Solid Gold Rose Brooch with Diamond Leaves

[Smith1942]

Well, the snow is falling and my flight has been cancelled, so I thought I’d throw open the vault and photograph some more of the Smith Jewels!

This is a 14k solid gold brooch in the shape of a budding rose, with a dusting of diamonds on the leaves. I bought it in E.B. Horn in Boston a few months ago. I love it – the diamonds really sparkle, and the matte gold looks great against a black sweater or dress.

More interestingly, I researched the hallmark and found that it comes from a New York jeweler who traded between the 1800s and the 1940s, Harry S. Blick. Known mainly for costume, sterling and gold fill jewellery, Blick also produced a small number of solid gold fine jewellery pieces.

Etsy is currently selling one for almost a thousand, and I paid just $450 for mine at E.B. Horn. God, I love that store. The brooch was very dirty when I got it, but it cleaned up beautifully. I think E.B. Horn got it in a consignment and just didn’t really bother with it – not cleaning it or looking at the hallmark. A few months ago there was another one like this for sale elsewhere on the Internet for a thousand, too.

I really love it!

 

[Smith1942]

Two more pics:

 

[Enerchi]

Yay!! the Smith vault doors are opening up again !! WOO HOO!!!

This is precious, smith!! I love the scattered diamonds! Sounds like you got quite the steal of a deal - and it sure did clean up beautifully!

 

[NonieMarie]

 

[Smith1942]

Thanks, both!

Enerchi - it seems that I'm pre-programmed to pick up unbelievable jewellery deals! It's as if the universe draws me in to them! Do you remember my Tiffany etoile ring from a few months ago? Pristine condition from E.B. Horn's preowned Tiffany section, $650 as opposed to $2400 new! And yes, the brooch cleaned up very nicely indeed. I estimate the diamonds to be no more than 1-2 points each max, but they are SO sparkly!

 

[GemFever]

Thanks, both!

Enerchi - it seems that I'm pre-programmed to pick up unbelievable jewellery deals! It's as if the universe draws me in to them! Do you remember my Tiffany etoile ring from a few months ago? Pristine condition from E.B. Horn's preowned Tiffany section, $650 as opposed to $2400 new! And yes, the brooch cleaned up very nicely indeed. I estimate the diamonds to be no more than 1-2 points each max, but they are SO sparkly!

Take me shopping with you! Maybe some of this super programming will rub off one me

Could you post a photo of the brooch "in action," i.e. how you would usually wear it? It's so pretty! Congrats on the great find!

 

[Smith1942]

Yes, that would be good, wouldn't it!

Camera is lying down in a darkened room with exhausted batteries, but I will definitely try to get an action shot at some point. The brooch does take some positioning to get the angle completely right.

 

[Smith1942]

Action shots of brooch as requested. One is with a flash. Excuse all the fluff on my sweater - I tumble-dried it along with a fluffy towel.

 

[Smith1942]

Where is GemFever - I posted these action shots especially, as requested!

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Pretty!

 

[GemFever]

Here I am! Thanks for the photos! It looks very nice. How often do you wear it? I'm contemplating brooches myself, just because there are so many cool vintage ones out there. But with my casual clothing and lifestyle, I'm not sure I could pull it off...

 

[Smith1942]

I wear it quite often. To avoid looking too old-lady, I'll wear it when I'm wearing a sharp, slim outfit like skinny jeans with high-heeled boots and a nice black top with a drapy neckline, or with a charcoal grey top. Works well with some sapphire-blue tops I've got too. But I wouldn't wear it with a vintage floral dress or even with a skirt, unless a very close-fitting black dress - too granny otherwise. I think it adds a touch of class to a figure-skimming outfit.

E.B. Horn in Boston has two lovely brooches at the moment. One is a gold filigree butterfly with diamond-tipped wings, a pearl body and sapphire eyes, for about $300. The other is a diamond starburst, with a half-carat diamond centre and diamonds at the tips of the rays, for $1,100. I was contemplating them instead of my upgrade, but I got the upgrade in the end.

 

[GemFever]

I wear it quite often. To avoid looking too old-lady, I'll wear it when I'm wearing a sharp, slim outfit like black skinny jeans with high-heeled boots.

E.B. Horn in Boston has two lovely brooches at the moment. One is a gold filigree butterfly with diamond-tipped wings, a pearl body and sapphire eyes, for about $300. The other is a diamond starburst, with a half-carat diamond centre and diamonds at the tips of the rays, for $1,100. I was contemplating them instead of my upgrade, but I got the upgrade in the end.

I like the idea with the jeans and boots, and brooch! Will have to try it sometime. Although now the weather is finally getting warmer, I might have to wait till the fall.

Upgrade is always a good idea, eh?

 

[Smith1942]

Oh, you have NO idea! Life has been so stressful. I can't wait to get those diamonds. I have a 0.52 D pendant in a bezel and I held it up to my ear. It looked as big as a saucer. My new studs are upgrading from 0.68 ctw to 1.12, also Ds, ideal cut. I'm looking forward to them but I hope they don't look too big for me, what with the bezel and everything!