Mrs-B's whole curated collection...(more or less...)

[mrs-b]

There are people here on PriceScope who are unbelievably talented at taking photos of their jewelry. I'm not one of them. But I've been asked many times to share photos of my whole collection and to show how it's been curated, and so, given that I have the spare time a pandemic generates, I decided to give it a go.

I'm sure there are excellent ways of arranging my pieces to show the contrasts and similarities between different combinations and how they can be worn. But, while I do love you all, that would be a MAMMOTH undertaking, and I don't love you *that* much. That level of affection was reserved for my darling dog, and he was far too smart ever to ask me for something so silly.

So - with all due apologies - here we go....

 

[mrs-b]

I've collected jewelry to be worn in certain ways. I've never needed a tiara or a scepter, but I do on occasion need dressier pieces as I regularly attend dressier dinners, business functions, or parties that warrant the extra effort, so I've made a point of having what I call 'dress jewelry'.

On the other hand, I'm a fairly relaxed kind of person, and my lifestyle is largely dogs, gardening and diners, so the vast majority of my pieces are equally casual.

On the *third* hand...I like good quality pieces. Understated but well made. Individual, without being gaudy. So I tend towards custom made in high kt metals. And I like good diamonds - well cut, clean, white. Or well cut, clean and warm. Either one. And I'm at an age where I'm no longer just passing through with the pieces I collect. Each piece I collect now is a forever piece, so it has to be worth keeping, because it's not going to be replaced.

I'm a tad OCD and like things to match. Consequently, I've collected 3 sets of jewelry - White metals (mostly platinum), yellow gold and rose gold. I tend towards 18kt in yellow and rose, because I like the level of color, but there are exceptions - most noticeably my bangles, which are solid and carry a LOT of metal and would have cost an arm and a leg in 18kt. I decided to save my limbs and go with 14kt for those. Pretty much everything else, however, is 18kt.

I should also add - I have no 'name' pieces. I just don't get the point. Nor is my jewelry going to be passed down to anyone. I've told my husband, when I kick on, sell it all and split the money between the people I love, with my good wishes. Jewelry is 'stuff', and we're wise to remember that.

 

[mrs-b]

So firstly, my white metals - casual.

11.5mm AAA SS pearl studs
.64ct E VS2 AVR stud for outer hole
1 necklace - silver - a heart from a friend and a baseball charm that was my DH's from when he played baseball for our State, and which was the first gift he ever gave me.
Silver bangle - solid
18kt hinged white gold hoop earrings
.33ctw colorless BGD diamond studs
1.02ctw studs, with silver teardrop drops. Diamonds are ideal cut, colorless.
My casual rings -
1) 18kt white gold - .72ctw OEC - around 90 years old
2) TIffany platinum Legacy band
3) 2.03 ctw asscher channel set in platinum
4) Scott Kay platinum band, engraved by Marc Williams

 

[mrs-b]

Next up, my white metals - more dressy. And let me just say here that my idea of dressy may not be your idea of dressy. There are PS members with far more spectacular pieces than me, and I acknowledge that freely and with all due deference.

2 x diamond and platinum bangles. I'm not entirely sure of the ctw, but it's upwards of 10ctw for the pair.

Diamond and platinum pin - 2.6ctw. Ideal cut, colorless.

Diamond and platinum cluster earrings - 2 x .95 centers surrounded by 18 x 15pt diamonds. All ideal cut, all colorless. Roughly 4.6ctw.

14.3mm AAA SS pearls with approx 1.65ctw colorless diamonds. Rounds are BGD signature. Platinum.

Cluster pendant is a 1.11ct center - GOG Ascendancy, I color. Sides are ideal cut, colorless. Setting is platinum.

I don't have a platinum engagement-style ring, but will probably switch my yellow gold 3 stone to a platinum solitaire at some point. In the meantime, I use these 4:

1 x gypsy ring with approx .7ct OEC with 2 x 10 point AVRs - all colorless - set in platinum.
Approx 2.15ctw platinum 7 stone diamond band. I love this ring - so easy to wear and has plenty of presence. All stones colorless and ideal cut.
1+ctw Leon Mege diamond and platinum eternity
Sapphire and diamond 4ctw platinum eternity

 

[joelly]

More please.... such an incredible collection!!!!! Please post more pictures

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Thank you mrs-b for the wonderful tour of your jewelry box!!
I'm thoroughly enjoying your finery.

 

[mrs-b]

This is the category I probably wear the most - yellow gold, casual.

14kt solid gold bangle

Bracelet - 18kt antique chain with 1.85ctw OEC mosaic disc

Earrings - 18kt solid hinged hoops - 1.75"

Rings:
18kt Australian gem crystal opal and .84ctw diamond (ideal cut, colorless) ring ('Merry' design)
3 yellow gold bands - 2 x 18kt and 1 x 14kt from 1941
'Merry' band - 3.2mm - 18kt
1ctw 9 stone 18kt diamond anniversary band - ideal cut, colorless

"Wedding' necklace - made from my DH's and my melted down wedding bands. We remade our rings for our 25th wedding anniversary, and these 2 pendants with the leftover gold. The small diamonds are from my original wedding band, and the larger diamond in the center of the other pendant was a Valentine's Day gift from my husband.

 

[pearaffair]

THRILLED that you started this thread! I will pour over it in great detail later. But thanks!!

 

[Musia]

Thank you for sharing pictures of your wonderful collection! It is outstanding! You are doing great as a jewelry photographer.

 

[maita13]

mrs-b, thank you for starting my day with a smile. I have been tuning in every 2 minutes to see if you’ve posted more pics of your FABULOUS collection.
Every piece has been carefully thought out, well executed and perfectly curated. Thank you very much for sharing, mrs-b!! I’ve already bookmarked this thread as my daily pick-me-upper

 

[mrs-b]

Next up is my more dressy yellow gold jewelry.

Bracelets - I wear my yellow gold bangle in between my diamond bangles

For necklaces, my 18kt hugely heavy heart pendant, which is a memorial to my dog. It's engraved with his name, his show name, the dates of his birth and death, and 2 tiny diamonds plus one tiny ruby. It hangs on an antique gold muff chain, given to me by my best girlfriend.

Earrings - 2 pairs:
18kt and diamond drops - approx 4.5ctw - all colorless, 2.75"
11mm golden South Sea pearls hanging from bezel-set diamonds - 2 x .97 stones, one BGD Signature and one JA True Hearts.

Rings:
Plain gold band, which goes with -
1) 3 x ACA, 4.28ctw. Center is F VS2, sides are F VS1
2) 4.07ct S-T VS2 with .51ctw sides, set in 18kt.

 

[mrs-b]

Next is my rose gold collection. I love this collection, altho I don't have as much of this as I do of the yellow gold. I don't really have a casual and dressy collection; when I want casual, I just wear the hoops, plain band, and bangle. if I want to jazz it up a tad, I'll add my mother's watch, my ruby and diamond ring, and perhaps a pin. This collection gets the most air time during autumn.


14kt solid bangle

Necklace is 14kt rose with a puff heart and the national emblem of Australia rendered in rose gold.

A few pins:
1) The opal and ivy leaf one is made from a combination of the last anniversary gift my father gave my mother (opal ring) and the 10th anniversary gift from my DH to me (ivy leaf studs with tiny emerald cabachons). Unfortunately
2) Antique rose gold with blue topaz
3) Gorgeous Richard Wise green emerald cut tourmaline with peach colored topaz and 1/2ct OEC in 18kt

My mother's rose gold watch from the 1940's, which I had restored some years ago

18kt solid rose gold hoop earrings

Heavy comfort fit 3mm band

1910 (restored) ruby and diamond 5 stone ring.

.64ct AVR diamond stud, that I wear every day in my outer ear piercing, no matter what metal I'm wearing.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

You have such gorgeous pieces! I’m hard pressed to pick favourites from your collection but if I had to I would go with the following:
- the WG studs with the silver teardrop attachments: absolutely gorgeous and super cool!
- the WG OEC band: I love it!
- the WG diamond pin: I’m a sucker for brooches and pins and this one is so lovely, I would wear it all the time!
- the YG Bezel and GSS pearl earrings: thud! I normally don’t really like bezels but these earrings are PERFECTION.
- Boadacia the valiant: such an utterly spectacular ring!
- your stack of bangles & bracelets together - I love how you’ve worn them together! Super cohesive and I love two-tone looks!

edit to add since you posted your RG collection while I was typing: THAT WATCH!

 

[mrs-b]

And lastly - my tiny Christmas collection:

My Holly pin in 18kt with 2 beautiful rubies

Tourmaline, diamond and rubellite ring in 18kt

18kt Christmas tree pendant with diamonds and green enamel on 18kt Pharaoh chain

 

[mrs-b]

And one last photo of all my rings:

 

[mrs-b]

I'm still hoping to get 3 or 4 more rings over the next couple of years but, for now, this is it, folks!

Thanks for letting me share.

 

[Roselina]

What a beautiful collection. Thank you for sharing with us!

 

[marymm]

You are one class act, mrs-b!

Thank you for the in-depth show-and-tell presentation of your jewelry collection which is so beautiful and so classic.

I appreciate your thoughtful approach to your jewelry along with the detailed descriptions and photographs, and I have bookmarked this thread as I know I will return it as I regularly still revisit your "Not Cheaper by the Dozen..." thread.

Your curated collection is an inspiration, and your well-documented journey has helped me and so many others with our own projects and collection distillations.

 

[GlitterInMyHair]

@mrs-b Thank you for sharing your collection. I enjoyed reading about each piece and thoughts that went into it as much as looking at the pieces themselves.

 

[Weecam]

Absolutely beautiful collection! Thank you for sharing.
It would be really hard to pick a favourite....the diamond cluster pendant, earrings and bracelet are up there with your three stone.

 

[scouty]

Yay, excellent bling distraction! Collection goals!

 

[Bonfire]

Bling party at @Mrs-b’s!! I’ll bring cake!!

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

Oh, don't mind me
I'll just be here looking at this collection repeatedly until my eyes cross.

 

[Ally T]

Every single piece is just beautiful. Even the plain gold bands sing to me with their weight & shape - so classic.

I couldn't pick a favourite, I really couldn't?! But your full bangle set together like that & your new emerald cut ring would be contenders.

Heavenly collection - enjoy wearing them!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I think you also have a wonderful charm bracelet.......

cheers--Sharon

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

Wow, just wow! @mrs-b you have such an incredible collection! Do you have any pictures of your charm bracelet?

 

[mrs-b]

HI:

I think you also have a wonderful charm bracelet.......

cheers--Sharon

Oh now you're killing me!! I'm having my charm bracelet tweaked, and it will be a while till it's done, as it needs to be hand made, then enameled, then the charms need to be mounted. So when I say 'tweaked' - I actually mean that it's quite the project!

I'll add it, tho, when it's done.

 

[mrs-b]

Wow, just wow! @mrs-b you have such an incredible collection! Do you have any pictures of your charm bracelet?

There's a few around somewhere, but it's being tweaked, as mentioned above. Let me see if I can find any in its previous iteration....

 

[mrs-b]

@MRBXXXFVVS1 -

Here's one photo, but I'm actually splitting it into 2 bracelets and setting the charms end to end instead of dangling. I'll post the photos when it's done!

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

@MRBXXXFVVS1 -

Here's one photo, but I'm actually splitting it into 2 bracelets and setting the charms end to end instead of dangling. I'll post the photos when it's done!

Sooooo lovely!!! Can't wait to see your charm bracelet when it's done!!