Pick of the Week – Volume 34

Joden Girl

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

Guests at Joden often inquire about the oldest treasures in our inventory.  This sweet little ring from the 1860’s contains elements that definitely pre-date the Victorian era.  The styling of the ring itself is primitive with minimal detail and time-softened edges.  

At over one hundred sixty years old, the condition of this ring is quite good, which speaks for the craftsmanship of the piece.  Every little nook and cranny from the shank to the shoulders is made from 18 karat yellow gold.  High karat gold tends to be soft.  Countless tiny scratches have created a unique patina – almost appearing to be sand-blasted or satin finished, but it’s completely authentic and oh-so beautiful.

A series of English hallmarks are pressed deep into the inside of the shank, a small crown and an “18” among them.  The capital “L”  mark assures us that the ring was made in the 1860’s, although, the center stone could be much earlier.

With surprisingly crisp lines and corners, this table cut diamond is so intriguing.  Aptly named for the piece of furniture that it resembles, the table cut has been traced back as far as the 16th century.  However, they were most commonly used during the 1700-1800’s.  The four side facets have a beveled appearance and are quite high, giving a hint to the weight of the diamond – it measures 1.00 carat!  A halo of twenty rose cut diamonds create the outer border, the stones themselves are almost rough cut.  The irregularity only adds to the vintage appeal of the ring.  

This ring was previously featured on our website for $5,850.00.  It didn’t get a lot of love – it’s so challenging to truly appreciate the beauty of jewelry from a couple snapshots and a few words.  We offer a “No Questions Asked” five day return policy to help our online visitors feel more comfortable with purchasing.  We back that up with a thirty day exchange policy.  At Joden (in store or online) we take customer service to the next level!  With our website sales picking up, Dana and I decided to give this Victorian gem a second look.  We’re bringing it back as a Pick of the Week.  

Original Price – $5,850.00

New Unbelievable Price – Just $4,770.00!

In the midst of a global pandemic, how do you create instant happiness?  “Add to cart,” of course!  Check this ring out on our site now.  

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Pick of the Week – Volume 16

Joden Girl

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

The Pick of the Week is my favorite feature blog.  I adore the idea of making some of our most cherished items more affordable!  Who wouldn’t love that?  Without question, the diamond engagement rings have been the most popular pieces.  

This week, we’re focusing on a different price point…  an authentic, mint- condition Victorian ring.  It’s a tiny treasure!  Made from 9 karat yellow gold, with 18 karat gold gilding, this ring is perfection.  I love the architectural outline… with gentle curves and bold edges.  Distinctly divided into segments, this antique three stone ring is beautiful from every angle.

One rose cut diamond is set within an eight-pointed star in the center.  It’s flanked by a pair of old cut rubies that are also star-set.  This style was quite popular during the Victorian era, adding a bit of flair to each little gem.  A pair of triangles are carefully etched into each side of the shank.

Three distinct hallmarks are stamped inside the shank of this English ring.  It’s a wonderful example of fine antique jewelry.  Previously priced at $850.00, this piece is available now for just $675.00!  

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe and Shelly Isacco

Every Picture Tells A Story

 Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and a Victorian Ring

Clues.  Jewelry is filled with them…  and it’s up to us to play detective to find them and discover everything we can about a particular treasure.  Sometimes we get lucky and the clues are crisp and clear, stamped right on the item.  They’re called hallmarks, maker’s marks, or assay marks.  

As you can see, this sweet little ring has a series of these marks and they do, in fact, tell a story.  I used my mini magnifying glass (a loupe) to interpret each one:

  • LBS – This is the “Maker’s Mark”.  These letters signify the jeweler who made the ring.  I searched the internet as well as our in-house library to try to find out just who LBS might be with no luck.  Not gonna lie, I was a bit bummed… but not deterred!  
  • CROWN – This is called the “Gold Standard Mark”.  All gold jewelry in the United Kingdom that is 9 karat, 14 karat, 18 karat or 22 karat will bear this symbol.
  • 18 – This is the “Gold Fineness or Purity Mark” noting that this ring is made from 18 karat gold.
  • ANCHOR – This is the “Assay Mark” that tells where the ring was stamped.  The anchor is the symbol for the Burmingham Assay office in the United Kingdom.
  • h – The small letter “h” shows that this ring was made and assayed in 1882.

Unique details add to the rich history of this delicate beauty.  Deeply etched scrolls create an unusual pattern on each shoulder while the center plaque has a diagonal flourish handset with a bright blue sapphire and two tiny rose cut diamonds, adding a bit of whimsical charm to this Victorian darling.  Two additional sapphires are set within the side scrolls, a pop of blue against the buttery 18 karat yellow gold. 

This ring is low profile and easy to wear.  Perfect alone as a non-traditional wedding band or right-hand ring or piled high with your favorite stackables – make this one yours for just $775.00.  

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

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