Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling, and Complementary Rings
After ten years of working together, it’s no secret that Dana is my work wife. Like any great marriage, we finish each other’s sentences, can communicate entire volumes in a single look, and often have the same ideas at the same time. We’re sympatico. One of us is constantly going to the other with a piece of jewelry that is perfect for social media and/or a blog. Not only are we work besties, but we are close friends in our personal lives as well – we’re both sewists (makers); we share patterns and fabrics all the time. Just this year, we both began sourcing and upcycling vintage textiles, tattered quilts and other discarded handmade treasures. In a throw-away society that is obsessed with fast fashion, Dana and I feel blessed to be able to take something old and make it new again.
Over the past few months, our work world collided with our sewing passion. We met a young professional that both Dana and I vibed with immediately. His name is Nick Hess, and he owns a curiosity shop in Franklin, Pa called “The Printer’s Cabinet“. Nick’s tiny shop specializes in unusual memorabilia, oddities and antique jewelry. He’s quickly become one of our favorite clients, and a viable source for some of our most unusual requests – like uranium glass. Manufactured near the end of the 1800’s, uranium glass is decorative yellow-green glassware that contains a percentage of uranium.. this highly unusual ingredient causes the pieces to glow under a UV light.
As you can see, over time, uranium glass was also used in jewelry as well. The most common hue is celery green, like the two gems shown here. Not matching but certainly complementary, these Mid Century rings were made in the 1950’s. The men’s ring is made from 10-karat yellow gold and is set with a step-cut piece of uranium glass. The mounting has three deep ridges cut into each shoulder and the remnants of a satin finish are still visible. Measuring a finger size 8, this ring can be sized and is priced at just $580.00.
It’s counterpart – the ladies ring – is made from 14-karat yellow gold. It is also set with a step-cut uranium glass. The head and shoulders of the ring feature unique cut-outs and a lovely high-polish finish. Currently a size 6, this unique beauty can be sized. It’s priced at just $500.00.
Shown in the side-by-side photos above, you can see the results of holding a UV light onto the rings. It’s really neat, and definitely something that not everyone will have. Some of you are probably wondering if it’s safe to wear jewelry that contains uranium. The answer is yes… in fact, there is no more uranium in these rings than is in your cell phone or any other household appliance. If you’re as charmed by uranium glass as we are, these rings are available in our store and will soon be added to the website.
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Dana Jerpe
