Jewelry Articles

The Queen of Kilimanjaro is one of the most famous faceted tanzanites in the world; a 242 carat beauty set in a stunning tiara where it is surrounded by 803 rare green tsavorite garnets and 913 diamonds. The Queen, along with its brilliant-cut royal retinue, is set in 18 karat white gold in the exotic-looking tiara.

Wallis Simpson's famous panther bracelet is a gem among beaded jewelry! It was commissioned from the famous Parisian jeweler Cartier by the Duchess in 1952; she also helped co-design it. She wanted a life-like great cat which would stalk its way around her wrist. Cartier's head jeweler Jeanne Toussaint created an exquisite cat of pave diamonds and black onyx set in fully articulated platinum with blazing emerald eyes.

When it's not being worn, the great cat seems to rest completely at ease with one front leg outstretched. Once worn, however, the cat seems to spring to snarling life, baring its tiny platinum teeth and threatening anyone who approaches its wearer. No wonder it was one of her favorites! 

What other woman has ever had a King abdicate his throne to be with her? In celebration of their great love story, the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Windsor delighted in giving each other gifts of fabulous jewelry to celebrate each event of their nearly forty years together. This resulted in perhaps the greatest collection of contemporary jewelry amassed in the last century. When The Duchess of Windsor Collection was sold in 1987, the 214 pieces brought in a record $53.5 million. The panther bracelet was one of the stars and was purchased by Mohammed Al Fayed for over $1.4 million. He also purchased 19 other pieces of the collection.

Twenty-three years later, he put the twenty pieces up for auction again. The panther bracelet sold for just over a staggering $7 million! The collection brought in a total of $12.5 million, which Mr. Al Fayed earmarked for a children's charity in honor of his son, Dodi, killed in the car crash that also took the life of Princess Diana. It's fitting that jewels which once belonged to a woman scorned by the Royal Family went to benefit the type of charity beloved by another woman rejected by a member of the same family.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor collaborated on the design of each piece they commissioned and each piece immortalizes a chapter of their love affair. If you would like to commission a special piece for someone you love, contact us.

Of all the famous gems and beaded jewelry in history, the Black Prince's Ruby is one of the most exciting and intriguing. In fact, this "ruby" isn't even a ruby - it's actually a red spinel! The red and blue forms of spinel have been misidentified as rubies and sapphires for at least a millennia. It's very similar in color, found it similar places and is even rarer than its counterpoints. Like the Black Prince's ruby, many of the rubies and sapphires in the crown jewels of Europe are actually spinel!

This incredible stone began its journey to the British crown jewels in the middle of the 14th century when Don Pedro the Cruel of Castile acquired it, probably through the murder of its previous owner. In 1366, Don Pedro was forced to ask help from the Black Prince, son of Edward III of England, to put down a revolt. In exchange for his help, the Prince demanded the spinel and Don Pedro was in no position to refuse. That's the last that is known of the jewel until it resurfaces in 1415.

At the battle of Agincourt in that year, Henry V of England was struck on his jewel-encrusted helmet with a battle-ax. The king, along with his helmet and the Black Prince's ruby, survived and went on to win the battle. The jewel had another close call in 1649 or 1650 when Oliver Cromwell had most of the crown jewels disassembled; the stones were sold and the metal melted down for coins. Fortunately, a jeweler had the foresight to buy the gem and keep it safe until he could sell it back to the restored monarchy in 1660.

When Victoria was crowned Queen in 1838, her new, specially designed Imperial State Crown featured 3,093 gems, with the famous 170 carats, egg-sized ruby front, and center. In 1937, Victoria's crown was remade into the smaller, lighter crown which is still in use today and which can be seen here.

Contact us if you would like your own "crowning jewels" - we can design something very special just for you!

he Pink Star (formerly known as the Steinmetz Pink Diamond) is the largest, and arguably the most beautiful, pink diamond in the world. Found in one of the famed De Beers mines in Africa in 1999, the rough stone weighed an extraordinary 132.5 carats.

Pink diamonds are rare and pink diamonds of this size, quality and breathtaking color are extremely rare; cutting this stone took over twenty cautious and painstaking months. It was "cast in epoxy more than 50 times in order to create models upon which the design team could experiment with different cuts" according to the Sotheby's catalogue. 

Sapphire gemstones are treasured for their beauty and their hardness. They are the third hardest gemstone known to man, with a 9 on the Mohs scale. Only diamonds and moissanite are harder. Because of their hardness they are used not only in jewelry, where their durability lets them absorb rough handling but in scientific instruments such as solid-state electronics. The best sapphires come from Asia, although they are also found in Africa, Australia, and North America.

The Kashmir sapphire is renowned for its opulent history and powerful symbolism throughout the world. India's notoriety as the hotspot for the most decadent gemstones prevails throughout the world of jewelry. Beryls, pearls, rubies, and rose cut diamonds lapped in 18-karat gold swirls, embellish their jewelry markets.

Brazil, Thailand, Burma, Australia, Vietnam, Montana, Africa, and Ceylon are ripe with prized sapphire mines too.

This diamond was not cut on a whim, but the exact cut was planned out meticulously, a process that took two full years, and the result was an 84.37 carat diamond that received a 19 in grading from the GRA. There is no higher score.

Then the diamond was sold at a Sotheby's auction to a Guess jeans magnate, Mr. Marciano, who named the diamond after his daughter, Chloe. Years later, Mr. Marciano got a divorce and rumors flew that he might have a prescription drug problem and that his elaborate and over-the-top job search for a nanny for his children was just a cover for a private dating service, since his children lived with their mother.

His erratic behavior continued as he began to suspect that he was missing large sums of money and he made wild unsubstantiated allegations. Eventually many of his employees sued him for libel and won.

He tried to declare bankruptcy and even went so far as to say the Chloe Diamond had been given to his daughter, this claim was proven to be false. The diamond was seized in bankruptcy proceedings, but Mr. Marciano got it back. According to the EraGem Post article, "The Chloe Diamond: An Intriguing Story, (or a Story of Intrigue" by Angela Magnotti Andrews, 

"Today, the Chloe Diamond faces an uncertain future. It’s possible the diamond will eventually be seized and sold, likely at auction, to pay Mr. Marciano’s debts. However, for now he maintains possession."

If you want your own one-of-a-kind jewelry that you can imbue with its own history, personal to you, please contact us.

The Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond is one of the famous gems and beaded jewelry of history. As Jeffrey Post, curator of the National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian once said: "This is the most famous diamond people have never seen." It has a long and somewhat mysterious history believed to have started, like so many of the great diamonds from the 17th century, in the famous Golconda mines of India.

It has long been rumored that King Philip IV of Spain chose the very best of newly purchased stones, including a large blue-gray diamond, to include in the dowry of his teenager daughter Margaret Teresa upon her betrothal to Emperor Leopold I of Austria in 1664. It's a charming but unsubstantiated story. According to Wikipedia: "The first time the diamond was mentioned is about fifty years later when it was already in Vienna."   

We do know that there is a painting of Margaret Teresa's granddaughter, the Archduchess Maria Amalia, wearing what appears to be the diamond and painted at the time of her wedding to Crown Prince Charles Albert of Bavaria in 1722. Maximilian IV Joseph von Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806; he made it the centerpiece of his new crown and that is where it remained until Bavaria become a Republic in 1918. The new Republic took control of the Royal jewels along with the rest of the family's possessions.

The funeral of Ludwig III of Bavaria in 1921 was the last time the diamond was seen until it reappeared in 1931 at Christie’s Auction in London. The family had fallen on hard times and the government gave them permission to sell 13 of the Crown Jewels. However, what happened to the large blue diamond is a bit murky. It apparently passed through several owners until it reappeared in 2008 at another Christie's auction where it sold to Laurence Graff of Graff Diamonds for a world record $24.3 million.

And this is where the controversy comes in; Graff had the diamond cut to remove scratches and chips and to improve its color and clarity. It lost 4.45 carats in the process, changed color from deep grayish-blue to deep clear blue, and was given a new name. It's now the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond. Critics complain that Graff put finances ahead of history because the diamond has been altered so much that it's now unrecognizable, which compromises its historical integrity.

Professor Hans Ottomeyer, director of the German Historical Museum in Berlin, compared it to painting over a Rembrandt. It was apparently in reply to comments like this that Francois Graff said, "If you discovered a Leonardo da Vinci with a tear in it and covered in mud, you would want to repair it. We have similarly cleaned up the diamond and repaired damage caused over the years. ”

Contact us if you would like a unique piece of lovely jewelry of your own - no controversy involved

Here it is!  There it is!  Who has it now? 

Keeping up with the 52-carat Sancy Diamond was like playing a game of hide and seek.  Probably of all the Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Sancy Diamond has passed through more hands and disappeared more often than any other gem.

Experts even debate the diamond's origins, although its unusual shape leads them to believe it came from a mine in India.  Its whereabouts until the 16th century continue to confuse.  One story says the original owner Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, lost the gem in a 1477 battle.  At his death, it went either to a royal cousin in Portugal or to his conqueror the Duke of Lorraine of France. From there it drops out of history again.

The next question asks if one of the two men mentioned above sold it to Nicolas de Harley, Seigneur de Sancy in the mid-1500s or did he buy it while he was in Turkey?  What is certain is that the stone was named after Seigneur de Sancy, a late 16th century French Ambassador to Turkey.

The diamond had some adventures under Sancy's care.  It adorned the cap of the bald-headed French King Henry III.  It disappeared again during the reign of Henry IV and feared stolen.  Some fancy Sancy detective work found the gem in the body of his loyal servant who swallowed it to keep it safe.

Next, history says Sancy sold the diamond either to Elizabeth I or to James I of England.  Records of the Crown Jewels in 1605 reveal its purchase.  James set it with other gems in an elaborate hat pin, so the jewel sat on another royal head.

During the next several decades of the English Civil War and the French Revolution, the diamond was lost, found and lost again.  It appears to have traveled to France, Russia, India and back to France again.  Finally, in 1906, William Wallace Astor bought it.  It remained in the Astor family for 72 years until the Louvre purchased it in 1978 for $1,000,000.  Since that time, it continues to fascinate viewers with its lovely pale yellow color and shield-shaped cut. 

The Sancy Diamond might have been lost a lot, but fortunately you don't have to search for your perfect gem.  We make all of our beautiful jewelry by hand and would be happy to make something just for you. Contact us soon.

Nature makes them.  Men sweat for them, cut them, polish them, steal them and also kill for them.  Gemstones impress everyone, but some stones seem to take on a life of their own.  These famous gemstones still fascinate us today.

Probably the most famous gemstone in the world, the Hope Diamond hides quite a tale in her lovely steel-blue facets.  Mined originally in India, the owner sold it to the French King Louis XIV in the mid-1600s.  About 100 years later when Louis XVI lost his throne and his head, the diamond disappeared along with the other French crown jewels.  It turned up in the hands of Henry Hope in 1839 and received the name we know.  Hope died shortly after he bought it.  In 1910 an unfortunate lady named Evalyn Walsh McLean acquired it.  She lost a daughter to a drug overdose, a son to a car accident and her husband to a sanitarium.  She also lost her fortune.  Henry Winston purchased her estate jewelry in 1949 and later donated the diamond to the Smithsonian Natural Museum of History. He seems to have escaped the curse the stone acquired through the years.  Today, it is one of the most popular displays at the Museum.

The Museum also houses another famous gemstone, the Star of India.  About the size of a golf ball, the Star is one of the largest sapphires in the world.  It weighs in at 1563 carats!  Its value lies not only in its size and color but also in the rare double star it carries.  Mined in Sri Lanka, J. P. Morgan owned the stone before donating it to the Museum in 1900.  Due to poor security, in 1964 thieves took it from the museum along with several other stones.  It was later recovered from a bus terminal in Miami and returned.  It currently rests safely in the museum with improved protection.

The British Crown Jewels displayed at the Tower of London contain several famous gemstones.  The Koh-i-Noor diamond came originally from Indian mines.  It's name means "mountain of lights" for its dazzling pure white color and near flawless beauty.  It was given to Queen Victoria and set in the crown by Albert.  Like many other famous jewels, it carries a curse.  It's said that if a man wears it he will die.  Only women of the British royal family have ever worn it.  After Queen Elizabeth, it will pass to Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.

The Black Prince Ruby in the Imperial State Crown of England is also called the "Imposter Ruby."  It isn't a ruby at all, but a huge spinel.  Mined in what is now modern Tajikistan, it originally belonged to the Moorish Prince of Granada.  It passed through several hands before coming to the son of England's Edward III where it was given its present name.

One more gemstone became famous only in the 20th century.  La Peregrina Pearl was found by an African slave in the Gulf of Panama in the 16th century.  It passed through so many hands it was given the name Peregrina meaning "wanderer."   Philip of Spain gave it to Queen "Bloody" Mary of England, then took it back to Spain when she died.  It was later looted from Spain by Napoleon.  It continued its "wandering" until Richard Burton bought it in 1969 for a mere $37,000.  He gave it to Elizabeth Taylor who had it set in a gorgeous necklace.  After her death, it sold at auction for 11 million dollars in 2011.

These stones were famous for their size, their beauty, their perfection and, in part, who wore them.  All gemstones become personalized by their owners and have a story to tell.  What is your favorite gemstone and your story?  Contact us and let us help you find out.

In the history of famous gems and beaded jewelry, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond stands out for its dark tales of tragedy, torture and murder, of thrones, lost and gained. The legend is that whoever holds the diamond will be invincible, and men who believed the legend were willing to slaughter thousands for it. Even now, the gem is at the center of a dispute.

Its origin is a mystery. The strongest legend is that India's Kakatiya dynasty placed the 186 carat diamond in the eye of a Hindu goddess statue, probably starting an enduring trend of legends about cursed gems stolen from the eyes of statues. No one is even sure when it received its name, which translates to "mountain of light." Beginning in the 14th century, the jewel became a spoil of war, changing hands from warlord to warlord until in 1739, Persian ruler Nadir Shah sacked the Indian city of Agra and took Shah Jahan's magnificent jeweled Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor. The Peacock Throne disappeared, apparently broken up for its gold and jewels, but the struggle raged for possession of the Koh-i-Noor. The following years were violent and bloody, with various factions fighting for control. There were

Beginning in the 14th century, the jewel became a spoil of war, changing hands from warlord to warlord until in 1739, Persian ruler Nadir Shah sacked the Indian city of Agra and took Shah Jahan's magnificent jeweled Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor. The Peacock Throne disappeared, apparently broken up for its gold and jewels, but the struggle raged for possession of the Koh-i-Noor. The following years were violent and bloody, with various factions fighting for control. There were

The following years were violent and bloody, with various factions fighting for control. There were blindings, tortures, murders. One royal owner hid the diamond in the plaster wall of his cell. Finally, in 1843, young Dhulip Singh became the Maharajah of the Punjab and owner of the Koh-i-Noor. By 1849, the British stepped in and stopped the fighting by annexing India through the Treaty of Lahore, which specifically stated that the Koh-i-Noor was to be surrendered to Queen Victoria.

Afterward, the Maharajah, then living in London, was visited by the Queen and shown the stone, recut on the orders of Prince Albert to 108 carats. The young man reportedly said that it gave him great pleasure to place the stone in Victoria's hands.

In 1937, the diamond was set in the crown made for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It glitters regally from the Maltese Cross at the apex. The crown is worn only by female royals; It's considered unlucky for men to wear it. Understandable, considering its history.

Controversy over the fabulous stone hasn't ended. In 1947 and in 1953, India asked that the stone be returned. In 1976, the Prime Minister of Pakistan submitted a formal request that the Koh-i-Noor be returned to Pakistan, one of the many claimants to the stone. Britain maintains that the diamond was not seized – as it was so many times in its history – but was presented under the Treaty of Lahore. India protested a handover to Pakistan, and recently Iran made its own claim.

So far, Britain holds fast to the Koh-i-Noor, the diamond that was so drenched in blood and grief. It rests now in majestic glory, marveled at by tourists, with the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

If cursed jewels aren't your thing, contact us for exquisite beaded jewelry.

Resources:

• Koh-i-Noor Diamond
• Koh-i-Noor

 

Anyone who has ever worn a necklace created with Murano glass beads knows that they are some of the loveliest and highest quality beads in the world. In addition to their esthetic qualities, perhaps something else that makes these beads so unique and interesting is the history that they represent.

Originally, Venetian glass was made in the city of Venice, which was comprised of mostly wooden buildings. Toward the end of the 13th century, the Venetian Republic began to fear that the huge fires from the furnaces the artists used would eventually end up destroying the city. They forced the artists to move their foundries to the island of Murano, where the glassmakers quickly became noted as masters of their craft.

Glass making had been around for a long time, but had not been perfected. The artisans of Murano had unique skills that allowed them to create superior glass. They were able to develop or refine techniques to make milk glass, multicolored glass, and even imitation glass gemstones which were unheard of at the time. Venetian glass may be solidly colored or created using a smoky effect with one or multiple colors. What truly set it apart from other glass at the time was its incredible clarity and lack of imperfection.


The secrets they used were guarded and carefully protected. Glassmakers weren't allowed to leave the Republic or take their trade elsewhere. Despite this, they were still given many special privileges. The government gave the island itself preferential protection, eventually annexing it to the city of Venice. Citizen glass-makers were allowed to wear swords, enjoyed immunity from prosecution, and their daughters were allowed to marry into noble families.

Despite the many privileges, some eventually took the risk and left, setting up shop as far away as England and the Netherlands. The craft spread to other cities of Italy and to other countries. But their methods were so good that Murano artists were able to maintain control over the market until the 16th century.

Amazingly enough, the technique and technology used has not changed that much throughout the years. The furnaces they use remain relatively unaltered in design, and technology has changed only in minor detail. These master craftsmen have strong roots in the traditional way of doing things.

Making glass is a very complicated process, and a lot is involved to make it. This is what truly makes it the craft that it is. Murano glass beads, as with all glass begins by mixing silica with a flux and melting them together. The flux is an agent meant to slow the melted glass from solidifying too quickly. This enables the glass worker to manipulate it to the desired shape. Technique varies depending on what the intended result is. Just a few of the many different techniques include, millefiori (forming tiny beads by cutting thin glass into sections when cold and rounding them when hot), gold engraving, and enamel painted techniques.

Even today, artists from all over the world travel to Murano to learn the Venetian glassblowing techniques that made it so famous. Murano glass represents the history of glass and a quality product. Their gorgeous styles, colors and amazing clarity set them apart from all the rest. They make stunning beaded jewelry pieces and a great addition to any collection.

In 1716, Prussia gave Peter the Great of Russia an extravagant gift honoring the peace between their nations - an entire room made of amber and encrusted with beaded jewelry. The panels were backed with gold leaf, which made the entire room glow with a topaz-like warmth.

The gorgeous Amber Room, made of real amber and beaded jewelry, glows like citrine or topaz. Image from Imaging-and-Art.com.

It was called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Historians estimate that today it would be worth $146 million.

You’ve probably heard of the Hope Diamond—the 45.52 carat megalith of a gemstone, colored a deep ocean blue with hints of violet. Legend says the Hope Diamond was stolen from its setting in the eye, or the third eye, of a sacred Indian statue, adorned with priceless gems and beaded jewelry.

How do famous gems and beaded jewelry pieces get their names? Many are named after their owners, or after a famous place or incident. The Hortensia Diamond was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, a French woman who led an adventurous and illustrious life… but she never owned the Hortensia Diamond. There’s no record of her having even worn it!

So why is the Hortensia Diamond named after her?

Hortense was the daughter of a Parisian Vicomte. Her parents’ marriage was unhappy, and ended in divorce. Hortense and her mother, Marie Rose Josephe Tascher de la Pagerie (say that one three times fast!), lost their social standing and most of their possessions, including their beaded jewelry, and moved back in with Marie Rose’s parents on the island of Martinique.

They may have gotten out just in time. Hortense’s father didn’t survive the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution.

After enough time passed, Marie Rose (who now went by the name of Josephine) and Hortense moved back to Paris, and began to make a name for themselves once again in French society. Josephine caught the eye of the already famous general Napoleon Bonaparte, who lavished her with gifts of beaded jewelry, and married her.

This made Hortense Napoleon’s step-daughter. When Napoleon became Emperor, he also came into ownership of the French Crown Jewels, including the 20.53 carat Hortensia Diamond. Maybe the flat, peach-pink stone was named after the girl during this time, due to her love of gems and beaded jewelry.

Hortense married Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother. In 1806, Napoleon appointed Louis as King of Holland, making Hortense the country’s queen.

In this picture, we see Hortense bedecked in beaded jewelry and a tiara. But even as Queen of Holland, when she had a treasure trove of gems and beaded jewelry, she had no direct connection to the Hortensia Diamond.

These were tumultuous years for Hortense. She and her husband were so unhappy that, like her mother, she was eventually divorced. This happened during Napoleon’s exile on Elba. Divorced or not, Hortense remained politically active, and when Napoleon escaped exile, she supported his return to power.

When Napoleon failed, Hortense was punished for supporting him with exile from France. She wandered Europe for awhile, before settling in Switzerland in 1817.

Most scholars think the Hortensia Diamond was named after her between 1806 and 1817, but no one knows why. It’s just one of those unsolved mysteries surrounding famous gems and beaded jewelry!

Though it’s said to have come from India, like so many rare beaded jewelry pieces and gems, the Orlov Diamond’s story really takes place in Imperial Russia.

In the 18^th century, Grigory Orlov was quite the ladies’ man. He wasn’t of noble birth, or particularly well educated, but he was strong, handsome, and rich enough to give women expensive beaded jewelry whenever he liked. There came a time, however, when his eye fell on the wrong woman. Princess Kourakina was the mistress of one of Orlov’s colleagues, who was understandably upset at the affair. A great scandal ensued, which ended in a dual. Orlov killed his colleague, and never mind the damage to his reputation.

All this to-do attracted the attention of young Catherine, who was at that time only a Grand Duchess and Empress Consort, married to Peter III. She demanded to meet the rake Orlov, who could have any woman he wanted. It wasn’t long until they were lovers. That was when Catherine told him about her plans to take the throne from her husband. Orlov was intrigued, and when the time came, he organized and led the coup that dethroned her husband Peter. In return, she gave him a title, and he became Count Orlov.

Orlov was Catherine’s favorite counselor and confidant for many years. Over the course of their love affair, Orlov gave Catherine numerous gifts, included priceless gems, beaded jewelry, the throne of Russia, and a child.

But eventually, Catherine the Great turned her attentions to Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin, and spurned Orlov.

He was devastated. He sought to win her back with gifts, like beaded jewelry. That’s when he came upon and purchased the enormous diamond that would eventually bear his name. He gave it to Catherine, but she couldn’t be bought back.

That didn’t mean she didn’t hold her former lover in high regard. She gave him as many gifts as he gave her—beaded jewelry, a marble palace in St. Petersburg, a title. She also named the diamond after him, and had it set in a beaded jewelry setting at the top of a royal scepter. A fitting place for the symbol of the man who helped her take the throne.

The story of the Bahia Emerald isn’t one of women flaunting dazzling beaded jewelry, but of Las Vegas heists and near blood baths in the desert. It is the largest emerald stone ever found, and the single largest emerald crystal ever discovered in embedded in rock. It weighs 840 pounds. That’s about 1,900,000 carats. It’s worth about $400 million. Chump change, right?

After it was found in Brazil, it exchanged hands several times between gem and beaded jewelry custodians, until it wound up stored in New Orleans—at exactly the wrong time.

 

In the mid-1500s, an African slave working in the Gulf of Panama found the largest, most lustrous pearl ever discovered. The administrator of the Spanish colony in Panama took the pearl, but rewarded the slave with freedom.The pearl was given to Philip II of Spain, who gave it to his fiancé Mary Tudor of England. Mary wore the pearl as beaded jewelry, in a brooch. We still have a painting of her looking stern and royal, but well decked out in her gowns and beaded jewelry.Mary died in 1558, and the pearl went back to Spain. 

When Caesar was murdered, Marc Antony fought a civil war with his killers. He won (of course!), then summoned the Queen of Egypt to answer for why she hadn’t supported him. Cleopatra knew she had to impress Antony. She didn’t want Egypt and Rome at war.

So Cleopatra, being Cleopatra, made a few arrangements.