O.Chat > Jewellery Thread
LOL, Posh!! Thanks for starting the thread -- I posted the idea and then promptly went to the farm for the weekend.
The discussion can be any of those things, certainly. Except I promise not to list my "regret it getting away" moments... that would consume several pages in its own right!
As many long-time readers know, I'm more into jewelry than clothes, and I love seeing how Mrs. O updates classics. I've been a flower-brooch wearer for years and always felt at little stodgy about it, until she came on the scene!
I have a few favorite designers that I collect, when I can afford to. Wondering what everyone else likes, what you have, what makes it meaningful to you, whether you've seen any great new designers out there, etc.? Do you prefer costume over fine jewelry?
Chicagoan
I'm not sure I could say that I prefer costume jewellery over fine jewellery. I guess I've never earned enough to buy much real jewellery. So I've become adept at buying excellent copies, finding stuff in junk shops, charity shops and jumble sales, and then customising bits I've found and using them in odd ways. I have an old necklace that I've worn in my hair as a hairband. It's got tiny flowers made out of faceted (probably gold plate) and naff little crystals and fake pearls. Really, it's not very nice, but in my hair, around a bun or a chignon, or tucked into roll, it looks fabulous.
When I was younger, I loved silver jewellery. As I've got older, I need to wear gold because silver is too draining. Sad!
I like bold things (like cuffs) and original, unique pieces. Big unusual pendants. Twisted asymetrical rings. And pairs of things. I've got two identical diamante rings that I bought in a market. I wear them on my middle fingers and people always comment that they look fantastic and expensive - they were about £10 each! I have a weakness for earrings too. I have a constantly evolving collection. Mostly big or at the very least LONG. I feel like I've got a neck like a giraffe so something needs to fill in all that space for me.
Our wedding and engagement rings we designed together. Silver with lots of precious and semi-precious stones. We designed them ourselves, and husband has exactly the same rings that I do. I've never understood why men don't have engagement rings too, so I said that I wanted him to have one and he was quite pleased at the prospect.
I have one directly linked Mrs O piece - my Hattie Carnegie brooch. I don't quite fit into the shirt I want to wear it on yet, but I ought to in a couple of weeks. Can't wait!
I also have a Georg Jensen ring that my husband bought for me because he knew I lusted after GJ. I also lust after a Danish jewellery designer called Marianne Dulong, and I'd love something by her. One day! I'll get there! In the meantime, I've made myself some close approximations of her stuff.... to keep me going!
I never used to buy much colour. I'd buy silver, and amethysts but that was it. Since I've had my colours "done" I've got a lot more colour in my jewellery and that's been a lot of fun.
Posh Tater
Wow, Posh, now I really wish we could post photos here! Your engagement rings sound delightful.
One of my colleagues loves Georg Jensen and has a few pieces. I like them, but I can't wear silver against my skin anymore -- I've developed an allergy to anything other than gold. What a pity, right? (grin)
I love both classic and modern pieces. My friend is a designer who works with ancient methods; she's done quite a few Etruscan-inspired pieces with intaglios and other gemstones. But I also like the clean, simple look of dainty hoop earrings with interchangeable gemstone drops. I can afford to add one set of new drops each year. So far, I have peridot, flourite and white topaz. Nothing expensive, but very versatile.
My flower brooches are the work of Russell Trusso. He's a fascinating man; a former neuroanesthesiologist at the Cleveland Clinic who decided he needed a creative outlet. His attention to detail is absolutely incredible, and his love for botany comes through in his work. He does some of the best enamel work I've ever seen.
I have several things that have been passed down through my family, too. Nothing expensive or particularly stunning, but they all mean so much because I keep my ancestor's memories alive when I wear them.
Chicagoan
I've been scouting out Russell Trusso's work and I must say, you have beautiful taste, m'lady. I loved one of the orchid brooches in particular, and the hydrangea set was breathtaking.
Funny you should talk about hoops with sliding gems - Marianne Dulong has done that recently. I've seen coral, pearl and tourquoise drops - bought myself some gold loops, now I'm in the process of customising drops from bits of jewellery I find in junk shops!
***
The engagement rings are very plain. There's a pic here - you'll have to paste it into your browser:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8284075&l=7d328bd945&id=781945252
Husband looked up the meanings of all the gemstones, and worked out what order he wanted them in, then I did some drawings, which we took to Johnny Rocket in Greenwich. He and Niall made them up for us.
The wedding ring is a silver band with a diamond in, engraved with the words WOULDN'T GO AWAY. Hehehe. Well he wouldn't! No matter how much I tried to get him to give up on me.
Sorry about the nails. I wanted plain pink but then I went all weird and flighty and got ickle hearts on the day... Not sure what happened there.
Posh Tater
This computer is crazy, at first there was no link, I posted a comment and then looked back and it showed up. Ok, now I will look ath the pic.
Nyon
Yeah, I was fiddling and it took a while, they should be there now!
Posh Tater
Sorry Posh, it's not working like last time.
Nyon
No it's all being very stupid.
I managed to get an address in for the first pic, but it was too late to amend with the second one... so here's where you need to go: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8284108&l=df06624ed2&id=781945252
Posh Tater
How lucky you are, to be able to make or customize things! I've never been good at that... at least not outside of embroidery, anyway.
I perused Marianne Dulong's website earlier and was very impressed with the lines of her work. So feminine, in a kind of earth-mother way. Something about her work speaks "peace" to me.
PS - Posh, how pretty! I love the stones set next to each other... and what a lovely husband you have, who put so much thought and work into it. Sigh...!
Chicagoan
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!
Yes Dulong's work is very grounded isn't it? There's another site you might like, Cenius & Bach. Lovely original things - particularly the seasons ring.
http://www.ceniusbach.com/index.php?languageId=1&pid=18&strLanguage=UK&PHPSESSID=ac33866e8ab34645d25343e4a09f3f16
I also peruse Etsy sometimes, just for something to do. Some of the jewellery on there is gorgeous, and very reasonably priced.
These earrings I made for a recent wedding. Each bit is stolen from other items I already had but didn't wear much any more. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8284319&l=ce538ed59a&id=781945252
Posh Tater
Posh, I love them. The one with the different colored stones is the engagement ring, right? Why are you apologizing about the nails, who goin check you boo (I thought that would be a funny inside joke), but I think they are lovely. And why would you want to push a thoughtful man like him away, good thing he didn't listen to you!
Nyon
Butterflies and flowers... how perfectly dainty!
I'll have to look at the Cenius & Bach tonight, when I have time to relax with a glass of wine after walking the dog. Looks intriguing!
(but, please, someone take my credit cards away...!) :)
Chicagoan
Well, no-one ever said relationships were logical now did they?!!
Yes the multicoloured one is the engagement ring. (He he he on the checkin me. MY MOTHER! She hates those stencils. LOL!)
Posh Tater
Posh, you have let the cat out of the bag, If I am correct, I think that is your name on those pictures. And I may say, it looks like a very unique name, wish I knew how to pronounce it. The earrings are very cute, I would definitely wear them.
Nyon
Zarich is pronounced like parish.
Posh Tater
Pretty, I likey. Yeah, I know about the mom. My mom can and definitely will check me.
Ok back to jewelry. I love gold. I have gold rings that I wear everyday of my life. I never take them off. I can have on silver earrings and a silver necklace and I am still going to have my rings on. They are basically apart of my hands now. I love real jewelry and costume jewelry. Besides my rings, I am usually wearing costume jewelry. As far as brooches go, I was wearing them tough about a year or two ago when brooches really came back in style and were everywhere. I looked for a silver and black brooch I had and I coulnd't find it, so until I buy some more, I am SOL.
Nyon
Posh, I'm loving Cenius & Bach. The way they cradle the gems in the metal, and then throw in a "little extra" to add punch for effect is just incredible. The designs are very unique, but not entirely modern -- hard to define, actually, which is something I quite admire. Almost like another designer I like: Kent Raible. But his are much more classical, with just a hint of modernism to make them interesting.
I've caught up on reading and saw your name is Persian mythology. Funny, mine is Teutonic mythology! It's too bad you're not closer to Chicago; I have a feeling we could spend hours poring over our jewelry boxes and discussing the cultures of the world, all over a bottle of wine and some delectable hors d'oeuvres!
Nyon, tell us about your gold rings. Were they a gift from someone special?
Chicagoan
Jeez. You know what? I already have ... let me see.... 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...possibly nine stops to make to visit friends and family in the US the next time I'm over there. And now I have about the same number of people from this blog I'd love to spend time with!!! Hehehehe. Never mind, we can chat offline if you like. Mrs T can put us in touch if you mail her at Mrs O. Speaking of which, Nyon, I never got your email. I wonder if there's a glitch. You could contact Mrs O too...
Cenius & Bach are adorable aren't they?? I'm having an Etsy day today. I'm hooked on butterfly jewellery of late, so I'm obsessed with them, especially on earrings.
Horses Doovries! As my father would say.
Posh Tater
For anyone who's interested in Loree Rodkin (Michelle wore LR to the inaugural balls), she's got a new collection out and an updated website. Click on the Media tab to see the new collection.
No one does long earrings like Loree Rodkin. But the rings are the most innovative part of this new collection; take a look!
http://www.loreerodkin.com/
Chicagoan
Love the earrings - not sure about some of the knuckle duster pictures, but the rings that feature later on in the gallery are certainly gulls eggs of stones!
Posh Tater
Just saw your post! Funny you should mention butterfly jewellery; I was just looking at these vintage enamels on eBay, thinking that butterflies were going to be the next "in" thing.
Chicagoan
The Press section shows Rihanna wearing some of the longer rings. I wouldn't wear them, but I think they look fabulous on her!
Chicagoan
My rings are special to me. 1 is my high school class ring with a purple stone because purple is my favorite color. 2 rings were graduation presents. 1 is a valentines present and the most special one is one I had since I was a little girl. I know it sounds like I have a ring for each finger, but I have rings on two fingers of each hand.
Nyon
I don't know why I'm starting this, it was chicagoan's idea, but heaven knows we shouldn't delay talking about jewellery a MOMENT longer.....
chicagoan, what are we talking about here?? Our jewellery? Jewellery we covet? Stuff we've bought but shouldn't have? Stuff we didn't buy and still regret? What's the deal?!