I recently golfed with a dear friend of mine when I noticed her earrings. Amazing, dazzling earrings. Come to find out she and her hubby recently celebrated a big anniversary and they were his gift to her. They were two holes in one in each of her ears for sure!
Ironically, just the previous day I was reading an article on recommended new books to read and three of them were about jewelry: “Precious. The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time,” “If Jewels Could Talk,” and “Sybill and David Yurman: Artists and Jewelers.” The three of them caught my eye just like my friend’s studs did. I plan to read them all and it all got me thinking about all things jewelry.
I’m a fan of jewelry, but what woman isn’t? Whether it’s some of the iconic pieces I’m lucky enough to own, inexpensive yet sentimental pieces, Native American pieces, and baubles I’ve bought on trips, I love them all. I love turquoise, pearls, and emeralds, my birthstone. So loyal am I to these, my one recent jewelry purchase in Santa Fe was a Native American made pearl and turquoise necklace. Perfection!
Funny thing is, I wear the same pieces almost all the time and every day. Diamond studs are always a go too as is my watch and wedding rings. Every now and then I’ll mix things up by wearing earrings or a necklace that just go with an outfit but nine out of 10 times, I’m wearing the same pieces. And I’m okay with that. I’m a creature of habit and pretty much over matchy-matchy pieces and buying whatever is trending today. Give me old school and give me iconic.
The world has long been fascinated by jewels and jewels have long played an important role as monikers of history. There are countless “most famous jewels in the world” but I’m going to list those that stand out to me here and later talk about other popular and iconic jewels.
For me, and this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, the piece of jewelry I would want to own most (I do have a dupe!) is Princess Diana’s engagement ring. The 18-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds is known and copied the world over and today sits on the hand of Princess Kate, given to her on her engagement to Diana’s son William. It is truly one of the most if not valuable jewels, beloved. Being a lover of emeralds, I’d also take the emerald choker Di famously wore as a headband. So beautiful. So chic.
If asked, most people would say the Hope Diamond as the most famous jewelry item, and they’re not wrong. Definitely one of the most well-known diamonds in the world, the gem is said to have originated in India and was first owned by King Louis XIV of France and today the 45.52-carat blue diamond resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Equally impressive but perhaps not as famous is L’Incomparable Diamond that weighs in at 637 carats and is considered one of the most expensive necklaces in the world. Valued at $55 million, the deep yellow 407.48-carat diamond featured as the necklace focal point is the largest internally flawless diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America and the necklace itself has a Guinness World Record.
Another record breaker is the stunning Cora Sun-Drop Diamond, which at 110.3-carats, is the largest known yellow pear-shaped diamond. But that’s only one of its records. Found in South Africa in 2010, it sold for $10.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva, setting a world record price for a yellow pear-shaped diamond. Including commission and taxes, the buyer is said to have paid $12.36 million.
On permanent display at Tiffany’s flagship 5th Avenue New York City store is another famous diamond: the Tiffany Diamond. Mined in 1877 in South Africa at a mind-boggling nearly 288-carats, the stone was purchased in 1878 by Charles Lewis Tiffany who had the stone cut to its current 128.54 carats. In 2012, the iconic yellow stones were reset into a necklace and accented by white diamonds in celebration of Tiffany’s 175th anniversary. It is now on permanent display in the brand’s 5th Avenue flagship New York City store.
The Taylor-Burton Diamond is equally famous and was purchased in 1966 as a rough 241-carat diamond by Harry Winston. It was later cut into a pear-shaped nearly 70-carat flawless diamond and purchased by Richard Burton as a gift for his wife Elizabeth Taylor.
Burton also bought Taylor La Peregrina Pearl in 1969. Found off the coast of Panama in the mid-16th century (“peregrina” is Spanish for “pilgrim” and “wanderer), the pearl was gifted to King Phillip II of Spain who later presented the 58.5-carat pearl to Queen Mary of England as a bridal gift. It is said to be the most symmetrical natural pearl ever discovered.
The Koh-I-Noor Diamond, which reportedly started out at 793 carats and has been passed around by rulers for more than 5,000 years, is equally stunning. Today it is housed in the Tower of London and sits atop the 1937 coronation crown of Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.
Being a lover of most things royal, I also love the Marie-Louise Diadem crown, which was a wedding gift from Napoleon to his bride Empress Marie-Louise. Originally consisting of emeralds set in the diadem, the green beauties were later replaced with Persian turquoise stones and today is housed at the Smithsonian. As a lover of both pearls and emeralds as I mentioned above, both versions of this crown speak to me.
Another crown, The Henckel Von Donnersmarck Tiara, boasts some of the world’s rarest emeralds. First thought to belong to Empress Eugenie of France, I love it and its regal emeralds. Who can also forget the stunning diamond and emerald Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara worn by Princess Eugenie in her wedding? I thought she was one of the most stunning royal brides in recent memory. Loved her dress. Loved this tiara. Made by famed French jeweler Boucheron in 1919, Queen Elizabeth lent it to Princess Eugenie, making it one of the most green with envy “something borrowed” items ever.
So that’s a quick wrap up of jewelry most experts agree are the most famous pieces that we mere mortals can only just look at. But there are also those somewhere in between out of reach and those we can buy albeit for a pretty penny.
We’ll start with one of my faves: the Cartier Love Bracelet. I love everything about it including its simplicity to its meaning. Its unassuming yet distinctive design has stood the test of time since first being introduced in 1969. That’s when Italian jewelry designer Aldo Cipullo presented a gold bangle with visible screws to Micael Thomas of Cartier. What looked like nothing special, it was unique in that it could only be put on or taken off with the help of another person. The bracelet took design inspiration from American hardware stores and was meant to signify a committed relationship. When Cartier introduced it in 1969, everyone from the Duke of Windsor (I’m not a big fan of it on men) to Ali MacGraw put their names on the waiting list for one. Today, its original motif of two screws that your lover is supposed to clasp on your wrist with the included special vermeil screwdriver, is still one-of-a-kind. Amazingly, Cipullo originally presented his Love Bracelet to Tiffany & Co. but they rejected the style. In 1978 Cipullo introduced the Love Ring, which I consider the perfect wedding band for man or woman.
I also love the Cartier Trinity ring and think it also makes a great wedding band. As with the Love Bracelet, the ring is elegantly simple, consisting of three interlocking bands of colored gold that appear to be one gold, one platinum, and one rose gold. It is definitely an “OG” on all jewelry lists and a true IFKYK item. Created by Louis Cartier in 1924, it is a welcome slice of simplicity in a world of increasingly excess. The Trinity cult includes the likes of those as classic as it, including Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, and Princess Diana. This year being its 100th anniversary may be the perfect year to buy one.
Cartier watches are also classic pieces, with my faves being the Santos and the Cartier Tank. Others include the ever-popular Rolex, Patik Philippe, Omega, and other brands.
I feel I can’t mention Cartier without mentioning a newer creation, the Juste un Clou collection. Consisting of its signature nail design, the name literally means “Just one nail” in French, was created in ’70s New York, and reflects the bold spirit of the era. According to Cartier, its nail-inspired silhouette breaks through conventions, asserting the essence of its wearer: original, independent, fearless, and free. I’m not a huge fan but huge numbers of others are.
Next up on my list: Van Cleep & Arpels Alhambra. The clover-shaped necklaces, earrings, and bracelets were created in 1968 and inspired by the four-leaf clover. Intended to be an emblem of luck and a positive vision of life, fans include the likes of Kate Middleton, many a celebrity and Bravo-lebrity, and Princess Grace of Monaco. What I also love about the collection is that its name is derived from the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, where Moorish quatrefoil motifs adorn its exquisite architecture. I’m of Spanish descent, love the Alhambra, and have a special place in my heart for Spain.
Okay, now to all those other iconic objects of desire, some of which I like, some of which I don’t.
One such piece is the Bulgari Serpenti watch. Immortalized by Elizabeth Taylor in 1962 on the set of “Cleopatra,” the diamond-studded timepiece is truly indistinguishable and an eye catcher.
You could say the same about Jean Schlumberger bangles, first designed in 1962 and a favorite of Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis. They are available through Tiffany, which also offers more affordable but just as distinctive pieces by Elsa Perreti and Paloma Picasso along with Tiffany Setting engagement rings, introduced in 1886, it is considered the world’s most iconic engagement ring. Flawlessly engineered, the six-prong setting virtually disappears and allows the brilliant diamond to float above the band and into the light, resulting in a ring so beautiful it has been a symbol of the world’s greatest love stories for more than 130 years.
Little blue boxes from Tiffany can also be filled with the iconic Return to Tiffany® collection, an indelible and instantly recognizable symbol of the house of Tiffany. The origins of the Return to Tiffany® collection can be traced back to 1966, when Tiffany first began selling key tags featuring the now-famous “Please Return to Tiffany & Co. New York” phrase. The key tags were assigned a unique registration number, ensuring that if the owner and their keys were separated, they would be reunited at the legendary Tiffany Fifth Avenue flagship store. By the early 2000s, Return to Tiffany® tags achieved iconic status and today can be found on various pieces and in various shapes.
Last but certainly not least is the great American jewelry success story of Sybil and David Yurman of the popular David Yurman brand and the subjects of the above-mentioned book. Not only are they an American jewelry success story but an American love story as well. The couple met in 1969 and have a combined love of painting (her) and sculpture (him) and launched their jewelry brand in 1980. Their work is as intertwined as their iconic Cable bracelet and I for one am a fan.
Two lines I’d like to also mention are Kendra Scott and Nadine Ghosn for two different reasons. I mention Austin’s own Kendra Scott not so much because of her jewelry, but because of her story. Yes, her Danielle earrings can be found in my jewelry box as well as other pieces and were the big rage in the late 2000s. As much as her creations can be found everywhere these days, the fact that she is one of only 20 women in the U.S. to found a billion-dollar brand is what I find most impressive. And she’s self-made. And she gives back in ways as big as her brand.
Ghosn is equally impressive. Her goal was to make ordinary products extraordinary and she achieved her five-year plan in one. Her pieces speak for themselves and I love them! My favorites are the pencils and the crayons. Bestsellers also include paper clips, BIC pens, Legos, straws, utensils, and other everyday objects she dazzles up and that serve as reminders to find wonder in the mundane.
So there you have it. Everything and anything you’ve ever wanted to know about the crème de la gems. I could go on and on and include the likes of Chopard and Bucheron, Hermes and Bvlgari, but I think you get the point here. Diamonds have and will always be a girl’s best friend and boy am I down for it.
Beyond Words 