After first spying the above pic on Instagram in November, this was certainly my initial thought. And I had to know more. Especially now that the word on the street is that bold jewelry will be soon be edging out all things dainty and delicate in 2019.
The stack is from the collection of estate and antique jewelry dealer Dana Kraus of DK Farnum, and it’s a great example of the caliber—and scale—of jewels that she favors: exceptional, hard-to-find, and signed by heavy hitters (e.g., Verdura, Van Cleef & Arpels, Hermès, Seaman Schepps, Schlumberger). Her inventory is, in fact, filled with carefully chosen pieces by the kinds of highly coveted makers and maisons that are synonymous with prestige, confidence, abundant glamour, and iconic design.
Fresh off the Greenwich Antiques Show in early December, which took place in her native Connecticut, Kraus reports a healthy appetite among clients seeking the type of jewelry she’s known for. “We did have a good show in Greenwich, grossing more than we ever have to date,” she says. “Our business is based on a concierge model, and shows are just a small part of the equation for us.”
As for the bracelets, “special pieces like these are part of what we provide that sets us apart. We offer mostly signed twentieth-century design that is one-of-a-kind, of interesting provenance, and well priced.”
An update: The gold and diamond weave bracelet, fifth from the top in the photo above, is Van Cleef & Arpels from the 1960s and, alas, has already sold.
But each of the others makes a great holiday gift on its own (see details below), and when presented as a stack of gloriously golden Cate Blanchett-in-the-movie-Carol gorgeousness? Absolute, complete perfection.
“Peretti created the bone cuff in the freewheeling 1970s, made to mold seamlessly like sculpture onto the wrist. We have older versions of this design in both sterling silver and 18k gold, which are better made and heftier than the newer ones.”
“The lattice parts meld seamlessly together when closed. This came from the same Hermès family estate and is no longer made by Hermès.”
“The Boivin bracelet has a design called écaille, or scale, as the texture is like the scales of a fish.”
“Cartier, Verdura, and Seaman Schepps all did versions of this curb link, a style that remains very popular. Schepps did a curb link bracelet in 18k gold and wood, and it’s a perennial favorite—we have had several iterations of it over the years.”
“We love the industrial design of the 1940s-era bracelets, which are also beautifully crafted.”
“This bracelet is one of three ever made and came to me from a member of the Hermès family,” says Kraus. “Each link is different, and the overall look is uniquely chic.”
Top: This holiday-ready gold bracelet stack from vintage and estate jeweler DK Farnum is making spirits bright in a big way.
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