Kaleidoscope effect

Carats aquamarine necklace. Buccellati timeless jewellery

Buccellati timeless jewellery
The story of the legendary brand has its roots in the distant middle of the eighteenth century. Contardo Buccellati was the owner of the jewelry store in Milan. In 1919, his son Mario, having worked as an apprentice at the parents’ shop for six years, he opened his own business – and that was the foundation for an outstanding style of Buccellati, such as we know it today.
After the Second World War, in addition to the already existing Italian boutique, he opened stores in New York and Palm Beach. Finally, it was time to worldwide fame. Among the clients of Mario Buccellati were not only trendsetters, artists and poets, but the whole royal houses of Italy, Belgium, Spain, Egypt and even the Vatican!
Read more »

Beautiful brooch depicting Frog on a leaf, colored stones and diamonds in yellow gold. Frog inspired jewellery

Frog inspired jewellery
Traditionally, in many nations frog played the role of amulets and talismans of fertility, preservation of sexual power. Dried frogs even today serve as a home wards in South-East Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand. In China, where the frogs are called “heavenly chicken”, their figures are made of jade, as talisman of long life and wisdom. In Latin America, the frogs are considered fore mothers, and therefore protectors of all human spirit.
Many peoples associated the frog, and even more so toads, with a number of unpleasant properties. In Chinese tradition, the frog symbolizes the moon “Yin”. The spirit of frog from Qing Sheng Island is associated with healing and success in business. The “frog in the well” refers to a silly person. In European folklore toads were associated with witches as the source of the ingredients for magical potions, and sometimes had their own magical properties. The Moche of ancient Peruvian culture tailless frogs were among the revered animals and often appeared in works of art. Panama Legend says that frog brings luck to those who saw the Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki). In a variant of this legend is said that, by dying, the frog turns into gold mascot.

Read more »

Swan. L’Heure Envoutée de Cartier collection. Rhodium-plated 18-carat white gold, pear-shaped and briolette-cut diamonds, emerald eye. Quartz movement. From Watches to jewellery

From Watches to jewellery
In 1557, the Swedish king Gustav I brought to Ivan the Terrible gilded cup with the clock in the lid. Fedor, his son and heir came to the delight of the astronomical clock with calendar – Gift of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. Later, from Vienna arrived two musical automaton with moving figures chiming hours. Having become a prestigious thing and the object of admiration, they cost extremely expensive. To afford such luxury could only elite circle. In creating pocket watch took part representatives of various jewelry specialties. The materials chosen for the corps – gold, silver, bronze, precious and semiprecious stones, with the whole arsenal of methods and techniques of jewelry. Dandies wore several watches at a time, at least – made in gold and silver.
Read more »

Second life of vintage treasure. Christmas vintage jewellery

Christmas vintage jewellery
Many women have accumulated a certain amount of broken or simply unwanted jewelry that for a long time is waiting for somebody to bring it to life again. Let’s give vintage costume jewellery, precious buttons and crystal beads a second life and make jeweled Christmas tree, like this in the above photo.
Interestingly, brooch in the form of Christmas trees for a long time was sent to soldiers as a memory of family and home and to feel the spirit of Christmas holidays …
Christmas brooch – a special theme in the history of vintage jewelry in Europe and the United States. Almost every self-respecting designer produced to the most favorite holiday of the year a series of graceful figures that appeared on dresses of even the most discerning ladies. After all, when else can you take the traditional festive dress with a share of common humor and adorn yourself with a bell, a miniature Christmas tree or fawn – assistant to Santa Claus?
Read more »

Notable Mother’s Crown Pin created in 1960s. B David vintage jewellery

B David vintage jewellery
Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, B. David company was not big, just a family jewelry shop. However, very soon the company became well-known and popular. The business lasted for 47 years, until it ceased to exist in 1993.
B. David elegant decorations are often compared to other pompous ornaments of 1950s. In particular, they were often smaller and made in a balanced color scheme. Also, the distinguishing feature was the use of a full-color “rainbow” stones.
Noteworthy, B. David specialized in famous to the whole world – Parent Crowns, or Mother’s crown brooches. Traditionally, such “parent” crown brooch was a perfect gift to a mother after she gave birth to a child. Of course, you will not find two identical crowns, because each of them was handcrafted and unique. These brooches have full set of rainbow colors of crystals and stones, and with a name of a newborn.
Undoubtedly, B.David was a legend of the American jewelry.
Read more »

Compact of the XIX century, Russia, Hermitage. Powder and lipstick jewelry art

Powder and lipstick jewelry art
Up to 20-ies of XX century to use cosmetics was considered bad taste, worthy only ladies of the demimonde. In the 20s the situation changed radically. Cosmetics has become a fashionable attribute. The first compact powder was imported into Europe from the United States.
The novelty was quickly appreciated and the production began in France, where the powder often wore the name of major perfume houses such as Coty Houbigant. In the 30-40s of the XX century, designer Line Vautrin used bronze, creating packaging for powder which looked like jewelry. Powder boxes took an infinite variety of forms, bearing the reflection of the talent of the master. Sometimes the body depicted puzzles or poetic quotations, not devoid of humor.

Read more »

Worn as memorable signs. Button jewellery art

Button jewellery art

“You can become an archangel, a fool or a criminal, and no one will notice it. But if you have no buttons – everyone pay attention to it, “- wrote Erich Maria Remarque. Indeed, for several millennia button faithfully serves man.
Prehistoric people fastened their clothes out of animal skins with the help of pieces of wood or bone. Later came to light pins, buckles, buttons and hooks. Already in IV-III millennium BC. e. our ancestors who lived in what is now the Moscow region, wore amber buttons in the form of a disc with two holes. The golden buttons were among the treasures unearthed in Asia by Heinrich Schliemann, as is well known, his finds are much older than Homeric Troy. Reform of the suit in the XIII century, the invention of a cut, allowed to wear tight clothes, like a second skin – has led to a massive use of buttons.
Read more »