As many of you know I am on the board of the American Society of Jewelry Historians (info@jewelryhistorians.org).  For $75 annually you too can join and meet jewelry professionals and other collectors.  There are wonderful lectures, events like a tour of the Van Cleef & Arpels workshops available only to members, a silent auction of jewelry books donated by members, some signed and/or rare, to be posted on the web site in the near future.  We have also recently received a most generous donation from Joy Toback Galicki and her father Myron Toback to further jewelry education.  If you love jewelry this is the best $75 you can spend.  Go to the web site and join.

UPCOMING SHOWS/EVENTS

CHICAGO:  Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, May 1—4

LAS VEGAS:  Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, May 28—June 1

IN THE PRESS

We are very excited to introduce a new section on our website called Stylist's Selections which features the latest jewelry trends and styles in the top fashion magazines.  Jane has been fortunate to work with wonderful stylists and editors shaping the current taste and styles.

TEXTURED GOLD AND DIAMONDS

24A084 - This bracelet with the raised diamond (approximately 10 cts) sections is one of the prettiest we've ever had.

24E085 - These hoop earrings make a major statement with approximately 4.32 cts of diamonds.  Alas, these are sold as we went to press.

24R092 - An 18 karat yellow gold and diamond ring. The bombe shaped ring centers three curved rows of diamonds edged in stipled gold. The ring is set with a total of 56 diamonds weighing approximately 2.80 carats.

CHEAP-AND-CHEERFUL EARRINGS

22E372.  A pair of 18 karat yellow gold earrings designed as egg shaped ovals.  They are for pierced ears only.

24E057.  A pair of 18 karat yellow gold earrings. The earrings are designed as chandeliers comprised of concentric circles suspending flat gold discs.  Very "now".

22E058 - A pair of 18 karat yellow gold onion top earrings, designed by Janet Mavec.

All these earrings are from the 40's.

23E919 - A pair of 14 karat yellow gold earrings.  The earrings are designed as two triangular geometric shapes set with clip backs.

23E918 - A pair of 14 karat yellow gold ribbed earrings.  We buy this type of earring frequently.  The earrings are designed as two ribbed interlocking sections completed by a clip back.

23E498 - A pair of 14 karat rose gold earrings.  The geometric shaped earrings weigh approximately 10.2 grams.

DECO EARRINGS

We have been lucky enough to buy two pairs of Deco earrings both in the green family.  This is very exciting as many earrings in this period did not make it due to the fragility and the penchant for losing one.  These are both drop earrings and are just fabulous on; the green is not so aggressive that it fights with your clothes.  As with many of these earrings, we would not wear a necklace.

23E788.  A pair of yellow gold, platinum, diamond, green enamel and onyx Art Deco earrings.

24E101.  These Art Deco earrings are made around 1925 and just lovely.  They are jade, diamond, and sapphire set in platinum.

BRACELETS

24A067 - A 22 karat yellow gold bracelet, Greek, possibly Lalaounis.  The bangle bracelet is designed as a bypass bangle of hammered gold.

23A979 - An 18 karat yellow gold and coral torsade bracelet. The bracelet is composed of eight strands of polished coral beads finished with a gold ball clasp.  A big look for the money.

NECKLACES WITH PENDANTS

We like the look of multiple chains worn together often with a pendant.  We have a good selection.

24N049 - A 14 karat yellow gold woven chain necklace, signed Tiffany & Co.

21N918 - A 14 karat yellow gold necklace/bracelet combination with three sections that may be worn together or separately.

22N255 - A 14 karat yellow gold twisted chain rope necklace.

22N253 - An 18 karat yellow gold open oval link necklace.

22N254 - A 14 karat yellow gold necklace composed of articulated triangular shaped links separated by textured gold balls.

23N146 - An 18 karat yellow gold chain necklace composed of oval shaped links of twisted gold linked together by rectangular links.

22M267 - A 14 karat yellow gold charm pendant.  The charm is designed as a gold bar engraved with “Credit Suisse, 10g, Fine Gold, 999.9”.

23N277 - An 18 karat yellow gold one ounce ingot signed Cartier.

23N983 - An 18 karat yellow gold, lapis lazuli and diamond pendant.  The pendant is composed of lapis lazuli that is shaped like a “u” to hold 5 loose bezel set diamonds.

24N999.  This pendant is designed as a cuckoo clock that says "My heart ticks 4 U", 14k gold set with rubies, pearls and sapphires.

21B010 - An 18 karat yellow gold, coral and lapis circle brooch/pendant.  The gold circle encloses a fair scene with an articulated Ferris wheel, engraved train and a woman holding balloons of polished coral and lapis lazuli.

BROOCHES

23B636 - An 18 karat yellow gold, diamond and ruby brooch.  The stylized brooch is designed as pieces of lace set with four marquise cut diamonds, 57 round diamonds and 55 round rubies.  The brooch has a total diamond carat weight of approximately 4.85 carats.

You know we love pairs of brooches.  This pair [24B100] are a Chinese couple made with peridot bodies, citrine faces and accented with diamonds on the hats and coats.

LONG VC&A PEARLS AND BLACK NECKLACE

24N106.  Continues the long theme…It is three strands of pearls with carved onyx and ribbed gold beads.

PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRICING DETAILS

HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

The August newsletter featured a write up on our custom engagement ring service and to further expand on that, we will be adding a new feature to our website discussing all things bridal!  We will be highlighting the wonderful services that we offer the bride and groom from the proposal to the walk down the aisle and of course to Happily Ever After….

TIP OF THE MONTH:  HOW TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELRY

It is time for Spring Cleaning and once you've cleaned out your closets, it's also a great idea to clean your jewelry!   We recommend cleaning your gold and diamond baubles in a small bowl with warm water, sudsy ammonia and dawn dish soap.  If your pieces are very dirty, you can let it sit for a while!  You can also use a soft toothbrush to help the process!  Please do NOT put your pearls in this mixture!

more Tips of the Trade

TO SHOP

Our friend Ronnie McMahan is the manager of the new Bulgari Gem Essence skin care line, carried at Bergdof Goodman and select Neiman Marcus stores.  Each product has an essence of a gem in it — sapphire, malachite, tourmaline, and citrine.  Gus and I both had a facial there and, all prejudice aside, it's wonderful stuff.

With the help of my friend Ann, I finally got the JCrew website to work and my purchases have arrived.  Both were on sale.  As I told you last month I wanted a cashmere cardigan for spring but couldn't resist the color glazed pecan.  Whoever does the names for the colors at JCrew is brilliant.  Who could not want glazed pecan?  Not only do you want to wear it, you want to stroke it, eat it, hug it etc and it was as I expected.  Thin cashmere with 3/4 sleeves, V-neck and best of all, short.  Fashion tip:  If you think you're hippy don't think you need to wear a long sweater or jacket.  It does not hide the problem, only accentuates it.  I might also get this sweater in misty lavender, less than $100 on sale.  The shirt Ann recommended is the slim stretch shirt reduced to $39.99.  I am very picky about my white shirts, just like my T-shirts and I was not disappointed.  It also comes in some pretty colors.  With the cardigan I wear a T-shirt and the jewelry fashion trend with this or the shirt is a long necklace or beads or a pendant on a chain.  This is really a young zingy look that all of us can wear.

A R Trapp Opticians (212.752.6890) has been at 488 Madison Ave between 51st and 52nd for 40 years. I have been in NY for over 40 years and I have never seen this store, much to my sorrow.  It has the most fabulous frames I've seen anywhere.  A new client came in our shop with these most fabulous big red glasses and when I inquired where she got them she told me about Trapp.  I love red glasses (a very cute picture dealer once told me that red glasses make you instantly approachable) and I love big frames both of which Trapp specializes in.  Their selection is just fabulous in all colors and shapes and they are relatively reasonable.  I wear contact lenses but I sometimes have to wear glasses and with these Trapp glasses you don't feel homely at all.  I am ordering some big red ones.

TO READ

We have just read the most delicious book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  The reviews had intrigued me as I like anything dealing with WWII and several friends had recommended it but when Lynn Mayes strongly said I must read it I bought it. Why did I wait so long?  It is a lovely book about the German occupation of Guernsey during the war and how books and reading kept everybody sane.  I don't want to give away any more but Mary Ann Shafer and her niece Annie Parsons have written a charming book and it is just out in paperback.

About Face by Donna Leon is the 18th in her series about Commissario Guido Brunetti, a policeman in Venice.  You become a part of his family with his lovely wife Paola and their two children, the food, daily life in Venice and of course a bit of crime.  I started buying these books in Paris at an English language bookstore many years ago and have every single one.  They are now published here and very popular.

Another long time favorite, Ann Perry, has a new one, Execution Dock.  This features William Monk, a policeman who suffered a total memory loss a number of books ago and is now head of the river police.  He and his wife Hester, formerly a Florence Nightingale nurse investigate a particularly heinous crime involving very young boys (this predates Law & Order SVU).  This is a gripping upsetting novel.

TO COOK

Daphne's Olive Oil Flatbread (serves 4)

1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp chopped rosemary plus 2 (6-inch) sprigs

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup olive oil plus more for brushing

sea salt flakes such as Maldon

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a heavy baking sheet on the middle rack.  Stir together flour, chopped rosemary, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.  Make a well in the center, then add olive oil and water and gradually stir in flour with a wooden spoon until dough forms.  Knead dough gently on a work surface 4-5 times.
• Divide dough into 3 pieces and roll out 1 piece (keep remaining pieces covered with plastic wrap) on a sheet of parchment paper in a 10-inch round shape (can be rustic; dough should be thin)
• Lightly brush top with additional olive oil and scatter small clusters of rosemary leaves on top, pressing lightly into dough.  Sprinkle with sea salt.
• Slide round (still on parchment) onto preheated baking sheet and bake until pale golden and browned in some spots, 8-10 minutes.
• Transfer flatbread (discard parchment) to a rack and cool, then make 2 more rounds (1 at a time), on fresh parchment. Do NOT salt or oil until just before baking.  Break into pieces.
• Can be made 2 days ahead and cooled completely, then kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

TO VISIT

Important number to have when in Palm Beach and you need to have your hair done — hop over to Cosmo & Company at 1551 N Flagler in West Palm and ask for Melrose (561.833.7411).  She really knows how to blow hair and gets the kinks out without giving you a dreaded bubble (as I unfortunately got on Worth Ave).  She is really good, recommended by Ronnie McMahan whose hair always looks great.

Hurrah, hurrah, we have new neighbors downstairs, Alessandro del Acqua has depared and Jil Sander has arrived.  As you probably know Jil Sander herself has left her namesake company but Raf Simmons, a Belgian designer, has ably carried on the tradition of beautifully tailored clohing that works perfectly with jewelry.  Marcella and I visited the store and they couldn't have been nicer.  The pale gray collection was our favorite but it was all very pretty.  We extend our warmest wishes for their success.

PHOTOS FROM NASHVILLE SYMPHONY SPRING FASHION SHOW

NICOLE EADES

Many of you remember Nicole Eades when she worked for us for over four years.  Nicole is a fellow Vanderbilt graduate who married, moved to Connecticut, and had two little girls.  She is our "Connecticut" representative.

FRANCESCA

We got lots of response to little Francesca and thought we'd pass on three pet emporiums recommended by Lorraine Cohen.  Leashes by Design has interesting leashes that you customize for your pet.  Three Tiny Terriers has a website and a store at 1758 First Avenue between 91st and 92nd Street (212.416.4526) and has both dog and cat products.  Canine Styles also serves both markets and has cashmere sweaters for dogs.  You can really spoil your pet at these places.

I love my little cat but once I started looking into this I decided I was really normal compared to many.  There are cashmere sweaters for dogs and even cats (just try to get one on any cat I know), elaborate bedding, halloween costumes for dogs, Kosher food, and even videos to play for your cat when you're away so she won't be lonesome.

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