Seed pearls Archive

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 158

January 17, 2025 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Here in Pennsylvania, it’s very cold. Over the next few days, the weatherman is calling for the temperature to dip below zero. And since I haven’t hit the lottery (probably because I don’t play the lottery), I still have to go to work. Heading out in subzero temperatures can only mean one thing… it’s sweater weather! One of my favorite things about bundling up in a thick, cozy sweater is accessorizing. A turtleneck is the perfect place to showcase a pretty little pin… and this dainty charmer is SO good!

Measuring just over an inch from side to side, this turn-of-the-century brooch is ideally sized. Shown from behind, the rich hue of the gold framework features a lovely patina that darkens the color. Taking the shape of a sideways navette, the center segment also boasts a glass-covered hair receiver. Beneath the glass, the woven ivory fabric is still pristine – with nary a hair in sight. This tiny compartment has never been used. Note the beautiful scallops that envelop the outer edge. Six carefully sculpted contours have been intricately set with five seed pearls in each one.

My favorite detail of this pin is the lovely enameling that decorates the front. A deep garnet-colored enamel done in guilloche fashion coats the center. Small, regular hashmarks were etched into the surface of the gold before the enamel was applied. Because the enamel is translucent, this subtle patterning can be appreciated through the enamel. A slightly raised border fully surrounds the center; it has been coated with an opaque white enamel. Evenly spaced on top of the white enamel are sixteen minute black dots… a small detail that makes all the difference.

Splayed across the top of the red enamel is a singular flower. Made from various sizes of creamy seed pearls, this five-petaled blossom is like the icing on a cake – finishing the brooch to perfection. Beautifully made and utterly feminine, this piece can be enjoyed all year long. Pin it to your sweaters in the winter, jackets in the spring and fall, and on a collar or cuff in the summer. Moderately priced at $1500, this pin brings a welcome pop of color on a cold January day.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photography by Dana Jerpe

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 147

April 9, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

At their peak of popularity, around the turn of the 20th century, lavalier necklaces graced the necklines of ladies of all ages. These charming pieces are comprised of a series of smaller links or swirls with a singular dangling gem at the base (most often this was a pearl).

Delicate and dainty, these late Victorian darlings also often featured small colored gemstones, like this one. Made entirely of 9-karat yellow gold, this little number from Joe’s Special Box is adorned with not one but two round garnets.

A charming botanical theme brings this pendant to life. The outline is accented by three small six-petaled flowers with a tiny seed pearl in the center. Alternating with these blossoms are three pairs of leaves. This foliage is also set with small ivory-colored seed pearls.

Shown on the neck, you can appreciate the ultra feminine vibe of this late 1800’s necklace. At Joden, we have quite a collection of lavaliers with a wide assortment of gems. With so many to choose from, you’re sure to discover your birthstone or the birthstone of someone you love. For January babies or garnet lovers, this particular one is available for just $1,250.oo. Give us a call to make it yours today.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

What’s New – Volume 93

February 2, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and the Latest Things

Though I am drawn to pieces from every time period, there’s no question that Art Nouveau has always been my favorite. Spanning the years from 1890-1910, it overlapped the end of the Victorian period as well as the entire Edwardian period. Art Nouveau celebrated the female form combined with all things nature… flowers, leaves, vines and buds. It was an awakening.

Often, a piece of jewelry will have one foot in the past and one in the future – a veritable bridge between two distinct worlds. This lovely pendant is a perfect example. Made entirely of 14-karat yellow gold, it’s a little bit Victorian and a little bit Art Nouveau.

Shaped like a sideways kidney bean, the top portion of the necklace is curvaceous and feminine. Twenty-seven tiny and iridescent pearls fill every contour. Each measuring less than one millimeter, these little beauties are called seed pearls. Victorian jewelry often showcased these organic orbs in decorative borders or accent trim. Incorporated into the center of this pearl frame is my favorite part of the entire piece… a sculptural leaf-like vine decorated with subtle shades of plum, rose and a hint of green enamel.

Suspended from this decorative top is a large oval amethyst gem. Weighing approximately twenty-five carats, this aubergine stone is held in place by twenty-one prongs. These prongs are part of the decorative border that wraps around the edge of the amethyst. The Victorian elements combine beautifully with the Art Nouveau details in this pendant. Make it yours today for just $1,350.00.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Baubles, Bling and the Latest Things

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