Family Heirlooms: Contributed by Valerie & Vickie Killeen

Valerie from BLEACHBLACK posted a photo of her mother’s, Vickie’s, wedding ring and we had to know more! So here is her story…

The following is contributed by Vickie Killeen:

“I’ve always loved faux bois jewelry, and how it mimics nature. I was lucky to have found this setting at all, especially after I left the original inspiration ring miles away in Sausalito. Those were the days before internet capability.

So, my patient fiancee and I went to a local jewelry store, and searched through 25 catalogs of yawn-inducing, traditional ring settings, and, there it was! It might have been the exact design, but even if it was slightly different, it was the same unique, branch style, entwined to form a diamond engagement ring, with a precisely fitted band to complete a full setting.

That was 34 years ago, and it’s something I just glance at every day, but I love it like the first day, because it’s different than any I’ve ever seen”

–Vickie Killeen

Family Heirlooms: Contributed by Gem Gossip

My sister ALisha and I had a fun time going through our parents’ jewelry boxes. My mom’s jewelry was more traditional and included many pieces from the 1980s. Since then, she has not really made any jewelry purchases. A favorite piece of hers is an Opal Triplet pendant that she had custom made after purchasing the stone. My dad’s jewelry consists of lots of 18k yellow gold chains from Italy given to him from his parents, as well as lots of watches! A favorite piece of his is a Girard-Perregaux watch given to him by his father.

Pictured are two pieces from my parents’ jewelry collection: my mom’s engagement ring, which is a three-stone diamond ring done in a 14k yellow gold bypass style. The ring is crowned on top an owl carved out of soapstone. One of my dad’s watches is pictured on an antique blue plate, featuring Andrew Jackson. The plate was found at an old antique shop by my sister–Jackson owned a large plantation and estate near where we live.

Family Heirlooms: Contributed by Bernadette Morra

The following excerpt is contributed by Bernadette Morra, Editor-in-Chief of Firstwater News, a premiere website covering news about fine jewelry.  

Every time I look at my right hand, I think of my mother, and will even more so now that she has passed away.

Of the trio of rings I wear on my ring finger, the centrepiece is a gold band that I used to admire on her.

The other is a Cartier rolling ring – the first piece of jewelry my husband ever gave me. The third is a simple gold band I bought for myself in high school.

But the star of the grouping is the ring that my mother hasn’t been able to get over her arthritic knuckles for years.

It’s actually a man’s ring from Birks – a ridged wedding band with diamond chips stuck between the multileveled striations. I am sure there is more technical terminology to describe the design. It reminds me of the Grand Canyon.

I hate to think of the type of man that might wear such a thing. But on the hand of a stylish woman like my mother was before her first massive stroke more than 20 years ago, it looked right. Better than right, in fact. And oddly, though my taste in jewelry is more minimalist than hers was, the ring suited us both.

I don’t know how much my mother paid for the ring, purchased back in the ‘70s. But I do know that she got more than her money’s worth. And that is just one of the things that is so marvelous about buying fine jewelry.

Jewelry endures – both in terms of lifespan, if it is properly cared for, and in terms of appeal. This one ring has been enjoyed on a daily basis for more than 30 years.

And it doesn’t look any the worse for wear. It’s not an important ring, in terms of the quality of the design or stones, but it’s become a family heirloom and what could be more important than that?

And when the day comes that I can no longer get the ring over my knuckles, I’ll go back to admiring it on someone else’s hand.

by: Bernadette Morra

Significant Jewelry: Family Heirlooms

NEW PAGE ADDED: READERS–IT IS YOUR CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE!!!

Family Heirlooms

There are some jewels and gems that are just, well, jewelry…then there are those special pieces that have meaning, that are incredibly significant, and represent an entire soul. We call these family heirlooms—jewelry meant to be passed down from one generation to the next. Treasures like these are what I love about antique jewelry, and what captivates me most. So many pieces of antique jewelry have a secret story behind them, often left untold. That is, not unless we share our stories behind our passed down treasures.

This is where you, as readers, come into play. I’d love for you to share your story behind any significant piece of jewelry that you own which has been passed down to you. Add pictures for others to see, to capture your story, and make it come to life. Let the sharing begin!

Email your stories behind your gems at: charitybracelet@gmail.com