Catalog (186)

This graceful fairy was made in the Art Nouveau style. While contemporary, she still conveys the design ethos of a bygone era. Oddly, during the Nouveau era – roughly 1890–1915 - very few fairy jewels were made, except some very high-end ones by designers such as Lalique. She is made from 18k yellow gold, and her wings are plique a jour (translucent enamel). The colors shade from pink to almost white, and then into green. Her golden hair is accented by a round brilliant cut diamond, and at h...

The chances of finding a four-leaved clover are one in ten thousand. Here's a sure thing, ready for the picking and ready to grace your lapel. It's 10k gold with an green and white enameled four-leafed clover to bring you luck. The shamrock is 1.2”; overall length of the stickpin is 2 1/8". Age unknown.

This sweet pendant features a large amethyst, measuring approximately 10mm across. It is set in a framework of bright gold leaves, which is very much in the Arts and Crafts style. There is another leaf on the bale, and a fringe of tiny seed pearls dangling below – sweet! From the top of the bale to the bottom of the fringe it measures 1-1/2”, and from side to side it is 3/4” at the widest point. It is marked and tested 14k gold and weighs 1.8g. We believe it was made during the 1960s, but...

This yellow gold double-cluster ring is composed of a cluster of rubies centered by a diamond, and a cluster of pearls centered by a ruby. In the center of each is a 6-pointed star motif in gold. Pearl is the birthstone for June, ruby is the birthstone for July. The ring is hallmarked for Birmingham, England, 15 karat gold (“15ct”), a date mark for 1877, and a maker’s mark for “P&E”. Size 7-1/2. One of the pearls may be a replacement, and one pearl prong is missing. Someone used tiny a...

This elegant pin is by the very collectible Bippart, Griscomb & Osborn Co. of Newark, NJ (an important hub of Art Nouveau jewelry making c. 1900). It is centered by a turquoise cab, with two freshwater pearls on each side (4 in total), framed by a twisted ribbon of 14kt gold. It has the BG&O maker’s mark and is stamped 14kt (the marks were hard to photograph). 1-3/4” x 5/16” at the widest points, it weighs 3.2g. The photos are part of the description. Please examine them carefully. Thanks...

An image of a crowned queen graces the front of this antique locket. Her crown has a row of 7 tiny single-cut diamonds, and one slightly larger full-cut diamond at the top. Her hair cascades down to her shoulder, and gold disks hang from the crown. There is a tiny dent at about cheek bone height. The back has a monogram, possibly an S, and has several little dents, which are highly exaggerated in the photos. The rose gold (it was very hard to photograph the color accurately) tests at about 12k. ...

Here is a brooch or pin depicting two adorable cupids, a boy and a girl, looking serene, sweet, and loving. Their plique a jour (translucent enamel) wings are a pale purple or mauve color, nicely complimenting the 900 silver. The girl is wearing a tiny necklace of roses. The pin measures 1” x 1-3/4” and weighs 5.7g. The clasp might be a replacement, but the rest is all original, and the pin is in excellent antique condition. It is stamped “DEPOSE” (“patent or registration in France,”...

This mixed-metal sash buckle’s design is composed of swirling flowers, leaves, and a bud. The silver plate shows some wear - yellow metal shows through at some of the high points. We believe the gold to be about 9kt, and it’s some type of plating. The buckle measures 3 x 2-1/2" and weighs in 47.5 grams. Unmarked. In overall very good condition, except for the few worn spots already mentioned; the gold might be a little worn in a few places too – it’s difficult to tell because of the text...

We found this sweet pair of earrings in London, England. Rubies symbolize love and immortality. Pearls symbolize purity and harmony. What a perfect combination for these pretty earrings! They test as 10kt gold, although they are marked 375 for 9kt (this unusual often happens in older jewelry). The hanging flower basket motif is quite charming. They contain a total of 16 rubies and 18 seed pearls. The total length is 1-7/8”, and together they weight 4.3g. As is often the case with older earri...

This brush was made by the well-known Gorham Manufacturing Company. The design looks like the top of an antique steamer chest, with a Steampunk-like strapping-and-stud motif. The top is monogrammed with a fancy "R". It has the Gorham marks, as well as “1857 C”, “Sterling,” and the scissors mark for 1907. It measures 6” x 1-3/4" across the top, and is in very good condition. Photo note: the bristles are an ivory color, but don’t show up that way in the photos. The photos are part of...

This Victorian-style ring has a Gothic design sensibility. The elaborate prongs set off the large iolite (approx. 2 ct.) very nicely, and it includes 4 small single cut accent diamonds. The setting measures 7/8” north to south, and 3/4” east to west. Approximately size 8-1/2. It is marked 14k, the setting is rose gold and the shank is yellow gold. The stones are in excellent condition. The photos are part of the description; please examine them carefully. Thanks! We do lay-away. Shipping, ...

This sweet pin was made by Hermann & Speck, well-known jewelers of Pforzheim in Germany in the years around the turn of the last century. It is centered by a blue sapphire, and it has a pearl dangle. It is marked 333 for 8kt gold, but when we tested it, it held for 10k (this is not unusual; however we had never seen a mark for 8kt gold before! Very unusual!). It is also marked “Depose,” which roughly translates as “patent.” Measuring 1-7/16” x 1" including the pearl dangle, it weighs 2...

This is one of our very favorite lavaliers! It is quintessential Art Nouveau. It’s centered by a flower and has the classic whiplash motif. The central amethyst weighs approximately 1/2 carat, and it’s accented by 28 seed pearls. Feng Shui practitioners believe amethysts aid in purification, and give access to a higher plane of energy. It tests as 14k, and the gold is that lovely subtle old gold color. It weighs 3.3g and measures 1” x 1” at the widest points. Chain not included. It is i...

This charming 14 k gold pin is an homage to a moment in American history. The Daughters of Liberty was formed ~1766, shortly after the Sons of Liberty. This group of brave women boycotted British products and made use of traditional women's skills such as weaving and spinning, to support the cause of liberty. The pin bears an enameled flag, initials, the number five, and the date 1860. It is 1 X 1/1/2" in size.

This English jewel reflects the aesthetics of fin de siècle France and Russia, with its pink topazes and demantoid garnets. The fairly large oval topazes are surrounded by swirls of seed-pearl-set gold, and set off by 4 bright green demantoid garnets, two of which are set into the fine chains which connect the top section to the bottom; of the other two, the top one is a modified pear shape, the other is oval. The jewel measures 2” long by 1-1/8” across at the widest point, and weighs 5.4g....

This petite French lavalier measures 1-1/8” (not including the jump ring) by 11/16”. It features 3 rose cut diamonds and 3 pearls. Marked only “DEPOSE,” which translates roughly as “patented”, it tests as 18k. The stones are set in white metal, almost certainly platinum. 2.1g. We believe this used to be part of a larger piece, however, the transformation was done very skillfully, and it is in overall very good condition. There is a very small dent on the upper right edge, but it’s ...

This elegant stickpin features a stylized flower design, based on a Japanese family crest. It is marked “k20” on the back, and tests as a very strong 20kt. The flower head measures 1/2 x 7/8”, and the whole pin is 2-1/2” long. It weighs 2.4g. The pin is a little bent, not surprisingly given the high gold content (please see photos), and course that can’t be seen when it’s worn, and could easily be straightened. Otherwise in excellent condition. Circa 1900. Japanese art had a huge inf...

Coral has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. It has been called Sea Garden because of its resemblance to a plant. Coral is used as protection from negativity and evil, and to dispel feelings of inner weakness. This pin is 14k gold and holds a coral branch. It is Victorian in age and has maker's mark, BML. The pin is 2" X 1/2". Circa 1860.