Mid century modern Archive

Asymmetrical Allure

April 21, 2023 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Uneven Things

Boom! This word is often used to describe a post-war period. At the end of WWII, the American economy was thriving. In fact, the years between 1945-1960 would later become known as the “Golden Age of Capitalism”. It was a time marked by economic prosperity. Unemployment was low and wages were high. Americans had money to spend on everything from houses in suburbia to fine jewelry.

In the midst of televisions, fast food restaurants and family cars, there were also strands of pearls and cocktail rings. The style of the 1950’s was more refined than the previous Retro era. Bracelets and button earrings were staples for day wear while diamond jewelry was all the rage for evening.

This asymmetrical beauty showcases all the earmarks of the period. Made from crisp 14-karat white gold, the off-kilter appearance encompasses a pierced motif accented by a milgrain border. Resembling a sophisticated spoon ring, the tapered band wraps around the finger, juxtaposing the narrow high-polish plain side with the wide diamond accentuated side.

The ideal adornment for the feminine, curvaceous fashion of the fabulous 1950’s – this ring dazzles at every turn. Sixteen diamonds that include both round brilliant and single cut decorate the widest portion of the ring. With a combined weight of .50 carat, this charmer was almost certainly saved for evening wear – however, times have changed. Today, the ring could easily adapt to daily wear. The price is almost as attractive as the ring… hop over to our website and make it yours for only $975.00.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Signature Series – Volume 1

April 22, 2022 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Quality Things

In our never-ending quest to find fresh pieces for social media and the website, Dana and I dig through hundreds of pieces. We get ridiculously excited over new lots of estate jewelry and can’t wait to show each other all the best bits. When something catches my eye, the first thing I do is go over it from top to bottom. Loupe in hand, I eyeball every inch of it… are there any missing stones? Does it need prong work? Do the finishes and textures need touched up? Is the karat weight of the gold stamped on the metal?

Quality isn’t just something that you see with your eyes, you also feel it with your hands. After nearly twenty years in the business, when you hold an exceptional piece in your hands, you just sense it. You know. Just last week, I picked up this seemingly simple ring.

I was struck by the color of the emerald. My first thought was “must be a synthetic stone”. As I brought it up to my eye, my curiosity was peaked. Under the magnification of my loupe, I could see a couple tiny marks within the bright green gemstone. After showing it to Jay, he assured me that the emerald is genuine – and it’s a stunner. The deep green color of the stone combined with the clean clarity grade is everything you want in an emerald. It weighs approximately 1.01 carat. Winking from each side of this stone are a pair of round brilliant diamonds that have a total weight of .10 carat.

Looking inside the ring, it all becomes clear. Right beside the 14K is a crisp maker’s mark… “BaumF”. This stamp is the signature of a popular Mid Century Modern designer Baumstein and Feder. The New York firm reigned from the 1940’s-1980’s, they were known for superior quality and spectacular gemstones. Supreme quality is the mark of our signature series, each piece crafted by a well-known designer. This beauty is on our site for $3,150.00. Click on over to our site to see what all the fuss is about.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Pick of the Week – Volume 36

March 29, 2021 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

When we talk about periods in jewelry, we tend to concentrate on Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian and Art Deco. These eras had a huge impact on the style and trends of the time. One period that isn’t often discussed is Mid Century Modern. From the mid-1940’s to the late 1960’s, there was a post war period that still carried remnants of Retro with a decidedly feminine feel.

Retro was a reflection of World War II and the effects of it. Rose gold reigned supreme. It was often paired with yellow gold in bold patterns with militaristic lines. Post-war years were a time of growth, abundance and luxury. Jewelry from the Mid Century Modern era kept the strong lines of Retro, but softened them with elegant patterns often bejeweled with diamonds and colored stones. Flowers, vines and leaves brought added dainty touches.

This stunning bracelet marries a sleek and stylish 18 karat yellow gold base with an intricate sterling silver top. Each of the twelve links are identical. Four leaves form the corners while a small round ruby marks every center. The patina that has developed on the silver leaves is glorious, adding dimension and a just a hint of darkness. The details are absolutely amazing, bringing this bracelet to life.

I’ve always admired this beauty and I would love to see it being worn and appreciated. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that adding it to our Pick of the Week feature will do the trick!

Previously priced at $5,850.00 on our website, this gem has just received a MAJOR price drop. Made of 18 karat yellow gold and sterling silver with over 2.00 carats of pretty pink rubies, this gem is now available for just $3,250.00! Do the math… that’s a savings of $2,600.00! Click on the link to our website and make this statement bracelet yours today.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe and Shelly Isacco

Baubles, Bling and Uneven Things

Baubles, Bling and Quality Things

Baubles and Bling with Unbelievable Pricing

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