The 'Power Pearls' of Politicians

In the overly-scrutinized world of the fashion choices of female politicians, a swanky strand of pearls remains one of the few traditionally feminine accessories able to hold its own with the ubiquitous pants suit. 

Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Britain from 1979 - 1990, painted by Richard Stone. 

Why are these strands of 'power pearls' accepted where other gems of equal costliness might be thought of as inappropriately flashy?

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. 

Because for centuries pearls have been the gem of royalty and old-money families. They represent wealth, power, and to a certain extent, conservative values: three qualities that politicians are generally eager to project.

The short collars of giant South Sea pearls have a particularly imposing presence, and are best pulled-off by those who feel comfortable being the boss.

Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand from 2011 - 2014.

Wear em' proud, ladies. 

Anatomy of a Ring

Sometimes the hardest part of engagement ring shopping is knowing how to describe exactly what you are looking for. To help out, we created a little diagram that explains some basic ring vocabulary.

Something Old, Something New...

What’s a wedding without the inclusion of a few of the quirky traditions espoused by families and folklore? 

Art Deco Diamond Brooch, modern pave wedding band, antique gold locket and turquoise & diamond Victorian ring.

One of the more persistent traditions in our own culture is a bride’s adherence to the fashion tips of an odd little poem. She must wear:

Something old

Something new

Something borrowed

Something blue

And, if the poem is read in its entirety, she should also be sure to have:

A silver sixpence in her shoe

These words have long held sway over wedding day ensembles. In 1888 Bow Bells Weekly of London reported “Last season there were probably not three society brides who had the courage to disregard the rhyme.”

The author and origin of the poem are today a History Mystery, but most will point to 19th century England as the time and place these verses first gained widespread popularity. The five recommended objects were meant to help the wearer on her way to a happy and healthy marriage.

Something Old represents the support of the bride’s own family,

Something New is for the family she and her husband will create

Something Borrowed should come from a friend or relative with a joyful marriage, a little piece of luck to pass along

Something Blue represents love and fidelity

A Sixpence in her shoe is a token towards a prosperous future

While there are some wedding day customs we wouldn’t mind saying goodbye to (smashing cake in your partner’s professionally made-up face, for instance), the tradition of Something Old is one that represents only good; the past, present and future of a couple and those who will support them on their journey. And besides, who couldn’t use a bit of extra luck every now and then?

How Diamonds Became April's Birthstone

The time has come, once again, to be jealous of all your friends who’ve been blessed with April birthdays and the diamond as their official birthstone.

A selection of vintage diamond rings, currently available at Gray & Davis. 

Famed Tiffany gemologist G.F. Kunz traced back the modern tradition of wearing stones specific to one’s birthday to eighteenth-century Poland, when gem dealers tweaked ancient lore about the twelve gems found on the biblical Breastplate of Aaron to more aptly reflect their current inventory. It was at this time that the diamond, not originally mentioned in Old Testament texts, was assigned to the month of April. The fact that the Portuguese had recently discovered huge deposits of diamonds in their colony of Brazil certainly had something to do with European dealers’ new supplies.

Though its’ status as a birthstone has a slightly-less-than-mystical origin, there’s no doubt that this special stone had more than secured it’s spot by the late-nineteenth century when Kunz was doing his research. Typical of a Victorian gentleman, he described this special species of gem in delightfully flowery prose:

““The diamond…is the gem of light. Its color is that of ice, and as the dew drop or the drop of water from a mountain stream sparkles in the light of the sun, as the icicle sparkles in winter, and the stars on a cold winter night, so the diamond sparkles, and it combines and contrasts with all known gems. Like light, it illumines them just as the sun does the plants of the earth. “”

Happy birthday, to all our April friends!

The Legend of the Claddagh Ring

Though it’s nicknamed the Emerald Isle, Ireland’s real jewelry claim to fame is the Claddagh ring, usually fashioned of simple silver or gold. 

18th Century Irish Claddagh ring, British Museum. 

The Claddagh is a lovely little cypher featuring two hands for friendship, a heart for love and a crown for loyalty. Legend tells us that the Claddagh ring was invented in the seventeenth century by a lovesick Irishman taken from his homeland.

Robert Joyce was a fisherman from Claddagh, a small village that was located near modern Galway. On one of his fishing trips he was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave to a Moorish goldsmith. Poor Robert had left a girl back home in Galway, and created the Claddagh ring as a symbol of his love for her. But the legend has a happy ending! In 1689 William III negotiated the release of all his citizens that were being held as slaves, and Robert was able to return to Ireland where his faithful gal was waiting. The two wed, and Robert opened his own successful goldsmith shop in Galway. His ring design became a hit, and has been exchanged between friends and lovers ever since.