We are buying like fiends.  We may end up with the most beautiful inventory in the world, no money and no customers.  Seriously, we are buying and selling, if not like normal, as close as possible in this difficult environment. 

We just finished three back to back shows:  Miami Beach, Nashville and Palm Beach.  All were better than anticipated as far as selling goes while buying was a little weak.  Palm Beach in particular was a very strong show for us and we not only saw old customers but met new ones.  We were very happy to see all of you at these shows.  We hope to see many of you in Washington, DC in two weeks at the Convention Center.  This is a brand new show and we will be trying to make a splash; it is followed right by Naples where we hope to see you also.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Washington, DC:  March 6—9

Naples, FL:  March 12—14

IN THE PRESS

• VANITY FAIR - Feb 2009, p. 136
• BAZAAR - Feb 2009, p. 132

CORRECTION

The zig zag brooch shown in last month's newsletter is by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany and not Elsa Peretti.

STERLÉ EARRINGS

23E701.  Pierre Sterlé was not only a talented jewelry designer, but an extraordinarily handsome bon vivant whom the ladies loved.  In my opinion his gold and diamond jewelry of the 50's and 60's was among the best.  These earrings with a textured, flared design and 2.70 carats of diamonds, are so good looking.

BULGARI WATCH

23W700.  This Bulgari watch is one of the earliest coiled snake style watches they made.  The square face is unusual, it has an Audemars Piguet manual movement, and the face is surrounded by diamonds.

MARIANNE OSTIER NECKLACE

23N683.  This necklace is by Marianne Ostier and is featured on the cover of her book Jewels and the Woman, published in 1958.  She was born in Vienna and came to America in the forties.  We have owned this necklace once before and are delighted to have another one.  It sits like a dream, is 14k and has about 6 carats of diamonds.  This is a very special necklace.

AMUSING PIECES

• 23B702.  The shoes are probably by Paul Flato.  He didn't sign many of his pieces, but was the master of the little shoes.  He loved to do whimsical things; hands (american sign language) and feet (cufflinks).  These slippers with aquamarines, tourmalines, and garnets.
• 23E291.  These earrings [23E291] are 14k yellow gold flames set with diamonds, flowing out of a star with a cabochon ruby.  They were made in the 40's and while unsigned, are in the style of Flato or Verdura.

SHOWSTOPPER RING

23R709.  This Tiffany ring is all you need on that hand.  It's a flat dome with over 6 carats of diamonds pavé set on the top and sides.

BIG RINGS

Big is in. 

• 23R695.  Piaget made this malachite ring in the 60's; it is French in 18k gold with diamonds.
• 23R690.  This 14k gold ring with an .80 carat diamond was made around 1940 and is like a Victorian gypsy ring on steroids.  I love it.
• 23R705.  This special ring is by Donald Claflin for Tiffany.  When he designed for Tiffany they allowed no designers to sign their merchandise, but on his pieces the "Tiffany" is in script not block.  His pieces are highly coveted today.  He did a series of animal brooches (I have a cat) that reflect his first career as a cartoonist.  He did wonderful rings (reputed to have done my engagement ring at Bulgari where he later worked.)  This ring is a dream, with a sugarloaf coral flanked by rows of diamonds and stripes of black enamel.

UNUSUAL BROOCHES

• 23B713.  This Nardi blackamoor brooch is one of the best Nardis we ever had.  This blackamoor has a pagoda hat with a diamond and sapphire fringe, and the body is set with a pavé diamond heart and surrounded by two dragons.
• 23B697.  This brooch brings back fond memories.  It is by Marc Koven and some of you will remember that I bought 28 pieces by him when I started my business.  He was a naturalized Frenchman (originally Russian) who took his talents to America in 1940 when the Nazis invaded France.  He designed brooches often using an antiquity.  Here he has an old gold mask suspended from a carved green beryl (emerald/aquamarine) capped by rubies and decorated with his signature diamond leaf.

WORLD OF BRACELETS

We've bought lots of pretty bracelets this past month.

• 23A694.  In an ode to the 70's, this tiger's eye bracelet is a classic.  Each carved tiger's eye link is accented by diamonds (2.52 carats).
• 23A698.  This 14k gold bracelet is circa 1940 and is composed of dome shaped links.

• 23A599.  These three 18k gold and diamond Tiffany bangles [23A599] are from the Etoile collection.
• 23A703.  Aldo Cipullo's "Love Bracelet" for Cartier, circa 1970, is a classic.
• 23A650.  This 18k gold bangle is signed NM (Neiman Marcus) and numbered and is believed to be by Henry Dunay.  It is hammered gold and is so easy to wear.

RETRO GOLD AND DIAMOND TREASURE

We love these "cupcake" earrings but it is rare to find ones with diamonds. 

• 23E696.  The pair on the left is 14k in the shape of a handkerchief and by McTeague with the world's most comfortable clips.
• 23E682.  The pair on the right are in a ribbed fan shape, with a left and a right, all the better to frame the face.  Each is centered with diamonds and has the wonderful clips.
• 23R704.  This ring is one of my most favorite rings and I wore it constantly on my little finger when we got it.  It is 18k with folds of gold that meet to form a dome with diamonds set on the edges.

ZOLOTAS SUITE

We bought these Zolotas pieces together but will sell separately.  The gold and ruby ram's head bracelet [23A706].  The ram's head earrings with rubies [23E707], the ring [23R708].

BEAD NECKLACES

Beads have been dead but we looked through our boxes of unstrung items and made up a few terrific things. 

• First, these black tourmaline beads are cut by a German lapidary and have the 18k gold brickwork clasp designed by me.
• The gray quartz beads are a smaller version of my personal ones and have the brickwork clasp.
• The rough coral strand, can be doubled or tripled, and have a toggle clasp.

RENATO CIPULLO PENS

We have recently bought some pens made by Renato Cipullo, Aldo's brother.  They are silver plated and signed and come in a lovely box - iguana, monkey, heart, frog, sea horse, jaguar, and cat.  They make a wonderful gift.  There is one cat pen in sterling and black with ruby eyes.  Our office owns four cats and two dogs, so we are pet sensitive.

PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRICING DETAILS

TO SHOP

On the "shop your own closet" theme, mentioned last month, we'd like to recommend Susan Ginsberg.  She is extremely stylish and quite delightful and can help you decide what to keep, what to pitch, and what to buy.  Just let her loose in your closet.

TO READ

Last Exit by Ian Rankin ends with Rebus retiring from the Edinburgh police force.  It was a particularly good one, with three crimes to be solved.  Can this really be the end of Rebus?  We are sad to think so.  In the meantime, you can read one of the 19 Rebus novels, or order the television adaptations from Netflix.

Jacqueline Winspear's new Maisie Dobbs novel Among the Mad is just out.  As usual, you can't put it down.  This one begins on Christmas Eve 1931 with a suicide witnessed by Maisie which draws her in as a special consultant to Scotland Yard.  Really a good read.

TO STAY

When in Palm Beach, we adore staying at Grandview Gardens (561.833.9023) in West Palm Beach.  While it bills itself as a bed & breakfast, Jean says it is really a "hotel de charme."  Gus discovered it several years ago and we have all been regulars ever since.  It is a converted house with additions, all around a lovely pool.  There are two separate little houses to rent.  Rick and Peter are your charming hosts and very knowledgeable about the area.

ASHLEY MENDEL FOX

Ashley in our office is now Ashley Mendel Fox.  She married Charlie Fox on November 1, 2008 in Boca Grande, Florida, just two years after their first date.

CHARLIE FOX & ASHLEY MENDEL FOX

JANE'S CAT

We left out Jane's cat in our "cat issue" which we'd like to remedy.

SHOOSHOO

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