Antique Re-Imagined

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Upcycled Things

I’m not a trendy girl.  My mailbox is not filled with fashion magazines nor do I follow celebrity blogs to see what they’re wearing.  I have an eye for beauty.  I know what good looks like.  Occasionally the hottest trends and my personal tastes mesh.  When the bar necklace craze finally reached Grove City about three years ago, I knew it wasn’t going to be a passing fancy, it was a new classic. 

When I approached Joe about converting some of our pins into necklaces, he was skeptical, to say the least.  But I twisted his arm.  And now, there’s no question, they are some of our most popular items. The tiny ones made from lingerie pins and the longer ones made from bar pins… these delicate beauties have definitely created quite a stir!  

This delicious necklace is the latest one to come out of our shop.  It began its life as an elongated bow-tie shaped pin.  Fashioned in the early 1900s in classic Edwardian style, it’s the epitome of simple elegance.  The “knot” in the middle is a double-edged square turned on its side with an Old European cut diamond winking from the center.  The loops or wings of the bow tie are carefully crafted using a heavily engraved outer framework and an entwined wire inside.  A small pair of bezel set blue sapphires to add a hint of color.  It’s moderately priced at $950.00.

As a pin, it could have been in our inventory for years.  Instead, we re-imagined it!  By removing the pin stem, and adding two tiny rings and a cable chain, it has become new again.  The marriage of modern style and antique craftsmanship will last a lifetime.  If you too have an eye for style, come to Joden where the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

You can go to a museum and look, or come to Joden and touch.

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Conversion Crazed

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and a Bow Fling

Recently, I introduced you to the idea of converting your unworn jewelry into something fabulous…  something you’ll find yourself reaching for time after time.  One of my favorite examples of up-cycling jewels and gems is this bow pin necklace –

Once it was a little brooch, laying in a box…  not being worn.  Just look at it now!  Who wouldn’t want to own this?  At Joden, we have an entire collection of conversion jewelry – and it’s been flying out the door.

So…  when I stumbled across this little beauty, you can imagine my thoughts!  First – just look at details –

It’s a daisy petal pattern!  And we all know how I feel about daisies.  Love love love!  Just look at those diamond encrusted petals.  Each element is incredible – and it’s entirely constructed from platinum.  Set into that stunning filigree are 98 diamonds with a combined weight of 1.75 carats.  Beaded millegrain lines and soft scalloped edges complete the look.  Those Edwardians sure knew how to do things right. 

As soon as I saw this piece, I asked Joe about it.  He and I had the same idea – it has to be a necklace.  Made in a bow-tie style shape, it will be adorable nestled into the hollow at the base of the throat.  And so…  this brooch is hanging out in our state of the art shop, accompanied by a little platinum chain.  Our expert craftsman will breathe new life into it…  stay tuned for the grand unveiling!

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

Writing & Photos by Carrie Martin

Decisions, Decisions

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Questionable Things

We all know that I’m a fan of conversion jewelry (last weeks bow necklace!) – but even I second guess myself occasionally…  Are some pieces best left alone?  Original?  Take the above pictured Art Deco cuff links, for example.  They’re lovely.  And pristine.  Made in the 1920’s from an unbeatable trio of platinum, black onyx, and dazzling diamonds – they would add instant style to the french cuffs of any shirt.  However, I can’t help but imagine those little beauties dangling from my earlobes!  We have made some incredible cuff link conversion earrings…

 

The Joden inventory is stacked with at least 100 pairs of really great cuff links, but the customers who are buying them are few and far between.  That leaves me to ponder, cuff links or earrings?

What side of the fence do you fall on?  Are you a purist – with your vote leaning toward keeping them authentic cufflinks?  Or perhaps you’re vote is for re-purposing – giving new life to something that is longer useful?  I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out! 

Cast your vote now by sending me an email to carrie@joden.com.

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

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