Field Trip!

A few more pics from my trip to the museum – (clockwise from left) gold specimens, ammonite (ancient marine fossil) and a large quartz crystal formation

Just incase you been obsessively checking your phone, looking for my latest blog (which I doubt, but I would love it if you we’re!!) I apologize for posting this about 4 days late. I started a new job on monday, one where you have to show up really early, every day of the week!!! It’s been awhile since I’ve had to do that and it’ll take a bit of readjusting.

The museum of Natural History (http://www.amnh.org/) has always been my favorite in New York and since I started a new job yesterday as a diamond grader, I thought a trip to the gemology exhibit was in order over the weekend. What could be better than submerging myself neck-deep in gems, minerals and priceless jewels?

The gemology exhibit is made up of two parts – the Harry Frank Guggenheim Hall of Minerals and the Morgan Memorial Gem Hall. “Drawn from the Museum’s collection of more than 100,000 minerals and gems, specimens in this hall are organized by mineral group, including diamond, sapphire and ruby, emerald and other beryls, opal, garnet, and many others. Rare and unusual gems, synthetic gemstones, and precious metals such as gold, platinum, and silver are also on display. Several exhibit cases feature decorative objects and jewelry spanning three millennia and various cultures.” (1)

Two of the standouts from the collection are the Patricia Emerald and the Star of India, blue star sapphire.

The impressive 632 ct Patricia Emerald exhibits the vibrant bluish-green hue that is highly regarded as the best emerald color and often indicative of stones from Colombia. This large example was mined in Colombia, and has been left uncut to exhibit the natural crystal structure of emerald.

 The Patricia Emerald http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/earth-and-planetary-sciences-halls/morgan-memorial-hall-of-gems/patricia-emerald

The Star of India holds the distinction of being the largest gem  blue star sapphire in the world at 563 cts. Even more impressive is the age of the beautiful blue stone, approximately 2 billion years old! The sapphire exhibits a type of phenomenon referred to as asterism. Asterism is when a group of long, needle thin mineral inclusions intersect within a stone creating a star – like effect.

 The Star of India http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/earth-and-planetary-sciences-halls/morgan-memorial-hall-of-gems/star-of-india

Check out new pieces just added to the website!! WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Next time you’re in Williamsburg Brooklyn, stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) to check out their exclusive collection of my jewelry.

(1) American Museum of Natural History “Permanent Exhibitions”http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/earth-and-planetary-sciences-halls/morgan-memorial-hall-of-gems (accessed May 21,2013)

 

Planes, Trains and Travel Jewelry

So, as I wait for the train to make yet another trip to CT to have work done on my tattoo at Hope Gallery (check them out at http://www.hopegallerytattoo.com and Tim Harris does my work) I’m thinking about traveling and travel jewelry.

True, a trip to New Haven via Metro North doesn’t really qualify as a trip, but anytime I have to step foot into Grand Central it feels like a major journey!

The concept of travel jewelry has always seemed like a weird thing to me. The idea that women with venerable jewelry collections would feel ok about wearing fakes, oh excuse me Travel Jewelry , while traveling but they wouldn’t dare to do that at home.

Is that akin to my belief that calories consumed or money spent abroad don’t count? They some how fall into the chasm of the Atlantic when you’re flying over head or the change in time zones makes them null and void?

There are companies that just specialize in Travel Jewelry. Somehow referring to it that way, as opposed to costume makes it seems more exotic and desirable, or maybe that’s just me.

Lanciani (www.lanciani.com) is one such company, and I’ve passed their shops on Madison and Lexington avenues many times, peered into the window and wondered who really buys that stuff? Is it just too difficult to be seperated from your sparkly baubles while you bake on the beach for a week, so much so that you have to run out and buy a copy?

Well, now on second thought it might be and people don’t travel in the same style the way they use to, so if this helps, why not!

By the way if this post looks weird it’s because I’m using the mobile site on my phone, so my fingers are crossed and I’m hoping for the best!

I promise I’ll be adding some new pieces to the website this weekend so don’t forget to take a look – http://www.fromtheashesvintagejewels.com

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And don’t forget to check out the collection at Eight of Swords Tattoo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (www.eightofswords.com)

 

Met Costume Institute Gala

 Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a Philip Treacy (www.philiptreacy.co.uk/) mohawk headpiece and Fred Leighton (www.fredleighton.com) jewels

Every May the Glitterati converge on the Metropolitan Museum of Art to benefit and celebrate the museum’s Costume Institute. The Who’s Who of fashion, entertainment and design all stalk the red carpet. Designers attend with their muses, dressing them in elaborate and sometimes over the top, trend setting creations.

It’s got to be one of the hottest tickets of the year in New York, and all of the fun and festivities took place this past Monday night. Can you believe my invite got lost in the mail again??

Everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker, Maggie Gyllenhaal,”Girls” star Lena Dunham, Beyonce, Sienna Miller, Nicki Minaj and many other stars and starlets alike all gathered to turn the 5th avenue shrine to art into a mecca for fashion and all that is fabulous.

Every year the gala focuses around a different theme and this year it is, PUNK: Chaos to Couture and it will be on exhibit from May 9th – August 14, 2013 (http://www.metmuseum.org/)

Stars went all out to pay homage to punk style, but one of the standouts was Sarah Jessica Parker. SJP wore a jeweled Mohawk headpiece by the London milliner Philip Treacy (http://www.philiptreacy.co.uk/) and a suite of 19th century diamond jewelry from the eponymous upper eastside estate jeweler Fred Leighton (www.fredleighton.com).

 SJP in the fabulous Philip Treacy scene stealing jeweled mohawk headpiece!

I’ve been out of commission for the past few days. My pup Julio passed away earlier in the week and  that’s why this blog is so late. He was a great little guy and I’m going to miss him everyday.

Check out new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Next time you’re in Williamsburg Brooklyn, stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) to check out their exclusive collection of my jewelry.

 

Horse Play

  Gucci white gold and diamond horsebit bracelet

http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/305808J85409066?gclid=CLCk3IvtgrcCFQqi4AodkjUAYg#305808J85409066

So the Kentucky Derby was this past weekend. Ok, be honest,  who dressed up in a big hat and sipped on mint juleps? I love a good hat, but never like how they look on me. If you did go to a Derby party send me some photos!

Well, all the horsey chit chat over the weekend got me thinking about horse themed jewelry. The first thing that comes to mind is horse bit themed pieces. So many designers have used this motif over the years, in everything from textiles, handbag handles, silverware, shoes and of course jewelry!

 An updated horse bit style from Gucci

http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/298122I46008277

Gucci is one design house that really made that look their own.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is horseshoe men’s rings, yeah I went there. Whether they’re on the pinky or a different finger they’re pretty bad. That being said my Dad had one when I was a kid. Basically the same one in this photo, so I couldn’t resist!

  Yeah baby!! Old school yellow gold and diamond horseshoe ring

http://www.findingking.com/p-57608-14k-gold-horse-head-diamond-horseshoe-mens-ring-size-10.aspx

Check out new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Next time you’re in Williamsburg Brooklyn, stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) to check out their exclusive collection of my jewelry.

 

May Day!

http://www.langantiques.com/university/index.php/Mother-of-Pearl

Happy May first! In many countries May Day is a celebration of spring and of course it also kicks off the birthday month for all of the Emerald May babies. Since I already wrote about emeralds I thought I’d write about Mother-of-Pearl, which seems appropriate with Mother’s Day right around the corner!

“Mother-of-pearl is a nacreous, lustrous, iridescent lining of the shell of a mollusk that can be carved and cut for jewelry and other decorative purposes. It is composed of calcium carbonate bound by conchiolin which together forms nacre. Mother-of-pearl is carved into various motifs to be used in jewelry. Slabs of mother-of-pearl decorate cuff links, shirt studs, buttons, watch faces and are used as inlay in various decorative objects.” (1)

  http://www.rubylane.com/item/223860-661a/Enchanting-Antique-Mother-Pearl-Cameo

Mother of pearl can be dyed any color, but is most often naturally seen in white, pink and black. The iridescent stone lends itself to delicate, feminine carved jewelry and is perfect for cameos. The delicate sheen and luster looks wonderful against the skin and enhances any complexion.

You find a lot of fantastic mother of pearl in vintage religious jewelry, such as crucifix’s and religious medals. I’m so excited when I can find some of these vintage treasures to incorporate into my collection.

Check out new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Next time you’re in Williamsburg Brooklyn, stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) to check out their exclusive collection of my jewelry!

(1) Antique Jewelry University, “Mother-of-Pearl,” n.d., <http://www.langantiques.com/university/index.php/Mother-of-Pearl&gt; (accessed May 1, 2013)

 

The Thrill Of The Hunt

We’ve all got a little predatory nature in us. Thousands of years ago we needed that instinct to survive. Today, we might use it to snag the perfect guy, perfect job or perfect apartment. Or, if you’re like me you use your predatory instincts to make the ultimate acquisition, and then the next and the next.

As any experienced, well versed shopper/collector/jewelry fanatic knows, too much is never enough!

Waiting to pounce until just the right moment, measuring our step and biding our time, skulking around the handbag display and slithering toward the object of your desire, until you pounce. The high only lasts a few weeks or a month at best (depending on the size of my “kill”) and then I need another fix. That’s the thing, no matter how many times I’ve said this is all I want, I don’t want to buy anything else after this, there’s always something else! There is an ever evolving list of things to buy in my head!

So, I guess part of what I’m wondering is, is it just the thrill of the hunt, the stalk, thinking about how it will be to possess the current object of your desire, knowing you can wear it whenever you want, that it’s part of your collection, the moment you swipe your card, or actually wearing your new jewel?

Sometimes for me, just knowing I have something in my jewelry box is enough, then once I have it I’m on to the next thing.

After weeks or months of planning, possibly making multiple trips to see it, imagining how it will feel to own it and what you’ll wear it with, is it just a let down?

The real question is, does a new jewel, shoe or handbag lose some of it’s sparkle after it’s yours?

If you need a fix, check out new pieces just added to the website!! WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Next time you’re in Williamsburg Brooklyn, stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) to check out their exclusive collection of my jewelry.

 

Hi, My Name Is

 Sarah Jessica Parker wearing the iconic Patricia Field “Carrie” necklace on Sex and The City

For your very own custom Patricia Field nameplate necklace click here http://www.patriciafield.com/customcarrienameplatenecklaces.aspx

As I was going through some old photos, simultaneously amazed and horrified at all of my 80’s fabulousness I was inspired for a flashback Friday blog about nameplates necklaces. Yeh, I know it’s Saturday, so I’m a little late.

If you grew up in New York in the 1980’s you know exactly what I’m talking about and you might still have one hidden in the back of your jewelry box. Long before Sex and The City was even a column in the NY Observer and Patricia Field designed the iconic “Carrie” nameplate for Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, we we’re rockin’ these in Brooklyn. But, we we’re so a head of the trend, we we’re just plain tacky.

  If you must wear a nameplate necklace this site has a huge selection – http://www.etsy.com/listing/111823166/3d-nameplate-necklace-name-jewelry?ref=market

Some of them had diamonds, a swirl underneath, diamond cutting or maybe even a tricolor flower or two if you we’re really lucky. Back in the day, (the day being mid 80’s in Canarsie, Brooklyn) owning a nameplate was almost a rite of passage, it was taken seriously. We didn’t buy them at street fairs like Carrie Bradshaw did, they we’re “good” jewelry, and no well dressed girl was complete without one. Well, a nameplate necklace, frosty pink lipstick, big hair, slouch socks and a scrunchy. Ahh, the 80’s

Check out new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) in Williamsburg, to see their exclusive collection of my Good n’ Evil Protection Pendants

 

Georgian Treasures

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m a slightly obsessed jewelry fanatic and collector. I have a huge collection of jewelry, and although the majority of it is not made up of rare, antique, one of a kind, super valuable, signed or difficult to find pieces, they are all treasures to me.

The most interesting jewels I have are the estate pieces I’ve collected. One in particular actually is a treasure. A pair of Late Georgian period Spanish Emerald earrings. The Georgian period stretched from 1714 to approximately 1837, during the reigns of George I, II, III and IV, in Great Britain.

My earrings date from the late 18th century, around 1780. The earrings are set with square, table cut emeralds, in a yellow gold (probably 15 kt), ornate, scroll pattern openwork setting.  The back of the setting is closed, and the stones are probably foil backed. Foil backing was a popular jewelry setting technique of the period, where a sheet of a colored foil lined the setting to enhance the color of gemstones.

The earrings are a pendeloque style, which was a popular look during the Georgian period. They are basically a pear shape drop suspended from a bow shaped center with a cluster top at the ear.

“The Pendeloque grew out of the 18th century trend of the girandole, in which three drops suspended from a bow, while a Pendeloque is just one drop. The Spanish and Portuguese colonization of South America in the 16th century lead to an explosion of gold and fine gems on the European market, with emeralds from the famous Muzo mines in Columbia, topaz and other precious gems from Brazil.” (1)

I had the original ear hook removed and replaced with a post, for easier wear. However, it’s generally never a good idea to alter antique jewelry, because it is more valuable in it’s original form.

Well, after this discussion about my earrings I can’t wait to wear them out, it’s been awhile! Sometimes, half the fun is just knowing you have something in your jewelry box, not necessarily wearing it. Spoken like a true jewelry hoarding collector freakshow!!!

Check out new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Stop by Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) in Williamsburg, to see their exclusive collection of my Good n’ Evil Protection Pendants

(1) Metier Paris <http://www.rubylane.com/item/403702-JY_ear_spem1/Spanish-Pendeloque-Emerald-Earrings-C&gt; (accessed April 10, 2013)

 

Fleas, the good kind

 My Romanesque and Statuary necklaces on display at the flea! (www.fromtheashesvintagejewels.com)

So I woke up bright and early yesterday morning, something I don’t usually do on the weekends. Well, actually I try to never do it, weekend or not! Anyway, I spent the day at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn hawking my wares.

The market is great, it’s right between Bedford Street which is one of the main shopping and restaurant areas and the Williamsburg Flea at East River State park (http://www.brooklynflea.com/markets/). It’s a busy street with lots of action and tons of shoppers.

The only thing was, it had been a really long time since I’ve sold at a flea market and I forgot how it always makes me feel like a zoo animal. You know, you’re on display, lots of people walk over, smile, point. It’s all very odd, really brings those social anxiety issues right to the surface!

Anyway, the market has a great mix of interesting pieces, check it out at (www.artistsandfleas.com). Most of the offerings are one of a kind designer items and a lot of that is jewelry!

Some of my favorites we’re the brass knuckle pendants and kick ass t’s from Father Panik (http://www.fatherpanik.com/).

 Me in my favorite Father Panik Brass Knuckle Brooklyn Tee and a couple of my necklaces!

Vintage typewriter key cufflinks from Churoncalla (http://churoncalla.com/), cool message pendants and key rings from Metal Taboo (http://www.etsy.com/shop/metaltaboo) and the edgy double finger rings from Snash Jewelry  (http://www.snashjewelry.com/)

 The Cadaver Double Tooth ring from Snash Jewelry

So, next weekend make sure you stop by Artists and Fleas, they’re open Saturdays and Sundays and while you’re in Williamsburg check out Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) to see my collection!

And take a look at new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Birthstone Jackpot

 Jennifer Anniston wearing Fred Leighton diamonds at the 2013 Oscars (www.fredleighton.com)

Happy diamond month to all of you lucky April babies! You’ve hit the birthstone jackpot! No semi precious tourmaline (October) or Peridot (August) for you, you’ve got the best of the best! And just in case you don’t already know everything there is to know about your super sparkly birthstone, lucky for you I feel like nerding out a bit today.

The history and lore of diamonds date back to ancient times. In fact, the word diamond comes from the ancient Greek word adamas, meaning indestructible and unbreakable. Few things in the world inspire as much lust in women as diamonds do. Some women even want to get married just for the ring, save yourself the trouble and buy your own diamond! Trust me, it’s easier…

There have been many famous diamonds throughout history that have inspired stories and rumors. Undoubedtly one of the most famous is the Hope Diamond.

  The famous Hope Diamond http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/hope.htm

” According to the legend, a curse befell the large, blue diamond when it was plucked (i.e. stolen) from an idol in India – a curse that foretold bad luck and death not only for the owner of the diamond but for all who touched it.

Whether or not you believe in the curse, the Hope diamond has intrigued people for centuries. It’s perfect quality, its large size, and its rare color make it strikingly unique and beautiful. Add to this a varied history which includes being owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to earn money for gambling, worn to raise money for charity, and then finally donated to the Smithsonian Institution. The Hope diamond is truly unique.” (1)

So, of course we all know the basics, the four c’s – color, cut, clarity and carat weight. The fact that diamond is the hardest gemstone on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, rated a 10. This means that diamonds can scratch any of the gemstones below it including ruby, sapphire and emerald. This is important to remember when storing your jewelry, to prevent pieces from being damaged.  And the nitty gritty, that diamonds are formed when carbon is exposed to extremely high temperature and high pressure, over millions of years, deep inside the earth, they aren’t actually made from coal!

Check out new pieces just added to the website!!  WWW.FROMTHEASHESVINTAGEJEWELS.COM

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Stop by to say hi this Sunday April 7th, I’ll be at Artists and Fleas (www.artistsandfleas.com) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with the whole collection!!!

And while you’re there check out Eight of Swords Tattoo (www.eightofswords.com) also in Williamsburg, to see their exclusive collection of my Good n’ Evil Protection Pendants

(1)Jennifer Rosenberg, “The Curse of the Hope Diamond”, n.d., <http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/a/hopediamond.htm&gt; (accessed April 5, 2013)