />
<br />
Kwiat has rightfully earned its prestigious position with their impeccable craftsmanship and attention to detail, with their high standards of excellence, and with their reputation for integrity, loyalty, and commitment to their customers. Kwiat's business and design philosophy are one in the same: Answer only to the customer.<br />
<br />
The Kwiat family believes that every uncut diamond needs a craftsman to release its brilliance, and every brilliant diamond needs an event to share its significance. To ensure that they meet their own demanding standards, as well as the expectations of their customers, Kwiat focuses all of its attention on craftsmanship; always learning, always refining, always redefining.<br />
<br />
Then, they pass that knowledge on to their clients, sharing everything they've learned so that those who wear their jewels understand the exquisite value they add to their wearers. Both the Kwiat diamond and the woman who wears it are celebrated, ensuring that every diamond is properly balanced in cut and design.<br />
<br />
In addition, Kwiat guarantees that its diamonds are ethically sourced and conflict-free, drawing from mining operations in Russia, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Canada. With the Kwiat name comes a guarantee of beauty <i>and </i>quality.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-76853964284412618722016-03-11T11:55:00.000-08:002016-03-11T11:55:07.222-08:00Honeymoon Destination: Crater of Diamonds State Park (Arkansas)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE9x4Ff85jBJoFwyKr7offZOsZ7lx0Da72E5n2g92_YeUBeicmatdOyyyY5nYLGtR20pFBo0MvMSXJEe0eWT9bn3vuUHepE9ToU1dXc_chZrqsy5DOcwATvP4tehTn2jzQdXdY0147I48/s1600/Butterfly+at+the+Crater+of+Diamonds+State+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE9x4Ff85jBJoFwyKr7offZOsZ7lx0Da72E5n2g92_YeUBeicmatdOyyyY5nYLGtR20pFBo0MvMSXJEe0eWT9bn3vuUHepE9ToU1dXc_chZrqsy5DOcwATvP4tehTn2jzQdXdY0147I48/s400/Butterfly+at+the+Crater+of+Diamonds+State+Park.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo of a butterfly lighting upon the mud in the digging fields of Crater<br />
of Diamonds State Park (Arkansas) was taken in 2011 by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/44603071@N00/6230683340/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Kathy</a>, a member <br />
of Flickr.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you find your solace amid lush stands of tall deciduous trees lining lazy rolling rivers and big sky clouds?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you long for an adventure in diamond country?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If so, then might we recommend a honeymoon trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Arkansas may not be the first place you'd think of when you think of romance, but diamonds most certainly should be!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Did we mention that in Arkansas you can hunt for your own diamonds in the only publicly accessible diamond mine in the world? Well, you can! And several people have found genuine diamonds at Crater of Diamonds, a few of them fairly sizable.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The 900-acre park stretches along the Little Missouri River and features interpretive programs, diamond hunting education, a water park, and miles of hiking trails. The park is the result of a marketing strategy that worked brilliantly for miner Howard A. Millar. In 1952, Millar aggressively promoted his diamond mine, inviting people from all over to come and find treasure in his diamond field. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
A geologist by trade, Millar gave lectures and classified the diamonds found by his mine's visitors. Eventually, a museum, gift shop, and restaurant were opened on site, and the Crater of Diamonds was born. Throughout the '50s and '60s, visitors to the mine found thousands of diamonds that they took home as souvenirs.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In 1972, the mine was purchased by the State of Arkansas. It continues to run as a State Park to this day. The park is beautiful and inspiring in so many ways, although the least inspiring place, called the Pig Pen, is the only place on the grounds where diamonds can be found.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Pig Pen is a wide open, 37-acre mud field rich in volcanic kimberlite soil. Here, beneath the broad open sky, visitors to the park hunt dig their hands, with shovels, or with picks and screens to find the yellow, brown, and white diamonds that are harvested from the old volcanic pipe.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In addition to diamonds, rockhounds can find treasure in the form of garnet, amethyst, jasper, and other quartz and agate stones. All of these can be brought to the Diamond Discovery Center for identification and registration (for diamonds only). You get to keep what you find, and the cost is nothing more than park admission.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you decide to honeymoon in Arkansas, then may we also recommend a stay at the nearby Diamonds Cabins?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Diamonds Cabins offers an inclusive Old West experience that begins with a stay in Crazy Diamonds Saloon. The Saloon is an upstairs suite which features a one-of-a-kind western king-size bed outfitted with memory foam and Egyptian cotton sheets. The upstairs windows overlook a panoramic view of the mountains. A two-person jacuzzi/hot tub is surrounded by mirrors, and a private deck offers outdoor romance at any time, day or night. The room also includes the use of a fire pit, a grill, and picnic tables for enjoying the great outdoors.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you get tired of lounging in your suite, you can take a stroll into the Old West. Begin with a visit to the General Store. At the General Store you can purchase old-fashioned penny candies, locally made goat's milk beauty products, locally sourced geodes, and any cookout supplies you might need.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you're in the mood for some playful fun, then take yourself on a child's adventure at the Horse Trot Pedal Car Track, the sudsy Foam Party, and the Corn Pit! You know you want to suds each other up and take a roll in the corn!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And if your hunt in the Pig Pen yielded less than satisfactory results, then try your hand at the Old West Sluice Box. Every gem bag contains crystals, arrowheads, fools gold, pirate coins, shark teeth, agates, fossils, geodes, native jewelry, and more.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you love the Old West and good, clean (okay, maybe muddy, sudsy, and corny) fun, then we cannot more highly recommend a honeymoon at Crater of Diamonds State Park!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-57520763775109204292016-03-09T13:18:00.000-08:002016-03-09T13:18:02.935-08:00What is Guilloche?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVkcX5aiDpeG6rq-jQDbmopmeqf4HSJl98eaVFf0Seh_rMqDXM7NTelKjW8olu1c4Yhq1SJ8w4zAYGlCVxBVq5osGB9HQIX54s6sqmSEyorB2Qieu-O2MIM3C7qNlqJJESuer8bZzV2-V/s1600/Guilloche+Enamel+Ring+by+Designer+De+Vroomen.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVkcX5aiDpeG6rq-jQDbmopmeqf4HSJl98eaVFf0Seh_rMqDXM7NTelKjW8olu1c4Yhq1SJ8w4zAYGlCVxBVq5osGB9HQIX54s6sqmSEyorB2Qieu-O2MIM3C7qNlqJJESuer8bZzV2-V/s400/Guilloche+Enamel+Ring+by+Designer+De+Vroomen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This gorgeous designer ring by De Vroomen highlights the skill of a guilloche master. Featuring a geometric design reminiscent of Art Deco, this gorgeous 18k gold cocktail ring was actually made in 1986. Though others have been made since then, the truth is that guilloche is actually a dying art. The machines that are essential to the process are not being made any longer. Only a handful of them are still in operation. New jewelers are not being taught the techniques of using the machines, so when the last of the makers pass on the art of guilloche will die with them.<br />
<br />
Guilloche as an art form took root in the early 1800s, when Carl Faberge got hold of a rose engine, a machine which turned metal while engraving it, leaving a spirograph-type pattern etched upon the surface of the metal. Faberge was the first to combine this mechanical action with the art of enameling, which is why many mistakenly call it guilloche enamel.<br />
<br />
Enameling is a completely separate process from guilloche. Guilloche refers only to the manually wrought patterns elicited from the operation of the turning engines. Enameling is the second process, applied to the engraved metal plates. Faberge realized that the grooves and lines etched into the metal encouraged the pooling of enamel, rendering a beautiful effect in molten colored glass. He began incorporating these two processes into his most famous pieces, including the Faberge Eggs.<br />
<br />
From there, guilloche and enameling became the hottest new trend. That's why today it is common to find so many Victorian jewels with guilloche patterns. The art was nearly lost at the start of World War II, as the use of rose engines and manual engine turning died. However, in the 1970s, Pledge & Aldworth Engine Turners sparked a revival of the art, refurbishing the old machines and teaching the skills to new artisans.<br />
<br />
Sadly, market demand proved minimal. Therefore, new lathe engines were not created. As the old ones wore down, there were none to replace them. Currently De Vroomen is one of the only modern-day designers with a working machine. While the modern application of guilloche includes jewels, De Vroomen primarily applies the art to their luxury time pieces. One day, even these will cease to include the beauty and artistry of the finely honed skills of a lathe engine turner. Then, guilloche will truly be a collector's privy.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-88673331038630813312016-02-24T13:05:00.000-08:002016-02-24T13:05:09.770-08:00Crown Settings: History + Characteristics<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUfxyW8_Xy_o3cIwqtwt43aOrcw9DSmInRVR5dvsQDafCOV9GNhHMuYWf7FEssawkYFYPVSphVmFI1beUUGc6xHDLfNkdKbCWlsk9cW3m1lqXzuLTTH57Ado62NrIHyeAIW6yB4Xu3heB/s1600/Crown+Set+Old+European+Diamond+Engagement+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUfxyW8_Xy_o3cIwqtwt43aOrcw9DSmInRVR5dvsQDafCOV9GNhHMuYWf7FEssawkYFYPVSphVmFI1beUUGc6xHDLfNkdKbCWlsk9cW3m1lqXzuLTTH57Ado62NrIHyeAIW6yB4Xu3heB/s400/Crown+Set+Old+European+Diamond+Engagement+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This magnificent 2.77-carat Old European cut diamond engagement ring is absolutely breathtaking. The solid 18k white gold shank is engraved with an elegant leaf motif. Tapering up toward the central diamond, the shoulders give way to a fancy crown head. The crown setting perfectly suits the majestic 2.77-carat diamond, graded L in color and VS1 in clarity, which rightfully takes center stage on this glorious Antique Old Euro Diamond Engagement Ring.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The crown setting is perfect for solitaire engagement rings. One of its primary purposes is to raise the central stone above the shoulders of the ring, allowing access to more light from nearly every angle. For this reason, it is often chosen by designers who wish to showcase a particularly fabulous diamond or gemstone. The crown setting is also preferred for solitaire stud earrings, as well.<br />
<br />
Crown settings were used frequently in the nineteenth century, for the reasons already mentioned. The crown setting provided a departure from the previously popular bezel settings. The introduction of more sophisticated faceting techniques, and the accessibility of dramatic diamonds coming out of the Kimberley Mines in South Africa, led jewelers to experiment with ways to keep the diamonds safe without sacrificing access to light. Thus the crown setting was born.<br />
<br />
In 1886, Tiffany & Co. inducted the crown setting as THE choice for engagement rings. With their invention of the classic six-prong diamond solitaire mounting, the crown setting took center stage for bridal wear. Even today, the crown-set diamond solitaire remains the most popular engagement ring style.<br />
<br />
The setting derives its name from its crown-like profile. Though their appearance is simple and classic, their function is far more involved. Beauty is essential, but even more essential is the security of the central diamond.<br />
<br />
A jeweler's saw is used to form the crown shape from the metal. This crown is then incised to firmly hold the girdle of the diamond in place. Finally, the prongs, formed of durable metal such as white gold or platinum, are pushed into place over the crown of the diamond. The diamond is absolutely secure while at the same time exposed from nearly angle to every light source available.<br />
<br />
Hands down, this gorgeous antique solitaire diamond ring is one of our most prized selections at this time. If you're in the market for a classic diamond solitaire mounted crown style, then may we entice you to come in and try this beautiful ring on?<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-63018733590261135532016-02-10T11:21:00.000-08:002016-02-10T11:21:03.077-08:00Opal: Meaning + Significance<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz6vjjygziEaPkx6Z8EL5pBkDkoc9eQol9TG3N8ZJpltp3A0-58b1Z7-8k7cP88SoV6acR5Zl5F5SHTYrmNrVWJpAg1ULVGKCWT0cDFQDoeAF9Qj7zSeLpdZIFzFMsQWrqJ1JC9YlVxri/s1600/Antique+Jelly+Opal+Locket.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz6vjjygziEaPkx6Z8EL5pBkDkoc9eQol9TG3N8ZJpltp3A0-58b1Z7-8k7cP88SoV6acR5Zl5F5SHTYrmNrVWJpAg1ULVGKCWT0cDFQDoeAF9Qj7zSeLpdZIFzFMsQWrqJ1JC9YlVxri/s320/Antique+Jelly+Opal+Locket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This magnificent jelly opal locket pendant was crafted in the Late Victorian Era. A detailed ornate frame, featuring Old World granulation technique with scrolling golden cords, houses a prong-set jelly opal crystal weighing greater than 20 carats. Mounted on the back, in a removable photo frame, is a black onyx tablet engraved with a love note from Joe to Nancy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Opal has been the stone of choice for chiefs, kings, queens, and other royals throughout the ages. Ancient Romans believed opals brought good fortune. They wore opal as a symbol of hope and purity and believed that the stone protected them from sickness. The ancient Greeks wore opal to enhance their mystical powers of prophecy and foresight.<br />
<br />
Aborigines believed that opals were the rainbow footsteps of the Creator. They believed the Creator descended to earth on a rainbow road, bringing a message of peace to mankind. Wherever his foot touched the ground, the rainbow crystallized into a opal stones, allowing man the opportunity to hold divine love and affection in his very hands.<br />
<br />
Ancient Arabs believed that lightning had become trapped in the layers of opal, infusing it with a powerful play of colors. They believed that wearing opal would render one invisible. Ancient Indians also believed opals were a form of divine rainbow. In their case, they believed the Goddess of the Rainbow had fallen to the ground after being turned to stone.<br />
<br />
These references to rainbows and lightning are no surprise. The play of color in an opal is absolutely mesmerizing. All the colors visible to the naked eye are accounted for, in some stones more than others depending on the variety and size of the opal.<br />
<br />
Crystal healers and mystics believe that opal continues to harness divine power. It's play of color inspires lightness of heart, joy in the moment, and pure happiness. It is associated with flashes of intuition and is believed to heighten even the most mundane of experiences. It is believed to promote spontaneity and playfulness and is thought to enhance self-esteem and allow a person to express who they truly are.<br />
<br />
Opal is thought to foster love, passion, warmth, enthusiasm, and creativity. It is said that wearing an opal jewel can soothe your mind, aid in transformation, give you happy dreams, release inhibitions, and drive away your fears.<br />
<br />
Wearing an opal can also inspire loyalty, faithfulness, and warmth, leading to greater levels of trust and intimacy with those you are closest to.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to experience the power of opal in your own life, we invite you to make an appointment to meet with one of our specialists who can show you a wide variety of opal jewelry to meet your needs.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-74218532218797438252016-02-02T12:38:00.000-08:002016-02-02T12:38:02.643-08:00Russian Wedding Customs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6Deg6oO9wEBD1_J3AxNOAkPBqY49p8TvmnG_LbnNW4OZ2Wdczjsv9sBOq2Xa5vqXTyKQoB3YGoq5rrHD0Te2Znzdzuec9wVztwo91VlGB-YPwyoyO5uVd7GLZahmg_dHg-vETcEu82Iq/s1600/A_Boyar_Wedding_Feast_%2528Konstantin_Makovsky%252C_1883%2529_DYK_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6Deg6oO9wEBD1_J3AxNOAkPBqY49p8TvmnG_LbnNW4OZ2Wdczjsv9sBOq2Xa5vqXTyKQoB3YGoq5rrHD0Te2Znzdzuec9wVztwo91VlGB-YPwyoyO5uVd7GLZahmg_dHg-vETcEu82Iq/s400/A_Boyar_Wedding_Feast_%2528Konstantin_Makovsky%252C_1883%2529_DYK_crop.jpg" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Boyar Wedding Feast, painted by Konstantin Makovsky, 1883<br />
Photo found on Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
When I think of Russia, I think of white snow and red cloaks. When I think of Russian weddings, I think of baroque churches and solemn rituals. Indeed, wintertime in a Russian Orthodox church would make a lovely setting for a Russian-themed wedding.<br />
<br />
In my experience (which is primarily limited to movies, I'm afraid), Russians are serious and solemn, just as I would expect a Russian wedding to be. However, my research into the topic of Russian wedding customs tells a completely different story. In truth, a Russian wedding sounds like a treasure trove of fun, beauty, and joy.<br />
<br />
A Russian wedding actually begins when the groom pays a visit to his bride-to-be's home. He is met there by a series of obstacles, set up by the bride's family and friends. The groom must pass a series of tests, and he must pay a ransom, often in cash or jewels, to those who stand between him and his bride.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, a particularly feisty group will add an element of deception to the mix. After the groom pays for his bride, he will be escorted to a room where he sees a dressed and veiled beauty with her back to him. As he approaches, his "bride" will turn around. To his surprise a male cousin or elderly grandmother will be standing in stead for his bride, and he will have to pay yet again to make claim to his true bride.<br />
<br />
After the fun and games are had, the couple pays a visit to ZAGS, the public services department where their marriage license is purchased and a brief civil ceremony takes place. This visit officially registers their relationship with the government, and is essential to the legalization of their marriage. Following their registration, the couple gets into a big black sedan with their closest friends and takes a tour of the most picturesque locations in their city.<br />
<br />
This tour can last as long as three hours. Afterwards, if the couple has chosen to follow the civil ceremony with a religious one, the couple will arrive at the church. A Roman Orthodox ceremony is filled with candlelight, ritual, and ceremony. A full service is conducted, during which a service of espousal is added.<br />
<br />
From the church, the couple is once again conducted in a big black car to the reception hall. Here a toastmaster (possibly a friend, but often a hired professional) begins the reception with a toast. Glasses are raised, and the wine is sipped. At this point a number of guests will shout "Gor'ko!" (<i>Bitter!)</i>.<br />
<br />
In order to sweeten the fruit of the vine, the couple must rise and kiss each other for as long as possible. The guests will begin counting, and if the couple has not been able to sustain a long enough kiss, cries of <i>Gor'ko! </i>will echo throughout the hall. The couple is made to kiss like this until the vine has become sweet! Cries of <i>Gor'ko! </i>will ring throughout the night, as the couple kisses their lips off!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the toastmaster is responsible for keeping the mood light and fun. He/she will tell jokes, read poetry, tell embarrassing stories about the couple, and possibly even break out into song. His/her job is to keep the guests in high spirits and make sure that the mood never falls flat.<br />
<br />
After the toasting period, which can last an hour or more, the dancing begins. The bride and groom dance the first dance, and after this the toastmaster is able to take a breath and relax. The entertainment is now at the mercy of the dancers and revelers.<br />
<br />
Throughout the night, the groom will want to keep close watch on his bride. He must also keep a fair number of coins in his pockets. For if he does step away, his bride might be stolen. And if she is stolen, he will once again have to pay a ransom to get her back. This could happen all night long, so it might be wise to find a bathroom where the bride and groom can go off together to relieve themselves. This way, the groom will get to keep his coins and his bride for the duration of the night!<br />
<br />
A huge feast is served after the dancing. After the feast, the guests go home and get some rest, for the party will resume the following day. On the second day another smaller feast is prepared, typically <i>borsch </i>or <i>ukha</i>. Not only are these delicious and comforting dishes, but they can also help relieve any hangovers from the night before.<br />
<br />
The second day is far less formal, though toasts and cries of <i>Gor'ko!</i> can be heard throughout the festivities. After the meal, the bride must clean the floor in the room. Here is an opportunity for the bride and groom to recoup some of their paid ransoms from the night before. The guests are allowed, even expected, to mess the floor up so the bride must continue cleaning. The one rule: The guests must muss the floor with coins or banknotes. She is literally cashing in as she cleans!<br />
<br />
Guests may also stage several other fun ways to help the couple financially, including lotteries, auctions, and other money-making schemes that keep the guests entertained and the money flowing freely toward the newlyweds. It remains the job of the witnesses (maids of honor and groomsmen) to ensure a fun and entertaining time for all. Drinking is essential, as the fun is only had when true drunkenness sets in.<br />
<br />
After a wedding like this, their pockets lined with coins and cash, the newlywed couple will proceed on their honeymoon, or even just to their new home, alone and exhausted. But filled with joy and love and the goodwill of all those who know and love them.<br />
<br />
Doesn't it sound far more fun and exciting than the solemn picture I had painted in my mind?<br />
<br />
Perhaps a Russian wedding is in your future. If so, would you let us know which of these traditions you are most looking forward to experiencing as a bride or groom?<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-42285838927898674542016-01-27T11:18:00.000-08:002016-01-27T11:18:04.170-08:00Tanzanite: Meaning + History<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRiv3jiEI4eWwuDdkN0ZKc6W-CjuIZ0i2zjcnS4q6C8XOdKGsoPme2Kc3h32wrifF56Q7wga5fHfH0N-tZv8MsMSunx5XxDEchVhlJpyYYViIpG-zJD9L5m7jghyphenhyphenZfG52XxsmIMx054za/s1600/Tanzanite+Cocktail+Ring+by+LeVian.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRiv3jiEI4eWwuDdkN0ZKc6W-CjuIZ0i2zjcnS4q6C8XOdKGsoPme2Kc3h32wrifF56Q7wga5fHfH0N-tZv8MsMSunx5XxDEchVhlJpyYYViIpG-zJD9L5m7jghyphenhyphenZfG52XxsmIMx054za/s320/Tanzanite+Cocktail+Ring+by+LeVian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This glorious designer cocktail ring by LeVian is fashioned from solid 18k rose gold. Over 200 round brilliant diamonds pave the gallery, shoulders, and halo surrounding one of the most remarkable oval cut tanzanite gemstones we've ever seen. Weighing over 14 carats, this deep bluish-violet tanzanite stone performs with phenomenal light return. This is a rare and beautiful find, a tanzanite of such stunning clarity and size.<br />
<br />
Tanzanite is a member of the zoisite family. Zoisite is a fairly obscure gemstone family consisting of several species of stones formed from silicates of calcium and aluminum. This yellow-brown stone acquired its name in 1805, when geologist Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein found it in Austria. It would be several centuries before anyone took any marketing notice of the zoisite family.<br />
<br />
That notice came with the discovery in 1967, in Tanzania near the eastern shores of Africa. A prospector named Manuel d'Souza was hunting for sapphires in the northeastern portion of the country. Careful to make connections with the local tribesman, he finally hit the jackpot when a group of Masai natives guided him to the Merelani Hills, a stone's throw from Mount Kilimanjaro.<br />
<br />
The purple-blue stones he found there had been circulating among the tribes for centuries. The Masai herders found the crystals scattered across the ground after lightning set a grassy field on fire, transforming the local brown zoisite into this mesmerizing new blue stone. Since then, the women of the tribe wore beads made from the beautiful stones, particularly after giving birth.<br />
<br />
At first, d'Souza thought these stones were a variation of the blue sapphires he'd been hunting. But later testing proved them to be a rare and unusual form of zoisite. Three years later, in 1970, Tiffany & Co. acquired the lion's share of marketable blue zoisite.<br />
<br />
Jeweler Henry Platt, working for Tiffany at the time, coined a new name for the beautiful stone: Tanzanite. For a number of years, Tanzanite enjoyed high fame. Tiffany's jewelers had a grand time fashioning gorgeous contemporary pieces from the lovely blue stone.<br />
<br />
Crystal healers and mystics attached much in the way of significance to the newly discovered gemstone. Their beauty is thought to stir the mind toward communion with the heart, increasing compassion, spiritual insight, and connection to divine love.<br />
<br />
Tanzanite is thought to be a self-actualizing stone. As such, it is purported to aid a person in discovering their true calling. It is believed to illuminate one's motives and purposes, aiding the soul-searcher to discover the reasons behind the choices they've made.<br />
<br />
Tanzanite is believed to vibrate at an accelerated rate, infusing its wearer with joy, happiness, and relief from anxiety. It is said to allow access to the heart's wisdom, allowing one to evaluate the ideas of an activated mind with the wisdom of the ancients.<br />
<br />
It is advisable to wear a tanzanite ring, pendant, or bracelet when you're facing significant life changes, such as a change in career. It is also recommended when facing communication difficulties, whether business or personal, and also when facing what seem to be insurmountable problems or obstacles.<br />
<br />
Since Tanzanite is the birthstone of December, it is believed that these positive attributes of the gemstone will be enhanced for those whose birthdays fall in that final month of the year.<br />
<br />
If you would like to feel the essence and power of Tanzanite for yourself, we invite you to make an appointment to meet with us in our Bellevue area showroom.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-52302816725186656092016-01-19T11:14:00.000-08:002016-01-19T11:14:00.635-08:00KK: In Search of the Mystery Designer<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKaPJxxatG41pClikwPfOcmYjIvzW2FTXpuMSUhyphenhyphenFZjnouBBAADEiwqal_PhHhgk8odRJeUzDKWROtFkiZBKs4bqh9gfb_9hwiEImKZUdsd8EReJZ04xjinBChoPIc4MQITIDl_D1zKRO/s1600/KK+Designer+Rubellite+Tourmaline+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKaPJxxatG41pClikwPfOcmYjIvzW2FTXpuMSUhyphenhyphenFZjnouBBAADEiwqal_PhHhgk8odRJeUzDKWROtFkiZBKs4bqh9gfb_9hwiEImKZUdsd8EReJZ04xjinBChoPIc4MQITIDl_D1zKRO/s320/KK+Designer+Rubellite+Tourmaline+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We recently acquired a trio of stunning jewels all made by the same designer: KK. These jewels are of baroque design, featuring stunning semi-precious tourmalines in a range of colors, from ruby wine red, to murky yellow-green, to verdant shamrock green. These statement rings are astonishing in both design and execution.<br />
<br />
Crafted from sterling silver and solid 18k yellow gold, these rings are masterpieces in design. The first is a north-south dinner ring featuring a cabochon rubellite tourmaline set bezel style in a halo of white diamonds. These are all set in a patina finish. Scrolling flourishes lead the eye to the stately panthers that lie atop and below the gorgeous central stone. On the bright yellow gold shoulders rest an almost-leaf-like flourish studded with diamonds set in channels of silver patina.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FJlzm6scjq1VUalutf8QBWfrWIpZM92UAGYQq5X2uu9P8WkHJAsXjwfF1tmVtgAqm-I5EER8dPHcg9ca11HFYkW0uFQ_ezoz-NU_cR5zoj74mXkRjnRHT1Cba_pkw2vlslcMQ0aFy-9c/s1600/KK+Designer+Green+Tourmaline+%2526+Diamond+Statement+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FJlzm6scjq1VUalutf8QBWfrWIpZM92UAGYQq5X2uu9P8WkHJAsXjwfF1tmVtgAqm-I5EER8dPHcg9ca11HFYkW0uFQ_ezoz-NU_cR5zoj74mXkRjnRHT1Cba_pkw2vlslcMQ0aFy-9c/s200/KK+Designer+Green+Tourmaline+%2526+Diamond+Statement+Ring.jpg" width="200" /></a>The second ring features a central bezel-set, shamrock green tourmaline surrounded by a halo of diamonds in an oxidized sterling silver channel. In brilliant 18k yellow gold, a pair of diamond-studded fleur-de-lis radiate in an east-west direction.<br />
<br />
A bowl of yellow gold underlies the entire central design. This bowl is encircled by a double halo of diamond-studded silver. The outer rim is punctuated by evenly spaced dimensional bezels featuring smaller green tourmalines. The shank of the ring is completely etched in sterling silver, gilded by a rim of twisted yellow gold. The entire ring, underside and all, is a masterpiece in design.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPl7RVc1tYHusKCL1SICfzUbjbyJVW0ZkeOC02i8uXYrFIv2JK-HNOzG2JYszv-cRQPg1R5PcOVyhhBvVk-58N_rUwlPzLIogcH5EwBDbVpxo60ZGxvo8T84s6soIQnswn8gEC7c1cwVp/s1600/KK+Designer+Tourmaline+%2526+Diamond+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPl7RVc1tYHusKCL1SICfzUbjbyJVW0ZkeOC02i8uXYrFIv2JK-HNOzG2JYszv-cRQPg1R5PcOVyhhBvVk-58N_rUwlPzLIogcH5EwBDbVpxo60ZGxvo8T84s6soIQnswn8gEC7c1cwVp/s200/KK+Designer+Tourmaline+%2526+Diamond+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="200" /></a>The final ring in the KK mystery designer trio is a study in oxidized silver. The only gold can be seen on the inside of the band, in the twisted braid of gold around the gallery, and the gold bezel around the mossy green tourmaline cabochon placed at the center of this exquisite statement ring. Surrounding the bezel-set tourmaline is a rim of silver embedded with a halo of white diamonds.<br />
<br />
Four points emerge from the halo, also studded in diamonds. A second halo forms the outer rim of the design and features square individual bezels in silver set with a single round diamond. The edge is trimmed in braided gold with four cabochon tourmalines set horizontally to the design. The band is coated in beautifully etched sterling silver. This ring is an understated wonder.<br />
<br />
All of these rings are engraved with two letters, the only letters giving credit to the masterful mystery designer: KK. The letters are engraved within a horizontal etched diamond.<br />
<br />
After doing extensive research online, I have been unable to track down this mystery designer. I've found a number of KK designers out there, but none of them equal the artistry of these beautiful rings. That is why we need your help.<br />
<br />
If you have any information regarding the mystery woman or man behind these gorgeous Gothic rings, please get in touch with us. Simply fill out this <a href="http://eragem.com/contacts/" target="_blank">contact form</a> and let us know what you know.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-29419151806672405322016-01-17T12:04:00.001-08:002016-01-17T12:04:35.141-08:00Honeymoon Destination: Oak Island, Nova Scotia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO-zSnyu3fwM2lFjudpvMzdF_W3QzWrxM9xsWMgsGYH2QWck7m6JLdSXHvEoAsZUEBZQwnEyHVUKpg282rE4SgkawVPL3trnvlaHDpkAss3kFGdVl5PZxa1WTS7yC6ZPX93yMnfybDZyF/s1600/Sandy+Cove+Nova+Scotia+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO-zSnyu3fwM2lFjudpvMzdF_W3QzWrxM9xsWMgsGYH2QWck7m6JLdSXHvEoAsZUEBZQwnEyHVUKpg282rE4SgkawVPL3trnvlaHDpkAss3kFGdVl5PZxa1WTS7yC6ZPX93yMnfybDZyF/s400/Sandy+Cove+Nova+Scotia+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandy Cove, Nova Scotia. Photo taken by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/7612333534/" target="_blank">Dennis Jarvis</a>, 2012.<br />
Sandy Cove is situated north across the bay from Oak Island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you love moderate temperatures, crisp sea air, and pristine island views?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you inspired by a good old-fashioned mystery, one that has yet to be solved?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you in search of a romantic honeymoon with a touch of intrigue?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you said yes to any of these questions, then may we recommend a honeymoon trip to Nova Scotia, with a tour of Oak Island thrown in for good measure?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nova Scotia is a northern paradise, offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. On a beautiful day, tour the zoo, visit a wildlife park, go to a fun park, or spend the day on the water. Nova Scotia offers year-round surfing, tidal bore rafting, kayaking, whale watching, hiking, and golfing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If the weather is sour, then spend the day indoors. Visit the Science Centre, one of the provincial museums, or go see a play at one of the local theatres. Or visit an art gallery or boutique artisan shop.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Whether you enjoy shopping, sightseeing, water sports, or boating, Nova Scotia has it all. And if that is not enough to intrigue you, then Nova Scotia also has a 200-year-old mystery that has yet to be solved.<br />
<br />
The seat of this mystery lies on a lush, 140-acre island off the southwestern coast of Nova Scotia. In 1795, Daniel McGinnis discovered an indentation in the ground on the island. He and his friends began digging in the area, only to discover a deep and mysterious man-made shaft.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After boring through layer after layer of oak-log platforms, charcoal, putty, and even coconut fibers, the boys hit a stone slab that was engraved with a message of symbols and shapes. They stopped digging for the night, thinking to return and continue their investigation the next day. However, when they returned to the site the following morning they found the deep shaft completely filled with seawater. No matter how hard they tried, they could not continue digging.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From that day to this, men from all walks of life throughout progressive centuries, including President Franklin Roosevelt and actor John Wayne, have tried in vain to find a way to stop the shaft from flooding. Over the years, it has been assumed that this elaborate man-made structure must be hiding something extremely valuable.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Could it be lost pirate treasure?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or the lost Crown Jewels of France? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Or perhaps the riches of the Knights Templar?</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
The most popular rumor is that Captain William Kidd hid his pirate treasure on the island before his execution.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
However, to date it is all rumors and speculation. Whatever lies beneath the sea on Oak Island remains a mystery to this day. There's even a History Channel TV show about it: <i>The Curse of Oak Island</i>.<br />
<br />
While it sounds like the mystery is very close to being solved by the island's current owner, Dan Blankenship, one thing stands in the way of what would become the find of a lifetime: a treasure trove license. Until Mr. Blankenship and his team of mystery hunters can find a way to convince the government to give him a treasure hunting license, the mystery will remain unsolved.<br />
<br />
There is only one way now for visitors to see the site of this long-time mystery. Private tours are held just a few times annually by the Friends of Oak Island group. Their website has recently undergone an overhaul, currently they're offering $10 memberships that will enable members to purchase tour tickets before they open the tours up to the public at some point in the near future. Check out their <a href="http://www.friendsofoakisland.com/" target="_blank">website </a>and consider making Oak Island and Nova Scotia your honeymoon destination!<br />
<br />
If you do decide to make Nova Scotia your honeymoon destination, and you do make it on one of the Oak Island tours, please let us know what you learn about the mystery. We are waiting with bated breath to hear the latest news as it breaks over the next year.<br />
<br />
Perhaps this will be the year that the mystery is solved once and for all!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-82639132560548615272016-01-04T12:07:00.000-08:002016-01-04T12:07:00.149-08:00History + Significance of Red Coral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmBxj8wR3Fncq8rJH46cFvBCt5HUVvGGU4sUivYDIR6aWe_0zOmpzzdfqp51m-3zXizz19KSVoTjfZNH5AZrP5-4dbHL9o3FvXxSk43vQzcRN7nH0YjUX7Eqt_PMTBqukskmzvx3HFGgF/s1600/Natural+Red+Coral+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmBxj8wR3Fncq8rJH46cFvBCt5HUVvGGU4sUivYDIR6aWe_0zOmpzzdfqp51m-3zXizz19KSVoTjfZNH5AZrP5-4dbHL9o3FvXxSk43vQzcRN7nH0YjUX7Eqt_PMTBqukskmzvx3HFGgF/s400/Natural+Red+Coral+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Red, the color of power and passion, vitality and vigor, courage and boldness. It is a color for both men and women. For men, red represents victory, status, and personal power. For women, it represents independence, seduction, and personal power. The powerful effects of red reverberate throughout history.<br />
<br />
Ancient Romans gave red coral to their children as protection from danger, evil curses, and disease. To other ancient people groups, red coral symbolized life and blood force, offering hope to those plagued by violent madness or deep depression. Red coral was used as a fertility charm, believed to regulate a woman's menstrual cycle and restore reproductive health.<br />
<br />
In China, coral represents longevity, and in India it is believed to prevent hemorrhages. In many Old World cultures, red coral is believed to strengthen the blood. Ancient Egyptians believed that red coral contained traces of divine blood, energizing and granting wisdom to all who wore it. Ancient Greeks relied on red coral to bring them happiness and immortality, driving away illness and adversity.<br />
<br />
Many ancients believed that the more conspicuously red coral was worn, the more effective its powers. Tibetan Buddhists and Native Americans associate red coral with creativity, passion, wisdom, enthusiasm, and romantic love.<br />
<br />
Tibetan Buddhists also believe that all coral is an important gift of the sea, and that red coral represents the highest level of compassionate energy. Rooted in the earth but swaying freely in the ocean currents, it reminds us of our eternal foundations. Though we are rooted to our mortality upon the earth, our spirits live and breathe freely in the air of heaven. Coral also reminds us of our durability and strength. Though coral appears fragile, its skeletal composition makes it quite hard and durable.<br />
<br />
Modern crystal healers lean on coral to provide strength to one's emotional core. Coral is said to promote inner peace, diplomacy, and stability. It is said to enhance wisdom and reduce stress and fear. It represents the transformation of that which is ugly into that which is beautiful. Immeasurable joy is thought to be the end result of the full manifestation of red coral's work.<br />
<br />
Are you looking for a change in your life? Are you seeking transformation in some aspect of your life? Do you need personal power to overcome a deep wound from your past?<br />
<br />
If so, may we recommend experimenting with red coral for yourself?<br />
<br />
This gorgeous red coral ring may be just the choice for a man or a woman in need of the powerful divine life force of red coral. It features a substantial 18k yellow gold setting carved in intricate openwork style. The 5-carat red coral cabochon appears raw and ancient in its form, evoking red coral's ancient roots and powers of impartation.<br />
<br />
We invite you to make an appointment today to sample the power of red coral. See what it can do for you.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i><br />
<br />Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-35846687014811319892015-12-23T13:45:00.000-08:002015-12-23T13:45:00.249-08:00Lapis Lazuli: Symbolism + Meaning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJtmrsliLgDN-4mENaa21JoQl3kX6Il_z6s491r8bENIFLKp6oMdK0P-ISBOQ_uA6r8YjAZg6YnPElshI6qhYcT_EwXbbfub8XfbELox3uvGhRgsA86CRN1uM3nwikrIpj6DaZjWzUCv/s1600/Vintage+Lapis+Lazuli+and+Turquoise+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJtmrsliLgDN-4mENaa21JoQl3kX6Il_z6s491r8bENIFLKp6oMdK0P-ISBOQ_uA6r8YjAZg6YnPElshI6qhYcT_EwXbbfub8XfbELox3uvGhRgsA86CRN1uM3nwikrIpj6DaZjWzUCv/s400/Vintage+Lapis+Lazuli+and+Turquoise+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Blue on blue - stunning! This gorgeous cocktail ring features a bezel set deep blue lapis lazuli cabochon surrounded by light blue turquoise half beads mounted in twisted yellow gold. This vintage ring features cathedral shoulders with a classically rendered wire work gallery underneath the stone. When it comes to celebrating the symbolism and meaning of December's birthstone, this ring is the perfect choice.<br />
<br />
For over 6,000 years, this deep blue gemstone has been mined around the globe, most prominently in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Siberia, Chile, and North America. As seen in the upper portion of this 10-carat cabochon, the lazurite that comprises the main bulk of lapis lazuli is often shot through with shimmering golden pyrite and other compound minerals, including calcite which appears white and sodalite which appears light blue. The mineral compound called lapis is found most often in crystalline marble, where heat has caused the lazurite to intrude upon the marble.<br />
<br />
Imagine yourself standing on a desert hillside where bulldozers cut away at the soil, exposing giant slabs of brilliant blue all around you. It must be so magical to be in the presence of raw lapis, particularly for those ancients who discovered the gemstone thousands of years ago.<br />
<br />
Because of its bright blue hue and its suitability for carving, lapis is one of the first recorded gemstones to be worn as jewelry. Ancient Egyptians used it to fashion their all-important seals, their version of the modern signature required to transact business. They also carved it into sacred vessels, vases, and sculpted figurines. Its color invoked the essence of divinity, inviting its association with the gods, royalty, power, and spiritual insight.<br />
<br />
Ancient Persians and pre-Colombian societies, as well as Europeans during the Middle Ages, revered lapis lazuli for its representation of the starry evening sky, and in the Orient it was relied upon for protection from the evil eye. It has been hailed throughout history as a stone of truth, wisdom, and recompense for sin.<br />
<br />
The Ancient Egyptians also ground it down to use for eye makeup, a precursor to its use by Middle Age artists as the foundation for the first Ultramine blue paint used to capture the color of sky and sea. Ancient Romans ground it into powder which they mixed into their drinks as an aphrodisiac. Lapis lazuli can be seen in art the world over, from the mosaics of the Middle East and Africa, to paintings in Europe, to body ornamentation in cosmetics and jewelry across the continents.<br />
<br />
Through the ages it has retained its symbolic meaning as a stone of wisdom and truth, believed to promote insight and even psychic ability. It is believed by crystal healers to stimulate the higher mind, elevating the thinking centers of the brain and enhancing the intellect. Thereby, it is a stone of learning, believed to spark a thirst for knowledge, truth, and understanding.<br />
<br />
It is also a stone of truth, known to promote honesty and harmony in relationships. It brings about a clarity about oneself and aids a person in acceptance of her strengths and weaknesses. It is a stone of communication, believed to aid both writers and speakers in broadcasting their messages with clarity and authenticity.<br />
<br />
Finally, lapis lazuli is believed to be a stone of joy, evoking positive feelings and thoughts. As such, it may bring a level of tranquility and peace to the person who wears it. Optimism and hope are the key to peace, after all. It is the stone of friendship, believed to strengthen the bonds of love and fidelity, inviting a deeper level of intimacy.<br />
<br />
This makes lapis lazuli jewelry the perfect choice for the special person in your life born in December, be it a dear friend, a lover, or your brother or sister. We'd love to show this ring to you, as well as our other lapis lazuli jewels, and allow you experience the beauty and tranquility of this ancient stone for yourself. Call today to schedule a visit to our Bellevue showroom.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-41074037435756403792015-12-16T10:45:00.000-08:002015-12-16T10:45:00.375-08:00Designer Spotlight: DeVroomen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AxfYIbgWckMpXZqSLBt3v_tVdnfXb8AYIo5vlEz8U3HdokeilkCfG9TYTFTF_OEfn8B-P6FNkrEPhMbOBQ9F27pB5Pm8bdTeGbOlUwBE8X2yseNtHtrFK5BGONL1rJX__5r44MDLR98p/s1600/De+Vroomen+Guilloche+Enamel+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AxfYIbgWckMpXZqSLBt3v_tVdnfXb8AYIo5vlEz8U3HdokeilkCfG9TYTFTF_OEfn8B-P6FNkrEPhMbOBQ9F27pB5Pm8bdTeGbOlUwBE8X2yseNtHtrFK5BGONL1rJX__5r44MDLR98p/s400/De+Vroomen+Guilloche+Enamel+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This spectacular guilloche and enamel ring makes an imposing statement. Worn by man or woman, this jewel says, "I mean business."<br />
<br />
It says, "I know who I am and what I'm about."<br />
<br />
Featuring a powerful combination of classic white round diamonds, 18k yellow gold, and striking blue enamel overlaying intricate guilloche engravings, this striking designer ring was fashioned by the renowned UK designer Leo De Vroomen.<br />
<br />
De Vroomen is most highly appreciated for his use of enamels in a broad array of bold and beautiful colors. Sometimes subtle, sometimes loud and ostentatious, his color choices always make a clear statement. In many of his pieces, Leo adds more interest with sculpted repousse work. His careful attention to detail and form lends his pieces an artful elegance worthy of attention.<br />
<br />
His use of diamonds is typically understated. Even in this piece lined with diamonds, their brilliance is balanced with the deep blue enamel background and the prominence of the yellow gold lines surrounding the stones. Indeed, the longer you stare at this particular ring, the more evident it becomes that De Vroomen is a master at achieving balanced, striking designs.<br />
<br />
That this ring was fashioned in 1986, at the height of big and bold, it is clear that although perhaps emboldened by the such demands in the markets of that decade, De Vroomen brought a subtlety to the table with this ring.<br />
<br />
This is in keeping with his philosophy that the woman (or man in this case) who wears this ring is the one who truly makes the impression, not the stone or the jewel.<br />
<br />
In the realm of creative design, it is Leo's uncompromising commitment to freedom that infuses every De Vroomen piece with subtle elegance that transcends time and defies, and yet defines, the trends of the day.<br />
<br />
Leo describes his work as far more than a career. "It's about being true to yourself and enjoying the freedom of doing what you love," he told the <i><a href="http://new.spectator.co.uk/2011/04/masterclass/" target="_blank">Spectator</a></i>.<br />
<br />
While he does not adhere to what he calls "the vagaries of fashion," De Vroomen does adhere to a standard of excellence that some describe as bordering on obsession. "[The] pieces are not just beautiful in terms of proportion, shape and colour combination or quality of finish, they are perfect engineering machines with all kind of cleverly hidden mechanisms that make them truly special to wear," says Alicia Reyes, author of the blog <i><a href="http://www.collectingfinejewels.com/2011/08/discoveries-leo-de-vroomen-modern.html#.ViE0X_mrSUl" target="_blank">Collecting Fine Jewels</a></i>.<br />
<br />
Leo crafts his wondrous jewels at his atelier in London, focusing his energies on creating one-of-a-kind pieces that could be categorized as haute couture, though he would not do so himself. Mr. De Vroomen grew up in Holland, the youngest of eight on a tulip farm. Surrounded by such beautiful colors, but perhaps weary of the daily grind of farming, Leo longed for a world of artistry away from the soil. He followed his heart to Switzerland, where he was qualified as a Master Goldsmith.<br />
<br />
In 1965, he moved to London, where he met his wife Ginnie, who has served him faithfully as design partner and muse for their established atelier De Vroomen Design. Together, they conceptualize and manufacture every single piece in accordance with their unique vision.<br />
<br />
In discussing their perfect De Vroomen patron, Leo states on his website, "My jewelry is for grownups...it's not for the fainthearted. It's for women who have confidence and are as careful about their jewelry as their clothes."<br />
<br />
He goes on to say, "I am deeply passionate about my jewelry. To create something innovative, dynamic and beautiful without compromise is always exciting. But the real pleasure comes from seeing it worn by the right woman with confidence and pleasure."<br />
<br />
Are you that woman? Does this ring speak to your soul?<br />
<br />
If you must have it, then please do not hesitate to call on us. We are more than happy to assist you in making this striking, bold, and alluring De Vroomen ring yours.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-40473359630926387382015-11-27T11:37:00.000-08:002015-11-27T11:37:05.467-08:00The Meaning & Symbolism of Citrine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBwIBE191k3dpfG2cpQtvjRyH-D3NKmS_m6aI01Ih5BCLoUsX_j0mbnzQ_o1indH6fpp8VaaazlJlx4TRvtUyuE5xm2ulK0sfnZkhqvKHKZJVn5S0lC0v7dLsKW59_3Cpodg8mSaEPKq9/s1600/Massive+Citrine+Vintage+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBwIBE191k3dpfG2cpQtvjRyH-D3NKmS_m6aI01Ih5BCLoUsX_j0mbnzQ_o1indH6fpp8VaaazlJlx4TRvtUyuE5xm2ulK0sfnZkhqvKHKZJVn5S0lC0v7dLsKW59_3Cpodg8mSaEPKq9/s400/Massive+Citrine+Vintage+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Your office holiday party looms on the horizon. You're moving up in the world, hoping for that promotion, and you want to impress all the right people. You've chosen your perfect black dress, and you have a gorgeous Indian yellow silk scarf, which you've learned just how to wrap so you look stunning. You've consulted your makeup artist, and you're set for understated glam. You've got tasteful diamond drop earrings, and you're leaving your neck bare in red carpet style. All you need to complete your look is a scintillating left hand ring.<br />
<br />
Why not consider this magnificent and massive 80-carat citrine cocktail ring? You can wear it on your power finger (that is, your index finger), so that whenever you point something out, your colleagues will see that not only do you make a good argument, but you also have brilliant taste.<br />
<br />
Rest assured, you'll be in good company with citrine, classically referred to as the Merchant's Stone or as I like to call it, the Stone of Sweet Success. Medieval merchants kept citrines in their money purses, believing their financial pursuits would be blessed by its power and presence. The ancients believed citrine harnessed the power of the sun, carrying its radiance and warmth into everyday life. The mystics of old believed it would dispel sadness, anger, and fear, opening the space around them to the abundance of the universe, ensuring that good things come their way.<br />
<br />
Do you want that promotion? Then count on the Merchant's Stone to energize you into full expression of your natural talents and gifts. Long believed to enliven creativity and spark the imagination, citrine just might aid you in transforming your dreams into tangible realities, resulting in a solid plan you can follow to reach your goals. You can choose to believe, like those who practice crystal energy healing, that citrine encourages fresh starts and brings fullness of life to those in pursuit of new horizons.<br />
<br />
Practitioners of gemstone healing and magic count on citrine to enhance mental clarity, personal discipline, and confidence, making it the perfect stone to wear when pursuing that promotion. Not only that, but citrine has long been hailed as a stone of joy. Who wouldn't want to pursue the next level in their career with joy, imparting enthusiasm to those around them, as well?<br />
<br />
Why not make your mark on your company and bring those around you along with you? Citrine is said to promote generosity. It could be called a Share the Wealth stone, as well as the Merchant's Stone.<br />
<br />
With all this latent positive energy connected to your power finger, you might just find yourself overcoming obstacles and blocks to your creative expression. It might just give you that leg up in winning over even the most stubborn of associates to motivate action and teamwork. Since every promotion is a team effort, why not allow the generous nature of citrine to encourage your acknowledgement of those who are supporting your promotion? Then, you'll have the loyalty of your team as you move into your new position.<br />
<br />
This beautiful ring might just be the motivation you need to get to work and make that promotion a reality. If you'd like to feel its power, we invite you to <a href="http://eragem.com/" target="_blank">make an appointment</a> with us today. Try it on, see what 80 carats of citrine can do for you.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i><br />
<br />
<br />Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-85309200461010795212015-11-11T15:30:00.000-08:002015-11-11T15:30:00.455-08:00Designer Spotlight: Jose Hess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNFtZGRzRP3KZArljjKqxDlsFAvGojxpkrcWsF21Iymj-dOf1gNs5eJCqT8g3eLsfGNImFjJ7SgyJQwX-rL7Q1bQ6NVC9T6HaV0dCkdF1Hh7ModHMKmyINYXk0ure8dlZzVDFblK_wj2-/s1600/Jose+Hess+Tsavorite+Garnet+Engagement+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNFtZGRzRP3KZArljjKqxDlsFAvGojxpkrcWsF21Iymj-dOf1gNs5eJCqT8g3eLsfGNImFjJ7SgyJQwX-rL7Q1bQ6NVC9T6HaV0dCkdF1Hh7ModHMKmyINYXk0ure8dlZzVDFblK_wj2-/s400/Jose+Hess+Tsavorite+Garnet+Engagement+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you in search of brilliant color for your engagement ring? </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you appreciate clean lines, modern styles, and American-made jewelry?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If so, may we recommend this magnificent Jose Hess tsavorite garnet wedding set?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Crafted of solid 18k white gold, this gorgeous wedding set features rounded bands lined with nearly 40 flush-set, round brilliant white diamonds. Geometrical engravings add luster and interest to the bands. Mounted in a four-prong claw setting, a single green tsavorite garnet weighing 1.61 carats takes center stage. The gemstone is a beautiful oval cut. This designer ring demonstrates the modern elegance closely associated with the Jose Hess brand.<br />
<br />
Jose Hess jewels are best known for their inclusion of fiery brilliant white diamonds, contemporary styles, dazzling brilliance, and masterful designs. Each Jose Hess ring is guaranteed to please with modern lines, excellent craftsmanship, and a superior use of white diamonds.<br />
<br />
Jose Hess began his career in Colombia, South America, where his parents relocated during the Nazi invasion of his birth country Germany. After serving alongside his parents in the family's bakery throughout his early childhood, Jose went on to sweep floors in a nearby jewelry factory.<br />
<br />
Before long, he learned to melt gold and hand-set jewelry. To him, this was just rote work, a job to keep him busy and earn some pocket money. That is, until he discovered the artistry behind the jewelry. By the time he turned 17, Mr. Hess had caught design fever. Soon after, he left Colombia, arriving in New York in 1951.<br />
<br />
At night he went to school, taking classes in everything from accounting to art. He also took a correspondence course with the Gemological Institute of America. During the day, he worked for various jewelry firms, learning the techniques and practicing the skills he would later use to launch his brand into the forefront of American jewelry design.<br />
<br />
Eventually, he landed a position with accredited jewelry designer David Webb. After two years with Mr. Webb's firm, Jose Hess launched his own brand, fighting tooth and nail for American designers to be noticed and respected by retailers and consumers alike.<br />
<br />
At the foundation of Mr. Hess's design philosophy is his attention to the needs and interests of his retail jewelry customers. During the 1980s, his designs catered to sophisticated business women who loved lavish pieces heavy with diamonds. Today, his pieces tend to be more subtle, favoring the simple elegance of everyday jewels that can be worn by day or night by almost any woman.<br />
<br />
Jose Hess is celebrated as one of the first designers in what is today known as the American Jewelry movement. At its core, American Jewelry is largely defined by the absence of a set of design standards. Whereas European jewelers follow a certain code, using techniques handed down for hundreds and hundreds of years, American jewelers are afforded a higher level of creativity in the application of their techniques. While many of these traditional techniques are mastered by American jewelers, the US jewelry industry allows designers the freedom to apply these age-old techniques to new materials and to refine the techniques to bring a decidedly contemporary feel to the old ways. Jose Hess has distinguished himself as a master in the art of contemporary American design, using clean lines, lots of brilliance, and statement color (if color is used at all).<br />
<br />
If you are a modern woman, ready to walk down the aisle wearing only the finest in American craftsmanship, then we suggest you look no further than this Jose Hess tsavorite garnet bridal set.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eragem.com/" target="_blank">Call today</a> to make your appointment to visit our Seattle-area showroom.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-14323971114979923462015-10-21T11:08:00.000-07:002015-10-21T11:08:00.435-07:00Designer Spotlight: de Grisogono<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b3uvQODzw0xoHIEs3KsYZXP5MBi_kP2Yic8N4DSFo_U4QfKjGwFeWDA4KaU2CI4iQIan7OsWSLcfZxzOSb1RWs1lHwnXMU3z2cYD2180gBCQHvyC2zLqK25KyZITJ0VWfMT-14BBTnYA/s1600/De+Grisogono+Instrumentino+Watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-b3uvQODzw0xoHIEs3KsYZXP5MBi_kP2Yic8N4DSFo_U4QfKjGwFeWDA4KaU2CI4iQIan7OsWSLcfZxzOSb1RWs1lHwnXMU3z2cYD2180gBCQHvyC2zLqK25KyZITJ0VWfMT-14BBTnYA/s400/De+Grisogono+Instrumentino+Watch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Set with over 100 black and white diamonds, this spectacular watch is fashioned out of solid 18k white gold. The pave-set band is inlaid over a stingray leather de Grisogono strap, and the mechanism is visible through the glass case on the backside of the watch. This masterpiece in time technology was crafted by the jewelry firm de Grisogono as part of their Grande Collection.<br />
<br />
Founded by Fawaz Gruosi, de Grisogono has been dedicated to absolute perfection and continual innovation in jewelry and watch design since 1993. De Grisogono jewels are characterized by bold and exuberant designs executed with cutting-edge techniques, creative twists, and absolute perfection.<br />
<br />
Every de Grisogono jewel features bold and often neglected gemstones, asymmetrical design elements, and breathtaking glamour. This particular watch is a testament to de Grisogono's signature use of the previously ignored black diamond. Historically, until Fawaz Gruosi began integrating black diamonds into his creations, they were largely overlooked by designers in the luxury industry. Thanks to Mr. Gruosi's passion for overlooked beauty, today black diamonds firmly hold their place in court with majesty, mystique, and allure.<br />
<br />
Fawaz Gruosi is a man of intense curiosity, adventure, and passion. His Mediterranean roots shine forth in his bold use of color and his infinite reinterpretations of form and line. He approaches everything with emotion, purpose and intensity, and this shines forth in every piece his firm produces.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gruosi puts great stock in his intuition, and while paying tribute to the esteemed traditions of jewelry design at all times, he continually pushes the boundaries of the industry, propelling his jewels into the most elite of haute couture style. In the area of watchmaking, de Grisogono has taken tradition and built upon it, inventing never-before-seen complications that set de Grisogono far apart from its watchmaking competition.<br />
<br />
While de Grisogono is fully committed to Swiss watchmaking heritage, they have pushed the boundaries of tradition to create exclusive in-house movements with ingenious complications. With these innovations, Mr. Gruosi and his team of skilled watchmakers have added value and exclusivity to their Swiss watches. Mirroring the ingenuity on the inside, they've brought to light the mystical allure of never-before-seen materials, including stingray leather, black diamonds, and icy phosphorescent diamonds, gemstones that have become the signature of de Grisogono's watches and high jewelry.<br />
<br />
de Grisogono's watches are a testament to Fawaz Gruosi's impeccable design philosophy. "I design out of instinct and express my inner passion into unexpected and extravagant creations," says the legendary designer on his website.<br />
<br />
The origins of his philosophy grew out of his childhood experiences in Florence, Italy. Born in Syria in 1952, Mr. Gruosi eventually moved with his Italian mother and Lebanese father to Florence where he lived until he was 18 years old. His first jewelry-related job was as a janitor in a Florence jewelry store. Following his passion for gemstones and design, he was soon promoted to store director in London. From there, he became Harry Winston's representative to the Alizera family in Saudi Arabia, and from there the doors to Europe's most esteemed jewelry houses opened for him.<br />
<br />
By the mid-1990s, Fawaz Gruosi was ready to take his mastery to the next level. He opened his first solo boutique in Geneva, where he established the adventurous de Grisogono brand. His commitment to excellence and his courage in pushing the boundaries of design tradition quickly catapulted the brand into high jewelry fame. Today, de Grisogono continues to draw from Fawaz's pursuit of technical virtuosity and vanguard design.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gruosi's designs are inspired by his unique experiences and everything in the world around him. Whether inspired by "the shape of a lampshade or the color of the sea," he expressed to Huffington Post writer <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yvonna-russell/de-grisogono_b_7772340.html" target="_blank">Yvonna Russell</a>, Fawaz aims to highlight the natural beauty of the men and women who wear his pieces. "I do not have a particular woman in mind when I design. I make the piece, and the right woman will be drawn to it," he told Ms. Russell in the same interview.<br />
<br />
Are you drawn to the lines of this de Grisogono masterpiece?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Are you inspired by the unconventional use of rapturous gemstones in traditional settings with an edge?</div>
<br />
If so, we cannot recommend more highly the high jewelry and timepieces created by the masterful designer and artisans at de Grisogono.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-81471338557741098032015-10-14T13:13:00.000-07:002015-10-14T13:13:00.648-07:00Grain-Set Jewelry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9G3_FX9gMWlu2zztyYolmXMKo5igxDw8bEkqG3U3ZAi3-X1WUvmPbYXiCbXsHweaAXJavZuhwk2c-yyhkMvfUUkH1AkCzAImKqY-EbR3iC-JozKYWkTQXxUQjsEFy5dF3LG38Wcp34U6/s1600/4-Carat+Blue+Sapphire+Cock%257F%257Ftail+Ring+with+Grain-Set+Diamonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9G3_FX9gMWlu2zztyYolmXMKo5igxDw8bEkqG3U3ZAi3-X1WUvmPbYXiCbXsHweaAXJavZuhwk2c-yyhkMvfUUkH1AkCzAImKqY-EbR3iC-JozKYWkTQXxUQjsEFy5dF3LG38Wcp34U6/s400/4-Carat+Blue+Sapphire+Cock%257F%257Ftail+Ring+with+Grain-Set+Diamonds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This spectacular white gold halo ring features a magnificent blue oval sapphire weighing 4.02 carats. Centered on the edges of its shoulders are two trapezoid cut diamonds nestled amid two stunning halos of brilliant round cut diamonds. It is these round cut diamonds and their settings that we are most interested in today.<br />
<br />
While the large sapphire is held in place by four metal prongs, the white diamonds are held in place by a traditional grain setting. Grain-set jewelry was historically created with a handful of beading (or graining) tools. The technique is typically employed when setting a number of equal-sized stones in lines.<br />
<br />
This setting is a highly specialized technique and therefore requires the skills of a seasoned master stone setter. It first gained popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s, carrying through the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods of jewelry.<br />
<br />
All these grain-set jewels were crafted by hand, using a drill to cut all the holes in the metal and a beading tool to raise a bead of metal up and over the stone's four corners to secure it in place. Today, CAD jewelry design makes it possible to create grain-set designs without the labor-intensive process known in the 20th century. Thus, bead-set jewels are returning to contemporary style.<br />
<br />
While as many as six beads, as few as three, can be used to set a stone in place, four is the most common number of beads for a grain setting. Sometimes, a five-grain setting is chosen, in which four beads are placed at each "corner" of the stone and a fifth bead is set in between to give a visual distance between each stone in the row.<br />
<br />
Probably the most popular form of grain setting is the pave setting, in which a carpet of small diamonds cling to the surface of a setting to create a sea of bling. Each tiny diamond is set with beads, adding more shine and brilliance to the overall look of the piece. With this technique, the small stones are sunk to their girdles, set to nearly touch each other. With the aid of a hand tool called an onglette graver, each of the beads is cut and fashioned. After which, the stone setter uses a round graver is to roll the metal into position and lock the stones into place.<br />
<br />
A grain setting works best for small, calibrated brilliant-cut stones, though it can also be chosen for any flat-backed stone: cabochons, rose cuts, or half or three-quarter cut pearls. According to writer Anastasia Young, the grains of metal trick the eye, maintaining the visual texture across the entire setting.<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{1}</span><br />
<br />
In some cases, the grain setting is used without stones. This is a particularly useful technique on pieces that have areas of metal that are too small to mount with stones. Millegrain is a variation of this technique which adds interest and beauty to what would otherwise be a smooth, blank area on a ring or brooch.<br />
<br />
When purchasing a grain-set jewel, you'll want to inspect it carefully for quality. Well-crafted jewelry will always feel smooth to the touch. Any rough or splintery edges indicate poor craftsmanship. Inspect pave and micropave jewels under a loupe to ensure that stones are set tightly. Loose stones are an indication of amateur workmanship and should be avoided in the purchase of high-end jewelry. While inspecting it under the loupe, ensure that none of the diamonds or gemstones were chipped during the setting process.<br />
<br />
We cannot stress enough the importance of being willing to request of your jeweler that they demonstrate the quality and workmanship of every jewel they sell. Whether you're purchasing a new, vintage, or estate jewel, the quality of your investment should matter to you and to your jeweler.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Notes</span></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Young, Anastasia. <i>Gemstone Settings.</i> Loveland, CO: Interweave Press LLC, 2012, p. 121.</span></li>
</ol>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-89262945479317101312015-10-10T18:46:00.000-07:002015-10-10T18:49:57.286-07:00Designer Spotlight: Buccellati<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7e0rJY-QsSIlxg5s01nWLN0J_lEgMFRUMOijCJrBrG4VRwz-u3RBwWqSD8pL49f3xUE1npOXRQJjdXImfq2eRwI515XAWnQbf-u4nKPnrHWFhGOqt0YThoYTfM_HMwyE4nnPW6CME1GJi/s1600/Buccellati+Eternelle+Openwork+Diamond+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7e0rJY-QsSIlxg5s01nWLN0J_lEgMFRUMOijCJrBrG4VRwz-u3RBwWqSD8pL49f3xUE1npOXRQJjdXImfq2eRwI515XAWnQbf-u4nKPnrHWFhGOqt0YThoYTfM_HMwyE4nnPW6CME1GJi/s400/Buccellati+Eternelle+Openwork+Diamond+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This exquisite designer ring is set with 39 brilliant-cut diamonds in white gold rhombs. The scalloped border is molded in an openwork design with frilled yellow gold, fashioned in the likeness of Venetian lace. In all of its magnificence, this ring sings with the hallmarks of its high-class designer, Buccellati.<br />
<br />
Buccellati is the trade name for one of the most prestigious jewelry design firms in the world. Its headquarters are located in New York City, but this family-owned dynastic jewelry house owes its beginnings to the influence of its birthplace, Milan, Italy.<br />
<br />
In 1919, Mario Buccellati opened his first jewelry boutique on Largo Santa Margherita in Milan. Having learned the secrets of the Italian goldsmiths, Signori Buccellati put his acquired skills to use. Drawing upon the inspired works of the Italian Renaissance, Buccellati infused every jewel with imagination and inspiration. Striving for perfection, he developed a meticulous approach which has now brought forth signature designs that look almost like the delicate lace that inspires them.<br />
<br />
True to form, this particular Buccalleti jewel features the signature pairing of gold and diamonds. When their work is not inspired by fine textured linens, it is inspired by flowers and leaves. Every Buccellati piece is completely hand engraved. A smooth surface is rarely found in this designer's work, as that would be boring. And Buccellati is never boring, never predictable, never run of the mill.<br />
<br />
In all their pieces, an elegant simplicity can be found. Recurring patterns, recurring themes, reinvented from one year to the next. Every piece is made by hand, drawing upon centuries of trade secrets passed down from father to son/father to daughter.<br />
<br />
Today, Buccellati is in the capable hands of four Buccellatis. Gino manages the silver goods, Maria Cristina oversees marketing, and Andrea serves as president of the firm. These three men inherited the firm from their father, Gianmaria, who in turn inherited it from his father, Mario. The fourth Buccellati, Lucrezia, is the first female to hold the prestigious position of designer alongside her father, Andrea.<br />
<br />
Lucrezia represents the new age of Buccellati in what she calls "a soft passage from old to new."<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{1} </span>She explained to Galena Mosovich of <i>Ocean Drive </i>that the house has always aligned two generations to work together in conceptualizing the firm and its designs. In this way, the secrets of the trade are passed down without interruption, and tradition is always influenced by the now.<br />
<br />
With a current focus on engagement rings and jeweled electronics cases, Lucrezia continues to draw on the Italian Renaissance for her cues. Techniques passed down for over four centuries have been enhanced with the introduction of more sophisticated tools which are used to wrought decidedly classic designs.<br />
<br />
Buccellati jewels are inspired by many things, including nature's beauty, elements of dreams, Venetian lace, the works of Benvenuto Cellini, Italian architecture, and of course by the woman who will wear their jewels.<br />
<br />
Buccellati believes this woman is a feminine wonder, naturally elegant and beautifully spontaneous. This woman infuses every aspect of her life with a joyful flair. Her beauty is timeless, and her style is inimitable. She is one of a kind.<br />
<br />
If you are this woman, then may we invite you to visit our Seattle-area showroom and try on this magnificent Buccellati gold and diamond ring?<br />
<br />
<b>Notes</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Mosovich, Galena. "Presented by Buccellati: How Lucrezia Buccellati is Leading Her Family's Jewelry House into a New Generation," <i><a href="http://oceandrive.com/lucrezia-buccellati-on-the-next-generation-of-buccellati-jewelry" target="_blank">Ocean Drive</a></i>, December 5, 2014.</li>
</ol>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-67863890250333842512015-10-07T12:08:00.000-07:002015-10-07T12:08:00.306-07:00Jade Hunting in Big Sur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NPsTUql6KYLdzqW5ZXEcDLx_RvDrYlcoFRASiGMXYDgxY8BL3pjlWKxH804hgPgfx6dH30Wl8AGOmkHejVyx9ecLtvxaJTEHMleB_-UxxsUK6muQnXADHc9OWWNw_542b-tCSl-QujrE/s1600/Estate+Natural+Nephrite+Jade+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NPsTUql6KYLdzqW5ZXEcDLx_RvDrYlcoFRASiGMXYDgxY8BL3pjlWKxH804hgPgfx6dH30Wl8AGOmkHejVyx9ecLtvxaJTEHMleB_-UxxsUK6muQnXADHc9OWWNw_542b-tCSl-QujrE/s400/Estate+Natural+Nephrite+Jade+Cocktail+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Do you appreciate nature's treasures: sand dollars, serpentine, and nephrite jade?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Do you love sweeping vistas, majestic sea cliffs, and breathtaking ocean views?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Are you in search of the perfect California honeymoon destination?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you up for trail blazing, beach combing, and rock hounding?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you said yes to any (or all) of these questions, then may we suggest a honeymoon getaway at Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur, California?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ventana is situated on 243 acres of Highway 1's most spectacular countryside. With views of the majestic coastline, lush redwood forests, sweeping spring green meadows, and stunning canyons, Ventana offers breathtaking scenery for every taste.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To get there from Seattle, drive south until you reach the turnoff for California Highway 101. Continue south toward Los Angeles, turning off at Monterey to merge onto Highway 1, the West Coast's most spectacular seaside drive. Drive through Monterey, take in the sights at Carmel By the Sea, and hug the shoulders along the cliffs for another hour until you reach the resort.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ventana Inn & Spa offers a boutique luxury experience to every guest, including a restaurant specializing in scrumptious fare made with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients from Central California; an in-house spa featuring swimming pools, Japanese hot baths, facials, massages, and more; and an in-house art gallery featuring the works of local artists. Shuttle service is also available to transport guests to nearby shops and restaurants.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Their luxurious guest rooms feature plush king-size beds with Egyptian cotton bedding, a private deck or patio, soaking tubs, binoculars, umbrellas, flashlights, and walking sticks. Everything you'll need to fully immerse yourself in the enchanting tranquility of Big Sur.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once you are fully rested, you and your sweetheart will be ready to embark on a unique and exciting treasure hunt for the nephrite jade found on nearby beaches. Big Sur jade hunting is not for the faint of heart, so be prepared with sturdy hiking shoes, good maps, and some practice with spotting the sought-after green stone.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We recommend beginning at Sand Dollar Beach early in the morning, at the first low tide. Sand Dollar Beach is a day use area administered by the US Forest Service as part of the Los Padres National Forest. A small fee is required, and there are a few regulations for jade hunters, so look further into such details before heading out.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
All of Big Sur's beaches lie far below the road, nestled at the base of amazing cliffs and bluffs. Sand Dollar Beach offers a 98-step stairway that leads to the public beach. In the early morning, you'll have the place mostly to yourself, offering you a first run at finding sand dollars and jade.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For jade, you'll want to search near the larger rock outcroppings, where the crashing of the surf has smashed the larger boulders into small enough bits for you to pick up. Dig down into the sand and gravel, and keep your eyes peeled for shimmering green or black stones. Carry a pocket knife with you to test your yield, as an abundance of green serpentine coexists onshore with the more precious and illusive jade.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Serpentine is a soft stone that is not coveted commercially, and unless you fall in love with its unique properties you will not want to expend your energy carrying much of it back up those 98 steps with you. Nephrite jade will shimmer when you hold it up to the sunlight. It has a translucent quality and is so hard that a knife blade will not scratch it. In fact, you may find that the nephrite actually scratches your knife.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you're unsatisfied with your hunt, then you can take to the surf. Sand Dollar Beach is reported as being one of the best surfing beaches along Big Sur. According to the website <i><a href="http://www.californiasbestbeaches.com/southern_big_sur/sand_dollar_beach.html" target="_blank">California's Best Beaches</a></i>, "The waves come in big and can break well out from shore or can be forgiving and gentle breaking close to the beach." If you'd rather, you can also take to the sky. Hang-gliders and para-gliders often land in the meadow to the south of the beach.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But if you want to take your jade hunting to the next level, then we suggest a short drive, another 0.6 miles south, to the unmarked turnoff for Jade Cove. Beware, this hike and beach are among the most rugged public access points on Big Sur. The trail can be treacherous, especially when wet. And the waves can be sneaky, swift, and fierce at any time of year.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you choose to hunt Jade Cove, you'll be more likely to find worthwhile jade stone, and you'll be privileged to sea the California Coast at its most spectacular. However, be sure you do plenty of research ahead of time, and keep one eye on the waves at all times. You might also consider hiring a guide to take you to this most popular of jade hunting locales on the coast.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Be sure to give us a call when you come home with your cache. We'd love to help you find the perfect vintage or estate setting to best commemorate your honeymoon treasure.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-85610315163194609732015-10-02T11:36:00.002-07:002015-10-02T11:36:36.984-07:00The Allure of Blue Sapphires<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvioK9mM80utX9NVkHNduDs0DnuSjxQyc50zhRLJiLQyR9tE54XPz-zE1AKWA4QbnWUaa7UKHnLV9Fu59i-npXYk6lkKL9LumuXFxCmWa6HpTHpvLyifromHcDy4NBjTVhstGwcl6CULKZ/s1600/Sri+Lanka+Blue+Sapphire+Engagement+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvioK9mM80utX9NVkHNduDs0DnuSjxQyc50zhRLJiLQyR9tE54XPz-zE1AKWA4QbnWUaa7UKHnLV9Fu59i-npXYk6lkKL9LumuXFxCmWa6HpTHpvLyifromHcDy4NBjTVhstGwcl6CULKZ/s400/Sri+Lanka+Blue+Sapphire+Engagement+Ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
At EraGem, we love sapphires. The bigger and bluer, the better. This azure hue of corundum gets its color from an intrusion of titanium and iron in its elaborate crystal structure. Blue sapphires can range in color from pale sky blue, to royal blue, to deep sea blue.<br />
<br />
We are partial to the deep sea blue colors here at EraGem. Like the one pictured here, a gorgeous deep blue Sri Lankan sapphire weighing nearly 8 carats! Nestled in a four-prong platinum setting, this magnificent sapphire is accented by four channel-set tapered baguette white diamonds. This sapphire would serve well as a right-hand finger ring, though we think it would shine even brighter as a stunning engagement ring for a woman who values romance, purity, wisdom, and divine favor.<br />
<br />
Blue sapphires represent all that and more. In Persia, the ancients believed that the very color of the heavens was derived from the sapphire pedestal on which the earth rested. The minuscule (in comparison) raw sapphire stones found scattered across the land were thought to be chips off this grand foundation stone. <br />
<br />
Blue sapphires have long been associated with religious leaders, worn by clergy to enhance their connection to divine wisdom and favor. Non-religious spiritualists have sought the help of sapphires to aid in the acquisition of prophetic knowledge and to increase their ability to channel powerful energies.<br />
<br />
The ancients relied on sapphires to ensure fidelity, chastity, and temperance. Many Europeans during the middle ages believed that sapphire was the true blue gem, a gift of which symbolized the highest order of friendship, solidarity, honesty, and loyalty.<br />
<br />
This long-held association with fidelity has made blue sapphires a popular choice for engagement rings, as has its association with royalty. Sapphires and rubies were once held in as high esteem for royalty as the diamond, and blue sapphires continue to be a favorite among modern royals.<br />
<br />
Buddhists believed blue sapphires brought one closer to enlightenment and strengthened a postulate's devotion. Christians relied on sapphires to protect them from harm, particularly from poison, plague, black magic, treachery, and treason. They were also believed to provide wisdom, insight, and understanding to those who sought divine help.<br />
<br />
Blue sapphires are associated with academia, as well. Believed by some to be the Stone of Wisdom, these gorgeous blue gems were thought to inspire curiosity and to increase mental acuity. They were believed to promote self-discipline, activating the ability to order one's steps and reach one's goals in a methodical and conscientious manner.<br />
<br />
Today, they are associated with the psychology of the color blue. Blue is calming, bringing serenity in the midst of chaos and stress. The sense of peace blue brings can lead to the release of tension and clear the mind of negative thoughts that cloud creative approaches to problems. A blue sapphire, then, might open your mind to new thoughts, inspire contemplation of the beauty around you, and restore balance to your body and mind as you reflect on the mesmerizing rays of light emanating from within its faceted body.<br />
<br />
We cannot more highly recommend encountering a blue sapphire in all its glory. To do so, please call to make an appointment with one of our associates. It would be our pleasure to share with you the beauty of our selection of blue sapphires.<br />
<br />
<i>~Angela Magnotti Andrews, Staff Writer</i>Angela Magnotti Andrewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895392654684741089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7712682102456380252.post-57724283910765275472015-09-25T15:39:00.000-07:002017-01-12T15:41:04.260-08:00Empress Eugenie's Bow Brooch: A Detailed History<a href="data:text/mce-internal,content,%3Cimg%20class%3D%22size-medium%20wp-image-1352028%22%20src%3D%22http%3A//eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Photo-by-Kurt-Empress-Eugenies-Bow-Brooch-191x300.jpg%22%20alt%3D%22Empress%20Eugenie%20Brooch.%20Photo%20by%20Kurt%2C%20Travel%20To%20Eat%20Blog.%22%20width%3D%22191%22%20height%3D%22300%22%20/%3E"></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Empress Eugenie Brooch. Photo by Kurt, Travel To Eat Blog." class="size-medium wp-image-1352028" src="http://eragem.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Photo-by-Kurt-Empress-Eugenies-Bow-Brooch-191x300.jpg" height="300" width="191" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Empress Eugenie Brooch. Photo by Kurt, <a href="http://traveltoeat.com/crown-jewels-of-france-napoleon-i-and-iii/" target="_blank" title="Travel to Eat Blog">Travel To Eat</a> Blog. </div>
<br />
<em>by Angela Magnotti Andrews</em><br />
<br />
As of today, the Empress Eugenie brooch holds 19th place on our <a href="http://eragem.com/news/a-tribute-to-this-years-record-breaking-auction-season/" title="A Tribute to This Year’s Record-Breaking Auction Season">Top Twenty Diamonds & Jewels Sold at Auction</a>.
On April 22, 2008, this stunning diamond-encrusted gem, which was made in 1855 for Empress Eugenie of France, was sold in a private sale negotiated by Christie's to the Louvre for $10.5 million. The week prior, on April 15, 2008, a sales room at Christie's New York was "full of 100 people, 150 more lined up to be on the phone, and all the internet bidders waiting" {10}. As the auctioneer introduced the sale, the anticipation in the room grew to palpable levels.
The hammer was about to fall on <a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/salebrowse.aspx?intsaleid=22021&action=refine&pg=4&sid=b5fb5091-27a1-4e42-8e21-793bceffb4ba&lotviewtype=gridview" target="_blank" title="Christie's Catalog for 2008 Sale">115 rare jewels</a> and gemstones "worth many millions" of dollars. Amassed by an unnamed collector who was praised by Francois Curiel, head of jewelry at Christie's, as having a "subtle taste and eye" {10}, these jewels represented decades of careful investment. Collectors and dealers stood at the ready, prepared to acquire some of the most exquisite pieces to come under the hammer at Christie's.
Just as the hammer rose, it fell with a heavy clunk and no sale. A phone call, relayed at 6:05pm, ended the whole affair before it could even begin. There would be no bidding wars, no high-priced headliners, no satisfied customers. A court injunction rendered the jewels as inaccessible as the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
<br />
<h3>
Collecting More Than Jewelry</h3>
The sale, "Rare Jewels and Gemstones: The Eye of a Collector", was arranged with Christie's by Merrill Lynch. The investment and banking conglomerate acquired the jewels as collateral against a series of loans to jewelry magnate Ralph Esmerian.
At the time when he secured the loans, Ralph Esmerian stood at the helm of one of New York's finest jewelry empires. He had successfully ushered his family's interests into the 20th century and secured a partnership with Carvin French.
For nearly 40 years, Mr. Esmerian systematically used his growing wealth to build a collection of absolutely fabulous antique and vintage jewelry. Extraordinary pieces from the late 1800s and early 1900s served as the mainstay of the collection, while designer pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, and Tiffany rounded it out nicely.
As his influence grew, Mr. Esmerian turned his sights on collecting more than jewelry. After the successful merger with Carvin France, Mr. Esmerian next set his sights upon Fred Leighton. As all good businessmen know, a person must spend money to make it. In a move that must have been both terrifying and exhilarating, Mr. Esmerian chose to lay it all on the line for the new acquisition.
<br />
<h3>
Collateral Damage</h3>
He put up his jewel collection as collateral, took the cash, and made his move. Unfortunately, Mr. Esmerian failed to recoup his losses. The day of reckoning came, and Merrill Lynch, in a move to recover some of their own losses, arranged the auction to take place on none other than Tax Day, 2008.
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The public record is unclear as to how much Mr. Esmerian owed, but it must have been a pretty penny. Ten Art Nouveau pieces by Rene Lalique were expected to realize between $1.9 and $3 million, and there were another 105 lots to sell. Collectors lined the room, likely salivating at the thought of getting their hands on a piece of what might have become the auction of the century.</span>
It's easy to imagine the heavy weight of disappointment that must have fallen in the sales room as the hammer fell without a single sale. Mr. Esmerian, who was certain that private sales of the jewels would relieve his debt more thoroughly, had secured a debtor's dream in the last minutes before the sale began. He had to file Chapter 11 before the courts would order an injunction to freeze all Fred Leighton assets, including the 115 treasures sitting in showcases in the sales room.
<br />
<h3>
Homeward Bound</h3>
Within the week, the Empress Eugenie brooch would prove Mr. Esmerian's assumption right. Shaped as a bow with five diamond-set cascades and two diamond-encrusted tassels, the entire piece is completely covered in Old European-, old mine-, and rose-cut diamonds.
Its provenance alone would account for a high return, and the auction house had estimated a sales price of between $4 and $6 million. However, as Mr. Esmerian suspected, a private sale arranged between Christie's, Merrill Lynch, Mr. Esmerian, and Henri Loyrette, president of the Louvre Museum in Paris, resulted in the Louvre handing over the astronomical sum of $10.5 million for the return of the precious jewel to its homeland.
It had been 121 years since the brooch had tasted French air. After having resided among the Crown Jewels of France for only 32 years, the brooch was sold in another highly-publicized auction in May 1887, by order of the Third Republic. According to a newspaper account from January 6, 1894, the auction took place in the Pavillon de Flore adjacent to the Louvre {17}.
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Richly colored tapestries woven by the Royal dyers at Gobelins Manufactory draped the walls in imperial splendor. Showcases teemed with loose diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and other gemstones, dotted here and there by a few intact pieces, including Empress Eugenie's bow brooch. Policemen and soldiers guarded the cases day and night, and electrical wires ran between the cases for further security {17}.</span>
<br />
<h3>
A Pet Project</h3>
This sale had been nearly 40 years in the making, the pet project of the politically active Raspails. In February 1848, Francois Vincent Raspail (1794-1878) entered a tumultuous life of French politics. In his first political action, he joined the successful resistance against the Bourbon-Orleans monarchy.
After the fall of King Louis Philippe, a new republic rose in its place, the Second Republic of France. Mr. Raspail soon appealed to the new republic to dismantle the French Crown Jewels, but the National Assembly vetoed his petition.
In June of the same year, Paris workers rose up in rebellion against a conservative Republic, and though the rebellion failed, the people were finally heard in the presidential race of December 1848. Pitted against Napoleon Bonaparte III for the office of President of the Second French Republic, Francois Raspail lost and soon wound up in prison for his participation in the February coup. A new Emperor took the throne (and the jewels) and would remain in power for over two decades.
<br />
<h3>
A Vengeful Cause</h3>
A cursory glance at historical accounts places Francois's son, Benjamin Raspail (1823-1899), alongside his father throughout the whole affair. Benjamin was even sent to Belgium in exile with his father for his extreme-left views {cited: Wikipedia Benjamin}. Meanwhile, Napoleon Bonaparte III ruled the empire, and a grudge began to fester in Benjamin Raspail's bones.
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Several years after the Bonapartes fell in 1870, Mr. Raspail, Jr. seized the opportunity to rekindle his vengeful cause. The Crown Jewels had been safely relocated to the Louvre in 1872, by way of Brest, France, where they were kept safe prior to and during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) {15}.</span>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">In 1878, Mr. Raspail, now a member of the Third Republic of France, set to work securing the sale of the French Crown Jewels. </span>France was far from stable at the time, and the threat of further insurrection loomed as a constant threat.
While historically, the sale of Crown Jewels usually finance the bereft cause of displaced royals, this does not appear to be the case in the decisions made by the Third Republic. Officials feared that these jewels served as bait for Royalists or Bonapartists to rise up in an attempt overthrow the new Republic {11 & 17}. It was felt that selling the jewels would dissuade insurrectionists, and the monies could be used to quell the concerns of the working class, further endearing the people to the Republic.
<br />
<h3>
Slated for Dismantling</h3>
Prominent members of the Republic would haggle over the decision for four years. After the motion finally passed, they would spend another 4-1/2 years discussing the issue of what to do with the money from the sale. There was one thing everyone agreed upon from the start: Most of the jewels would have to be dismantled before the sale.
On December 7, 1886, a bill was finally passed stipulating that those objects from the treasury which served historic, scientific, or artistic purposes would "be preserved in the Louvre, the Natural History Museum, and the School of Mines" {3}. The rest, including the Imperial crowns of Louis XV and Napoleon, a sword belonging to Louis VXIII, items from the Royal and Imperial coronation regalia, and several crosses and stars of knighthood were slated for dismantling.
According to an article written in 1894, "It would have grated on the feelings of even the extreme radicals to have seen the wife of someone who had 'struck oil' or successfully 'cornered pork' flaunting at the opera in parts of the ancient regalia," and "the appearance of the foreign orders, entire and identifiable, upon the auctioneer's rostrum might have provoked bitter comment from the descendants of the sovereigns who had been their donors" {17}.
<br />
<h3>
'Doomed Things'</h3>
About a month or so before the sale, an elite group of politicians gathered in the "strong barred and grated cellars of the Ministry of France" for a special ceremony to which "a select audience" was invited {17}. Not since Cromwell's day had such a scene taken place. At least this time, the destruction would prove less wanton.
It all began with the appearance of "a great chest, holding more wealth than that the grateful Indian potentate once told <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Clive,_1st_Baron_Clive" target="_blank" title="An Account of Lord Clive from Wikipedia">Lord Clive</a> to choose from, was solemnly produced, opened by three officials who each had a separate key, and its contents turned out under the glare of an electric lamp" {17}. Beginning with the Imperial Crown of Napoleon III, "chisels, pincers, and jewellers' mallets soon did their work. High officials destroyed the first of the doomed things...and then the remaining operations were left to workmen specially engaged" {17}.
Benjamin Raspail had waited patiently for this day for over 20 years. His one wish was to personally dismantle the crown of Napoleon.
"I myself will break up this crown and send it to the foundry," he is reported to have said {3}.
Unfortunately, Mr. Raspail met with an unfortunate accident and was unable to attend the ceremony. He did, however, receive as a gift "the hammer used to demolish the crown" {3}.
<br />
<h3>
A Bertha of Diamonds</h3>
The 1894 account relates the fate of one particular piece which suffered not nearly as much as others during this irreligious rite:
<em>...another strange relic of the Second Empire...shared the same end [as the Imperial Crown]. It was a bertha of diamonds which had been made for the Empress Eugenie from the Crown jewels. The diamonds of the bertha had at first been made up for the Imperial lady as a belt. </em>
<em>The Empress when attending a performance of 'La Biche en Bois,' saw a diamond belt, of course of imitation diamonds, on an actress, and was so much struck with it that she resolved on a similar ornament for herself of real stones. When her whim was gratified, however, it was found that real stones were inferior for such a purpose to sham ones. </em>
<em>The former were of such dazzling lustre that the belt became a magical one. The unfortunate wearer, when in a lighted room, looked from a little distance as though there were a solution of continuity at her waist, as though she had been literally cut in two. </em>{17}<span style="line-height: 12.997159004211426px;">.</span>
<br />
<h3>
Empress Eugenie's Bow Brooch</h3>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Five years after ascending the throne, on January 29, 1853, Napoleon Bonaparte III married Eugenie de Montijo (1826-1920), the Spanish beauty who would go down in history for her trendsetting style and her adoration of diamonds. </span>
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">At the behest of Napoleon III, many of the stones and jewels in the treasury of the French Crown Jewels were sent out to various jewelers to be reworked into brand new jewels for the Empress. </span>One jewel, completed by Francois Kramer in 1855, was a magnificent diamond belt fitted with an impressive ribbon bow buckle {12}.
According to Sotheby's, the buckle "was worn by the Empress as the central piece of a girdle, together with a pair of similarly designed shoulder brooches connected by four chains of cushioned-shaped diamonds" {6}.
A true fashionista, the Empress regularly ordered her jewels retooled to suit her fancy. According to the official website of France, in 1864 the Empress ordered the dismantling of the belt with a special request to preserve and transform the bow into a grand brooch, likely with diamonds taken from the belt" {cited: official website of France}. Five diamond pampilles and two diamond tassels were added, and the jewel could now be worn as an elaborate stomacher {14}.
Though the buckle of the 'magic belt' described in the 1894 article is not described in detail, it is not much of a stretch to surmise that the 'bertha of diamonds' that writer described is the same belt for which the buckle-turned-brooch was at first fashioned.
It seems a little strange that she would have kept such a disconcerting piece of jewelry for almost ten years, but perhaps she was for a time unaware of its effects. I wonder how many times her torso appeared to hover above her legs before someone had the courage to tell her of the startling effect.
<br />
<h3>
Unstated Reasons</h3>
After the fall of the Empire in 1870, Empress Eugenie fled to England with her son, where she was granted asylum by Queen Victoria {15}. Though she successfully smuggled many of her own private jewels, those belonging to the Crown, including the stunning bow brooch, were supposedly being held in Brest, France for safekeeping {15}.
As the Empress was and remained a woman of style and influence, her jeweled brooch must have been a stunning point of interest for the 1887 auction of the French Crown Jewels. Perhaps the powers that be were unconcerned by the prospect of a new-monied American wearing the Empress's jewels in New York. For unstated reasons, they did not dismantle the jewel.
<br />
<h3>
A Media Heyday</h3>
On public display for the first time since the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris, the magnificent brooch sat nestled amid "a heap of glittering things that seemed like a realization of the tales of Sindbad the Sailor" {17}. The sale was the talk of the world, attracting high-profile bidders from New York, London, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Persia, and more. The media had a heyday, reporting widely on the exhibition and the sale itself, including who bought what and for how much.
<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">It was reported that Tiffany & Co. "bought 24 lots (including one of Eugenie's diamond necklaces and diamond comb); their competitor Van Cleef and Arpels bought Joesphine's diamond tiara; Peter Carl Faberge successfully bid for [the pearl called] 'La Regente'" {11}. All told, the sale of "51,403 brilliants, 21,119 rose diamonds, 2963 pearls, 507 rubies, 136 sapphires, 312 emeralds, 528 turquoises, 22 opals, and 496 stones of various other kinds," as well as the intact pieces and the melted gold, realized 7,221,360 francs (almost $1.5 million by today's rates of conversion) {17}.</span>
This money, "invested in Government stocks bearing 3% interest" {3}, was earmarked by order of the Third Republic for "the superannuation fund for peasants and workmen" {17}.
<br />
<h3>
A Name Change</h3>
The stunning bow brooch, described in the 1887 catalog as a "bow set with 2,438 brilliants weighing 140.51ct" {6}, was purchased for €85,000 by Emile Schlesinger, a jewelry representative for the self-proclaimed Queen of New York society, Mrs. William B. Astor (1830-1908).
According to Tyler Hughes, Caroline, 'THE Mrs. Astor' as she preferred to be called, wore "her signature diamond stomacher, her 200-stone diamond necklace and her diamond star-shaped tiara" when she greeted guests in front of her portrait painted by Carolus Duran in the reception room of her mansion on Fifth & 65th in New York.
Mrs. Astor so favored the diamond stomacher, that Empress Eugenie's Bow Brooch underwent a name change. Now commonly referred to as Mrs. Astor's Diamond Stomacher, the jewel became "known as one of the most famous jewels of the Gilded Age" {12}.
<br />
<h3>
Under the Hammer Again</h3>
Following Mrs. Astor's death in 1908, the diamond brooch is reported to have remained among the treasures of the Astor family until the 1990s. None of the accounts this writer read detail exactly when or why the brooch was lost to the family. The subsequent whereabouts of the jewel appear shrouded until 2001, when Empress Eugenie' Bow Brooch went under the hammer once again.
It was at this sale of antique jewels at Sotheby's London on June 20, 2001, that Ralph Esmerian must have purchased Empress Eugenie's bow brooch. One account reports that the purchaser paid "just over £4 million ($6.4 million by today's rates of conversion) {5}. Despite his many business failures, Mr. Esmerian made an indelible investment when he purchased the Empress's brooch. In just under 7 years, his investment nearly doubled!
Having come full circle, Empress Eugenie's Bow Brooch now rests in its rightful place, among the remaining French Crown Jewels in the treasury of the Louvre. This writer was unable, at the date of publication, to ascertain whether the brooch is currently on display, but if it is it would be in the Galerie d’Apollon with the other French Crown Jewels. For further information, we invite you to visit the <a href="http://www.louvre.fr/en" target="_blank" title="The Louvre Museum's Official Website">Louvre Museum's website</a>.
<br />
<h3>
Bibliography</h3>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Balkhi, Amanda. "25 Most Expensive Pieces of Jewelry in the World." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">List 25</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, May 16, 2013. </span><a href="http://list25.com/25-most-expensive-pieces-of-jewelry-in-the-world/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://list25.com/25-most-expensive-pieces-of-jewelry-in-the-world/</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Christie's. "Lot 1096: The Empress Eugenie Brooch, An Antique Diamond Bow Brooch, by Kramer." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/the-empress-eugenie-brooch-an-antique-diamond-5059392-details.aspx" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/the-empress-eugenie-brooch-an-antique-diamond-5059392-details.aspx</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Famous Diamonds. "The French Crown Jewels--The Beginning to the End." Accessed September 15, 2013. </span><a href="http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/frenchcrownjewels.html" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/frenchcrownjewels.html</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"French Crown Jewels, The." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, </em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">May 31, 1887. </span><a href="http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18893594" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18893594</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"French crown jewel diamond brooch sold for pounds 1.4m." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Birmingham Post & Mail</em><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, </em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">2001. </span><a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/French+crown+jewel+diamond+brooch+sold+for+pounds+1.4m.-a075692197" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.thefreelibrary.com/French+crown+jewel+diamond+brooch+sold+for+pounds+1.4m.-a075692197</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"French Crown Jewel to Be Sold at Sotheby's." Sotheby's Press Release, 2001. </span><a href="http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/BID/0x0x103417/350d820b-60e6-4436-ae16-a5843179a1dd/20010605-43447.pdf" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/BID/0x0x103417/350d820b-60e6-4436-ae16-a5843179a1dd/20010605-43447.pdf</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Hammid, Mary. "Historic Rubies From the French Crown Jewels." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">JCK Magazine</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, July 1995. </span><a href="http://www.jckonline.com/1995/07/01/historic-rubies-from-french-crown-jewels" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.jckonline.com/1995/07/01/historic-rubies-from-french-crown-jewels</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Hughes, Tyler. "The Mrs. Astor's House." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Gilded Age Era Blog</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, June 22, 2013. </span><a href="http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://thegildedageera.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">McCarthy, Cathleen. "Christie's sells Fred Leighton jewels." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Jewelry Loupe</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, October 22, 2009. </span><a href="http://www.thejewelryloupe.com/christies-sells-fred-leighton-jewels/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.thejewelryloupe.com/christies-sells-fred-leighton-jewels/</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">McCarthy, Cathleen. "Ralph Esmerian: lost legacy of jewels." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Jewelry Loup</em><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">e</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, April 20, 2011. </span><a href="http://thejewelryloupe.com/ralph-esmerian-lost-legacy-of-jewels/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://thejewelryloupe.com/ralph-esmerian-lost-legacy-of-jewels/</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Millar, Stephen. "France's Royal and Imperial Crown Jewels: 1792-2005." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Napoleon Series</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">. Last updated October 2005. </span><a href="http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/miscellaneous/c_crownjewels.html" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/miscellaneous/c_crownjewels.html</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Miller, Jeff. "Christie's Negotiates Sale of Empress Eugenie's Brooch." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Rapaport Diamonds</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, April 22, 2008. </span><a href="http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21374&ArticleTitle=Christie's+Negotiates+Sale+of+Empress+Eug%C3%A9nie%E2%80%99s+Brooch" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=21374&ArticleTitle=Christie's+Negotiates+Sale+of+Empress+Eug%C3%A9nie%E2%80%99s+Brooch</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Official Website of France, The. "The Large 'Noeud de Corsage' Diamond Brooch of the Empress Eugenie, a new acquisition for the musee du Louvre." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://www.france.fr/en/arts/article-old/large-noeud-de-corsage-diamond-brooch-empress-eugenie-new-acquisition-musee-du-louvre" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.france.fr/en/arts/article-old/large-noeud-de-corsage-diamond-brooch-empress-eugenie-new-acquisition-musee-du-louvre</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"Press Release." Christie's, April 22, 2008. </span><a href="http://www.christies.com/presscenter/pdf/04222008/13443.pdf" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.christies.com/presscenter/pdf/04222008/13443.pdf</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Redmond, Barbara. "French Crown Jewels: Empress Eugenie." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">A Woman's Paris Blog</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, September 17, 2010. </span><a href="http://awomansparis.com/2010/09/17/going-once-going-twice-the-empress-and-her-jewels/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://awomansparis.com/2010/09/17/going-once-going-twice-the-empress-and-her-jewels/</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Redmond, Barbara. "French Empress Eugenie and Her Diamonds." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">A Woman's Paris Blog</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, September 10, 2010. </span><a href="http://awomansparis.com/2010/09/10/never-enough-the-empress-and-her-diamonds/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://awomansparis.com/2010/09/10/never-enough-the-empress-and-her-diamonds/</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">"Royal Jewels." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Illustrated Sydney News</em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">, January 6, 1894. </span><a href="http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/63103927?searchTerm=1887%20sale%20of%20french%20crown%20jewels&searchLimits=" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/63103927?searchTerm=1887%20sale%20of%20french%20crown%20jewels&searchLimits=</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Wikipedia. "Benjamin Raspail." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Raspail" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Raspail</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Wikipedia. "Eugenie de Montijo." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A9nie_de_Montijo" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A9nie_de_Montijo</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Wikipedia. "Francois-Vincent Raspail." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois-Vincent_Raspail" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois-Vincent_Raspail</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Wikipedia. "Franco-Prussian War." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Prussian_War" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Prussian_War</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Wikipedia. "French Revolution of 1848." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution_of_1848" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution_of_1848</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Wikipedia. "Pavillon de Flore." Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavillon_de_Flore" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavillon_de_Flore</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Woollard, Deidre. "The Louvre Picks Up A Crown Jewel." </span><em style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Luxist. </em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Accessed September 25, 2013. </span><a href="http://www.luxist.com/tag/empress+eugenie/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">http://www.luxist.com/tag/empress+eugenie/</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">.</span></li>
</ol>
EraGem Estate Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09036168725430876960noreply@blogger.com0