These are difficult times and jewelry is probably not the most important thing on your mind.  However, if you are like me, you love to look at pretty things all the time.  We continue to buy and sell every day, hoping to find the best things for you, our loyal customers and friends.  This month we've got pretty jewelry and some good recommendations and stories.  Have fun, and remember we love to hear fom you.

1STDIBS

In the next couple of weeks, we will be making our initial foray into online commerce with 1stdibs.   It is a virtual marketplace with some of the finest antiques and designer items in the hands of merchants. 

1stDibs was first created by Michael Bruno in 2001 as a way for the dealers in the Paris Flea Market to get their items seen around the world.  He basically helped save them as these dealers were hit hard by September 11th.  As it was very successful, he decided to open it up to a select group of dealers in New York and a couple of other cities.  At the moment, they have over 250 dealers (from 17 U.S. cities plus Paris and London) and are now expanding into fine jewelry and later vintage clothing.

In a global environment, you do not have to visit actual brick and mortar places anymore, just check 1stdibs.  We are on the site now, and will be available to the general public on October 29th.

UPCOMING SHOW

New York Antiques Show

Wallace Hall at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, 980 Park Ave at 84th Street

Oct 31st, Nov 1 & 2, Fri & Sat  11-7pm, Sun 10-5pm

(please call Jane for free passes)

OUR HOLIDAY SHOW

We invite you to our annual Holiday Show located in our showroom at 818 Madison Avenue:

Wednesday December 10 — Saturday December 13, 11 am - 7 pm
Cocktails daily from 4 pm - 7 pm

EXTENDED HOURS:

To help with your holiday shopping needs, we have extended our hours in December beginning Monday Dec 15th:

Monday thru Friday, 9 am - 7 pm
Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm

WHAT'S HOT?

• Layers, layers, LOTS of layers, from layering your long linked necklaces to multiple bangles up your arm, layers are EVERYWHERE.
• BOLD statement pieces are also a must have this season…whether it’s a pendant, brooch or earrings; the rule of thumb is the bigger the better.  Don’t be afraid to turn a few heads!

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

Rebecca Koven is a young Canadian designer whom we think is extremely talented.  Featured are three of her recent earring designs, all in 18k gold and all on a wire:

• twirling leafy vine with peridots.
• beautifully veined leaves.
• chandeliers with blue topaz and peridots.

CROSSES

Necklaces on long chains seem to be especially in vogue now, and we love crosses.

22N705.  A 19th century silver topped gold and diamond necklace with detachable Maltese cross pendant of the same period in a fitted SJ Phillip’s case.  The necklace is set with a total of 41 cushion shaped and old mine cut diamonds ranging from approximately .90 carat to .12 carat with an approximate total weight of 17.00 carats.  The Maltese cross is set with a total of 169 old mine and old European cut diamonds with an approximate total weight of 7.00 carats.

22N915.  An 18k yellow gold and angel-skin coral cross signed Maggie Hayes Inc with a later 18k yellow gold link chain.

Margaret Hayes was an actress signed by Paramount after a brief stage career in 1941.  She truly blossomed as an actress in the 1950s, thanks largely to her extensive television work, wherein she was usually billed as Maggie Hayes.  Her most conspicuous screen assignment of this period was the role of terrified inner-city schoolteacher Lois Hammond in The Blackboard Jungle (1955).  After retiring from show business in 1962, Hayes pursued a variety of successful business ventures, ranging from jewelry design to public relations.

22N740.  An 18k yellow gold, rock crystal and garnet cross pendant.  In this photo, it is on an 18k gold Cartier chain but we have many less expensive chains as well.

23N029.  An 18k yellow gold and beryl cross pendant necklace with maker's marks for Temple St. Clair.  Again we've got gold chains that work with it as well.

GOLD AND DIAMOND NECKLACE

OLNP.  An 18k gold collar necklace with diamond sections, sits beautifully.

ANGELA CUMMINGS EARRINGS

22E874.  A pair of 18k yellow gold, onyx and opal earrings, Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.  The dome shaped earrings are inlaid with alternating rectangular segments of opal and onyx.

22E960.  A pair of 18k yellow gold and pale blue turquoise inlaid earrings signed Angela Cummings.

BLACK AND GOLD EARRINGS

22E951.  A pair of 18k yellow gold, frosted rock crystal and black onyx earrings.  Signed Cartier Aldo Cipullo 1972.  We have bought a number of pairs of Aldo Cipullo earrings recently.  He was a very talented designer for Cartier in the 60's and 70's and conceived the Slave Bracelet.  His pieces are very desirable.

21E938.  A pair of 14k yellow gold, mabe pearl, diamond, black onyx, and citrine earrings.  The earrings are set in 14k yellow gold, centered with a single mabe pearl, accented with four round diamonds and black onyx.  The earrings have a detachable drop set with a single round pearl, fluted black onyx and a fluted citrine ball.  These are perfect earrings to wear the tops to work and attach the pendants for evening.

GOLD EARRINGS

All easy to wear, all purpose.

22E717.  A pair of 18 k yellow gold earrings.  Circa 1972.  Again, a wonderful pair by Aldo Cipullo for Cartier.

22E911.  A pair of 14k yellow gold domed shrimp earrings.  Circa 1945.

22E997.  A pair of 18k yellow gold earrings.  The earrings are designed as domes formed from ribbed gold.

ELIZABETH GAGE EARRINGS

23E080.  A pair of 18k yellow gold, white gold, blue topaz (approx. 28.33 carats), pearl and diamond (approx. 4.41 carats) earrings, signed Elizabeth Gage.  Known as the African Queen collection.  These earrings sold for over $25,000.

GOLD BRACELETS

22A801.  An 18k yellow gold bracelet signed Cartier designed as an open bangle bracelet with arrows at either end of the opening.  All Pi Phis, the wine and in silver and blue is calling.

23A027.  An 18k yellow gold bracelet, signed Tiffany & Co. Italy, 2002.  The bracelet is composed of three rows of square flat links.  This bracelet lies out flat and then makes a bangle.

23A026.  An 18k yellow gold and diamond bangle bracelet, signed Tiffany & Co. France. The hinged bangle bracelet is set with five pave diamond (approx. 1.75 carats) floral designs.

CHUNKY CUFFS

23A059/23A060.  Two fabulous cuffs, one ivory, one ebony with citrine centers.  Alas, they cannot be worn by the same person on one arm as the white one is a larger size than the black.  Perhaps if one arm is bigger because of tennis, you can wear one on each arm. 

LAPIS LAZULI

21S931.  A geometric yellow gold, lapis lazuli and diamond bracelet and matching earrings.  We love the zig-zaggy effect.

22E718.  A pair of 18k yellow gold, lapis lazuli and coral earrings, signed Aldo Cipullo Cartier.  Circa 1972.

PAIR OF BROOCHES

22B805.  A pair of 14k yellow gold and platinum clips set with diamonds (approx. 3.12 carats).  These are incredibly chic.

PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRICING DETAILS

C200 - DALLAS EVENT

We had a great time in Dallas at tha annual C200 convention.  We donated with Candace Kendall and Diane Patterson, a Schlumberger pailloné enamel bracelet to the Foundation auction and it fetched $19,500.  Marcella and Noel were with me and we shared a showroom with Nina McLemore.  A portion of these sales will also be donated to the Foundation.

TO SEE

I have slowly but surely gotten hooked on Da Vinci's Inquest, a crime series set and filmed in Vancouver, probably ten years ago and popular on Canadian TV.  It features the very likeable coroner, Da Vinci, and a stereotypical pair of cops, the older crusty one and the softer younger one.  Now here's the catch:  it was on at 1:35am in the morning on CBS, Sunday evening and Monday morning (no longer), so I TIVOed it.  My friend Micheal Thomas tells me you can also get it on Netflix.  With all the Law & Order and CSI reruns, this is a welcome change and it is a really good series.

TO READ

I haven't been reading as much lately but quite enjoyed two recent best sellers.  American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfled, is a "fictionalized" version of Laura Bush's life and is quite readable.  For anyone like me who is of that generation, the behavior of the males really hits home. 

I also thoroughly enjoyed Daniel Silva's new one, Moscow Rules, featuring Gabriel Allon, Art restorer/Mossad operative.  Gabriel is enjoying a well-deserved honeymoon in the Italian countryside restoring a picture for the Pope when Mossad calls.  Alas, thugs in the "new" Russia seem intent on the same terrorist tactics as before and Gabriel must try to stop the latest threat.  This is the ninth in the series and if you have not read, start at the beginning.

Two books we have just ordered are worthy of mention.  Carol Tambor recommended A Blessed Child by Linn Ullman, the daughter of Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman.  That alone was enough to intrigue me but Carol is also a good recommender.  It is the story of three sisters all with different mothers spending the summer with their father on a Swedish island.  They then reunite years later on the same island when their father is near death…I am sure I will love it.  The second is Vince Flynn's new one, Extreme Measures, featuring his government operative, Mitch Rapp, who as usual has to save the world from unpeakable horrors.  Flynn is always a good read.

LUGGAGE REPAIR

In July I went to Vuitton at 57th and Fifth to have my deluxe garment bag repaired.  The fabric had come away from the LV "leather" in several places.  They dutifully made notes and said they'd get back to me in August.  They didn't so I called them and they hemmed and hawed and said maybe they couldn't repair and I said yes you can and they said they'd call back (in early Sept they called back and said alas "no can do").  I was furious as I had paid a ton for that bag and it now retails for much more and they should be responsible for repairing.  I called Superior Leather at 141 Lexington Avenue (@29th St) 212.889.7211 and spoke with Eddie and then Mr. Rosen.  They picked up my luggage (on Mr. Rosen's advice I sent another Vuitton garment bag that was older and completely destroyed).  Mr. Rosen called and said they could fix my bags ($95 for my deluxe bag that couldn't be repaired by Vuitton) and could also repair my weekender which needed new handles, new leather trim, and resewing for a reasonable price.  Both bags were delivered back ready to go.  My deluxe bag was ready to go on a trip the next day and my destroyed bag was undestroyed.  I do not understand Vuitton's reasoning as I am a good customer (5 pieces of luggage, admittedly bought in Paris).  To add insult to injury when I called for the name of the CEO — NY or the store manager so I could tell them the story I was told that information was not available.  File away Mr. Rosen's number for superior results at Superior leather repairs.  They do handbags too and send and receive UPS from all over the United States so you out-of-towners can benefit also.  As Mrs. Rosen says "we repair everything but a broken heart."

GOOD SAMARITANS

As most of you know I have M.S. and have some difficulty walking.  About a year ago I got a scooter which has changed my life as I am able to whiz all over town by myself.  It runs on an electric battery and we had been so fearful of overcharging that the battery had gotten so run down a few times that I had to coast home on the electric equivalent of fumes.  One midweek afternoon as I was leaving my hairdresser on West 57th Street about 5:30pm my scooter stopped dead in front of Bergdorf's at 58th and 5th.  There was no juice.  Not a tremble, it was DEAD.  What to do?  I realized I'd forgotten my phone but a nice young man volunteered his.  I talked to my doormen who offered to come as they had done before, but I realized this was a more serious problem as you couldn't even push it as it was so dead.  Did I dare to call AAA?  I had my card.  Would they come?   My head was spinning til all of a sudden I had an eureka moment.  As this is a busy tourist corner with the park so near there were lots of pedicabs circling.  I stopped a friendly looking young man (from the Dominican Republic) and asked him if he thought he and a friend could lift my very heavy scooter into a pedicab and take it to 68th and Park with me in another pedicab?  He asked a friend (from Turkey) and they loaded it and me up and off we went. Not only did they not ask beyond the regular fare, they waited until we arrived home as I had no money as well as no phone.  Needless to say I was generous.  Aren't people nice?

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