Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling and Curious Things
While jewelry styles are as varied and diverse as the faces and personalities of the people who wear it, the types of jewelry are fairly straightforward. There are rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, watches, and cuff links. Each of these categories can be divided and subdivided but the basics remain the same. Whether a ring is worn on a finger, a thumb, a toe or a chain around the neck… it’s still a ring. Bangles are a type of bracelet just like hoops are a style of earrings. Joe was the first person to introduce me a type of jewelry that I had never heard of. When he mentioned the name, I responded with “A what?”
The concept is simple… a piece of jewelry that can be worn as a ring or a pendant. The terminology is simple but not very eloquent – ringdant. The word itself is clunky, it does not roll off the tongue. Perhaps that’s the reason I had never heard of it and why it never really caught on.
Jewelry that transforms from one type to another was quite popular in the Victorian era. Glorious creations that could be worn as a brooch or a pendant were the most common style, but there were countless others. Tiaras that doubled as necklaces, belts that converted into necklaces, and earrings that changed from day to evening wear. The shift from ring to pendant was brought to the forefront of design in the 1970’s.
The mechanism is a masterful work of precision. The back of the brooch is expertly fitted with a foldover clasp that features a rectangular groove. The top of the ring shank has a stem that fits perfectly into that groove – they come together like puzzle pieces. One turn and the shank clicks into place, the safety snaps over the shank closing with a satisfying click.
Recently acquired, this stunning 18-karat gold butterfly dangles from the tip of one wing. A cleverly hidden loop facilitates the chain of your choice. From the front, this ethereal creature features a mosaic of inlaid hand-cut abelone shell. Darker in color than mother-of-pearl, abelone has a gray background with iridescent shades of silver, purple, pink, green and blue. The hypnotic colors of the shell of this sea mollusk are often utilized in jewelry. Eighteen uniquely cut pieces decorate the wings. The scalloped edges of the wings are outlined with a series of forty-eight tsavorite… an electric green shade of garnet. The body and antennae of the butterfly are set with nine round brilliant diamonds.
In ring form, the butterfly appears to hover over the hand. Incredibly lifelike, this ringdant is available now. Priced at just $2,250.00 – it’s a bargain for two pieces in one. Just as the caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly, this ring transforms into a stunning pendant. Give us a call to make it yours.
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Dana Jerpe
