Masriera Masterpieces

Joden Girl

Dragonflies, Florals and Earthly Things

“Every piece that comes out of workshops is intended to be an artistic expression stemming from the essence of our culture.

A culture with the Mediterranean as its backdrop. We seek perfection in everything we do and create our pieces, always under the rubric of their contemporary style. A philosophy borne out of our workshops, passed down from generation to generation that has continued up until today.”

These words have been taken directly from the Masriera site and highlight all that is desirable about their extraordinary jewels.  The name “Masriera” has become synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship and breathtaking creations that harken back to the late 19th century when Art Nouveau style reigned supreme.

One of the shorter periods in jewelry history, Art Nouveau began around 1890 and continued on for the next twenty years.  It was a celebration of the female form and all things found in nature – flowers, vines, insects, serpents, and leaves.  High karat yellow gold with a matte finish was often the backdrop for multicolored enamels, giving the pieces lifelike appeal.  Rene Lalique, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Lluis Masriera were connoisseurs of the craft.

At Joden, we have a handful of these whimsical wonders.  I love the delicacy of this sweet bee ring.  A rich purple amethyst and a tiny diamond make up the body of the insect while the wings are made from black and opalescent white plique a jour enameling.  It sits perfectly on the finger…  now just $1000.

The next tempting treat is a pendant/brooch combination.  A brightly colored dragonfly sips the nectar from the lotus blossom…  simply charming!  The chain is easily removed from the piece to convert it to a brooch.  This engaging enchantress is available on our site – $5000.

Finally, we have my favorite piece – a daisy chain style bracelet.  The buttery 18 karat yellow gold has a wonderful bisque finish that is the perfect compliment to the pastel colored enamel of each flower…  yellow, lavender, pink, and blue.  Each of the seventeen blossoms has a round brilliant diamond center.  It’s a happy bracelet – I smile every time I look at it.  Please call for additional details.

In the hustle and bustle of today’s world, it’s rare to find a company that honors their old world heritage with superior craftsmanship and a faithful expression of quality.  Over 178 years later, and Masriera is still doing it right.

Each piece is individually numbered and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and the original trademarked Masriera packaging.

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Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Patriotic Rings

I love the Fourth of July, especially in small communities like mine.  The festivities start early and continue well into the night…  parades, picnics and of course, fireworks.  Everywhere you look – it’s flags, banners, balloons, and flowers – all done in red, white, and blue.  Our patriotic pride shines brighter on that day than any other. 

For each of us, Old Glory represents freedom; but do you know what her colors stand for?  The white stripes signify innocence and purity, the red stripes are for hardiness and valor while the blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice. 

 

What better way to showcase your patriotic spirit than with a stack of ruby, diamond, and sapphire bands?  At Joden, the selection of bands is endless – we have modern classics and vintage designs.  Every one has its own appeal; hand engraving, milgrain bezels, sparkling diamonds, and bright splashes of color. 

   

One of these beauties can be the crown jewel at the top of a band stack or worn alone for a more subtle allure.  This sapphire is a favorite of mine – the trio of diamonds bands that form the shank of the ring give a unique spin to the classic three-stone look of the center section.  It’s available on our site for just over $4000.  The diamond ring with the ruby halo is new to us, purchased at the recent Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show.  It’s petite size would allow it to be worn on any finger, even a pinky.  Priced right at $1350, it’s available on our site now. 

The beauty of these rings, like the beauty of our flag, will last a lifetime… stars and stripes forever.

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

Joe’s Special Box

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

It all started with a little cardboard box.  It was stored in the left-hand cabinet of Joe’s desk.  Written on the lid (in Joe’s chicken-scratch style printing) were the words “Joe’s Special Box”.  What those words really meant was – “For Joe’s Eyes Only”  Occasionally, you might glimpse a piece before it disappeared into the box – I can remember one in particular:  a dainty platinum Art Deco ring with a pair of half moon diamonds in the center.  The next time I saw the ring, it was on the pinky finger of Joe’s daughter, Sara.  You see, “Joe’s Special Box” was filled with a cache of riches that he was saving for Sara. 

Over the last few years, the box has grown.  Actually, it’s now three boxes.  Some of the pieces inside are labeled “For Natalie” – Joe’s granddaughter.  However, many of these exceptional examples (like the ones shown here) aren’t labeled at all, which means they’re available for purchase!

Each of the three pieces in the above photo are carefully crafted from fine sterling silver and enamel…  dated just before and just after the turn of the 20th century. 

Both of these vintage lockets feature a pattern of soft pink roses on a white guilloche enameled background.  Guilloche is a unique type of enamel in which the metal is first hand carved with a repetitious pattern where upon layers of colored ground glass beads are then baked – this allows the underlying engraving to show through the enamel creating tiers of dimension and beauty.  Available on our site for just $450.00 each…  add photos or mementos to create your own heirloom.

This lovely piece looks like a locket, but is actually a vinaigrette – a trinket specially created to hold a perfumed piece of cotton inside.  Ladies held it to their nose while out and about to prevent the odors of the streets from permeating their delicate senses.  It highlights a lady of leisure on the lid, enjoying the foliage of a Victorian garden while the scene on the back depicts a pair of lovers also luxuriating in a lush garden. 

Next time you’re at Joden, ask about Joe’s Special Box and the treasure-trove of riches hidden inside…

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

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Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Shelly Isacco

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