“Watch” This

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Timepiece Things

In the antique jewelry business, we often have pieces that have outlived their relevance.  Their time has already come and gone…  watches are a perfect example of this.  The advancement of watches has gone through several phases – from a wind-up movement to a quartz movement to a smart watch.  Even more often, watches have been set aside for the ease and convenience of a cellular phone. 

Jewelry created during the Edwardian and Art Deco periods (1900 – 1930’s), was painstakingly crafted from white gold and platinum.  Artisans created elaborate patterns with lacey filigree set with dozens of tiny diamonds.  Wristwatches were no exception.  You can understand why it seems like a sin to send these intricate beauties to the refinery to be melted into a blog of nothingness.  Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened to many antique watches.

As you know, at Joden, we specialize in antique restoration.  More recently, we have been doing more recreating than restoring. 

Each of these lovely bracelets shown above used to be a watch.  We carefully removed the stem, crown, and movement and replaced it with a specially cut piece of onyx.  I love how we have retained the original cord-style bands.  It give each one an authentic feel and allows the bracelet to be custom fit to any wrist.  Check them out on our website – pricing starts at $1700.00.

I inherited a gold watch from my Great Aunt that has been rattling around in my jewelry box for at least five years.  These conversions have inspired me to get it out and have my own watch/bracelet made!  I’ll be sure to share a photo as soon as it’s done.  In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and have “Joden Girl” delivered straight to your inbox!

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

Natural Beauty

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Phenomenal Things

Gemstones are a wonder of nature – stunningly beautiful crystals and rocks dug from the Earth’s crust.  Every color of the rainbow…  from the deepest reds to hypnotic blues; each one is a marvel to behold.  Some stones offer more than just an alluring hue – a few stones also have unique properties that further enhance their natural appeal. 

The top ring in the above photo features a round black opal paired with two round brilliant diamonds all set within a classic 18 karat white gold three stone ring.  Depending on the environmental conditions when the stone was formed, Opal can take on a variety of colors…   everything from translucent to black.  Black opals are the most rare while the white and green tones are most common.  This particular black opal blazes with flashes of red, orange, blue and green. 

 

Handmade just before the start of WWII, this ring has a timeless style that transcends current modern trends.  Priced at just $5,500.00 (an absolute steal for a natural 3.00 carat black opal!), the everlasting elegance of this piece is not to be missed.

This three-stone ring was handcrafted just after the turn of the century during the Edwardian period, circa 1910.  Claw-type prongs hold each of the stones:  two Old European Cut Diamonds and one Chrysoberyl Catseye, aptly named for its uncanny resemblance to a cat’s eye.  This phenomenon is created by special rutile crystals inside the stone that produce a dazzling effect referred to as chatoyancy.  The term “milk and honey” is sometimes used to describe the milky ray of white light that crosses over the honey-colored background.  This head turner is available on our website for $5500.00. 

Whether you’re drawn to gemstones for their brilliant colors or the rare qualities that make each one unique, the best place to find them is the same…  Joden Jewelers.  The exquisite selection begins with tradition and ends with the limits of your imagination. 

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

Serendipity

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

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