#antique jewelry

Heaven on earth:

Cupido settling down in The Garden of Adin

This adorable French yellow gold ring from around 1840 is a true testimony of how jewellery and declarations of love go hand in hand. Cupido, the Roman god of love, is enshrined as a putti in an infinite halo of filigree lemniscates. On both sides of this marquise shaped top, four hearts build a universe where one plus one is one as they assemble into a four leaf clover. Between the shank’s edges, filigree frills flutter as butterflies in a stomach. Clearly, this symbolic ring seales the marriage of love, luck and eternity. Another important detail is that this piece was made to shout out loud this message of affection as the large ringsize implies it was used to wear on gloves for everyone to see. Nowadays, love doesn’t always seem to be this simple, so our advise is: if they don’t make them like they used to, you just buy antiques.

A hidden surprise

What is hidden in this extraordinary golden Victorian ring? A piece of a loved-ones hair, and they were quite popular in the 19th century!

Hair jewelry - Between the mid 18th century (circa 1750) and about 1870, it was possible for a woman to sell her hair on special markets. The hair was bought by hair dealers who supplied it to special hair craftsmen. At a certain moment this typet of jewelry became such a fashion, that wealthy women started haircraft as a hobby. In fashion magazines of that time, you could find complete descriptions of the way to turn hair into little pieces of art.

Japanese Blue
In this 18K yellow gold Art Deco ring from 1930, an openwork frame of 34 brilliant cut diamonds set in a platinum Oriental ornamental pattern centres a marvellous oval cut sapphire. The gold base with little leaflet engravings makes you imagine yourself to be cherished by your darling among the cherry blossoms of a secret and secluded Japanese garden.

Beachcombing in the Garden of Adin:
Look what washed ashore!

A Heavenly blue sapphire ring for a match made in heaven.

The swan of the Diamond lake in the Garden of Adin.

Exceptional Art Nouveau pendant in matte gold enamel decorated with vegetal decoration of two opals and four old cut diamonds

Le Brech & Associates, Jewelry, Paris, Nov 3rd

A rock crystal reverse intaglio brooch/pendant, circa 1890

A rock crystal, enamel and gem-set locket pendant, circa 1750
Bonham’s, Jewelry, London, Nov 2nd