tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post7644858347281345607..comments2024-03-28T03:40:29.423-04:00Comments on Passage des Perles: Taking treasure out of the chestDuchessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-7010277533730279222009-07-21T11:00:33.555-04:002009-07-21T11:00:33.555-04:00Wonderful article. I am rereading some of your ent...Wonderful article. I am rereading some of your entries while you are on hiatus.Hope you have an enjoyable time.<br />I was working as a student in a store when a woman came in and plonked down a necklace on the counter- She wondered as to the value of the piece- was it 'real' was it fake.Her mother-in-law whom she didn't like on sight had given it to her on the morning of her wedding. They hardly spoke afterwards and she was since departed and the piece looked like junk jewelry- tons of 'diamonds' in layers with what looked like a rhodium finished sterling silver or even silver plated.<br />The jeweler took it in for inspection and it was valued at $250,000 It was platinum.They were all diamonds.<br />She was about to dump it because of its associations. Her mother-in-law had never mentioned the cost or insurance leaving her to believe it wasn't very special.Anjela's Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06209844678269049392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-6029238239678908552009-07-17T16:03:34.932-04:002009-07-17T16:03:34.932-04:00s.: Thanks for asking. What do you think, everyone...s.: Thanks for asking. What do you think, everyone? (Whether you have big bling or not:))Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-35740791568032611492009-07-17T14:32:04.403-04:002009-07-17T14:32:04.403-04:00So, a question for all of you (I hope you don'...So, a question for all of you (I hope you don't mind, Duchesse; if you do, please just delete) Is it vulgar to wear big diamonds on a day to day basis? I always cringe when I see massive "ice" at 10AM in the local starbucks - I was raised that honkin' jewels are to be worn only for evening occasions - but maybe this is just an antiquated notion on my part. Or maybe I'm cringing because many of these women seem vulgar in countless ways, and the bling is in fact the least offensive of their crimes.s.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04741062569246094417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-34079070860997027902009-07-17T13:12:55.219-04:002009-07-17T13:12:55.219-04:00CompsssRose: Thank you for bringing up the pleasur...CompsssRose: Thank you for bringing up the pleasure of jewelry as memento. A friend had made a shadowbox with Victorian famliy pieces and laces made by her great grandmother. Your fifties silver sounds fabulous.<br /><br />s.: I'm so sorry to hear that, it is so painful to lose family treasures. That is why so many people keep things in a box at a bank, then seldom wear. Good idea to have hiding places to deter a smash and grab- the main thing is to realize anything in a usual spot (dresser drawer, jewelry box, bedside table) will go.<br /><br />lagatta: See CompassRoses' idea. My mismatches usually get recycled, it only reminds me of my loss to have one lonely earring in the box.<br /><br />Imogen: Agree, and another advantage of vintage pieces is that you can go quite 'big' without looking over the top.Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-78177495046343497612009-07-17T12:30:17.082-04:002009-07-17T12:30:17.082-04:00Another lovely post. Thank you, Duchesse. It was...Another lovely post. Thank you, Duchesse. It was heart rending when my house was burgled last year and most of the jewellery that I had inherited from my late mother was stolen. In an effort to ensure that I'd wear it more often, I had taken most items from the safe and kept it in my dressing room. It still kills me to think that the antique amythest necklace my late dad gave her for their 25th wedding anniversary will probably be ripped apart: gold melted down and 25 stones sold separately... so much exquisite craftsmanship and history worth much more than the sum of its parts. Folks, when it's not on your body, please ensure that it's kept somewhere that a nasty thief won't find it.s.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04741062569246094417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-10180261020902228692009-07-17T04:11:42.929-04:002009-07-17T04:11:42.929-04:00Love an old piece of jewellery - often it's th...Love an old piece of jewellery - often it's the history of the piece that also is important. Yes I'm a sentimental fool at times. And wear everything - you may die tomorrow!Imogen Lamport, AICI CIPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796095692232856223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-60206152096228386532009-07-17T04:08:19.060-04:002009-07-17T04:08:19.060-04:00THANK YOU (!!!) for the Vincenzo Taormina informat...THANK YOU (!!!) for the Vincenzo Taormina information! I have many vintage costume pieces that need a little repair and I have never been able to find someone who I trust to have work on them.<br /><br />Can't thank you enough :)<br /><br />Oh, and that bracelet is a beauty.hollarbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759689530670606301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-4107714567843628642009-07-16T22:02:19.967-04:002009-07-16T22:02:19.967-04:00When my hair is shorter, I usually wear just one m...When my hair is shorter, I usually wear just one more interesting earring, and a stud in the other ear. It feels less overwhelming than having TWO huge chunks of metal on either side of my face. A friend of mine gave me quite a few mismatched pretties to wear thus (she once had a coat with a collar that brushed off all her left hook earrings unless she put rubber keepers on them, and sometimes even then).<br /><br />I have some really nice pieces of chunky costume jewellery, including some great Nordic-modern silver things from I think the fifties. My father's mother, the artist, liked them. I find them hard to work into my style, though. The few good bits of old jewellery I have are impossible for me, all being gold, tiny, and dainty - I doubt my style will ever shift towards the gold, tiny and dainty! (These include a lovely Victorian locket with engraving and an enamel flower, from my great-gran.) I still like having them in my box, though. Every now and then, I sift through things, and hold them fondly.<br /><br />I wish I had a massive neo-Aztec cuff, though! That I could wear, even if it is gold! Gorgeous piece.CompassRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02298536570391529376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-32998551508937660422009-07-16T18:21:06.376-04:002009-07-16T18:21:06.376-04:00I wish there were such a swap club for mismatched ...I wish there were such a swap club for mismatched earrings; mostly silver, a couple of gold.lagatta à montréalhttp://www.lemab.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-75179148155650948392009-07-16T15:54:35.565-04:002009-07-16T15:54:35.565-04:00Duchesse, thanks for a great post. I wish now that...Duchesse, thanks for a great post. I wish now that I had kept all of my mother's jewlery. But at 21 I was devestated enough at her passing to not think I would want these reminders. Luckily I have a few. I like the idea of the charm necklace. Your friend sounds like many women. They wear so little jewlery that they sometimes feel awkward putting such a piece on. I hope she is enjoying it now after your encouragement.Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02395228631699632403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-41047544526149532002009-07-16T13:03:40.552-04:002009-07-16T13:03:40.552-04:00I think your suggestion might even be better, Duch...I think your suggestion might even be better, Duchesse -- I can already envision it! I'll see what the jeweler thinks, but I think the kind of cluster you describe might work better with the smaller pieces to give them a bit more heft. Thanks again!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-37247326091846935012009-07-16T12:19:04.180-04:002009-07-16T12:19:04.180-04:00materfamilias: Those heirlooms sound perfect for a...materfamilias: Those heirlooms sound perfect for a charm necklace or the type of pendant where each is attached (with a ring) attached one large ring, which in turn hangs from a chain. Sometimes the addition of one or two elements, such as an amethyst nugget brings everything together. What fun to play with these sentimental bits and pieces.<br /><br />Frugal: If that were my bracelet I'd sleep in it!Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-13007960683430007362009-07-16T10:34:36.845-04:002009-07-16T10:34:36.845-04:00I'm so glad you counselled your friend's w...I'm so glad you counselled your friend's wife to get that bracelet back out into the world where it deserves to be seen!<br />Wish I had treasures like that lurking in my drawers . . . what I have are a few very small gold pendants (wee crosses, an amethyst on a gold clasp, ditto for an opal) along with the approx. 1-inch gold locket my dad gave my mom almost 60 years ago. Following advice in an earlier post, I've gathered these together and am going to take them to a local jeweler who does custom work to see if he can devise some way to pull them all pleasingly into one piece -- I'm thinking a gold neck chain a bit like a charm bracelet, but I'll see what ideas he might have. I'll let you know how it all turns out. Thanks for the inspiration.materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-36342484255715362322009-07-16T10:26:47.181-04:002009-07-16T10:26:47.181-04:00Love that bracelet. As always, thanks for the insp...Love that bracelet. As always, thanks for the inspiration.Frugal Scholarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12696815672500452503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-84071650662532337762009-07-16T10:05:26.872-04:002009-07-16T10:05:26.872-04:00mardel: Have not used them or know anyone who has....mardel: Have not used them or know anyone who has. Perhaps a phone call to talk about your project would give you a sense of suitability. Am planning to send them a large costume brooch but not till fall.<br /><br />diverchic: So happy you like it!Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-76385167530898838182009-07-16T09:55:49.266-04:002009-07-16T09:55:49.266-04:00I agree that what is put away is forgotten, and be...I agree that what is put away is forgotten, and beautiful things deserve to be worn. I have just sorted through and rearranged my jewelry. There are still a few old pieces I need to figure out what to do with, and some I would wear more.<br /><br />Have you, or do you know anyone who has, used the repair website. I have a fabulous gold-plated bracelet that I adore that seriously needs refurbishing but on one around me can do it.Mardelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04850551308931710502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-80794905737891185702009-07-16T09:51:35.732-04:002009-07-16T09:51:35.732-04:00I was told yesterday that with all my good and old...I was told yesterday that with all my good and old jewellry put neatly away, I couldn't see what I had and therefore wasn't wearing it. I am now in the process of clearing space to display it visually so that I too will be able to add accessories and be less of a dull bird. <br />I received a particularly beautiful modern necklace of pearls, silver and stones that a dear friend gave me yesterday and I think I will never take it off. Thanks again, Duchesse.diverchichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07753507927794435960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-78282655018415230202009-07-16T08:49:30.322-04:002009-07-16T08:49:30.322-04:00Amen! Beautiful things were meant to be worn!Amen! Beautiful things were meant to be worn!StyleSpyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09032983147859861793noreply@blogger.com