ISADORAS

Retro - Mad Men

2012-02-24T15:26:00.001-08:00

Mad Men is set in the late 1950s early 1960s, initially at Sterling Cooper advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City. The focal point of the series is Don Draper, creative director at Sterling Cooper and the people in his life, both in and out of the office. As such, it regularly depicts the changing moods and social mores of 1960s America.

(Mabe pearl earrings)

(Retro Green Gold Ring)

Recently I have been catching up on the T.V. series Mad Men. Not only does the series have a great plot structure but I sometimes will just get lost completely and the costuming and design of this fabulous show. I'm not one to have time or patience for T.V. but when every episode feels like and great short film I can't help it.

(Platinum and Diamond Retro Earrings)

(c.1950s gold cufflinks)

And lets not forget about the absolutely handsome cufflinks used in this series! I'm really close to buying my boyfriend a french cuffed shirt just an excuses to buy cufflinks.

Valentine’s Day: The Tradition of Celebrating Love

2012-02-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, so I decided to learn more about this holiday I’ve been celebrating for my entire life. It turns out Valentine’s day is a far more interesting holiday than I assumed it to be with a history dating back to 496 AD and a multitudes of traditions spanning the globe.

Early Victorian Steel Cut Heart & Arrow Brooch

Valentine, in times of yore, was a popular name and the name of several saints which is how the Valentine’s Day tradition began. It was originally a Catholic Saint day.

Edwardian Mystica Rosa Diamond & Pearl Pendnat Necklace

In the original tale Saint Valentine was a Christian martyr executed for refusing to convert to Roman paganism. Before his death he was said to have healed his jailor’s blind daughter.

The legend has grown over time, perhaps fueled by the more modern associations with the name Valentine. According to legend (and I must in good faith say the legend is very suspect), Roman Emperor Claudius II ordered the soldiers of his army to remain single as he believed they would thus be better soldiers. Priest Valentine however believed in love and performed secret marriage ceremonies for the emperor’s young soldiers. When he was found out he was jailed. Legend then holds that the night before he was executed he wrote a letter to the jailor’s daughter, signing it “From your Valentine”.

Circa 1840 Mt. Vesuvius Ash Cupid Brooch

It was in 1382, however, that Valentine’s Day truly came to be viewed as a romantic holiday. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote “For this was Saint Valentine’s Day when every bird cometh to choose his mate” in the Parlement of Foules.

Victorian Buckle Ring: Symbol of Love & Friendship

And it was in 1797 that Valentine’s Day came even closer to the holiday we celebrate today, as people began to send cards. These cards were generally hand written and quite romantic. In the 19^th and 20^th century, people more frequently began to send anonymous love letters, allowing them selves to say the unspoken on paper. They also exchanged candy, flowers and love tokens.

Beautiful Seed Pearl Brooch: Birds were often featured in antique love tokens

This tradition has of course continued to this day, with each country expressing its own variation. There is something quite beautiful about most places in the world choosing to celebrate love. Sometimes it is to celebrate romantic love, sometimes it is to celebrate the love of friends and sometimes it celebrates both.

Vintage Silver Heart Shaped Box

Because Valentine’s Day, at its best, is about expressing love for another persona and really what can be better than that. This can be romantic love, platonic love, filial love, and love of teacher. In fact teachers receive more Valentine’s Day cards than anyone else in America. And that is kind of beautiful too!

Something Sweet

2012-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner I've decided to share something sweet with you.

(Edwardian Diamond Heart Ring)

(Victorian Double Heart Pendant)

(Victorian Silver Heart Earrings)

(Vintage Lucite Bracelets)

And of course something tasty....

(Martha Stewart XO cupcakes)

enjoy.

Oh, Amethyst: February's Birthstone

2012-01-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

Just back from Europe and we have beautiful Amethyst! And the time is near for all of our lovely February Birthdays! Visit us online or in the store. And make sure to ask for any holiday sales!

A Few February Babes:

February 15, 1820- Susan B. Anthony

(Victorian Amethyst Necklace)

(Mexican Sterling Amethyst Bracelet)

(Mexican Sterling Amethyst Earrings)

And of course:

February 27, 1932- Elizabeth Taylor

(Amethyst And Diamond Ring)

(Arts & Crafts Amethyst Pendant)

(c. 1950 Amethyst Bead Necklace)

Just in Time for Valentines Day - European Arrivals

2012-01-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

(Georgian Steel Cut Brooch)

Just in time for that special day of love... We have about 150 European Arrivals that would make anyone swoon. Click here to see our most recent!

Garnets! January's Birthstone...

2012-01-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to celebrate our wonderful January babe's.

Isadora's has a selection of beautiful Garnets. Ranging from brooches, earrings, necklaces, and of course rings! Come and indulge.

(Victorian Garnet Brooch)

For the Queen in your life, here is the perfect garnet brooch.

(c.1900 Garnet Dangle Earrings)

(Georgian Garnet Ring)

(Victorian Cluster Necklace)

(c.1916 mens Garnet Snake rings)

Plique-a-jour Jewelry

2012-01-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

It is a new year and there are new and fantastic old jewelry pieces to explore. One of my favorite new/old pieces at Isadora’s is a rare and beautiful Plique-a-jour enamel necklace dating from the 1920’s.

Circa 1920 Plique a jour Necklace

Plique a jour is one of the most rare types of enamel. It takes a truly talented and dedicated jeweler to even attempt to learn plique a jour as one piece of jewelry can take up to four months to create and one misstep and the jeweler most restart the piece from the very beginning.

Painting in the cells

Why is it so difficult you ask? Like with cloisonné enamel there are tiny metal cells in the jewelry that the jeweler paints in. He often uses multiple layers of paint to created the textured beauty of a piece. And after each layer the piece most be fired. While painting there is a temporary backing. This backing is dissolved after the firing of the final layer. This allows the enamel to be more transparent than other enamels, almost like stained glass.

Lalique Plique a jour from the MET

Plique a jour was a favorite technique of both Lalique and Fabrage. The name “Plique a Jour” is French for “letting in daylight”.

Inside Isadora's

2011-12-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

Peace and the Joy of Jewelry.

Inside Isadora's this time of year feels exceptionally magical..

With treasures around every corner..

And of course just a little hint of Zora.

Aww.... Tis' the Season.

Best Wishes to you. We hope to see you in our beautiful winter wonderland.

Gold Please...

2011-12-19T13:17:00.000-08:00

My extended wish list.

A Few of Laura's Favorite Things

2011-12-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

Victorian Gold Dangle Earrings

For their feminine royalty.

Art Deco Marquise Shaped Ring

For the color of stone and the softening of the tradition marq shape..

But absolutely -- my 3 favorite things are ...

Elizabeth -- Miko -- and Mandy.

Everyday of my life I have the joy and honor to work with three of the most wonderful young women I have ever met.

How I silently smile, when almost every time I call the store, I hear one of you giggling in the background.

Your commitment to love and life spills over Isadora's and our amazing clients.

For the past several Holidays I know clearly what my gifts are ...

They are the three of you. I couldn't do this without you ... you are my order and my joy.

I love you, and hope to show that every day.

Happy Holidays Elizabeth, Miko and Mandy.

Thank you to all of our supporters -- may your Holiday Season be blessed and your New Year wondrous.

I know clearly there would not be an Isadora's without you ..... Heartfelt gratitude to all of you.

A Few of Elizabeth's Favorite Things

2011-12-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

So my co-workers are making me do a blog for the first time ever. My mission is to pick the pieces I would love to have in my collection. It is very easy to find some of my favorite pieces in the store…probably because almost every piece in here has been on my hand, on my wrist, around my neck or in my ear (which sounds funny!). When my mother and I are shopping, I find true love in every piece we pick, and every now and again, I imagine that they are mine! Often times, my philosophy with jewelry is “Go big or go home!” so you may not be surprise by my favorites.

Victorian Banded Agate Earrings

The agate earrings feel dramatic and bold. Even on the heavy side, I love the way my ears slightly move when I turn my head. They make me feel serious.

Victorian Jet Earrings

The jet earrings feel like they are flowing. They move without moving. They are more detail oriented and the architecture is balanced. I am also very into gold earrings and they would go nicely with the rest of my collection!

Art Deco Marquise Shaped Diamond Ring

OK. Now this ring is the only ring that I have ever contemplated replacing my already favorite wedding ring with. There is magic to this ring that there are no words for…enough said.

Mid Century Opal Ring

This is my first time falling in love with an opal. This ring feels so good on. It is heavy enough and wide enough to be a strong statement. Once again, it is balanced, and I tend to lean toward pieces with bold statements that aren’t fussy.

Mid Century Turquoise Ring

Then there is the turquoise ring! This is another piece that I daydream about really owning. It follows my “go big or go home” theory! It is a very unusual color of turquoise, and looks beautiful with my aquamarine wedding ring. I tend to love large stones surrounded by diamonds. Well, who doesn’t!

- Wishing you a magical Holiday Season!!! Elizabeth

If I Had a Wish List...

2011-12-13T16:50:00.001-08:00

(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.

2011-12-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

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 . . .

2011-12-07T14:59:00.001-08:00

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

2011-12-05T11:11:00.001-08:00

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

2011-12-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

(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

2011-11-30T16:53:00.001-08:00

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)

Marcasite: A Sparkle for Every Season

2011-11-28T16:59:00.001-08:00

(Deco Mother of Pearl Necklace)

What stone was popular to the ancient Greeks, the Inca ofLatin America, Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette and Queen Victoria? –Marcasite ofcourse. Okay maybe not of course,but it’s true and kind of fantastic.

(Deco Marcasite Earrings)

If you are one of the people asking whatmarcasite is, let me tell you. (After all spell check does not recognize the word 'marcasite' despite thefact that it is a beautiful stone used in jewelry, well, almost forever.)

(Marcasite Bracelet)

Marcasite is a pyrite, otherwise know as iron disulphined(FeS2) and it is a beautiful, metallic, black colored stone, faceted and worn asjewelry. Cut similar to arose cut diamond, it typically has a flat bottom and a faceted almost pyramidshaped top. And it is usually setis sterling silver, displaying an enchanting mystery and sparkle.

(Deco Watch Brooch)

Gaining popularity in the later half of the 18^thcentury, Marcasite replaced cut steel jewelry as the non diamond sparkle of choice as jewelersbegan using exquisite craftsmanship and invention to create the most beautiful andfantastic designs with this sparkling stone. Its popularity continued well into the Art Deco era whereits sparkle gave wonderful life to the industrial lines of the ArtDeco era.

(Deco Chrysoprase & Marcasite Ring)

And here it is in it's natural form.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-23T12:44:00.001-08:00

All of our best wishes for a beautiful Thanksgiving!

The Women at Isadora's

Why Gift Giving Matters to Me

2011-11-21T16:41:00.001-08:00

Every August my friend Elizabeth says, “It’s almostChristmas” and I cover my ears and hum a ditty. And she uncovers my ears and says, “Before you know it, itwill be Christmas” and I ignore her. But here we are three days before Thanksgiving and she is sitting smugwith a half filled Christmas closet and I wonder where September and Octoberwent.

I love this Art Deco postcard of a messenger bearing gifts.

And so, as I try and cobble together a Christmas list, Ifind myself contemplating the nature of Christmas gifts and gift giving ingeneral.

This beautiful antique necklace is a French love token

I remember the first year I picked out my own Christmasgifts. I was ten or eleven, andfelt it was time I started participating in the gift giving as well asreceiving. And so I counted my pennies, consulted with my grandmother and decidedto give gifts to five family members. I don’t remember most of the gifts I gave that year but I do remembergiving my mother a beautiful cake platter that she uses to this day.

I always look for antique jewelry pieces with engravings. This one is particularly sweet reading, "Sons to Mothers 1-13-14"

And I learned something that Christmas, that overused buttrue truism, it is better to give than to receive. Or if not that, giving can be really great, because thatChristmas I remember anticipating less what I would receive and more theexpressions on peoples faces when they opened the presents I had purchased forthem.

In Victorian England, Snake Jewelry were popularly gifted between lovers as two snake intertwined symbolized eternal love.

And ever since that Christmas, I have given gifts. Which depending on the size of my bankaccount, has varied from the moderately lavish to the homemade. One year I think I had to glue thewrapping paper shut because I ran out of money for tape. And like my bank account, my investmentemotionally in gift giving has also varied from the perfunctory to the heartfelt.

Lockets were traditionally a gift given to a loved on and hold that tradition today.

But this year I want to reinvest myself in why I choose togive gifts. Because for me, when Iget it right, a gift large or small can be an expression of how I value andlove my friends and family. A gift can be a wonderful moment, a lasting memoryof friendship or love exchanged. Something my friend can look at and remember how much I love them.

Bands were often a place to engrave a message. This one reads "WMH to RMN"

One of the very best gifts I’ve ever given was a 1920’sshell cameo with marcasite frame. I gave it to my grandmother who adores cameos and it is her very favoriteone. She wears it on specialoccasions and she even rigged a little picture frame for it, so she can keep iton her bedside table whenever she is not wearing it. For me it was the gift giving equivalent of a home run, becausenot only it is something she loves for what it is singularly, it is somethingsentimental and lasting and only a few people know how much which she lovescameos and I am one of them.

This cameo reminds me of the one I gave my grandmother several years ago.

I’ve given gifts that I’ve remembered and given gifts thatI’ve forgotten and this year I want to give only memorable gifts. Gifts that say I see you and I love you.This year I plan to be unabashedly sentimental. This year I plan to wear my gift giving on my sleeve.

For more beautiful antique jewelry ideas go to isadoras.

What to Buy Men?

2011-11-16T16:37:00.001-08:00

I’m married to what the Victorian’s would have termed adandy and our contemporary society labels a Metro sexual. He likes clothes. He likes adornment. He cares about how he looks andaesthetics. And it is something Ilove about him.

Men's Vintage Amber Cufflinks

But he has a beef with the fashion industry. What about the men? So many stores he walks into place suchemphasis on women’s fashion that men feel nigh near excluded. And jewelry stores are sometimes theworst.

Vintage Sterling Silver Cufflinks

But men have one thing women do not (Although women have onoccasion fantastically appropriated it).

French 18KT Yellow Gold Cufflinks

Men have cufflinks. Sometimes classic, sometimes whimsical, sometimes downright droll, the cufflinkis a chance for a man to preen his feathers and express himself.

Art Deco Enamel Cufflinks

Cufflinks are also an item that a man can collect, pass fromfather to son or receive on important anniversary, birthday orcommencement. It is an heirloompiece that can be worn for a lifetime or multi-generations lifetime when toooften, in our disposable culture, clothing fashion seems to be cycling fasterthan a bullet train.

1960's Vintage Omega Watch

And of course there is alwaysthe classic men’s accessory, the perfect watch. Whether it is a 1940’s Longines with a rectangular face, aMid 20^th Century Hamilton or that perfect 1960’s Omega a la John F.Kennedy a watch is always the perfect and classic men’s accessory, gift andheirloom piece.

For more fantastic men's accessories please go to the Men's Section of our website. Men's Accessories

Isadora’s Returns From a Buying Trip!!!

2011-11-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

We at Isadora’s love, love, love the holidays. We’re celebration kind of people and we particularly love Christmas, which is why we have been searching the world over for the oldest, the most beautiful and the most exotic jewelry we can imagine for your holiday gift giving needs.

Beautiful Vintage Amber Screw back Earrings

And we are pretty darn proud of what we have found, whether it is:

Mid 20th Century Turquoise & Diamond Cocktail Ring

Vintage Enamel Snake Necklace (With Matching Bracelet)

1920's Old European Cut Diamond Ring

We have it! We are also excited to unveil our new collection of vintage jewelry from Japan, India and the Golden Triangle.

Spiral Bracelet: In the Golden Triangle, where this bracelet was made, the spiral is know to represent "the repetitive rhythms of life and the being's permanence over the transience of change."

Please stop by soon or sooner to see what we have, as each pieces is one of a kind and there may be only one chance to see these fantastic vintage and antique jewelry finds.

Happy Birthday Isadora's!!!

2011-11-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Citrines: A Golden Birthstone

2011-11-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

It is a new month and therefore I get to research and think about a new, fabulous and beautiful birthstone. And this month it is the citrine, one of my personal favorites.

Edwardian Citrine Heart & Crown Earrings

The citrine is named after the French word “citrin” meaning lemon. And it will always hold a special place in my heart and on my hand because my very first Isadora’s piece of jewelry was a fantastic whiskey colored 1950’s citrine cocktail ring, a gift from Isadora’s owner. I wear it regularly to this day.

Citrine Cocktail Ring

There is not much legend attached to the citrine but there doesn’t need to be. The beauty of the stone speaks for itself. Sometimes a lemony yellow color and at other times a warm, whiskey hue, it is a stone complex and inviting.

Victorian Citrine Pendant Necklace

We all have our own connections to stones and to the visual world in general but for me the citrine is a stone that feels simultaneously comfortable and sexy There is something so natural and warm about the stones golden color and yet it still has that fire and sparkle that makes it oh so much more.

To see more fantastic antique citrine pieces please follow this link: Isadora's Antique Citrine

California’s Tourmaline Rush

2011-10-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

In my monthly search to uncover the secrets of October’s birthstones I learned a little nugget of information that surprised and intrigued me. Apparently the Gold Rush was not the only precious metal/gemstone to create a craze in the hills of California. Between 1898 and 1914, San Diego County California outdid Brazil, Burma and Ceylon when it came to the production of Tourmalines as the world; particularly China became crazy for California Pink Tourmalines.

Pink Tourmaline

It began when Gemologist J.L. Tannenbaum, having seen a beautiful piece of pink tourmaline from California, decided he needed to have more of this fantastic stone. So posing as a consumptive looking to buy a mountain cabin among the healing air of California he scouted and purchased the Himalayan Mine. He proceeded to mine a prodigious amount of these beautiful stones.

The Dowager Empress of China, Tzu Hsi

His chief purchaser was the dowager empress of China, Tzu Hsi, who could not get enough of California’s pink tourmaline, making it the de jour stone for the wealthy of China, where it was used not only in jewelry but in fantastic ornately carved snuff bottles, some of which can be seen in museums today.

Carved Pink Tourmaline Snuff Bottle

The empress loved tourmaline so much that on her death and burial she decided her eternal rest would be on a tourmaline pillow.

Isadora's Art Deco Pink Tourmaline Ring

Brazil today, is the leading producer of tourmaline but the California mines continue to mine beautiful tourmalines and they are still most famous for pink tourmalines in all different shades and hues. And if you buy a vintage or antique pink tourmaline piece there is a good chance it came from the Himalayan Mine.

-MIKO

Retro!!!

2011-10-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

All I want for Fall is a little bit Retro... or lets be real a lot.

Retro Platinum and Diamond Earrings

courtesy of atlantic-pacific

Retro Yellow Gold Bracelet

courtesy of atlantic-pacific

Retro Aqua Cocktail Ring

Why not be fabulous while watching the falling leaves.

The Tourmaline – A Stone of Incredibly Dynamic Color

2011-10-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

An Egyptian legend holds that on the tourmaline’s journey from the center of the earth it passed across a rainbow and the stone was therefore gifted with all the rainbow's beautiful colors.

A rainbow arching over the pyramids

And yes, a tourmaline stone can represent each color of the rainbow, but that does not even come close to describing the multitude of colors that tourmalines can come in. The range of colors represented by tourmalines makes the jumbo pack of crayons look monochromatic it is so varied and dynamic.

Beautiful Cabochon Cut Tourmalines

Tourmalines fuel my interest in color because they, more than anything I’ve ever encountered, surprise me with colors unexpected and new. Every time I think I have a color figured out and find myself making a blanket statement like, “I don’t’ like pink”, a tourmaline will come into our store to refute my statement.

A Stunning Pink Tourmaline Ring

For instance there were two rings that changed my views on pink. One was a Victorian ring centered by a tourmaline, pink with undertones of coral giving it an idiosyncratic, exotic and stunning beauty. Another was an Art Deco pink tourmaline ring that I loved for its depth of color. One client called it a smoky pink because the pink had almost a charcoal color layered underneath the pink, which sounds odd but was exquisite. It was as if pink had become a liquid like the ocean with all the depth and nuance of the sea’s color. Which is all to say, I now no longer say I don’t like pink because the tourmaline sure makes pink look sexy. It makes pink looks sexy as it does red, orange, yellow, green, blue and all the colors you thought you knew until the tourmaline made you take a closer look.

Green Tourmaline Ring

I tried to learn more about how the tourmaline creates such dynamic color and I learned a little but there was a lot of technical language, which I’ll admit I zoned out on. But what I did absorb had to do with the fact that the crystals that actually make up the stone, unlike most stones crystals, can be multi colored themselves so the very building blocks of the stone lend itself to dynamic colors. And also tourmalines are unusual in that many of them change color depending on the light and angle.

Mid 20th Century Brooch

Regardless of the why or wherefore, tourmalines are one of natures greatest beauties and it is not surprising that the tourmalines root words “tura mali” is the Singhalese words for ‘stone with mixed colors’. It is also not surprising that the tourmaline in addition to being one of October’s birthstones is also the stone of artists, authors, actors and those in creative fields because that much variety can be nothing but inspiring.

The Extreme Fragility of Opals: A Myth Debunked

2011-10-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Being an October baby, opals have always fascinated me and I was very fortunate to receive several at a young age. The most special being a three stone opal ring that belonged to my great grandmother Lucille.

Art Deco Opal Filigree Ring

When I received it my grandmother gave me a talk about the fragility of opals and how I must care for this ring not only as a piece that was once my great grandmother's and therefore warranted extra attention but also as a piece of jewelry that was extremely delicate and could not be banged around or even immersed in water. And as a conscientious child and a rule follower, I did as she said, wearing it only on special occasions and taking it off when I washed my hands. But now I work in a jewelry store and I realize I owe it not only to myself but I also owe it to my clients to look closer into what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to the fragility of the opal.

Opal rates a 5.5 to 6.5 on the Moh's scale. The Moh's scale was a scale created in 1812 to characterize the hardness of various stones. It ranges from 1 to 10 with 1 being the softest, the softness of talc and 10 being the hardest, the hardness of a diamond.

Uncut Opal

So what exactly is a 5.5 to 6.5 on this scale? Well, to give some every day hardness analogies, a penny is a 3, a knife blade is a 5, a glass window is a 5.5 and a steel file is a 6.5. So while not the hardest thing on earth, an opal is pretty darn sturdy. Much sturdier than my grandmother lead me to believe.

Still there was that warning about immersing my ring in water? My grandmother told me never to wash my hands while wearing my opal ring and I diligently did not do so. Well I have since learned this was over conscientious and unnecessary on my part. Apparently an opal is non-porous and therefore does not absorb any water. Water has a neutral effect on opals. Although they may look extra pretty while immersed. So where does this rumor about not getting your opals wet come from? It comes from the fact that many stones sold as opals at one time were actually doublets or triplets, which are composite stones. A jeweler has glued several layers of opal to a black backing to appear like one single stone. These composite opals when wet may loose their adhesion and therefore fall apart but a true opal will have no repercussions from water.

Edwardian Opal & Diamond Ring

But what about those people who say the opposite; that you must immerse your stones in water every so often or they will crack? Again a myth taken belief. A very low percentage of stones have a very low water content when they are formed and therefore are likely to crack. But an opal goes through a lot of crackable situations before they are ever set into a piece of jewelry and therefore the fragile ones are weeded out when the stone is mined, transported or cut. A vintage or antique stone that has been set in jewelry for 50, 75 or 100 years has already proven it is not one of these stones time and time again.

The only danger I discovered is extreme temperature. So if you were thinking of setting your opal over a flame you might want to reconsider but I doubt that is the case. And very very low humidity for an extended period of time may hurt your stone but barring that you can feel comfortable wearing your stone. I plan to wear mine.

A Flight of Whimsy: The Gemstone Opal as a Comic Book Heroine

2011-10-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

In my other life I am a theatre director. And recently I have been directing a play where one of the main characters is a D&D playing, rap writing, comic book nerd. And I have consequently been talking about Superman more than at any other time in my life. Usually my conversations center on diamonds but my mind is a porous thing so I inevitably find my self-having the silliest super hero thought digressions as I prepare blogs for the coming months.

Early 20th Century Black Ring

Usually when I research a gemstone for a blog I focus on the quality of the stone, the biography of the stone, its word origin and the legends surrounding famous examples of said stone. I may read the more outrageous information but I usually do not include it in my blog but today as I was reading about opals in the context of my newfound interest in Superman something shifted. Her qualities (you see I have already begun to anthropomorphize her) began to jump out at me and I began to formulate this vision of a justice league like cast of characters based on gemstones and their most extreme legendary qualities.

Beautiful Uncut Opals

And so I decided to follow that idea down the rabbit hole as I began to create my first character Queen Opal hailing from Queensland Australia where legend tells of a woman, Isobel Robinson, who traded in opals. She walked round the town of Eulo wearing a gold belt as thick as an arm studded with opals the size of Victorian Pennies. She went by the name the Eulo Queen and it was said she glittered when she walked. Shakespeare, after all, called opals "that miracle and queen of gems".

Painting of the Eulo Queen

Queen Opal is a blond because Nordic and Medieval legend holds that a blond woman should wear opals in her hair or round her neck to retain the luster of her locks and to protect herself from inclement weather. And of course she is fantastically beautiful because so are opals.

And in her origin story Queen Opal came to earth on a bolt of lightening as it was popularly believed in ancient Arabic culture that this was the origin of opals.

But what are her super powers you ask? This is where it gets fun. There are many, almost too many to list. First of all she would have the power of invisibility. The Bishop Marbode of Rennes is quoted "It (Opals) gifts the bearer with acutest sight; But clouds all other eyes with thickest night."

What Queen Opal Might Look Like in Super Hero Form

She also has the gift of teleportation. I'm not sure where that legend hailed from but it was what provoked my fits of fancy as I read a brief sentence telling of this legend and immediately pictured my new gemstone superhero bopping from place to place with the flash of green or pink in her milky white beauty signaling her movement. And then of course my mind wandered even further.

We have the occasional young boy come into our store excited by all the jewels before him, not for their intrinsic beauty like their mother, but because he sees that other quality people have seen in jewels for years—magic. They see the magic of "The Hobbit" and Bilbo Baggin's ring or the ring Harry Potter seeks. And I thought how much could I make this boy's eyes alight if I could say sure—with this ring you could teleport.

Edwardian Opal & Pearl Ring

And okay I can't really say that but opals are so beautiful you feel like they would have the power to teleport you.

But my digression keeps multiplying so back to the qualities of our superhero Queen Opal. Like the opal of legend she can clarify, amply and mirror feelings, buried emotions and desires and she lesson inhibitions and promotes spontaneity. She also enhances psychic ability and promotes good eyesight. She protects children from predatory animals and she banishes evil and the evil eye. She is in fact very cool. She is also a symbol of hope, innocence and purity.

Edwardian Opal Ring

Like any super hero, she does have her evil detractors. Many have tried to malign her with false legends of bad luck. Misguided lovers of diamonds afraid that she will outshine their favorite spread rumors that she will bring them doom but Queen Opal retains her beauty and her purity ultimately winning out over her nemesis with her flashes of brilliance and her super powers and her lasting beauty.

Day to Night: Wearing Your Diamonds During the Day

2011-09-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

While working I often hear, “I adore this piece of jewelry but I can only wear it for formal events and I only attend a couple of those a year”.

And it is true there are not many formal events in the majority of our lives. We are not the starchy society we once were, particularly in Seattle. But that does not mean we have to give up on exquisite jewelry just because we are worried we will have no place to wear it.

Owner, Laura Dalesandro, Dressing Down Her Diamonds

Exquisite jewelry is worth a little effort. And I admit I may go over the top occasionally in my need to work my life around an outfit. One of my old roommates and I used to host themed dinners. We would make it Fellini night or “Roman Holiday” night. Whatever fashion sensibility we wanted to emulate we would create an event to suit.

Fashion, not shockingly has always been a passion of mine and for different periods of my life a profession. Some people collect stamps, some people restore cars, I like to see just how dressy you can wear a t-shirt and just how casually you can wear diamonds.

Store Manager, Elizabeth Schoenleber, Sporting a White Shirt & Diamond Necklace

But if this is not something you want to devote all your time to, there are easy ways to have your diamond necklace and wear it to.

It’s true. When a woman asks me where in the world she could wear a fantastic diamond necklace, my response is always where couldn’t she. Sometimes I even see a little red or rather blinding white as I am called to arms to defend the choice of diamonds during the day.

Graphic Designer, Mandy Blouin, Fabulous in Victorian Gold & Pearls

First of all everything looks better with diamonds. There are the classics—diamond stud earrings, diamond pendant necklace, diamond band or perhaps a diamond engagement ring.

But you can’t just stop there. Who can resist diamond chandelier earrings with a black jersey shirt and your cutest jeans for drinks with the girls? Or a little bling added to a boring workday in the form of a fantastic brooch attached to a cardigan, blazer or boat neck shirt.

And Me, Miko Premo, Dressing Down Victorian Lapis, Diamonds & Gold

Now some people say diamonds I get, but what about the really antique, ornate and fabulous necklace I love but can’t envision in my daily wear. This is when I call in to play the ever, useful white button down shirt. Some people say always have a little black dress and I say yes, but also have one, two, three white button down shirts. (Really you can never have to many white, button-down shirts. Really. ) Wear a white shirt with black pants for office wear or jeans for day wear and pair it with one of those fantastic Victorian necklaces and see how amazing you look with out being too over dressed.

Don’t have the budget for diamonds, you can also juxtapose that beautiful, sparkling crystal necklace you’ve always yenned for but felt timid about wearing. Just have fun. Defy the uber casualness of the day for a stylish casual elegance all your own.

(And please enjoy the photos above of the staff of Isadora's doing our best to dress down diamonds in the most delightful of ways!)

- Miko

happy end of august !

2011-08-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

Come check out our latest selection of beautiful European arrivals !

Happy Summer

2011-08-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place by wackystuff on Flickr.

Enjoying the last couple weeks of summer and I thought this old sheet music cover was pretty perfect.

Stylish Hands

2011-08-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

Today I was e-mailing back and forth with a client interested in a beautiful ring. She had seen the ring in person but her boyfriend had not, so we decided to take some photographs of rings on fingers so he could have a more dynamic view of this fantastic jewel.

I don’t know why I always think it will be easy to take a photo on a hand. The rings look fantastic but posing a hand, like posing a body, is an art my hands have not. And so I decided to go to that ever, useful search function “Google Images” to see how other people make their hands look attractive.

And while I looked for the perfect pose for my hand I was reminded of one of the other reasons I love rings (The first of course being that they are often fantastically beautiful.) But the second is how expressive they are, not only singularly but also in great abundance, as women and men pile on the rings in the most beautiful and unique combinations.

The “Google Image” that awed me I have put below. A woman bedecked in Zuni jewelry. Her hands showing the years she’s lived.

Looking through these photographs of hands, you could see so much about the women who wore them, how they saw the world, how they saw themselves and the beauty they sought to express.

Having the good fortune of seeing avid jewelry collectors on a daily basis I have such respect for people who know how to build a collection – and not the collection alone, but how they pair their jewelry each day as they dress themselves, showing the world a little bit of who they are with how they attire themselves. These women make the jewelry they wear even more fantastic by how they pair it and by filling it with themselves. A snake ring is beautiful. A Cartier triple band is beautiful but put the right two together and it is art. Sometimes how woman pair things make sense. For instance sometimes I like to wear all my Native American jewelry together but other times the way a woman wears her rings can be idiosyncratic and yet somehow divine as she juxtaposes Victorian rose gold with the sleek modernity of Art Deco.

And so as a project, my co-worker and I decided to pair some of the rings in the store with our imperfect hand poses to play with this art form we love so much-the styling of the hand.

Louise Brooks: Fashion Icon

2011-08-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

Louise Brooks was an American dancer, model, actress and show girl from the late 20s early 30s. The style Brooks exhibited was like no one else. The dynamism of her style screams give me a cocktail, a cocktail ring of course.

Summer: A Time for Travel

2011-08-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

Summer is always a fun time in Isadora’s. Thousands of people visit the historic Pike Place Market each May through September, many of them taking a moment, a half an hour or even a half a day to pop into our store, and enjoy our collection.

Seattle Pike Place Market

We so enjoy hearing each individual’s story as pass through our store and lives, enriching us with a greater sense of the people of this world we live in. And sometimes those of us who work in the store get a chance to take a trip ourselves.

Tourism is not a new thing. On my very favorite movies and novels (It is so rare I like both) is “A Room with a View” by E.M. Forster where the young Lucy Honeychurch is transformed by a trip to Italy during the early 20^th century.

Mt. Vesuvius Ash Cameo Brooch

I feel, the good vacations we eagerly anticipate, thoroughly enjoy, and hold as a memory for years to come. The great vacations transform us. And so I ask myself, how do we hold those memories after we leave, retain the beauty and the emotional sustenance they provide having returned to our normal life once again?

Egyptian Revival Bracelet

I remember a quote from the movie Rebecca (another book/movie although I confess I never made it to the book after being captivated by Laurence Olivier’s Maxim de Winters). Joan Fontaine’s character says, “You know, I , I wish there could be an invention . . . that bottled up the memory like perfume. And it never faded, never got stale. That whenever I wanted to, I could uncork the bottle and live the memory all over again.”

1920's Butterfly Wing Necklace

And I suppose one can’t truly live a memory again, but like Joan Fontaine’s imagined bottle, I believe an object can be the keeper for a memory. You look at it and remember the smell of your vacation, the excitement, the transcendent moments. And for me jewelry has always been a perfect memory holder. It is something personal, so personal it is worn on your person and whether it is a ring on your finger or a locket on your neck you hold the memories close when you put that piece of jewelry on.

Vintage Italian Themed Charm Bracelet

And just as I love to look at my souvenir’s brought back from different parts of the world, I also like to look at what others chose to collect on trips aboard. Particularly the tourists of yester year-whether it is an Italian cameo purchased on a Victorian lady’s grand tour, a piece of Egyptian revival enamel jewelry inspired by the opening of King Tut’s tomb, a British butterfly wing pendant sold at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924 or a sweet 50’s silver charm bracelet collected by a young girl as she traveled the world.

Pearls right now and forever.

2011-07-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

(wehadfacesthen-Designer Elsa Schiaparelli, 1930s)

I came across this photograph the other day while surfing the internet and I adore the way she's lounging with her pearls perfectly wrapped and dripping down her wrist. I may have to coping this. And now a few of my favorite pearl pieces.

(Vintage Semi-Baroque Pearl Strand)

(Seed Pearl Drop Earrings)

(A Mid 20th Century Pearl Ring)

Red Red Rubies, July's Birthstone.

2011-07-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

'It has been said that the Ruby's warm glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love. With its hardness and durability, it is a perfect engagement gem. And if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the Ruby will bring good fortune to its wearer, too!'

(Natural ruby crystals from Winza, Tanzania)

Mystic Perfume Bottle's

2011-06-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Isadora's currently has some of the most exquisitely shaped Perfume Bottle's. And given the inherent feature of perfume, from the conviction it gives its wearer to the indefinable impact it sometimes has on those around the wearer, it’s not surprising that perfume has long been kept in these mystically shaped bottles whose shapes seem to echo the mysterious properties of the fluids inside them. Whether it’s a surprisingly detailed hammered pocket size, slender Art Deco crystal, a robust Czechoslovakian bottle, a tiny lachrymatory, or a fabulously deck-out with paste stones, perfume bottles are designed to contain magic, which is only unleashed when the bottle is opened and a drop or two of the precious liquid is discreetly applied.

These alluring bottles reminded so much of a fantastic novel by Tom Robbins entitled, "Jitterbug Perfume." The major themes of the book include the striving for immortality, the meaning behind the sense of smell, individual expression, self-reliance, sex, love, and religion. Beets and the god Pan figure prominently. The novel is a self-described epic, with four distinct storylines, one set in 8th century Bohemia and three others in modern day New Orleans, Seattle, and Paris. If you haven't read this book I highly suggest it. I imagine the epic perfume described in this novel to be encased in an equally epic bottle.

The Snake Ring: A Victorian Symbol For Eternal Love

2011-06-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

In 1840 Prince Albert designed a ring for Queen Victoria. It depicted two snakes in an eternal circle, an enchanting symbol of eternal love.

Over time the snake has had many meanings but one of the most popular is that of eternity. The "Ouroboros" (the serpent eating its own tale) is a common symbol for both time and eternity. It, like the circle, represents wholeness and perfection because it has no end.

It is little surprise then that snakes doubled became a perfect Victorian symbol for eternal love in an era where nature and symbology collided in so many pieces of jewelry. It was also an era that loved to draw inspiration from the past and the snake ring can be found in ancient Greek and Roman times.

Due to its beauty, and the popularity Queen Victoria bestowed on anything she wore, the snake ring is a true delight for the collector. There are many fantastic snake rings to be found and every time I think they can't think of a more enchanting way to show two snakes wrapped round the finger another ring appears to surprise and delight.

Isadora's Returns from Buying Trip with Beautiful Silver

2011-06-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

Owner Laura Dalesandro and manager Elizabeth Schoenleber just returned from a buying trip with silver silver silver. Beautiful Taxco Mexican sterling necklaces, earrings and bracelets are a highlight of this fantastic new collection. Please stop by the store to check it out. Can’t make it in. These fantastic vintage pieces will be on the web soon.

On the horizon: Check back next week for new to us, beautiful, antique diamonds, earrings and necklaces.

Piece of the Day: Sapphire and Diamond Earrings !!

2011-05-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

(sapphire and diamond earrings)

I think these beautiful circa 1900s sapphire and diamond stud earrings are so classic. The stones are topped in silver and the backed with 18kt gold. And I think it would fantastic with this outfit!

(Suno, Resort 2011)

Piece of the Day! Color Change

2011-05-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Incredible Color Change Sapphires!!

(Fantastic Retro Sapphire Ring, $6,575)

One of my favorite pieces right now. Not only is this piece Retro chic but it also has beautiful color change sapphires sweeping the top of the dome. A rare variety of sapphire, known as color change sapphire, exhibits different colors in different light. Color change sapphires are blue in outdoor light and purple under incandescent indoor light, they may also be pink in daylight to greenish under fluorescent light.

One of kind.

Piece of the Day!

2011-05-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hi There.

Here at Isadora's we have decided to share with you all of our exciting pieces. Since each one has such a uniqueness we've decided to share one piece at a time..

Circa 1950's Emerald and Diamond Ring

As a design and art major, I can't help but analysis the pieces of jewelry that come in and out of the store and wonder what the jewelry designers influences may have been at the time of it's creation. And as I peer down at this beautiful circa 1950's ring I can't help but think of it's architectural influences. This stunning Emerald and diamond ring reminds me mostly of the Eames House. The house is located in the Los Angeles and was built by husband-and-wife design pioneers Charles and Ray Eames, to serve as their home and studio in the late 1949's.

The avant-garde designs of the house echo's in this 50's ring. Skillfully girded and playful are both with a wonderful timeless quality. And Awww Great Craftsmanship!

THE BEAUTY OF CARNELIAN

2011-05-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

(Art Deco Carnelian & Marcasite Necklace)

One of my favorite stones is carnelian. Like onyx, agate and chrysophrase it is a member of the quartz: chalcedony family and it has a color ranging from a vibrant orange to a deep rust red. Its name comes from the Latin root "Caro" or "Carnis" meaning flesh. Which can be attributed to the flesh color sometimes exhibited by this beautiful stone.

(Carnelian Intaglio Prolemaic Queen, Hellenistic artwork, Cabinet des Médailles)

Archeologist have found carnelian pieces dating as far back as 1800 BC, recovering it from the Bronze Age Minoan layers at Knossos on Crete.

Popular in many eras, the Romans believed it signified courage and popularly used it for signets or seal rings as wax does not stick to it. (When you touch carnelian it has a slippery finish that is very distinctive to the touch.)

In ancient Egypt they placed carnelian stones on their mummies as they believed it would assist in journeying to the afterlife and there were carnelian stones in King Tutenkahamen's mask, discovered in the 1920's.

The Babylonians and Greeks believed it meant "Good Luck".

(Vintage Carnelian, Chrysoprase & Opal Bracelet)

Mother's Day and the Beautiful Sentimentality of Heirloom Jewelry

2011-05-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

I like “Mother’s Day”. There is something beautiful about a holiday centered on thanking someone for all the wonderful things they do and for essentially giving one the gift of life. And because mother’s day puts me in a sentimental mood today I am going to write about a sentimental style of jewelry – the locket.

When I think of lockets I always think of my great grandmother. I never saw her without one of two lockets around her neck. When I was born she wore a clear locket with a photograph of me in it. Three years later when my brother was born she alternated a locket with my photograph and a locket with my brother’s photograph, which I can tell you was a bone of contention for quite some time. Now at the mature age of thirty I wonder if at some point there was a third locket of my father that we ousted upon our births.

But what I do know is, I walked proud when my great grandmother had my photo strung round her neck so everyone could see. And when I was little I thought everyone wore clear lockets so people could see the photograph within. But as with everything we learn more as we age and a magical vista of beautiful and different lockets was introduced to me.

So today I decided to learn a little more about lockets.

According to my research the first locket can be traced back to William the Conqueror and 1050BC. At that point in history a locket housed not a picture but poison, powder or snuff and was at that time called a “Loquat” (Old English for small latch or lock).

It was in 1679 that the locket became popular as a device to hold a memento, often a lock of a loved ones hair. (It is even said the term “Lock of Hair” comes from the Victorian tradition of snipping a curl of hair from a loved one and placing it in a locket).

It was not until the 17^th Century that the locket began to hold a picture like it most frequently does today. At that era in pre-photographic historic time it would have been a small painted portrait often given to a loved one as a memento on the commencement of a journey or a place for a woman to keep an image of her children.

And then in 1860 we get closer to modern tradition with the advent of the miniature photograph.

Jewelry is a very personal thing. We wear it close to us and while our jeans and sweater might change with the shifting season and even faster shifting styles, our jewelry, the pieces we love we wear for a lifetime and the stuff we really love is worn for generations.

I am lucky I come from a family that loves jewelry and values passing it down from generation to generation, finding a connection between mother, daughter, grandmother and great grandmother. I have four generations of women’s jewelry in my jewelry box and often on my person. I have my great grandmother’s Victorian brooch given to her in Montana by my great grandfather. I never met my great grandmother Aya but I have a connection in that piece of jewelry that she passed down to my grandmother and she in turn passed down to me. I have my great grandmother Lucille’s opal ring because we were both October Birthdays and she felt it was important that that piece be passed down to someone with a like Birthday. I have my grandmother’s engagement ring from her second marriage and I have my mother’s favorite earrings from her college years, a pair of hoops bought on a memory filled trip to Morocco. I do not wear these pieces every day but every time I put them on I think about that mother.

And lockets, to my mind, seem one of the most personal pieces of jewelry of all. In my readings I read that the heart locket came into popularity during the Victorian era because is represented another’s heart resting on one’s own and that it held a woman’s feelings for the man, woman or child pictured within.

Heirloom jewelry is such a beautiful, tangible thing, connecting one to those one loves, not only for one generation but also for many. Jewelry like family can be multi-generational, a sentimental love story between grandmother, mother and child.

to see more Isadora's lockets please check go to this link: Locket !

Isadora's Returns From Buying Trip with Exquisite Antique Jewels

2011-05-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Wondering where the women of Isadora’s were last weekend—Shopping. Laura Dalesandro and manager, Elizabeth Schoenleber skipped town last weekend to shop, shop, shop.

They went on a buying trip, bringing back some of the most jaw dropping beautiful antique pieces. Their cache includes a Georgian purple sapphire ring, Victorian citrines, a Fleur de lis bracelet, seed pearl tassel earrings, diamond engagement rings and a stunning pink/peach tourmaline ring. (I’m personally lusting after a pair of onyx and black enamel Victorian dangle earrings that extend almost from ear to shoulder.)

There is no way to encapsulate in a paragraph or two all the fantastic jewels that were purchased for the store this past weekend. You will have to see them for yourself.

We invite you to drop by and take a peek. Can’t make it in?--We will have all the pieces up on our website within the coming weeks.

We look forward to seeing you!!!

“The One That Got Away”

2011-04-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

In my other life, I direct plays for the theatre and the show I just directed is entitled “The One That Got Away”. It is about the man or woman in our life that we broke up with or parted with but are never able to let go of in our heart of hearts.

This may make me odd but I have many more “The One That Got Away” moments with pieces of jewelry than with people. Maybe I am more decisive when it comes to jewelry or maybe I have a stronger affinity for jewelry than people but whatever the reason I have a little photo book of “The Jewelry That Got Away” in my head (and saved on my hard drive.)

And it is not just I; I hear it from our clients all the time. They wax poetical about the piece of jewelry they let slip through their fingers because like with most antiques once it is sold it is gone. There is no back stock of ring item xxy so there is almost never a second chance once a piece is sold. And while you might find something similar you will never find something exactly the same, kind of like with people.

Is the fact that I equate jewelry with people scary? I just feel really really passionately about jewelry.

This fact came home to me the other day when I walked into the store to see my co-worker Mandy with a sad look on her face and a bottle of diet coke proffered in one hand. I knew something I really really loved had sold. We save treats only for when our very favorite pieces have sold and then we comfort each other with chocolate, diet coke and memories of said pieces of jewelry.

My favorite Victorian silver chicken foot brooch with two lemony yellow citrine stones had sold and I thought to myself why hadn’t I purchased it. It was among the pieces that got away that I actually could have afforded but I was being so called practical.

And I ask myself, when do we go with practicality and when do we go with impulse.

This is not an art I have yet mastered.

My grandmother was excellent at it. In general she would way each decision carefully. It might take her three months to buy a trench coat but then once in awhile she would just know. She bought her favorite ring, a beautiful diamond band sparkling with thirteen marquise shaped diamonds in a spray across the top of her hand in less than an hour. She saw it in the window, walked into the store, conversed with the sales person, looked at the paperwork and purchased it. She bought it in the 1970’s. She wore it for forty years before passing it on to me. And I am wearing it as I write this blog entry right now. She just knew.

Where does that art come from?

I have three major items that I let get away and I still think about them.

1. A beautiful Art Deco Emerald Ring with a perfectly imperfect emerald a minty green color with beautiful inclusions.

2. An Edwardian mourning medallion with the repousse figures of mother and child.

3. A Victorian citrine chicken foot brooch considered good luck in Italy.

And I ponder, how will I know next time, when it is a piece, that could potentially become another “The One That Got Away”.

-Miko Premo

Isadora’s Plays with Vintage Clothing

2011-04-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Isadora’s owner, Laura Dalesandro, is dipping her toes back into the vintage clothing business.

There was a collective grown among both homegrown vintage clothing aficionados and those on the national level when Isadora’s, a Seattle boutique specializing in Vintage Clothing and Antique Jewelry for the past thirty-eight years decided to close up shop on the vintage clothing part of the business in order to truly focus on the jewelry.

And don’t get me wrong, there were also cheers because in focusing on the jewelry, Isadora’s tripled their inventory of the most fantastic and delightful baubles from the last 150 years.

But there were many that had an aching heart for the vintage clothing of yore.

Well do not fear, owner Laura Dalesandro, with forty plus years buying experience, is teaming up with vintage clothing website Camellia to bring the most exquisite and exotic vintage clothing to the web.

Not only does owner, Laura, have her own hidden cache of vintage clothing (I’ve seen it and it is embarrassing to say clothing made me breathless but it made me breathless.) She also will recommence buying.

So if you have a piece of beautiful vintage clothing that you are ready to part with and want it to go to someone who will truly appreciate it, please contact Laura Dalesandro, through Isadora’s at 1-888-472-3672 or e-mail Isadora’s at info@isadoras.com.

And if you are someone interested in buying vintage clothing or just looking at pretty pretty things, please continue to follow our blog. We will let you know the second the clothing collection is available on Camellia’s website.

I know I can’t wait to see what finds are displayed to delight and awe.

Georges Lepape, Les Modes Elegantes, 1922, originally uploaded by Gatochy

CHRYSOPHRASE: The Other Green Stone

2011-04-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

In the store I often get questions about the stone chrysophrase so I thought I would write a blog.

Often mistaken for jade, chrysophrase is a beautiful opalescent green color and is part of the same rare quartz family chalcedony, as onyx, agate & carnelian. It gets it beautiful green color from nickel and it rates a 7 on the Mohs scale.

Like many of my favorite gemstones it has a long history. The word "chrysophrase" comes from the Greek "Chryso" meaning gold and the root word "Prasinon" meaning green. And the ancient Greeks and Romans used chrysophrase to make beautiful cameos and intaglios.

Chrysophrase can also be found in the decoration and jewelry of the Ancient Pharaohs. And in ancient China it was believed to balance the Yin and Yang, while in India it was believed to heal a broken heart.

One of its heydays was during the Middle Ages when it was mined in Silesia, in what is now Northern Czech Republic and Southern Poland. So loved was this stone it was mined to exhaustion in Silesia although it can be now found on other continents. One of its greatest consumers was Prussian King Frederick the Great who was born in 1712 and ruled from 1740-1786. A patron of Bach and a friend with Voltaire, he was also was an enormous fan of chyrsophrase, using it to adorn his palace in Potsdam.

Another enormous fan of chrysophrase was the famous Peter Carl Fabrage who featured it in many of his exotic pieces.

In our store I am drawn to chrysophrase pieces used in Arts and Crafts jewelry and pieces from the Art Deco era where its distinctive apple green color gives beauty to every piece it touches.

-Miko

EGYPTIAN FASHION AND THE SCARAB RING

2011-04-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

This December I received a fantastic ceramic scarab ring for Christmas.

What is a scarab ring you might ask? Well until a couple years ago I did not know either. But now that I know I am obsessed.

Popular since ancient Egypt, scarab jewelry is jewelry set with either stones carved to look like the scarabaied beetle or in the Victorian era pieces, often set with actual beetle carpasces or exoskeletons.

I have always been a person who is inexplicably drawn to things, whether it is art, jewelry, clothing or people. And that was how I felt about scarab jewelry. From the first moment I espied an 1890's Victorian, scarab brooch I was in love.

But now that I have a piece of my own, I decided to do a little more research and find out exactly what else has fascinated people about the scarab from Ancient Egypt to the present.

In ancient Egypt the scarabaied beetle was considered a divine symbol of rebirth for it represented the ancient deity, "Kheprie" who each day rolled the sun, "Ra", across the sky transforming bodies and soles. And thus the scarab became the earthly symbol of the heavenly cycle.

And so ancient Egyptians wore scarab charms, amulets and beads on necklaces and rings for good luck, protection, bravery and fertility.

A dynamic symbol or charm the scarab beetle was also considered the protector of the written word. They would use the smooth stomach of the carved scarab as a tablet on which to engrave. For instance, Amehotep the III was famous for using scarabs commemoratively. Using scarabs he memorialized the great lion hunts and the story of how he built a lake for his wife Queen Tiye.

And the most important scarab of all, to the ancient Egyptians, was the "heart scarab" which was buried with the dead to ensure their rebirth in the afterlife.

Of course, the popularity of the scarab did not end in ancient Egypt as my ring attests. As with many Egyptian motifs the scarab was very popular in Victorian England as it was in the 1920's when King Tut's tomb was excavated. Like in ancient Egypt you could find fabulous scarabs, carved out of precious stones.

But you could also find scarab jewelry with the true exoskeleton of an iridescent beetle. Like the wings found in butterfly jewelry the beetles were usually brought from South America.

These more realistic scarab pieces are difficult to find but truly spectacular to see. As in most things it is hard to outdo nature's beauty and the iridescent blacks and greens of the beetles exskeleton is a wonderment to see.

Now as I look at the ring, nestled on my right hand, I see not only the beauty of a piece in singularity but I see a ring set against a backdrop of symbol and fashion and I love it even more.

THE MAGIC OF MOONSTONES

2011-03-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

As noted in a previous blog posting, we’ve just received a number of new pieces from one of our favorite European dealers. And as we frantically work to get all these gorgeous baubles posted to our website I find my eye re-returning to three moonstones pieces—one a large cabochon cut moonstone ring, one a moonstone pendant and one an Arts & Crafts moonstone necklace with a stunning blue cast.

I have always had a fascination with moonstones. And really who wouldn’t? Moonstones have a mystical name--moonstone. Which is probably why the Victorian author, Willkie Collins named his popular Gothic mystery novel “The Moonstone”. Although after investing my money in a copy of this novel I was sorry to find out it was a mystery centering on a diamond, named the moonstone. I wanted to know why it wasn’t a moonstone named a moonstone and was very put out. As a result of his duplicity, I have yet to read said novel although I have heard it was very good. But really why did he mislead me?

Anyway inspired by these three pieces I decide to explore the myths and legends surrounding the real moonstone.

It is a diamond in the rough so to speak, a rarity among common rocks. It is a member of the feldspar family, which composes 2/3 of all the rocks in the entire world. But unlike its sister rocks it is very rare and extraordinarily beautiful.

Where does the beauty come from I ask. A lot of it comes from a quality called "adularisation" which is an exquisite shimmer that is caused by the lamella inner construction of the gemstone causing incident light rays to refract and scatter in the stone. Which is all to say that this fantastic, almost transparent stone has a wonderful shimmer and sheen as light plays across its surface and from within. It is a thing that cannot really be described but must be seen.

The moonstone was named by the Romans, who believed, it had the ability to reflect light. In India they believed it was a sacred stone, holy and magical and they believed it could bring the wearer beautiful visions.

Other ancients believed if you held it in your mouth you could tell the future and others still believe you could see in it the crescent and waning phases of the moon.

It has also been said at various times to bring good fortune, to protect women and children who are generally under the protection of the moon, enhance passion, balance yin and yang and strengthen emotional and subconscious aspects, our intuition and our capacity to understand.

It is also said to be the lover's stone because it evokes tender feelings and safeguards the true joys of love.

All of these layers of meaning are fantastic but I cannot get over the most fantastic thing of all and that is the visual beauty of the moonstone. It is a beauty that fascinated the famous Art Nouveau French Master Lalique who featured it prominently in many of his most beautiful pieces.

And it is a beauty that has fascinated people for countless centuries as each generation discovered a new way to set, wear and enjoy these fantastic pieces.

Click here to see our other Moonstones

Featured in Q & A

2011-03-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

We were just featured in a Q & A by the Examiner. Check it out!

Part One
Part Two

Thank you again Sandra. It is always so nice to do interviews like this.

New Arrivals! from our European Dealer

2011-03-06T16:30:00.000-08:00

This last week we met with one of our fantastic European dealers and oh boy did we get some goodies. About 90 pieces all ranging from the alluring 1850's turquoise earrings (you see below), to the clever designs of the Art Deco era. And of course bangles! Some of the most captivating silver Victorian cuffs I've ever scene.

Currently, we're trying to get all of these lovelies up on the website, but in the mean time you should come by and have a look for yourself.

(Turquoise and 18kt gold earrings)

(Art Deco diamond and sapphire ring)

Amethyst: February's Birthstone

2011-02-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

Bacchus had grown angry with mortals and had therefore

determined that tigers would devour the next mortal who

crossed his path. The young maiden Amethyst was on

her way to worship at the goddess Diana’s temple. Diana

knowing Bacchus’s plan turned the young maiden into a

white statue of colorless quartz to save her. When Bacchus

realized what he had precipitated he was filled with remorse

and cried tears of wine, staining the statue a beautiful purple.

The origin myth of the amethyst is beautiful and tragic

like so many Greek legends. It is easy to paint a picture in

your mind of the beautiful white quartz dappled with purple

tears until it becomes the exquisite stone we know today as

amethyst and my jewelry obsessed mind begins to wonder—

what shade of purple did those tears create. Were there

only a few tears, creating a pale lilac statue, the stone

sometimes termed ‘the Rose of France’ or were his tears

plentiful producing a deep purple amethyst with red flashes?

It is February, and February is the month of amethysts

in the jewelry world so I decided to explore the myths and

legends surrounding this stunning stone.

A quartz, it rates a 7 on the Mohs scale and has color

ranging from the palest lilac to the deepest purple. A royal

color it has often been worn by the clergy and royalty and it

can be seen in the crown jewels of both Britain and Russia.

And today most amethysts can be found in Brazil.

This incredibly beautiful stone has wooed warriors,

intellectuals and great monarchs. It is said the ancient

Egyptians brought an amethyst stone into battle for

protection, that Leonardo da Vinci considered the amethyst

the seat of intelligence and a means of warding of evil and

that Catherine the Great prized the amethyst above all other

stones.

Everyone has his or her own personal relationship to a

stone, whether it is a fascination founded on a stone being

assigned ones birthstone or the moment when one espies

the perfect ring. My fascination began with a perfect 1950’s

cocktail ring with an amethyst stone that can be called

nothing short of charismatic. I look at it today and wonder

what began Catherine the Great’s fascination or Leonardo

da Vinci’s and it gives me pleasure to know that while the

world moves forward there are some things that maintain

their beauty and fascination from ancient Greece through my

own personal history.

Garnets: January's Birthstone

2011-01-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

As we enter the New Year, I am excited to discuss January's birthstone, the fantastic garnet.

I think I first fell in love with Garnets upon a viewing of Scorsese’s film version of “The Age of Innocence”. One of the characters, the Countess Olenska sits inscrutable and lovely and European and exotic in an opera box dressed all in red. Beautiful garnets sparkle from her neck, ears and wrists. It is such a beautiful image and the garnets are so stunning, this image has lingered with me, long past the moment of first viewing.

I’ve since learned more about garnets although I always think of that screen picture when I think of this lovely stone.

Garnets come in all different colors of the rainbow although the red is most typical. However it can also be found in pink, purple, orange, yellow, violet, green, colorless and occasionally black. Isadora’s is very fortunate to have a stunning collection of red garnets as well as one early 18^th century ring with black garnets currently.

The name garnet has been attributed to the Middle English word “gernet” meaning “dark red” as well as the Latin word “granatus” meaning grain. It is also said that the word garnet is possibly a reference to the word “punica granatum” meaning pomegranate. I have to admit I love this last interpretation best. The pomegranate has always seemed a very lush and picturesque fruit to me. And in the image of the ripe bursting seeds of a pomegranate I can see the beauty of the cluster garnet necklaces of the late Victorian era.

I have also learned a little more about both the lore and fact of early garnet usage. It was said that Noah steered the ark through the night during the flood using a garnet lantern. And garnet was considered a talisman for travelers. Part of this probably comes from the fact that, like diamonds, garnets have a very high refraction, which causes the stone, when faceted to have an exquisite sparkle.

Garnets were used in the Bronze Age as gemstones. There is evidence that ancient Egyptians used garnets as beads and bracelets as early as 3100 BC. And in Greece between the reign of Alexander the Great and the conquest of Rome, garnets were used to make cameos.

I am still most familiar with the Victorian era of garnets when, like the Countess Olenska in The Age of Innocence, the aristocracy wore necklaces, bracelets, earrings and necklaces composed of large number of small faceted garnet stones set close together to create exquisite, sparkling red jewelry. It is still easier to see one of these pieces in person although with each passing year they become rarer.

And one of the fun facts I learned, is that a garnet is quite hard, a 7 – 7.5 on the Moh’s scale. Rumor has it that Asiatic tribes many years ago used garnets instead of bullets

That is all I have to say about garnets for now, but I am excited about all the new facts I will learn about garnets in the future and the old pieces I will see although I will always carry the image from “The Age of Innocence” with me.

Come see us at the Wedding Show!

2011-01-03T15:21:00.000-08:00

Some exciting things for Isadora's this up coming wedding season. We are featured in both the Seattle Bride and Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom magazines. Also, we will be featuring our finest engagement rings at the Seattle Wedding show this up coming weekend January 8th and the 9th.

So if your on hunt for the perfect engagement ring come by and check us out.

Layaway: an old fashion concept revisited

2010-12-12T11:43:00.001-08:00

It is our pleasure to offer an extended layaway plan. 1/3 down and up to 4 months to pay! We are all aware of our struggling economy, but that does not stop us from wanting to purchase the perfect engagement ring, a lovely Holiday gift, or a thoughtful Birthday present. We have adjusted our layaway program to make all of these options possible. While not being set in stone, we allow for approximately 1/3 down and up to 4 months to pay in full. No finance charges or fees for this, as well as some flexibility if it would better match your needs. Please feel free to call and find out if there is a way to make your investment desires possible!

-Elizabeth

Listed in a National Magazine

2010-12-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

The January 2011 copy of Lucky Magazine on page 32, Isadora's Antique Jewelry is listed for our stunning Art Deco earrings.

CHRISTMAS COMES TO ISADORA’S. . .

2010-12-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

For the last few months we have been making a list and checking it twice and filling our store with beautiful baubles and gems fit for the Holidays.

This holiday season, owner Laura Dalesandro and her daughter, manager Elizabeth Schoebleber have been meeting with dealers the world over to make sure the store is filled and bursting with exquisite antique pieces from the 1840’s through the 1950’s.

A couple of my personal favorites include a long Victorian watch chain made out of gunmetal, a fantastic Art Deco star sapphire ring and a pair of the prettiest circa 1840’s gold dangle earrings I’ve seen.

And they did not forget about the men this Holiday season. Just a couple of accessories for men include-- circa 1940's watches, a cigar clipper and a pair of enamel Georg Jensen cufflinks.