Month: November 2024

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Curious Things

We’re back with another edition of “Hot or Not” – I love this unique adaptation of our regular blog.  It’s always interesting to see all the different opinions on a particularly unusual piece of jewelry.  The ring I chose this time STILL has me on the fence.  Based on my current likes, this ring should be a definite “no”… but there’s just something about it.  I keep going back to it. 

Made from 18-karat white gold, this band measures almost half an inch in width!  On my hand, it makes a bold statement.  Not just wide, but also thick, the ring has some unique azures (cut-outs on the inside of a ring used for cleaning); there are tiny star, crescent moon, and heart-shaped openings.  These small apertures continue three-quarters of the way around the inside, stopping only to leave a space for three hallmarks… one is not legible.  The remaining two indicate the fineness of the gold (18-karat) and the designer – Valente.  A fine Italian maker, they opened their doors in 1953 and quickly gained popularity.  

The outside of the band is just as unexpected as the inside.  Centered on the top half of the ring are a series of three identical hearts.  Each one features a Swiss blue topaz in the center.  This topaz trio has a combined weight of approximately 1.00 carat.  Surrounding each heart is a halo of round brilliant diamonds.  In total there are forty-eight stones that have a combined weight of .75 carat. 

Heart jewelry isn’t something that I typically go for…  but in the past couple of years, I have found more and more heart pieces that appeal to me.  Maybe I’m becoming more sentimental the older I get.  In addition, blue topaz is not one of my favorite gemstones AND I’ve definitely been feeling all the yellow gold vibes lately.  But there’s something about the combination of the white gold, blue topaz and the heart shapes. 

Just before Dana shot these pictures, we put the band in the shop for some TLC.  Our jeweler (Debbie) worked her magic and restored the soft satin finish to the white gold surface.  It’s amazing what a little love and a mini-spa day can do for a piece of jewelry.  Looking like new again, this ring was shiny clean and ready to go.  Fortunately – or perhaps unfortunately for me – this band is a finger size 10.  It’s too big for any of my fingers, and cannot be sized.  Moderately priced at $1,800.00 and equally suited for a woman or a man; this designer ring still has me asking the ultimate question.  Is it hot?  Or not?  

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe