Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling and the Latest Things
When customers ask about antique jewelry, nine chances out of ten, they are searching for Art Deco. There’s no doubt that it’s the most popular time period with Victorian coming at a close second. Honorable mentions go to Georgian, Art Nouveau and Edwardian. Surprisingly, almost no one mentions Retro as a favorite era. Sometimes referred to as Retro Modern, the years from 1935 through the 19400’s were unusual in that they looked backward to the past and forward to the future at the same time. This week’s ring is a prime example…
The decidedly floral feel of this ring harkens back to both the Victorian and Art Nouveau eras, making it a truly retro style. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines retro as relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past; fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned. This ring, made in the 1940’s, offers the romantic vibe of the Victorian era combined with the larger physical size often associated with Retro Modern pieces.
When viewed from the top, this beauty features a curved quatrefoil center. A pair of engraved leaves decorate each side while a singular European diamond is set in the middle. This diamond weighs approximately .45 carat and is nestled within a milgrain edged bezel. Measuring nearly 12mm wide at the top, this ring is impressive on the hand. It’s a size seven (and can be sized up or down) and I’ve been wearing it on everything from my ring finger to my index. Don’t let appearances fool you, though… it’s lightweight and so comfortable!
The Retro Modern era represents a unique period in time that was largely influenced by World War II. Due to a wartime restriction on platinum, nearly all of the jewelry from that time is made from rose and yellow gold. Priced at just $1200 and made entirely of 14-karat rosy gold, this ring is the latest addition to our estate department and our website. Visit us in store or online and check it out for yourself.
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Dana Jerpe
