If I Had a Wish List...

(Victorian silver chain)

If I had a wish list these lovelies would be on top!

 

(Vintage Horse Cufflinks)

These cufflinks make me want to go and buy a fitted crisp white French cuff shirt. 

(Egyptian Revival Mummy Charm)

I have such a fascination with anything Egyptian, especially when it includes Art Deco and Enamel!  I would wear this on a beautiful silver chain everyday. 

(Victorian Silver Repousse Locket)

This locket is A: Gorgeous and B: BIG. It measures to 51mm-41mm. Just the right size to put a regular sized photo of your dog or cat!

(Victorian Horn Earrings)

So striking are these Victorian spiral earrings, just the right amount of drama. For dressy and dressing down I'd choose these.

For more perfect personal heirloom gift idea's feel free to contact us at: info@isadoras.com or 206.441.7711.

For the musician inside you.

For those of us who always wished for the ability to command the piano like Philip Glass or Mozart. For the musician inside each one of us, Isadora's has the perfect cufflinks to inspire your longing.

(Fenwick & Sailors sterling cufflinks)

("Swank" cuffinks)

Now go play...

Jewelry and the Golden Triangle

I’ll admit that until this past week, what I knew about the Golden Triangle could be fit into a teaspoon. I knew it was somewhere in Asia and bridged three countries including Thailand and Burma.

But Isadora’s just got in a new collection of beautiful jewelry from this area and so like always I decided to research and correct my ignorance or at least make a dent in it.

Apparently the Golden Triangle is in Asia and it does cross over three countries:Thailand, Burma and Laos. But that area of the world is so much more.


There are six groups of people that populate this area, primarily residing in the hills of Thailand: The Hmong, The Lahu, The Karen, The Lisu, The Akha and the Mien. And they have beautiful jewelry.

(Vintage Akha Metal Disc Necklace)

Much of their jewelry is composed of silver. Because these people live on the cusp of three countries, they believe that silver has a greater fixed value than national currencies (and as we read the news from all parts of the world I have to say this seems like a rather intelligent worldview.) And so whenever they get a chunk of change they use it to buy beautiful silver earrings, bracelets and necklaces, wearing the jewelry in great abundance on special occasions.


And one of their favored jewelry motifs is that of the spiral. To them the spiral represents the being’s permanence over the transience of change. I have to say it has become one of my new, favorite jewelry motifs.

(Vintage Akha Spiral Necklace)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things . . .

Because we at Isadora’s love to share what we are passionate about, we are instituting a new regular feature in our blog, “These are a few of my favorite things”, in which one of our staff members will talk about five of their favorite pieces of jewelry. So here are mine!

Mid 20th Century Yellow Gold Necklace

If I had to name one essential jewelry item I would say it is a yellow gold necklace.  And this one is particularly beautiful.  It has a big wow factor, which I have to admit is a must for me, with gold links that drape beautifully over the neck.  It is also a very good length and it has a subtle graduation which I adore.  And one of my very favorite things about this particular necklace is that, while it looks heavy, the links are hallow so it is really comfortable to wear.  

Victorian Men's Bloodstone Ring

Lately I have really been digging men’s wear for women, much to my husband’s dismay, as I keep stealing his cardigans.  But there is something sophisticated and sexy about a Coco Chanel appropriation of men’s clothing for women.  And when I see this ring I think of one of the recent Chanel bio pics “Coco Avant Chanel”.  There is a scene in the movie in which Chanel’s hands are bare except for a striking, masculine onyx pinky ring.  I’m sure that scene was fantastic but I couldn’t stop looking at that ring.  And I actually think this bloodstone ring is more handsome than the one in the movie.

Victorian Silver Bangle

So many times I have people come into the store, fall in love with a piece of jewelry, and then profess surprise when I tell them it dates from the Victorian era.  To their eyes the piece they are looking at is too exotic, to modern, too fantastic for the Victorians.  I think this because one of the sterotypes of the Victorian era is a highly corseted women wearing fussy hearts and flowers.  And it was that era.  But it was also the era of Sarah Bernhardt and many other women terribly exotic and interesting.  I love this bracelet for its Victorian ferocity and I would like to meet a Victorian woman like that.

French Sodalite Rosary

I love color.  And sodalite is one of the prettiest colored stones I know.  This rosary makes me think of the beautiful blues used in Titian and Renaissance paintings, from when they painted with ultramarine the price of gold.

Victorian Turquoise Buckle Ring

I love turquoise and I love almost anything with a buckle motif so what could be more special than a turquoise buckle ring.  This one is particularly enchanting with its subtle engraving.  Plus it is hallmarked, so we know it was made in Birmingham, England in 1868.  I love anything from which I can glean a bit of the past.  (On an interesting historical side note, the hallmark for Birmingham is a little anchor.  This is funny because Birmingham is no where near the water but the office in charge of assuring things were hallmarked correctly was located in a building called “The Anchor”.)

And there you have it, a few of my favorite things.  Please check back to hear from our other staff members.

Miko

Zircon: December's Sparking Birthstone

December's birthstone, Zircon is one nature’s prettiest stones.  Occurring in blue, brown, green, dark red, yellow, orange and white, zircon is characterized by an extremely high refraction giving it a fantastic sparkle.

Circa 1950 Blue Zircon Ring

But due to a similar name to the artificial stone, Cubic Zirconia, it has often been overlooked.  This is a jewelry crime, to my way of thinking, because Zircon is a wonderfully beautiful stone. 

Art Deco Filigree Pendant

And it is the complete opposite of the man made Cubic Zirconia as it is the oldest stone known to man.  And this is not hyperbole.  In Australia, during the 1990’s a tiny grain of zircon 4.2-4.3 billion years old was discovered.  Becoming the very oldest object ever found!

Zircon Filigree Ring

Due to scientists’ ability to trace time through the chemical make-up of zircons, zircons are loved not only by jewelry enthusiasts but also by geologists.  A very hardy stone, Zircons are resistant to chemical attack.  They survive geological events that eradicate other stones and like a time capsule they retain the chemical makeup of their entire timeline, giving geologist clues about the history of the natural world.

Art Deco Zircon Ring

But I digress, as a jewelry lover, the most important thing about zircon’s is how exquisitely beautiful they are. 

An Interpretation of the Indian Kalpa Tree

They are considered so beautiful Hindu poets tell of the ancient Kalpa tree. The ultimate gift to the gods, a glowing tree covered in gemstone fruit with leaves of zircon. 

Mid 20th Century Zircon Ring

The word Zircon actually comes from the Persian word “Zargun” meaning gold-colored.  As for many years the golden brown zircon was the most popular.  Today the vibrant blue is the one that so many people are crazy for, as am I.


Please follow this link to see all of Isadora's fantastic Zircon pieces:  Zircon

The Dance of the Butterfly: Beautiful Butterfly Gifts

(Bébé Daniels, 1920s)

We have the absolute best butterfly jewelry at the moment. Here are a select few pretties. 

Enjoy.

(Scarab Brooch)

(c.1910 Butterfly Enamel Ring)

(Tortoise Butterfly earrings)

Beautiful Butterfly Holiday Gifts.

Topaz: December's Birthstone

Named in honor of the Russian monarchy that valued and wore this beautiful stone, the Imperial Topaz is a fantastic gemstone with beautiful peach, pink, orange and champagne hues.

(Imperial Topaz)

The word “Topaz” comes from the Sanskrit word meaning fire.  And the stone does have a fire like quality.

The ancient Egyptians believed that Ra, the Sun God is the one who gave Topaz its color.  And the topaz was therefore highly valued by the ancient Egyptians.  The Romans also believed it was the sun that gave the topaz its color.

(Ra found here)