Since February is the month of love (Valentine’s Day!), we’re visiting how love was historically expressed through jewelry in the form of pieces from the Doyle & Doyle collection.

Here are a few pieces of antique and new jewelry that represent love’s many symbols:

Hearts, love’s most ubiquitous symbol, were popularized during the Victorian era. Check out our Victorian Malachite Heart Pin, $1200, Diamond Heart Locket, $150 and Diamond Heart and Bow Bracelet, $1800.

Malachite Heart Pin, $1200

Diamond Heart Locket, $150

Diamond Bow and Heart Bracelet, $1800

Lovebirds are a fitting image of love because they mate for life. Our Moonstone Lovebird Necklace, $295, from our Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle line is a sweet reminder of that.

Moonstone Lovebird Necklace, $295

Snakes may not seem like a symbol of love, but when a snake is biting its tail in a piece of jewelry, this symbolizes everlasting love. And who can forget the story that Queen Victoria’s wedding ring from Prince Albert was a snake biting its own tail. The story may not be true, but that doesn’t mean our Diamond Snake Ring, $950, isn’t a great gift for a loved one.

Diamond Snake Ring, $950

Bows in jewelry are symbols of fidelity and remembrance. These Grosgrain Bow Earrings, wg, $425, and this Grosgrain Bow Necklace, yg, $595 will stay on your mind long after they are given.

Grosgrain Bow Earrings, $425

Grosgrain Bow Necklace, $595

Flowers, given in real or jeweled form, are always a nice gesture. Especially when given in the form of this Orchid Link Bracelet, $275.

Orchid Link Bracelet, $275

Tags: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Snakes.

November sets off the season of family gatherings, and life gets a bit more hectic.

Our friend and familial obligations bring us together -  in pairs, in trios and in large groups.

You should do the same with your jewelry.

A great pair of earrings that go perfectly with a statement ring makes getting dressed for events and gatherings much easier; having more than one piece that you are completely in love with doesn’t hurt either.

And, like in life, your jewelry suite doesn’t have to be matchy matchy to work. Sometimes the most unlikely pairings are also the best.

Below, some of my favorite combinations of current Doyle & Doyle antique and vintage jewels, and some things to think about when picking out your duo:

Tip #1 – Take the High (End) Road.

I picked this pairing because what goes better with diamonds then, well, other diamonds? The Opal and Diamond Ring may be fashioned in yellow gold, and the Deco Diamond Drop Earrings in platinum, but their glamour is their commonality.

Opal and Diamond Ring

Deco Diamond Drop Earrings

Tip #2 – Be Prepared for the Unexpected.

Like seeing a so-so dress on a rack that looks amazing on, you never know when two pieces will just go together and look great, despite evidence to the contrary.

Take the Georgian Foil Back Garnet Pendant that I’ve paired with these Diamond Cluster Drop Earrings – their physical shape is similar (round and oval), and they are both yellow gold, but the visual similarities stop there.

But there’s no denying it – something about them together just WORKS.

Georgian Foil Back Garnet Pendant

Diamond Cluster Drop Earrings

Tip #3 – It’s in the Details…

Rather than finding matching colors for your two pieces, why not concentrate on their smaller, style details?

This Victorian Turquoise Bangle has a rope pattern that surrounds a line of turquoise stones. As soon as I saw this beautiful bracelet, I was reminded of our Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle Diamond Knot Earrings.  Finding similarities such as this make make your jewelry pairing more subtle than bold.

Victorian Turquoise and Rose Cut Diamond Bangle

Diamond Knot Earrings - Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle

Tags: Earrings, garnet, georgian, opal, Rings, rose cut diamonds, turquoise, victorian.

There’s always tons of excitement in July – the long weekend of the 4th, music festivals, outdoor activities, beach excursions and long summer nights.

So, in the jewelry world, it’s only fitting that the stone of the month is the fiery ruby.

Among natural gems, only diamond is harder, one reason for the ruby’s popularity in a variety of jewelry styles.

In Victorian jewelry, rubies were set in the heads of snake rings; in Art Nouveau pieces, which are often nature-inspired, they were set to resemble the petals of flowers; and you’ll see rubies often in Retro jewelry, boldly set in yellow or rose gold

Below, a look back in time to where  (and how!) the ruby was worn:

Victorian Era

It’s widely circulated that Queen Victoria’s wedding band was a snake biting its own tail. Whether or not this factoid is true, we  may never know, but what I do know for sure is that there are tons of snake rings to be found (in a variety of styles) from the Victorian era.

They are often set with precious stones in their eyes or on top of their heads, and this particular one is set with a ruby, as well as a diamond and a sapphire.

Ruby, Diamond and Sapphire Snake Ring

There was a period of time during the Victorian era when jewelers were fixated on the design techniques of the Etruscans (ancient Romans). This 18k yellow gold necklace showcases both this design inspiration and beautiful old cut bezel set rubies.

Etruscan Revival Emerald & Ruby Necklace

Art Nouveau Era

Art Nouveau jewels are rife with organic shapes and motifs. A bright ruby (the color of flowers, fruits and other natural delicacies), only enhances this naturalistic beauty,  as seen with these two curvaceous Art Nouveau pieces.

Art Nouveau Enameled Lady Festoon Ruby & Diamond Necklace

Ruby & Diamond Art Nouveau Necklace

Retro Era

Due to the dearth of platinum and other jewelry materials during the Retro era (which spans World War II, from 1940 to 1950), jewelers used alternative metals  such as yellow and rose gold, and alternative stones such as citrines,  amethysts and, of course, rubies.

Their lack was our gain, because ruby jewelry from this era is always some of the boldest.

Retro Ruby Wire Frame Earrings

Diamond and Ruby Retro Flower Ring

Contemporary

With the Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle line, we take inspiration from the motifs and designs of some of our most favorite antique pieces and fashion them anew. A great example are these serpent earrings, accented with ruby drops.

Ruby Drop Serpent Earrings

With all these great examples, it should be easy (or very, very hard if you are indecisive like me!) to add a ruby jewel to your collection.

Tags: Art Nouveau, Earrings, Heirloom, Necklaces, Retro, Rings, Ruby, Snake, victorian.

Paris in the springtime may have a song, but New York City at this time of year is really where it’s at.

It helps that the city, with all its boroughs, is one of the greenest urban areas in the United States. New Yorkers have landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to thank for two of its verdant parks – Central Park in Manhattan, and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, and warmer weather means more time frolicking in these parks, enjoying the simple pleasures of spring and summer

I’m way more interested in baking pies and laying on picnic blankets than deciding what to wear on a beautiful day, but I can never go completely unadorned. That’s why I rely on my simple jewelry staples of an everyday pendant, a small ring and delicate earrings during days spent outdoors.

Here are a few of my recommendations for your carefree jewelry wardrobe:

Pendant Necklaces: I’ve started wearing a simple stone pendant necklace lately, taking it off only when I go to sleep, or when I step into the shower.

I like the lozenge shape of the amethyst in this necklace, and the flowy gold Nouveau border really makes this piece stand out.

Art Nouveau Amethyst Pendant, $425

We just added this charming Diamond Pair of Owls Necklace to our Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle line, and it already has a lot of fans. Besides being completely cute, this pendant also holds meaning – owls symbolize truth and wisdom.

Diamond Pair of Owls Necklace, $575

Flies are an ancient symbol of protection and this Diamond Set Fly Necklace is one of my favorite pieces from the Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle line.

Diamond Set Fly Necklace, $350

Small Rings: Although I have more than a few cocktail rings or larger statement rings that I bring out for special occasions, during the warmer months, I like the delicacy and ease of a small, everyday ring.

Even though this clover isn’t four-leafed, it can still bring a little bit of luck into your life. The use of three precious stones makes it especially charming.

Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond Clover Ring, $950

I like that the shape of this Victorian ring has a slightly masculine edge to it, but that the smaller size if the ring keeps the look feminine.

Pink Sapphire Embossed Ring, $1200

This old mine cut diamond gives this solitaire ring some edge; the fineness (22k) of the gold, makes it especially bright, both in color and in beauty.

Old Mine Cut Diamond Solitaire Ring , $750

Yes, another clover ring, but this one is in a navette shape and fashioned in rose gold!

Single and Rose Cut Diamond Clover Ring, $195

Delicate Earrings: I like the subtlety of a smaller pair of earrings, and they hardly ever get caught in your hair.

The small diamond drop earrings are a great alternative to a pair of diamond studs.

Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Drop Earrings, $225

Studs are always a great choice as an everyday piece, and although these yellow gold Fleur de Lis Studs are small, the detail of the design makes them stand out. Plus, they are also an everyday piece in my personal jewelry wardrobe!

Fleur de Lis Studs, $85

I’m partial to purple, but if I were you, I would get a few pairs of semi-precious stone studs and alternate which color I wear depending on my mood.

Amethyst Stud Earrings, $175

Tags: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings.

A pair of Doyle & Doyle pearl stud earrings are featured in the June issue of Glamour magazine in a piece about how to look chic at work. Check it out here:

That got me thinking about more Doyle & Doyle pieces that can be labeled ‘SFW’ (Safe for Work). While I would recommend most any piece in the store as safe for work, I understand that other people’s work get-ups  require some subtlety in their fashion choices.

That’s why I think stud earrings (like those featured in Glamour) are a never-fail daily grind choices. Pearls, colored stones and figural pieces are a great  addition to your work look.

A pendant necklace easily transitions from day to day wear to 9 to 5, and it also adds a personalized and classic touch.  Figural pendants, colored stones and diamond pieces all fit the bill.

Whatever you choose, when it comes to work jewelry, keeping it simple doesn’t always mean playing it safe.

Tags: Earrings, Necklaces.

I love the Doyle & Doyle earrings featured in this beauty shoot from the May 2009 issue of Glamour magazine (with Miley Cyrus on the cover!)

The model is wearing our Taille d’Epargne Enamel Earrings. Taille d’Epargne was a an enameling method popular during the Victorian era, in which engraved lines in gold are filled in with enamel, without any variation in the depth of the lines.

Go here for more great examples of fine black enamel work. And check out the earrings below (too bad some lucky person already snapped them up!)

Glamour magazine, May 2009

Tags: Earrings, victorian.

VanityFair.com just released some outtakes of the recent shoot they did of Drew Barrymore for their April 2009 issue.

Drew is wearing Doyle & Doyle’s Art Deco Onyx and Ebony Earrings ($6500). And she looks amazing!

Art Deco Onyx and Ebony Earrings

Check out Drew’s glamorous photoshoot here.

Tags: Earrings.

Looking over wedding photos from the 1950s, I noticed a few overlying trends – beautiful scoop neck dresses that flare out at the waist, super-elaborate headpieces and veils and earrings, earrings, earrings.

It seems to me like women who married in the 1950s knew that a great pair of face framing earrings really completes a look (especially when paired with a tiara and long veil)…

Check out a few pairs of our most glamorous button earrings:

Lavender Jade Flower Earrings, $525

Diamond Spray Earrings, $5600

Sapphire and Diamond Scroll Earrings, $3800

Tags: Earrings.

During the 1930s, the era of the Great Depression, everything became much simpler, even once lavish wedding styles.

The great thing about antique jewelry is that it will always be in style. Jewelry fashion trends come and go, but there are always the classic staples to have in your jewelry box. The social climate of the 1930s resulted in a going back to the simple and basic.

Check out this bride in a simple but beautiful pearl strand.

Our Cultured Pearl Necklace ($350) is a great strand that will last well beyond your wedding day.

This bride wears her slightly over sized pearl studs well.

And these Freshwater Pearl and Diamond Stud Earrings ($275) are elegant, but with the same edge that really pulls of the effortless glamour above.

Tags: Earrings, Necklaces.

Looking for something… new?

Although we are an estate and antique jewelry store, Doyle & Doyle also has a great selection of new pieces.

Some of my favorites come in the form of our semi-precious stone drop earrings.

Harking back to the designs and trends of the Victorian era, these drops are fashioned in 9k yellow gold, and some are accented with seed pearls.

The best part about these darling drops? Most priced at under $500. Check them out below:

Amethyst Cabochon Drop Earrings, $375

Emerald, Peridot and Seed Pearl Earrings, $275

Diamond Ribbon and Amethyst Drop Earrings, $385

Peridot and Seed Pearl Drop Earrings, $425

And although, yes, here at Doyle & Doyle we definitely have a great selection of something old, you might just fall in love with something new, too…

Tags: Earrings.