Category Archives: Jewelry History

Gemology Giant on Pearl Stringers

As many of you know, G. Frederick Kunz was one of the most influential gemologists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among his many achievements, he and his friend Charles Hugh Stevenson wrote “The Book of the Pearl, the History, … Continue reading →

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Small Gestures That Can Have Meaning

One of the more charming ways people pay homage to others is in the clothes and accessories they wear. This can be a helpful thought to bear in mind for a couple of reasons. When I ran the gallery I … Continue reading →

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Verdura: Adornment and Achievement

One of the most important jewelry designers of the 20th century was Italian born Fulco di Verdura or more accurately, Fulco Santostefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura. Verdura was born in 1896 to Sicilian aristocracy in Palermo, Italy and according … Continue reading →

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Star Trivia: Pearls, Gold and Gemstones

Here are a couple of pieces of jewelry trivia I came across this morning. Marilyn’s Mikimoto Pearls: According to Meyer Hoffman, chief operating officer of Mikimoto America, Marilyn Monroe actually owned very few pieces of “real jewelry.” One such piece … Continue reading →

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Lots of Pearls, No Kokoshniki

By the end of the year, jewelry lovers will be treated to two period pieces which rely upon sumptuous jewelry for atmosphere and detail. The first is a remake of “The Great Gatsby” which will feature designs by Tiffany. If … Continue reading →

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Promoting Tutti Frutti: Jewelry Collector Daisy Fellowes

A new book from Sotheby’s jewelry experts “Celebrating Jewellery: Exceptional Jewels of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries” features a ring owed by Daisy Fellowes, a name I didn’t recognize. Turns out Daisy Fellowes was a French heiress who as a … Continue reading →

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The Royal Asscher Legacy

Recently the Royal Asscher Company donated a sapphire ring to raise money for AIDS. The auction was run by the Human Rights Campaign and received a great deal of trade coverage. Why? The story of Royal Asscher Company is one … Continue reading →

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Pearls: New Role in Combating Cancer

Pearl and bead stringers will be interested to know that recent news from India suggests that pearls may play a role in treating cancer. Ajai Kumar Sonkar at the Pearl Aquaculture Research Foundation in India analyzed the micro-nutrients in several … Continue reading →

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Contributions of Gemstone Connoisseur J.P.Morgan

J.P. Morgan remains today as controversial a figure as he was a century ago. Some regard him as one of the great 19th century robber barons; others see his role in the industrialization of America more benignly. Whatever you think … Continue reading →

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“Small” Crown Part of Victoria Mourning Jewelry

Among other things, many of us remember Queen Victoria, the British monarch for more than half of the 19th century, for her extravagant, decades-long mourning of her consort, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She married Albert, her first cousin, … Continue reading →

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