Be Still My Heart

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Classic Things

Looking out the front window from my desk, the sun is blazing in the November sky.  People are walking downtown in short sleeves, they’re riding in their cars with the windows down.  It’s almost impossible to believe that the holidays are right around the corner, but nevertheless – it’s true.  The Christmas shopping season is upon us.  Here, at Joden, the last week has been filled with early birds…  those customers who know exactly what they want and are here to get it.

The remaining four weeks will bring many more customers.  Most are hoping to be inspired by the unique treasures that Joden is known for – seed pearl trimmed Victorian rings, delicate lingerie necklaces, and Art Deco gems of every kind.

During the last couple days of shopping, customers will be here for the classics – diamond studs, gold necklaces, sapphire rings…  and the inevitable – hearts.  Diamond hearts, ruby hearts, and heart lockets.  Hearts, hearts, hearts!  Over the years, I have seen hundreds of pieces of heart jewelry; each time I am left with the same feeling.  Blah.  I don’t like hearts.  They just aren’t my thing.  Hearts strike me as ordinary.  Nothing special.

heart-mess-small

Let me be the first to say it.  I love it when Joden proves me wrong!  Recently, we acquired this wonderful heart-shaped locket, circa 1830.

heart-garnet-locket

This piece was handcrafted at the end of the Georgian Period and the beginning of the Victorian Period.  It’s encrusted with over one hundred rose cut garnets and is accented by a sixteen inch necklace that is comprised of fifty-six bezel set garnets.

Opening the locket reveals a piece of yellowed silk still contained inside.

heart-locket-inside

I love every single aspect of this piece…  it is absolutely charming.  At nearly 200 years old, this necklace would be the perfect Christmas gift for anyone…  even a Joden Girl.

You can go to our website and look, or you can come to Joden and touch.

Written by Carrie Martin

It’s the Little Things

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and Converted Things

Gone are the days of women wearing suits to work every day.  Casual apparel has become commonplace.  As a result, brooches and pins have been abandoned to the bottom of jewelry boxes everywhere.

Many women mistakenly think that brooches are for dressing up…  Not true!  In fact, in the 1800’s, pins were worn every day, although they weren’t always visible.  Women’s undergarments have come a LONG way, but the basic structure is still very much the same – straps worn over the shoulders.  In Victorian times, these straps were secured with a tiny pair of decorative pins.  Lingerie pins, like these:

At Joden, we have several pair of lingerie pins…  and they are all enchanting.  There are Art Deco filigree styles with tiny sapphires, Edwardian designs with pearl centers, and Art Nouveau sets enameled in shades of pink, blue, and black.

With bar necklaces popping up all over the place, we decided to start converting our little pins into necklaces, two are pictured below.  Aren’t they are fabulous? In fact, they sold so quickly, we had to make more.

new-blog-photo

So, dig out those brooches, and get inspired!

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

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Carla Leight

Click To Call!