For newbie and veteran collectors alike, the FCI Archives are like wandering through a museum, with stunning close-up photographs of all the pieces sold over the last ten years. You feel as though you could reach out and touch them. It's a superb, visual education in jewelry design from a variety of eras.
Fay Cullen.com sells Vintage, Antique Art Deco, Victorian, Edwardian and Estate jewelry; including engagement and cocktail rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and watches. High-quality, signed designer pieces featuring the hallmark, or trademark of the designer and manufacturer include: Tiffany & Co., Elsa Peretti, VCA, Bulgari, Cartier, Gucci, Di Modolo, La Triomphe, Mayors, Van Cleef & Arpels, Hans Stern (H. Stern), Faberge, Paloma Picasso, John Hardy, Ilias Lalaounis, David Yurman, David Webb, Vera Wang, Roberto Coin, Chopard, Seiden Gang, Kieselstein Cord, Henry Dunay, Carrera y Carrera, Hans Rothmuller, Piaget, Chanel, Angela Cummings, Doris Panos, Tacori, Judith Leiber, Lagos, Elizabeth Locke and others.
Faycullen.com also produce their own jewelry inspired by earlier eras and custom orders are welcomed. These pieces are listed as "Art Deco style" or "Victorian style", etc.
On a recent visit, I selected a couple of pieces to describe in this article to pique your jewelry collector's interest. It's a sneak preview of what's in store when you visit faycullen.com. Keep in mind, if you're not in the buying mode at this time, you never do know what your future may hold, so enjoy the browse...and make notes!
Signed Tiffany & Co. Bracelet
Valentine's Day, or any day at all is a good day to collect or give a Tiffany & Co. heart tag bracelet. This one is crafted in yellow gold. The tag bears the engraved signature of "TIFFANY & Co." and a purity mark, "750", denoting 18K gold. The bracelet is a series of interlocked links.
Art Deco Emerald Engagement Ring
Made in the 1920s, this rare, GIA Certified (# 2125588535, Gemological Institute of America) emerald engagement ring is spectacular! The vibrant emerald color of the stone is color graded, "vivid bottle-green" with "good" clarity. The huge emerald is in a quatrefoil, prong-setting and surrounded by 5.5 carats of colorless European and old mine-cut diamonds in a platinum and 14k yellow gold construction. Described as breathtaking in person, this octagonal step-cut emerald is 15.39 x 15.04mm and weighs 17.38 carats. The ring is signed, "D & Pr". How extraordinary and romantic! Suggested retail and appraised at $100,000, you can purchase it at faycullen.com for $50,000, gift-boxed.
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond and Turquoise Brooch
From the 1950s Vintage era, this fabulous, botanically-themed brooch from Van Cleef & Arpels is crafted in 18K yellow gold. It's style epitomizes the 1950s renaissance of "Naturalism". Designed as a lapel pin, the design is reminiscent of wild foliage, encrusted with 2.08 carats of full-cut diamonds, and complemented with 15 round turquoise cabochons. The reverse features a fur-pin, or two pins, one of which is secured with a security clasp. The brooch is engraved with Van Cleef & Arpels' registered trademark, "VCA", and stamped with the purity mark, "750", denoting 18K gold.
Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art of Beauty
Illustrated Guide to Jewelry Appraising: Antique, Period, and Modern
