Bee pin Archive

What’s New – Volume 82

October 2, 2023 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and the Latest Things

We are absolutely thrilled to have taken on a new vocation recently… we’re bee keepers! Over the years, we have been caretakers of lots of bee pins. From diamond encrusted to sapphire studded, these charming bees are always a favorite. There is one particular bee that has eluded us… the Herbert Rosenthal bee.

Herbert Rosenthal is the celebrated Mid Century Modern designer who elevated bee pins to stardom. His realistic insects are the epitome of chic. We have had two Rosenthal butterflies – both lovely in their own rite, but we wanted a bee! At long last, the wait is over – this little stinger just buzzed into our showroom at 144 South Broad Street. Complete with an artfully engraved body, sculpted wings and ruby eyes – he is simple perfection.

The warm, rich tones of 18-karat yellow gold bring our tiny friend to life. Add him to your collar, your shoulder, or your cuff for a touch of whimsy. Equally suited to a masculine or feminine look – this bee is the ultimate accessory.

Peep the signature Herbert Rosenthal mark on the backside of the wing! It’s the most important detail of all. If you too are buzzing with excitement, hop on over to our site and add classic style to your wardrobe for just $1200.

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Take Flight

August 21, 2020 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Flying Things

Bees. Everyone knows about the Rosenthal bees. These clever little golden darlings were created in the 1960s and 1970s by Herbert Rosenthal. They were crafted in a wide variety of sizes and each one was set with fine gemstones of every color. There were diamond bees, sapphire bees, ruby bees… I’ve even seen one with an opal body. So popular were these stingers that jewelers everywhere tried their hand at a copycat model. Even though Rosenthal had secured a patent on his original design, when he attempted to sue those who had stolen his craft – he ultimately lost the fight. But did he really? Or was it the very thing that clinched the highly collectible nature of a true Rosenthal bee?

In the past few weeks, Joden has been buzzing with chatter about these flying insects. I blogged about them before in Queen Bee; a few of you discovered that archive recently and reached out in search of a bee of your own. At the moment – we are sold out of bees. But imagine my delight when I found this gem!

This colorful beauty has been part of the Joden inventory for a bit – and recently, I selected it for Joden Girl. With wings made of superbly striated malachite and a cabochon pink coral body, this butterfly exudes happiness. A series of diamonds decorate the edges of the wings, the lower portion of the body and each antennae for a combined total of 1.00 carat. All of this is enclosed within an 18 karat yellow gold frame.

I pride myself on the research I put into each blog. I love digging for quirky, unusual jewels. I spend hours searching for relevant history and symbolism. With my loupe in hand, I scour every nook and cranny of my chosen piece so that I can share it all with you. Today, I flipped this butterfly over and there it was! Right before my very eyes, something I had never noticed before. Carefully etched into a small golden strap on the back of the coral are two marks… one is “18K” and the other is an east/west diamond shape with two letters inside… HR. Herbert Rosenthal!

We may not have any Rosenthal bees in our hive, but we’ve uncovered a gem that’s just as good, maybe even better – a Rosenthal butterfly. Sometimes the inventory at Joden even takes us by surprise! Fly away with this stunning brooch for just $3,250.00.

“Go to our site and look, then come to Joden and touch”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Queen Bee

August 1, 2019 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Sweet Things

In the 1970’s, Herbert Rosenthal created an iconic design… a cleverly sculpted bee brooch. Swarms of yellow gold, gemstone encrusted insects adorned lapels everywhere. Rosenthal’s copyrighted style included golden wings, diamond studded thorax, and bright ruby eyes. After his signature look exploded onto the scene, jewelers everywhere copied his design. Not since the days of Napoleon had the bee known such infamy.

At Joden, our hive is positively buzzing with excitement over these little darlings. We have several – but these three are my personal favorites. This all diamond model is classic elegance at it’s finest. Made from 18 karat yellow gold with approximately 1.65 carats of diamonds, this bee dazzles for just $2,380.00.

Not to be outdone, this guy amps up the bling with a two piece lapis lazuli body. A cabochon oval stone pairs perfectly with a pear-shaped stone to create the thorax of this mid-century bug. A carat of colorless diamonds accent the softly rounded wings. This 18 karat gold gem can be yours for just $1275.00.

Last, but not least is this industrious critter… made from 14 karat yellow gold, this artfully carved piece is the runt of the group. Measuring less than one inch across the wingspan with a pair of glittering ruby eyes, the sting from this bee will only cost you $380.00.

While it’s certainly possible to sport just one of these bees, I prefer to cluster them. There is strength in numbers… and a bee colony is the perfect example of that. Alone, we may not accomplish much… but together, we can do great things.

You can go to a museum and look or come to Joden and touch.

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Baubles, Bling and the Latest Things

Baubles, Bling and Flying Things

Baubles, Bling, and Sweet Things

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