All That Glitters Is Gold

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Golden Things

Joden Jewelers is nestled in the heart of Grove City, Pennsylvania.  With a population hovering around 8000, it’s more Mayberry than Manhattan.  If you’re the kind of girl who has your eye on current trends and hot new styles, you should probably know that we tend to trail about two years behind the rest of the world.  Until now. 

While yellow gold is making a splash on the Red Carpet in Hollywood, and popping up on the New York fashion runways, our customers are also requesting this throwback metal.  For more than twenty years, white metals have reigned supreme – platinum, white gold, and sterling silver.  But for the last couple years, yellow gold has been slowly inching its way back into the spotlight.

Some are calling it sleek and trendy, while others say its vintage-inspired.  Either way, it seems like the natural richness of yellow gold is here to stay.  But don’t put away all your white metals – just warm them up with a classic piece, perhaps a pair of antique earrings like these.

The first pair are Etruscan Revival.  Etruscan Revival was a movement during the Grand Period (1860-1885) of the Victorian Era.  Artisans revived the art of ancient techniques using corded wire, filigree, and granulation.  These earrings are made from 18 karat yellow gold with a tiny diamond in the center of each.  They are available on our website for just $1550.00.

If you’re a diamond girl, then the second pair of earrings are for you!  Made in classic lever-back style with two Old Mine Cut diamonds on each one, these are perfect for every day wear.  Priced at $2500.00. 

From Mayberry to Manhattan and everywhere in between – Go for the gold!

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Carrie Martin and Shelly Isacco

Every Girl Needs A Little Black Dress

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Dreamy Things

Believe it or not, there IS a downside to being surrounded by beautiful jewelry every day.  I have become spoiled.  Really spoiled.  I don’t even bat an eye at a piece that is less than extraordinary.

This Art Nouveau necklace had me doing a double-take…  and that’s a rarity.  It is absolutely fantastic – from the tiny handmade links of the chain to the finely carved bow that crowns the center section.  Every little detail is delightful.

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It is an exceptional example of a festoon necklace – by definition, a curved necklace comprised of flowers, ribbons, or leaves used as decorative elements with swags or draped chain as part of the design.  This type of necklace was first made popular during the Georgian period.  Each era since has had its own version of the style.

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Three pieces of cobalt blue glass provide the perfect background for each of the details described above; tiny flowers crafted from sterling silver set with rose cut diamonds, buttery gold leaves hand carved from 18 karat yellow gold, and that charming little bow (my favorite part!) tipped with a pair of natural pearls.

This necklace is “the little black dress” of antique jewelry.  It would be perfect for a bride on her wedding day…  something old AND blue but it could just as easily be worn with jeans and boots.  It’s practically perfect in every way.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Some Like It Scot

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Scottish Things

About fifteen years ago, I read a book called “Outlander” – written by Diana Gabaldon.  (I highly recommend it to any and all!)  It changed my life.  Not only did I fall in love with the series, but I also fell in love with all things Scottish – naturally, that included the jewelry.

Most of the Scottish pieces that we have at Joden are brooches, like the one pictured below.

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This type of jewelry is often referred to as “Scottish Pebble Jewelry” – dubbed as such by Queen Victoria.  She and Prince Albert visited Scotland for the first time in 1842.  They were enchanted by the beautiful country.  After returning home, Victoria began gifting friends and family alike with tartans and Highland style gifts – primarily jewelry.  Most of this jewelry was constructed of intricately carved sterling silver set with the pebbles of Scotland…  also known as Agate.  These colorful stones were precisely fitted to the jewels made in the shape of Celtic knots, shields, crests, and dirks.

This (pictured below) is a silver agate Dirk brooch.  It was designed after a traditional dagger and sheath, and actually gives the appearance of three blades, each one accented on its hilt with a faceted round citrine.  The remainder of this piece is set with Bloodstone, Red Jasper, and Montrose Lace – all forms of agate, or Scottish Pebbles.  Circa 1890.

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Another notable piece at Joden is this vintage Cloak pin (shown below).  The head of each pin is perfectly assembled from six different colors of carved and polished agate.  The two pins are then connected by a series of ten octagonal pieces of agate.  Its and explosion of color and texture.  Circa 1880.

cloak-pin

Due to the huge demand, English jewelers began making pieces in the same style.  Initially, they stayed true to the Scottish motif, but over time, the jewelry began to take on a distinctly English feel.  The agate that was originally from Scotland was replaced with stones from other areas.  And while the spirit of the jewelry remained largely the same, the quality waned.  Pieces produced after WWII (like the ones pictured below), while lovely, do not exhibit the craftsmanship of the ones made during the Victorian era.

So, if you’re an Outlander fan like me, or if you love Scottish Pebble jewelry, come visit us at Joden.

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Carla Leight

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