We've got a fat newsletter this month as we keep buying like crazy. We just had a show in New York and we were very pleased. Because we have such a varied, well priced mix, I think we did better than most.
(contributed by Jane)
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| The animal trend has stampeded into the jewelry scene. This summer's hit has been an assortment of different animal shapes including African animals, insects, and marine life, all placed onto dazzling rings, brooches, cuffs and necklaces. You can definitely add some flair to any outfit with this glamorous accessory. |
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Bangles and cuffs remain a necessary item for Summer 2009. We have been seeing and selling cuffs and bangles in all different materials, shapes and sizes. Shagreen cuffs accented with big bold gold or diamond centers, chunky gold animal bangles, ornamental enamel animal bangles, or even a group of smaller bangles stacked together can be worn for an everyday fun, casual look. |
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We still love the look of layering and stacking your jewelry this summer! Stack up a group of bangles or layer on a bunch of long gold necklaces for a fun summer look! Mix it up with different materials, stones and textures such as coral and turquoise or tiger's eye and gold for a bold summer look great for day or night! |
This is a very special bracelet designed in the early forties by Renée Puissant, the daughter of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels. It is called the Ludo Hexagon because Ludo was a nickname for Louis Arpels, her uncle, and because the body of the bracelet is composed of little diamond centered hexagons. The diamond buckle was a design element much used by Van Cleef in the 40's. This is the iconic VCA bracelet and while they do not make it anymore, they sell it in their estate collection whenever they get one. It is absolutely beautiful and I love this bracelet.
These are some smashing diamond earrings [24E576]. They have 23.25 carats of marquise diamonds set in platinum, made around 1960. What I like about these earrings is that there is a left and a right and they hug the face nicely and are very flattering. The diamonds are very good quality.
Beads are in and we've raided the bead box again and made up more necklaces. The spiky aquamarine [24N855] necklace is unique. It is the only one we have and we haven't seen anything like it in the stores. The milky aqua beads, bluer than pictured, have a textured 18k gold bead on the side [24N865]. Again this is the only strand we have. Then we have these lovely black tourmaline beads also with a gold bead off center [24N901]. This is one of two, the other has gone in my PC (personal collection) and I am wearing it all the time. Then Gus, who's the anti-bead man, picked these tourmalines up secondhand [24N851]. It is multicolored tourmalines with 18k gold accents. By the way all our beads in the last newsletter sold right away.
We bought a very pretty group of 18k yellow and white gold jewelry. The necklace [24N947] is heavy and scraps for about half the value. There is a matching bracelet [29A948] and earrings [29E949].
The ribbed gold hoops and the bangle are classics, the earrings [24E025] and the bangle [24N026].
This "America" brooch is by Paul Flato and was made in the 40's, with the red, white and blue denoting patriotism. Flato sold a lot to movie stars, as well as socialites.
This cuff is 14k gold, lapis and diamonds, and is very easy to wear, quite unusual, and very chic. You will not see a duplicate.
Tiger's eye is very 70's and very "in" right now, we have a good selection. This ring [24R525] has diamond accents. There is a chain [24N440] and a bracelet [24A471]. Then there are earrings [23E840]. We have a fabulous chain [24N399] from the 50's which had pearls until Marcella changed them to tiger's eye. Now it is fabulous.
We seem to like the rings better than our clients but we've got three beauties this week and all are well priced. The big gold dome [24R681] is by Cartier. The big opal dome [24R528] is centered with a diamond. I am not normally an opal fan but I really like this ring. The diamond dome ring [24R931] is set in 18k white gold and the shank is yellow gold making for a very interesting ring. It has 6.2 carats of diamonds.
The double ribbed chain [24N716] which loops around the big turquoise ball is much better on than we can show in the photo.
Good gold and diamond earrings are always useful. On the top are ones shaped like a Maltese Cross [23E814] 18k gold centered with pave diamonds by Tiffany. Next are [24E252] 18k buffed gold with diamonds in a checkerboard pattern. We are sorry but the last pair sold just as we were ready to distribute.
We have a great pair of Bulgari citrine and gold earrings [23E286]. Remember this is Bulgari's 125th anniversary year. Then we have [24E617] by Marina B, typical drops with citrines, diamonds and onyx in 18k gold.
Marina B was a Bulgari, granddaughter of the founder. Due to family difficulties (she lost her husband in a car crash) and creative differences, she went out on her own in 1978 at 48 and continued until she sold the business in 1996 to the sheik of Jeddah. She designed elegant jewelry, often using cabochon stones and elegant pavé.
We have three great pairs of earrings for very good prices. The gold and onyx ones by Tiffany, the fashionable ones with rhodolite garnets and works with purple, and the gold ribbed ones.
We got a trove of Trianon shell cufflinks and have pictured them here. Remember Trianon owns Seaman Schepps and makes all their jewelry.
This brooch with 18k yellow and white gold commemorates the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon.
PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRICING DETAILS
(contributed by Ashley)
Over the past few weeks I have met two men who sat in our showroom and described their soon to be fiancé with that nervous sparkle in their eye as well as utter adoration. One man talked about how his girlfriend was classic in her beauty and her mannerisms but with a bubbly side. He went on to describe her hands and tell me how she was a writer and very creative but she had very small fingers. He thought the ring should be elegant just like her and delicate so as not to overpower her hand. He chose a gorgeous asscher cut diamond just over a carat flanked by two baguettes that were set vertically to add a slight “flare” to the timeless piece. The ring was a tribute to the Deco period with a twist just like her!
The second man was clearly very enamored of his wife to be, glowing whenever he said her name. He described a very different girl than the first man, one who was of course beautiful but was not the most graceful creature. She had a penchant for “falling” during many of her outdoor activities—characteristics, which he clearly thought were quite adorable! He wanted a ring that would match her active lifestyle. One that would not get in the way during her strenuous activities and could also withstand being banged up a bit. He did not like channel set bands because he thought they were quite boring for an engagement ring. Ultimately, he decided on a beautiful eternity band set with end-to-end baguettes accented by a small indentation of platinum between them. Thus the band had lots of sparkle but was durable and the setting looked unique from every perspective. I am not sure if the band will help with her balance considering one isn’t paying attention to where they step when they are staring at their hand!
The engagement ring does not always have to have a single stone or even stones at all, it's purpose is a promise of forever. However, it is always nice to see two men so clearly in love that they want the ring to not only be a promise but to capture her personality and all that they adore about her.
Read more about other stories…
Zalo Shoes
Years ago I got some wonderful flat shoes made by Zalo. They are black velvet, one with a moon and one with the sun. Since I've decided to wear only flat shoes I got these out and started wearing them. I googled Zalo and found The Shoe Salon in Massachusetts with a good selection at very attractive prices and narrow widths in some styles. I ordered a pair in black needlepoint with little yellow bees, and when they arrived, they were quite attractive and very comfortable. The shoes are very like Stubbs & Wootton (where I also recently bought a pair on sale) but priced more favorably. Perhaps they are a little bit "preppy" but I have gotten lots of compliments. I originally bought my shoes at Jildor in Southampton but they seem to not carry them now.
Athleta
A site you might want to check out is Athleta, recently acquired by the Gap. I discovered it from Marti my physical therapist who seemed to always be wearing something cute from there. The quality is first rate; I just got some exercise cutoffs and some knit bermuda shorts and I love both. I just ordered a tankini in a pop art print, sort of Pucci looking and I can't wait.
Brows by Revlon
I had long used Chanel brow gel until they stopped making it with color. I have found a bargain priced substitute that I love. Revlon makes a combo gel and eye pencil (I use Dark Blonde) for about $9 and it is terrific. This is a great product.
Orlane
Stopped in Saks to see what was new from Orlane and Linda showed me their divine Cream Royal—24k gold eye cream. I loved it but it is pricey. I do feel, however that, it made a difference right away.
Caviar
Jean and I had drinks with Ann and Jim Free in Palm Beach and were served this fabulous caviar from Tennessee (Jim's home state). The company is Continental Caviar, based in Franklin, TN and they've been selling caviar from southern rivers since 1986. The wild fish are caught by fishermen and the caviar is then processed right in Tennessee. You can buy 4 oz or 14 oz sizes. It is absolutely delicious and a real bargain at $18 an ounce. You will not be disappointed. Call Jo Ann deFriese at 615.599.7727 or email her at caviar4U@aol.com.
My new favorite author is Arnaldur Indridason, having just finished Jar City and Silence of the Grave which I had bought earlier and not read. The translations are excellent and if you think Wallander in the Mankell novels suffers angst, he's got nothing on Erlender in these books. He is a divorced policeman with a drug addicted unmarried pregnant daughter. Both books deal with murders committed way in the past, even going back to WWII in one case. These are not light books but you can not put them down. There are two more out which I am preparing to read and a fifth one coming out in the fall. So far he has written one a year. Again, I am trying to highlight books you might not know about as opposed to best sellers that are reviewed everywhere. Indridason has won lots of prizes and he deserves them. Read these in order for the maximum pleasure.
Our friend Rhoda Berkowitz is an avid mystery reader like me and she recently gave a talk in North Carolina entitled "Hot Authors from Cold Climates". It is terrific and we have provided a link if you'd like to read it. She covers the following authors:
| Iceland |
Sweden |
Arnaldur Indridason |
Ake Edwardson
Kjell Eriksson
Mari Jungstedt
Camilla Lackberg
Asa Larsson
Stieg Larsson
Henning Mankell
Liza Marklund
Hakan Nesser
Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
Helene Tursten |
| Norway |
K. O. Dahl
Karin Fossum
Jo Nesbo |
It is interesting that there are no Danes. Swedes are the most prolific; perhaps because all the cops have a sense of angst; Danes are too cheery.
Anna Mershon sent me the Literature Map and it is really helpful in finding authors that are similar to ones you like. I warn you—you can spend hours playing with this. It use it for police procedurals but you can put any author in.
Stieg Larsson has done it again. The sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has just come out. It got glowing reviews in the New York Times and The Girl With The Dragon TattoO is no. 2 on the paperback bestseller list. The new book, The Girl Who Played With Fire, has the same characters, a journalist and a computer hacker who is much more than that and the most appealing female character I've encountered in a while. This is a Swede who has seriously crossed over into the big time. Alas, he died after turning in this book and a third one. It is a great loss.
I went to see Public Enemies because of the great reviews and because it starred two of my favorites, Johnny Depp as Dillinger and Billy Crudup as Hoover. They are both marvelous as is Christian Bale as the relentless FBI agent. It is directed by Michael Mann and I think I understand what he was trying to do but it is basically they go to prison, escape, rob a bank, get caught again, escape again, rob another bank etc etc etc. Lots of actions and lots of violence. Looking at Billy Crudup for a little bit and Johnny Depp for a long time was not enough for me although they were both superb.
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