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Serendipity

September 9, 2023February 10, 2017 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Forever Rings

When David (my husband) and I first started talking about engagement rings, my original thought was random and a bit irrational. Even then (18 plus years ago), I worked at Joden – a fact that influenced my engagement ring journey in more ways than one. Working here, we handle quite large diamonds on a daily basis. I had become very spoiled. My first thought went something like this – “Let’s buy the biggest diamond we can afford! I want a really big diamond!” As you can imagine this thought was not very popular with David… not only for financial reasons, but also because he wanted me to have a ring with character. A forever ring.

This is the thought that led me to set aside a radiant diamond that weighed 1.26 carats but actually looked much larger, closer to 2.00 carats. David hated it immediately. And to be blunt, I didn’t love it either. But it LOOKED big! I stuck with it for several weeks – until I laid eyes on my ring. One day I walked into Joe’s office, and there it was just laying on a black velvet tray. As soon as I put it on my finger, I knew it was the ring. The decision had little to do with the size of the diamond and everything to do with the way I felt when I looked at the ring.

If I were getting engaged today, I would choose a ring the same way – by the way it makes me feel. This picture features two rings that would be top contenders for me…

The first ring is an authentic Edwardian ring from 1915 with a rose-cut diamond center stone. That alone makes the ring unique. Add in the fine filigree detailing on the sides of the ring, the exquisite engraving that extends down the shoulders, and the tiny milgrain beads that create a knife edge at the peak of the band – it’s a rare beauty. The photos do not do justice to this piece, you NEED to see this ring in person! But you better hurry… priced at just $6500, it won’t last long.

This ring, from the early 1940’s is all about the multicolor gold. Rose gold scrolls support the kite shaped white gold segments that flank the center diamond – each one hand engraved with a floral-esque pattern. The yellow gold shank makes this ring a perfect trifecta of golden loveliness. If you’re a Retro girl, this ring is for you. It’s available on our site for only $4700.00.

And finally, for the irrational twenty-something girl who is still inside me somewhere, here’s the “big” diamond that has stolen my heart…

A vision of Art Deco perfection, this 6.58 carat diamond is absolutely stunning. I cannot do justice to this ring with mere words. Let me just add this… with an appraised value of $196,245.00, what could possibly be better? Come in and experience the luxury for yourself.

Go to our site and look, then come to Joden and touch.

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

Conversion Diversion

September 9, 2023February 4, 2017 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Recreated Things

My mother’s jewelry box was always a mystery to me as a child. I can see it in my mind so clearly… a hinged lid that when opened, revealed two drawers of little square compartments overflowing with assorted trinkets and treasures. I loved digging down into the layers, pulling out my favorite pieces… a silver charm bracelet with mechanical charms (a tiny rotary telephone with a moving dial, a baby buggy with spinning wheels), a matching earring and necklace set comprised of a series of small wooden beads, and a Retro style ring with a synthetic ruby center. Piece after piece, each one more intriguing than the next to my six-year-old eyes. The box always sat on my mother’s dresser, neatly centered in front of the oversize mirror. Unfortunately, she never wore the pieces inside.

I know this resonates with many of you. We all have those pieces that seem to float around the bottom of our jewelry box – getting pushed aside time and again as we sift through searching for our favorites. For many of us, the items that don’t get worn are pins… circle pins, lapel pins, lingerie pins, and stick pins.

At Joden, we have drawers full of stick pins… hundreds of them. We have enameled flowers, seed pearl accented love knots, hearts, and clovers, there are animals of every kind, sparkling gemstones, both silver and gold. Stick pins are a great accessory and still look good threaded through a scarf or necktie – but if you’re just not a pin girl, here are some charming options.

The photo on the left shows a sampling of former stick pins that have been converted to tiny charms. The photo on the right showcases one of them on a delicate gold chain. It’s a perfect pendant; able to be worn every day. It’s a signature piece that can be worn alone or layered with another necklace or two.

Maybe you have more than one stick pin, or perhaps you would like to start collecting them. The bracelet on the left is a progression of cabochon gemstone charms- moonstone, amethyst, turquoise, jade, and opal. The theme of the bracelet on the right is diamond trim – while each charm is uniquely different, the diamond accents bring it all together.

Whether you have pins of your own or perhaps you need to check out the selection available at Joden, it’s all about conversion – giving new life to an old treasure.

“Go to our site and look, then come to Joden and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

In Loving Memory

September 9, 2023January 30, 2017 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Mourning Rings

Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter…

Duck Face, Kissy Face, Smize, or Squnich…

Millenials are memorializing every detail of their lives, from the most mundane to the downright inappropriate – it’s all there on social media for the world to see. I’m not averse to it… I’ve been known to pose for a selfie or two, send out snaps and check in with my girls on Facebook – but some life events deserve more than a quick pic and a hasty status update. Things like engagements and weddings, or perhaps when a new life begins, and certainly when a life ends.

They were doing it right two hundred years ago. When a loved one passed away, the bereavement process often included the creation of a special piece of jewelry; it was called mourning jewelry. These unique treasures usually included the name of the deceased person as well as their death date. Many also included a special compartment for a lock of hair. These small trinkets were handed out at the funeral while more elaborate styles were worn by family members.

These are just three of the mourning rings we have here at Joden. Black enamel was a recurring theme in this type of jewelry (as you can see) as were pearls, urns, and flowers. Each one of these rings is engraved (from left to right)…

T.T.J. 14.12.1893
M.H.C. Mourant died 6th Oct. 1866
W: Terry OB: 24 Oct: 1809: AE 53

The trio of rings on the left are all very similar to each other; the hair receiver on top surrounded by natural pearls (usually signifying the loss of a child). Only one of them actually contains hair – the other two are still waiting for someone to fill them. The ring on the right was made in the Georgian period. The delicate blonde tresses inside have been plaited into a basket-weave pattern completely surrounded by sparkling purple gemstones.

Quite a lot of the mementos made in the 1800’s were brooches and lockets, like the ones shown here. The two pins in the foreground are exceptional examples of the fine workmanship that mourning jewelry is known for. The locket in the background is covered in a layer of black enamel with a pearl-centered flower on the front. As you can see in the photo on the right, the locket appears to have never been used… the original blue silk is still inside in pristine condition.

I readily admit that when one of my sons is doing something particularly adorable or noteworthy, the first thing I reach for is my cell phone – to capture that smile forever. Photographs are truly worth a thousand words, and I cherish all of mine. But I can’t help but feel that if I had a ring on my little finger (with a lock of my loved one’s hair safely cradled inside), it would be incredibly comforting to know that I carried a part of them with me every day. I’m certain that each time I looked at the ring, I would smile. And remember.

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

Baubles, Bling, and Forever Rings

Baubles, Bling, and Recreated Things

Baubles, Bling and Mourning Rings

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