Wide band Archive

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 161

April 4, 2025 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Thing

The Retro era is perhaps the most underrated of all the jewelry periods. Encompassing the late 1930’s through the 1940’s, the Retro era coincided with World War II. It was the single most defining event to directly impact the jewelry market. Platinum was reserved for the war effort – it was a crucial element in making rifle and engine parts, explosives and armaments. Because it was absolutely essential elsewhere, this precious metal was strictly prohibited for use in jewelry. That fact closed the door on Art Deco and opened a window for something fresh and new. Creative genius stepped in; the gold that was available was alloyed with a higher percentage of copper resulting in a strikingly beautiful pinkish hue. Rose gold would become the face of the Retro era. Jewelers also experimented with other alloys, a process that introduced more colors of gold. Oftentimes, multiple hues were used in the same piece, like this one…

Measuring just shy of 12mm wide, this band is a delightful confection of color. Made entirely of 14-karat, the main body of the band is rose gold. The surface has a raised, textured finish… hundreds of tiny beads are speckled from one scalloped edge to the other. A botanical pattern has been appliqued to the rose gold band. There are white gold blossoms with rose gold centers, yellow gold sprays, and small rose gold flowers artfully arranged around the circumference of the ring. It’s made in an eternity style, with no beginning and no end. This band is size 8.25. Much like Cinderella’s slipper, it needs to be a perfect fit as it cannot be sized. I’ve tried it on all of my fingers, but alas, I am doomed to the fate of an ugly stepsister… it just doesn’t fit. Maybe you will be the lucky one!

There are eight round diamonds decorating the band. With a combined weight of .65 carat, they offer a hint of sparkle to this whimsically-inspired look. If you’ve been searching for a signature look – something special that can be worn daily – look no further. This bold beauty is moderately priced at $1,975.00. Stop by to determine your fate… will you be an ugly stepsister like me, or will you be Cinderella?

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Hot or Not – Volume 17

November 1, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Curious Things

We’re back with another edition of “Hot or Not” – I love this unique adaptation of our regular blog. It’s always interesting to see all the different opinions on a particularly unusual piece of jewelry. The ring I chose this time STILL has me on the fence. Based on my current likes, this ring should be a definite “no”… but there’s just something about it. I keep going back to it.

Made from 18-karat white gold, this band measures almost half an inch in width! On my hand, it makes a bold statement. Not just wide, but also thick, the ring has some unique azures (cut-outs on the inside of a ring used for cleaning); there are tiny star, crescent moon, and heart-shaped openings. These small apertures continue three-quarters of the way around the inside, stopping only to leave a space for three hallmarks… one is not legible. The remaining two indicate the fineness of the gold (18-karat) and the designer – Valente. A fine Italian maker, they opened their doors in 1953 and quickly gained popularity.

The outside of the band is just as unexpected as the inside. Centered on the top half of the ring are a series of three identical hearts. Each one features a Swiss blue topaz in the center. This topaz trio has a combined weight of approximately 1.00 carat. Surrounding each heart is a halo of round brilliant diamonds. In total there are forty-eight stones that have a combined weight of .75 carat.

Heart jewelry isn’t something that I typically go for… but in the past couple of years, I have found more and more heart pieces that appeal to me. Maybe I’m becoming more sentimental the older I get. In addition, blue topaz is not one of my favorite gemstones AND I’ve definitely been feeling all the yellow gold vibes lately. But there’s something about the combination of the white gold, blue topaz and the heart shapes.

Just before Dana shot these pictures, we put the band in the shop for some TLC. Our jeweler (Debbie) worked her magic and restored the soft satin finish to the white gold surface. It’s amazing what a little love and a mini-spa day can do for a piece of jewelry. Looking like new again, this ring was shiny clean and ready to go. Fortunately – or perhaps unfortunately for me – this band is a finger size 10. It’s too big for any of my fingers, and cannot be sized. Moderately priced at $1,800.00 and equally suited for a woman or a man; this designer ring still has me asking the ultimate question. Is it hot? Or not?

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Bold Bling

August 9, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Statement Things

Many stores offer a “wishlist”… a line-up of products that you love but aren’t quite ready to purchase yet. It’s a great tool for big retailers like Amazon and Target – stores that sell products that are mass produced. Even some jewelry stores have a wishlist program, tagging must-haves like stud earrings, tennis bracelets and statement rings. At Joden, nearly all of our pieces are one-of-a-kind, a fact that makes wishlists challenging. Because we specialize in antique and estate jewelry, we rarely have two of the exact same thing. That being said, we do have hundreds of wish-worthy jewels like these two bold rings.

If you want to make a statement – look no further. Both of these rings speak volumes about personal style and design aesthetic. Measuring an expansive 18.7mm wide, the all diamond band is made entirely of 18-karat yellow gold. A close-up study shows a unique pattern of channel setting that resembles a hedge maze. Five horizontal rows intersect with five right angles in geometric glory! Set within the gold channels are fifty-eight princess cut diamonds. These diamonds have a combined weight of 5.82 carats. Bright white, these sparklers have an average color grade of E-F and an average clarity grade of VS. The ring tapers slightly, from 18.7mm to 12mm at the back. This allows for a more comfortable fit. Measuring a finger size 7.5, this ring cannot be sized. It is priced at $6,500.00.

The second ring is a bit narrower, but still makes quite an impression. Also made from 18-karat yellow gold, this band consists of five rows of channel set gemstones. The two outside rows are set with a series of princess cut diamonds with each row containing ten square diamonds. Combined, these diamonds offer 2.00 carats of scintillating sparkle. Near colorless, these diamonds have an average clarity grade of VS. Nestled between the diamonds are three horizontal rows of square-cut rubies. These natural gemstones appear to be pigeon blood in color, a hue that is recognized as the finest color of ruby. There are twelve gems in each row for a total of thirty-six rubies with a combined weight of 4.50 carats. Measuring 16mm at the top, this band tapers to just shy of 10mm at the back. It measures at a finger size 9.5 and cannot be sized. Priced at $5,000.00, this ring is true statement jewelry.

Either of these bands could be worn as a wedding ring, an anniversary band or a right hand ring. I love a wide band on an index or middle finger! No matter how you wear them, these eye-catching beauties are sure to get some tongues wagging! Add one to your personal wishlist today… they’re available in our showroom. Call or dm to claim one for yourself.

“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 Thing

Baubles, Bling and Curious Things

Baubles, Bling and Statement Things

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