Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling and Quality Things
The recent craze for yellow gold jewelry has coincided with a surge in the popularity of Mid Century Modern pieces. For those who aren’t familiar with the Mid Century period, it’s name does give a fabulous clue. It was the post WWII era, spanning two decades… the 1950’s and 1960’s. Some experts argue that the Mid Century period also encompassed the 1970’s.
The rich, warm tone of yellow gold remained in style, but gained modern elements of twists, turns and texture. Jewelry was bold, eclectic and fun. Satin finishes, fringe, bright colored stones and clusters of diamonds added an air of adventure and a hint of prosperity to these already luxurious accessories. Iconic giants like Cartier and Tiffany brought whimsical designs to the forefront with a broad range of animal brooches. These lighthearted motifs included creatures of the land and sea.
One of the most sought after brooches from the 1960’s is the sea urchin. Made by Tiffany & Co., these spiky skinned sea stars were crafted in various sizes with the largest one measuring 1.5 inches across. Recently, we were lucky enough to snag one of this ocean beauties for our estate department. Symmetrical and dome-shaped, sea urchins are found on the floor of every ocean. Their spiney appendages can help them propel from one area to another.
Constructed entirely of 18-karat yellow gold, our urchin is the large size and is quite weighty. In fact, a double-pronged hinged pin stem is utilized to help support it when worn. The top spiked portion of the urchin features a matte, satiny finish while the high-polished back shines.
Our urchin is embellished with a singular small flower. A round brilliant diamond that weighs approximately .15 carat marks the center while six crimson red rubies surround it. These bright gems have a total weight of .40 carat. Tiffany & Co. made this brooch with a variety of flowers… all diamond, turquoise, emerald, sapphire, and of course, ruby. Figural brooches have never gone out of style and are some of our most requested items. Sure to be a fast favorite, this hypnotic sea star is available now for $5,200.00. Stop by to see it in person and peruse our additional sea urchin jewelry (peep the ring and charm hiding in the back of these photos!).
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Dana Jerpe
