#JOTW My 2021 Sparkly Year In Review

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This post is looong overdue!

2021 was a rollercoaster year for me and my family. There were low times (my father had a massive stroke, and part of my house collapsed in the Texas freeze). But there were also miracles. My father, against the odds, regained so much of his health and mobility that he's able to return to being an obstinate old cuss again and scaring us all by climbing ladders with chainsaws (and falling off.)

2021 was the best Bling year of my life. Since childhood, I have always desired a high-quality, capsule jewelry wardrobe of classic pieces. I began that collection in 2019 when my husband and I acquired "Dainty" my CBI engagement ring upgrade. 2021 saw my collection increase with the following 10 pieces I will share with you below.

I've photographed the items both on their own, and also worn on my person. I'm posting the modeling pics NOT because I'm in love with my own image (its actually very difficult for me to look at myself nearing 50 -- where did all my collagen go? ) but in an attempt to be helpful for others. PriceScope is a wonderful resource for anyone contemplating their next jewelry purchase and seeing how an item looks on a living body, is, in my opinion, invaluable.

So without further ado. Here are my 10 Bling Beauties of 2021...

 

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1. "Flotsam" & "Jetsam"

ACA + CBI = A match made in Heaven

My new studs!!! I loooove them and wear them almost every day. They are true disco balls. They shoot laser lights, seriously.

3.792 ctw
ACA 1.902 ct E VVS2
CBI 1.890 E VS1

 

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The settings are in platinum, and are a custom crown design. I want to thank @donnabrsd and @yssie -- they came up with the design, and with their permission, I copied it. It lays perfectly flat on my ear. Super comfortable!

Check out the light show in that first image...

 

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A family shot: Flotsam, Jetsam, and Dainty

(Dainty is a 2.5 ct D VS1 CBI and still the most intensely sparkly diamond I have ever seen in person, bar none.)

 

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From the sides so you can see the lovely crown setting (thanks Donna & Yssie!!)

 

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And because we all miss him, here's to @Dancing Fire's memory. He always wanted to see the certs. It always chaffed me. But now I'm so sorry it did. I hope he's smiling down at all of us...

Flotsam:



Jetsam:

 

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2. "Draco"

Tiffany, Large Model, Dragonfly Brooch

55 diamonds, 3 ctw, set in platinum with two wee sapphire eyes

 

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The diamond melee in this is the most fiery I've ever seen. It kicks butt. Seriously.

I'm an old fashioned gal and I love brooches. My "go-to" ensemble for date night dinner out, or gallery openings (a routine part of my career) is Dainty, Flotsam & Jetsam and Draco. That's it. Any more and I would be over-done. But these three "stations" on my body are perfection. And they are so easy...just grab and go and I'm out the door feeling like a million bucks!

 

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Here it is in ugly hotel bathroom light...

 

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And with my sweetie at Christmas...

 

[HS4S_2]

All of your pieces are beautiful. If that is close to 50 you are clearly doing something right. You look gorgeous!

Edited to add.....I do understand though because I am in the same boat.

 

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3. Diamond Station Necklace from WhiteFlash

(Any suggestions for names?)

16.75 inches, Nine .2 diamonds, D-E color, VVS clarity (melee is upgraded from their regular) Platinum 1 mm chain

 

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[Mreader]

All of your pieces are beautiful. If that is close to 50 you are clearly doing something right. You look gorgeous!

TOTALLY agree with this - you and your pieces look amazing! I’m impatiently waiting to see the others…

 

[lulu_ma]

I've been waiting to see your enviable collection! And I'm sincerely so glad to hear that your dad is on the mend (I can totally relate on this front).

 

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4. Five "Pings" (12 total in my collection) for my Tennis Bracelet Project

"Pings" are what I'm calling the individual ACAs that I'm collecting. They crackle with light, so in my mind they make a "pinging" sound.

Each one is between .33 - .35 cts, all are D color, clarity ranges from IF to VVS2, all are ACAs)

Here are 11 of my 12 total lined up on my kitchen island...

 

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I'm too lazy to take them all out of their packages to make an updated video, but here is an older video from 2020 when I only had 7 of them...

 

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5. Roberto Coin Diamond Hoops

23 mm hoops, 2.35 ctw, 18K white gold

These are actually fairly casual in person. I tried on a lot of diamond hoops. Yeah, I'm not going to lie, I would love larger diamonds in my hoops, and I would prefer to have them colorless diamonds. But I have a gram weight threshold for earrings and in order to wear earrings all day, which is a requirement for any I purchase, then they need to not be above 9 grams. These are about 6.5 grams, so light as a feather. They have good sparkle too!

I am enjoying these and get a lot of wear out of them, especially for when I want a little bling on my ears, but when Flotsam & Jetsam are too much for the occassion.

 

[sweetpea&babycorn]

All gorgeous, timeless pieces @RunningwithScissors
You’ve chosen beautiful pieces that will stay beautiful for a lifetime, I hope you wear them in good health for as long as possible

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Love it all so far! Watching for 6-10!

A name for the dbty: Dot or Dottie?

 

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So we don't get jewelry overload, here's a palette cleanser...

Two of my three girls:

"Daisy"



"Toot"

 

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6. Van Cleef & Arpels -- 2 Pairs of Earrings and 1 Bracelet

I'm an artist and I am really drawn to bold, graphic patterns. Until I had tried on VCA in person, I didn't understand what the appeal was. But oh man once I could see these on my ears, feel them, wear them...! These are now some of my most-worn items.

The black onyx pieces continually surprise me by how they go with so many different colored outfits. The biggest revelation, is that they look the best with light, summer clothes! I would have thought them "winter" jewelry because they are dark, but oh no, they really "pop" with white and light pink t-shirts, cotton blouses, etc. And because they are black, they seem a little racy too. .

 

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And I adore the color turquoise. Refreshes my eye like a cool pool of water.

These are the smaller, "Sweet Alhambra" earrings. I'm sometimes out in the field painting, so I need minimal bling. But I can't stand to have naked ears! So these little bitties are perfect.

 

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7. Tiffany's Elsa Peretti Starfish Necklace in 18K YG

8. David Yurman 16" Box Chain Necklace in 18K YG (pre-loved, purchased from Fashionphile)

9. Vintage Dangle Earrings - Turquoise and 18K YG (1970's "Futurist" style)

10. Antique Garnet and 9K Rose Gold Orb Pendant (I still need a chain for this)

Here is a cool metal family photo:

 

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And here is a photo of all the 2021 Sparkly Loot:

 

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A few more vendor photos of items 7-10. I don't have modeling shots of these yet.

 

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Daisy says thank you for reading this far...

 

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Another thank you to @yssie for the great idea of making jewelry travel cases out of Leatherology lipstick cases.

I had two made with the initials of what I carry inside them...F&J for Flotsam & Jetsam, and VCA for, well, VCA...