Royalty Wedding Rings

Following up from our list of Celebrity Wedding Rings, here are some of the engagement rings that have been exchanged in royal hands.

Mary of Burgundy – received the first documented diamond engagement ring in 1477 from the Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg.

Princess Mary – may well be the youngest recipient of a diamond wedding ring. A tiny ring with a large diamond was placed on her finger when she was married (by proxy) to the Dauphin of France in 1518 at age of two!

Queen Victoria – wore an engagement ring in the shape of a serpent motif whose coils symbolized eternity.

Queen Elizabeth II – was given a ring created with heirloom diamonds from Prince Philip’s mother’s tiara.

Lady Diana Spencer – received a sapphire and diamond engagement ring from Prince Charles.

Camilla Parker-Bowles – A love affair thirty-five years in the making became one step closer to being formalized when Prince Charles presented his long time paramour with a square-cut diamond ring passed down from the Queen Mother.

Camilla Parker Bowles – The Prince of Wales wedding rings were hand made in court style by Wartski, using Welsh gold.

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• Aug 29th, 07
• 1 Comment

Celebrity Engagement Rings

Hot News: Britney Spears just got engaged and here’s a few pics of her and fiance Jason Trawick. He gave her a 3 carat, diamond paved band ring.

Above Image credits: TMZ.com

Here is a list of some more celebrities and the types of engagement rings they got that made them say, Yes!

Jean Harlow received a 150 carat cabochon sapphire engagement ring from William Powell, which could be seen in the movie “Saratoga.”

Jacqueline Bouvier received from John F. Kennedy a 2.88 carat diamond and emerald engagement ring from Van Cleef & Arpels.

Priscilla was given a 3.5 carat engagement ring surrounded by 21 smaller diamonds from Elvis Presley.

Grace Kelly received from Prince Rainier of Monaco a 12-carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring.

Elizabeth Taylor was given an emerald and diamond engagement ring from Richard Burton.

Marilyn was proposed to by Joe DiMaggio with a platinum and diamond band set with 35 baguette-cut diamonds.

Sharon Stone received a three-stone, three-and-a-half-carat emerald-cut style engagement ring from Phil Bronstein.

 

 

Jennifer Aniston was given an engagement ring which was a band of white gold encircled with 20 diamonds, designed by Brad Pitt . Brad’s matching band holds 10 diamonds. Their names are engraved inside.

Catherine Zeta-Jones was proposed to by Michael Douglas with a 10-carat marquise-cut diamond engagement ring.

If one diamond isn’t enough, then three certainly work very well together. The three-stone diamond engagement ring is gaining in popularity among several of Hollywood’s hottest couples.

The three diamonds represent the Past, Present & Future or in Guy Ritchie and Madonna’s case – for mother, father and son Rocco. Ritchie chose a one-of-a-kind, Edwardian, round, three-stone diamond ring with ornate diamond details throughout the platinum band.

Jennifer Lopez - who flashed a six-carat Harry Winston pink diamond engagement ring some time ago is sporting today a 7-carat starburst diamond accented with two smaller diamonds on a platinum band presented by her third husband, Marc Anthony.

Victoria Beckham – Soccer star David Beckham chose Boodle & Dunthorne to design a 3-carat marquise-cut diamond embraced with a trillion on either side for the former Spice Girl.

Elizabeth Hurley’s engagement ring was a 15.09 carat Asscher cut diamond, set in white gold and surrounded by a pave-set band,made by Chopard who also designed the actress’s wedding band, a white gold ring set with 20 square-cut diamonds with a total weight of 3.91 carat.

Christine Baumgartner – Kevin Costner chose for his wife a 5-carat square diamond with interwoven bands fashioned in a leaf pattern.

Nicole Richie -Is wearing her birthstone, square-cut pink sapphire encircled with small diamonds.

Pamela Anderson – the former Baywatch babe has a yellow gold band topped with a 4-carat round solitaire.

Mary J. Blige – Jacob & Co., provider of luxury timepieces, supplied the R & B singer’s platinum engagement ring, which is embellished with a 5-carat round cut diamond surrounded by a row of baguette diamonds.

Brandy – Jeweler Jason Arasheben completed the 11.5-carat ring only thirty minutes before fiance Quentin Richardson slipped it to the singer’s finger.

Joan Collins – Diva from “Dynasty” wears a heart-shaped diamond ring from jeweler Fred Leighton.

Courteney Cox – Since the number eight is lucky for Courtney, husband David Arquette slipped a vintage ring from Neil Lane with two round diamonds in the shape of an eight on the finger of the “Friends” star’s left hand.

Mariska Hargitay – Actor Peter Hermann present his love with a platinum ring composed of nine round diamonds by New York-based designer Karen Karch.

Kimberley Buffington – Anthony Camargo and David Nakard Armstrong of Anthony Nak constructed a platinum band, accented with pave diamonds, upon which a rare triangular-shaped canary diamond from South Africa rests.

Angie Harmon – Husband Jason Sehorn proposed on the set of “The Tonight Show” with a Bulgari composed of a large round diamond and two baguette diamonds.

Whitney Houston – Her engagement ring has a trillion on either side of a 10- carat oval diamond.

Star Jones Reynolds – The 5-carat Princess cut diamond was purchased at Jacob & Co., the company which had provided a $180,000 necklace for model Christy Turlington to wear during her wedding to actor Ed Burns.

Ashley Judd – Dario Franchitti proposed to the star in December 1999 with a 3-carat cushion-cut diamond and platinum band enhanced with pave diamonds from jeweler Martin Katz.

Kelis – The hip hop star wears a cushion-cut diamond ring embraced with two pink, heart-shaped diamonds.

Heidi Klum - The German supermodel received a rare canary diamond from singer Seal.

Melania Knauss – Donald Trump chose a flawless, 13-carat emerald cut diamond sparkler from Graff jewelers.

Kelley Limp – The “Real World” reality star received from the actor Scott Wolf, a 2.7 carat diamond ring purchased from jeweler Bruce Winston.

LeAnn Rimes -Has a 5-carat solitaire from estate jeweler Neil Lane. She wears her ring with pride.

Britney Spears - The pop princess choose her own engagement ring. Britney wears a 4-carat cushion-cut round diamond perched over joining platinum and pave diamonds. Today though the couple, Britney and Kevin Federline are separated.

Tori Spelling - A delicate Art Deco-style Platinum ring with a focal 1.5-carat round diamond, accented with small diamonds and elaborate design work, was a perfect compliment to the 1920′s Neil Lane brooch the actress wore on her special day.

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos - A Neil Lane vintage 5-carat emerald-cut diamond with two smaller diamonds is sparkling on her hand.

Gwen Stefani – One round diamond, which stands out prominently from a platinum band inset with a row of smaller diamonds, was purchased in Amsterdam.

Christina Aguilera – pop singer is sporting a 5-carat diamond ring designed by jeweler Stephen Webster, who also created the wedding bands for Madonna and her husband, Guy Ritchie.

Even though some marriages are not forever, diamonds are!

More Celebrity Rings

• Aug 9th, 07
• 4 Comments

Georgian Jewelry

Introduction

All jewelry made in the Georgian Era was handmade. Georgian fashion called for the use of large stones set in a sophisticated rococo style. The diamond was the most favored precious stone at the beginning of the Georgian period.

Soon enough though, diamond alternatives were produced with such quality that it was entirely reputable for even royalty to wear them. Real gems were replaced with glass paste copies and a substitute for gold called “pinchbeck”, which is a mixture of copper and zinc, was also used. Paste, rock crystal, marcasite, and cut steel were also engaged into production to meet the increased demand for white stones.

In the 1750′s various semi-precious gems also began to be used by jewelers. Gems like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires were worn again along with new stones like topaz, chartreuse chrysoberyl, amethyst, coral, ivory, pearls, and garnets were used widely.

All types of jewelry from rings, girandole earrings, memorabilia jewelry, bracelets, crosses, hair combs, buckles, aigrettes, and tiaras were large in Georgian era.

Design and Styling

With the introduction of engraved classical jewelry lava, shell, onyx, and carnelian became popular. After Napoleon had antique roman cameos placed on his crown for his 1804 coronation, they became very popular. Other popular Georgian motifs were intaglios, cameos, mosaic, acorns, Urns, Doves, the Greek key, Phoenix, Wheat, and plumage.

At this time diamond cutters were also introducing exhilarating new types of gem cuts such as rose cut, cushion, and brilliants. Jewelry at this time looked large and bold but they had hollow forms and scroll motifs to save up precious material.

Jewelry styles followed were smaller, lighter forms, often with draped chains and classical motifs.

Oval shapes, and Navette, were common along with inscriptions. Seed pearls, garnets, black enamel and onyx were also often included.

Popular styles of the time included -

• Long earrings, a single drop, or the three drop “chandelier” style were common.
• Short necklaces were complimenting low necklines of the times.
• A row of diamonds or gemstones graduated in size or cameos.
• Favored motifs for brooches were diamond bows, feathers and floral sprays.
• Stomachers were large brooches which covered a gown from the low cut neckline to the waist or just above.
• Chatelaines were worn at the waist, incorporating work implements suspended by chains.

Materials

Georgian gems were often set over gold or silver foil with their backs enclosed with metal. Sometimes, you can detect Georgian pieces by the way the stones are mounted.

Most of the common features included -

• Cobalt blue, black and white enameling
• foilback stones
• low flat goldwork and
• Bezels
• 18k gold and higher

Favored gemstones of the Georgian period were topaz, garnets, coral, aquamarine and mostly diamonds. All precious metals and gemstones were very rare until the 20th century.

Foil backing indicates a fake stone in jewelry today as open work for gems is preferred.

Interesting facts

1. In the days before photography, people wore miniature painted portraits of their loved ones in pendants, brooches and bracelets.
2. Collars or chokers were popular in the period 1770 to 1790.
3. Jeweled bands were worn in the hair, high on the arm, and sometimes on calves, thighs, and toes.
4. Men wore more jewelry in those days than today.
5. Very little Georgian jewelry survived because when styles changed it was recycled.
6. In order to finance the war against Napoleon around 1804, Prussia (Germany and Poland today) were called upon to give up their jewelry. They were thanked with iron jewelry replacements which objects are highly collectible in present time.

Pictures of Georgian Jewelry

• Jul 3rd, 07
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History of Vintage Jewelry

Georgian, Early Victorian, Mid-Victorian, Late Victorian, Arts and Crafts era, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco and Retro are the names of the eras that was given to certain periods of history. The jewelry of those eras are also referred to by the same name. Vintage Jewelry is also known as Estate Jewelry.

Georgian Jewelry (1714-1837)

Georgian jewelry was handmade, making each peace unique. Designs were mostly nature-inspired such as leaves and birds. Precious stones were frequently used and any of the original jewelry is rarely found today.

Victorian Jewelry

• Early Victorian, Romantic Jewelry (1837-1850)
  Early Victorian era jewelry features nature-inspired designs like Georgian era; however these designs would be delicately engraved into gold. Lockets and brooches were popular everyday jewelry whereas colored gemstones and diamonds were worn during the evening.

• Mid-Victorian, Grand Jewelry (1860-1880)
  This era corresponded with the death of Queen Victoria’s husband; therefore many jewelry pieces have solemn designs. Jewelry in this period was known as mourning jewelry and the pieces featured heavy, dark stones along with gems such as Jet, Onyx, Amethyst, and Garnet. Creativity was at a high during this period with colorful designs featuring shells, mosaics and colorful gemstones.

• Late Victorian, Aesthetic Jewelry (1885-1900)
  During the Late Victorian period, diamonds and gemstones such as sapphire, peridot, and spinel were commonly used by jewelers. Star, crescent designs and elaborate hat pins were also popular.

Arts and Crafts Jewelry (1894-1923)

At the time of the Industrial Revolution, many jewelry designers rebelled, returning to making intricate designs and handmade craftsmanship. It was common for jewelry of this era to be simple in pattern, with colorful, uncut stones.

Art Nouveau Jewelry (1895-1915)

Art Nouveau jewelry featured natural designs such as flowers and butterflies. It was popular in America and France.

Edwardian Jewelry (1901-1910)

During this period, expensive gemstones such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and elaborate designs were in demand as designers used these materials extensively to make their jewelry.

Art Deco Jewelry (1920-1935)

Art Deco jewelry is famous for its geometric designs, sharp lines, and bright colors it was mostly influenced by African, Egyptian and Japanese themes. Necklaces were long and bracelets were worn many at a time. Amber and murano beads were worn as well as chokers.

Retro Jewelry (1940s)

Inspired by Hollywood, Retro jewelry is colorful, bold and elaborate. Commonly worn were large cocktail rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and charm bracelets.

• Jun 1st, 07
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