there are a number of extraordinarily beautiful vintage bridal rings out in the world. being in the jewelry industry, i am fortunate to come across many of those gorgeous pieces. there is something to be said about the moment when you find such rings and pair them together to make something that is nothing short of magical.

1| victorian 14k yellow gold prong set 3 diamond ring – center 0.89ct J color VS2 with 2 side 0.25ct HI VS2/SI1 old european cut diamonds

2| 14k yellow gold with 3 H/I white diamonds (0.12tcw) and 3 blue sapphires (0.18tcw) band

both can be sized up or down

as soon as the calendar turns to february 1st, somehow we can feel that love is in the air. our thoughts turn to heart-shaped candies, pink and red roses, and other tokens to express our affections. however, many of us (myself included) do not quite remember the history or rather, mystery of saint valentine.
one legend has it that valentine was a roman priest who continued to perform secret weddings for young lovers, despite marriage having been outlawed by emperor claudius II. he was punished after his ‘defiant’ actions were discovered. in another version, valentine was an imprisoned young man who fell in love with a jailor’s young daughter. before his death, he allegedly wrote her one last love letter and signed it “from your valentine”, an expression that is still used to this day. valentine’s day letters can be dated to as early as the middle ages – the earliest physical record in existence is a poem written by charles the duke of orleans in 1415. regardless of legend, valentine will forever be known as the hero who cherished, honored and believed in one thing – love.
the lover’s knot or love knot is a victorian symbol associated with both love and friendship. the interlocked knots represent the connection between a couple and the serpent-like ropes symbolize a continuous and unending love. the love knot, aptly, became a well-known theme in victorian-era jewelry and continues to influence contemporary designs today.

this february 14th, give yourself or a loved one a true symbol of love…

shown above:
victorian 14k yellow gold and diamond love knot pendant on oxidized silver chain
victorian 14k yellow gold enamel love knot ring no a 12k gold shank
by estate of grace fine jewelry by bethany b

Clockwise:
18k Gold Micro-Prong Diamond Stackable Bands – Sethi Couture
Silver Bangle Trio with 18k Gold Infinity – Sharon Zimmerman
14k Gold Infinity Stud Earrings – Sharon Zimmerman
Silver and Gold Ruina Rings – Sarah Swell
Silver Mini Mountain Hoop Earrings – Sarah Swell
Silver Rays Claw with Aqua Chalcedony Ring – Corey Egan
Silver Fragment with Lemon Citrine Drop Earrings – Corey Egan
18k Gold Pave Diamond Half-Ball Stud Earrings – Sethi Couture

always an exciting time when we can share that we have added another local artisan to our mix. i’m a sucker for sculptural jewelry and that’s exactly what our newest addition, sharon zimmerman creates.

sharon works in a variety of metal mediums including recycled silver and 14/18k gold with splashes of color. her pieces are very wearable for the day and have the ability to transform any outfit for a night out. stop by the gallery to see her collection.

tonight is the long-awaited launch of the print edition of the handful of salt magazine!

what is handful of salt, you ask? it happens to be where the love+appreciation for all things craft+design related have come to find home. this san francisco based website offers a place where those of us who love modern design can go to find contemporary artists+designers who are still doing it the “old school” way…meaning they are actually making things with their hands.

we are excited and thankful to be a part of the magazine, chosen as one of the “places we love”. we give our best and congratulations to the team @ handful of salt for showing us that print is not dead!

the magazine will be available for purchase at the gallery next week so come by and pick up your own copy. we promise you will not be disappointed!

one of the perks of having a small store is the people you get to meet and the relationships you get to build. i love when clients become friends. one such client/friend happened to have had a beautiful baby boy a few months ago and she wanted to have a special piece of jewelry made to commemorate his arrival.

she already had a pretty good idea of what she wanted – it was just a matter of getting all the details. she knew she wanted a circle pendant with his initial engraved and she knew she wanted to have diamonds.

we added a hammered texture to the outer bezel along with a florentine like finish beneath the hand-engraved initial. et voila!

from CAD drawing to the finished piece. the pendant came out beautiful and she loved it. it’s a great feeling to be able to translate a person’s vision into reality, especially when it’s to celebrate a new joy in her life. she got a new piece of jewelry and i got a new friend! win-win.

so…when are we becoming friends and what can we create for you?

for december, regular store hours are tuesday thru saturday 11 – 6pm and sunday 12 – 5pm except on the following days…

sunday december 16 – closed

monday december 24 – open from 11 – 4pm

tuesday december 25 – wednesday december 27 – closed

sunday december 30 - tuesday january 1 – closed

we will resume our tuesday – saturday 11 – 6pm hours starting wednesday january 2 with sundays being by appointment only

wish you and your loved ones all the best and more this holiday season!

well the holiday season is hustling and bustling and we have been doing the same over here at the gallery. we have stocked up on tons of new jewel goodies for your gift-giving pleasure! one of our new favorites are the oxidized silver and diamond pave charm earrings and necklaces by andrea bonelli…

come by the store to shop these gorgeous jewels and many more!