Newsletter FEB, 2019

The Ultimate Queen of Hearts

Reimagining Your Jewelry

Welcome to my February newsletter,
Wishing you a meaningful Valentine’s Day – another great occasion to celebrate romance and friendship.
- Yves Ringler

The Royal History Behind The Heart-Shaped Diamond

During this Valentine’s Day week, I am drawn to images of heart-shaped diamonds that are such an iconic symbol of love. We have royalty to thank for this. It’s said that the Duke of Milan first referred to such a cut in 1463. And it was a hundred years later that Mary Queen of Scots sent Queen Elizabeth a heart-shaped diamond ring as a gesture of friendship.

The queen of heart-shaped diamonds is a 30.62 carat blue diamond that’s thought to be the world’s largest. It was cut from a 100.50 carat rough stone discovered in South Africa in 1908 and its blue color is due to traces of boron, a chemical element.

Over the last century, it has passed through the hands of some of the world’s most prestigious jewelers including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston and been acquired by several prominent families. Marjorie Meriwether Post was the last private owner of the diamond, which was by then set in a stunning ring surrounded by 25 colorless diamonds. In 1964, she gifted the ring to the National Gem Collection.

These unique shaped diamonds are difficult to cut which explains their timeless allure as a symbol of love.

From Brooch to Bangle: A Celebration of a Mother’s Love

A gift of jewelry from one’s mother is rarely forgotten, especially when it marks a sixteenth birthday. For my client, Ava, it was a gold brooch with two heart-shaped charms set with diamonds. It had been tucked away in a drawer for the better part of thirty years. Struck with nostalgia, Ava decided to resurrect the brooch and she contacted me about reimagining the piece.

Our discussion quickly turned to the idea of a simple and elegant bangle that would reflect Ava’s personality: that of a sporty and modern woman.

I had several designs sketched out playing with various options. We settled on our favorite and finalized the width of the bangle as well as the placement of the charms – all details that I enjoy and are so important to creating something unique. Two weeks later, I delivered the yellow gold bangle with diamond charms. It’s a whimsical piece that respects the memory of her mother.

And in this Valentine’s Day spirit, it celebrates the enduring love between a mother and a daughter.
L’amour toujours!

Let's Collaborate

Please contact me at 212-575-8886 for a free consultation so we can reimagine some of your jewelry, paying homage to the past while creating something chic and very now.
Best,
- Yves Ringler