You might wonder, darlings, why we’re talking about the 2023 AGTA Spectrum Awards in summer of 2024? It’s a reasonable question, and I promise I have an answer. The American Gemstone Trade Association (AGTA) Spectrum Awards are a prestigious jewelry industry competition that gathers submissions from the finest lapidary artists, jewelers, and gem dealers in the country. I’ve had the pleasure of covering it a number of times, as you can see in my AGTA archive. I intended to come straight home from the 2023 AGTA Spectrum Awards preview and publish this blog post full of photos for you to…
Author: ANGadmin
We’re going to look at the abolitionist jewelry of the anti-slavery movement, a fascinating jewelry category that is as important as it is rare. Tomorrow is Juneteenth: a day honoring June 19, 1865; the long-overdue day when the enslaved people of the United States were finally free. This feels like the perfect time to explore the fascinating history of abolitionist jewelry and its role in the 18th and 19th century anti-slavery movement. Much like the social justice warriors of the Suffragette movement, the majority of serious abolitionists did not dedicate much of their time, money, or energy into jewelry that…
I will be writing blogs again, but only occasionally. If you’ve been following the Tiffany Studios lamp market, you might have noticed that the market is doing quite well. Following are a few examples from the last few months to illustrate my point. On March 21, 2024, Rago Auctions of Lambertvile, NJ, sold a very unusual 16″ diameter Daffodil table lamp, with pink glass, for $113,400, including buyer’s premium, approximately double the estimate of $40,000 – $60,000. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen pink glass in the background of a Tiffany lamp, so you know this one was rare.…
Hello darlings, Happy spring!! (Feels a little late to say that, I know, but I checked and summer doesn’t start until June 20th – so I think I’m in the clear.) I’ve been sneezy but happy, enjoying the endless discovery process that is living in a new house during a new season. We’ve been very lucky with how much gardening the previous owners of our house did over the 30 years they lived here. Mr DitL and I have no idea what we’re doing when it comes to maintaining that garden, but we’re going to do our absolute best to…
I am so excited to show you the Kimberly Doyle Jewelry Gemagotchi today, my darlings. This clever little charm has taken social media by storm and for good reason – it’s absolutely irresistible. If you’re close to me in age, you do not need this reference explained – but the Kimberly Doyle Jewelry Gemagotchi charm is an homage to the 1990’s Tamagotchi craze. Released in the US on May 1, 1997, a Tamagotchi is a small, egg-shaped digital pet that required constant attention to keep it from dying. If you had the pleasure of going to school with young me…
I have two fantastic pieces of news for you today, darlings: first, I had the BEST time at the inaugural New York City Jewelry and Object Show, and second, the event is happening again just a few weeks!! So don’t despair if you missed these treasures in November, because you’re about to get another chance in April! How was the November New York City Jewelry and Object Show, you may ask? Don’t worry, I’m going to show you. Why is the New York City Jewelry and Object Show (NYCJAOS) unique and exciting? Unlike most big jewelry shows today, the NYCJAOS…
I lived an Influencer’s nightmare: Instagram permanently suspended my account for false reasons and I thought @DiamondsintheLibrary was gone forever. 95,300 followers, 4,304 posts, 11 years of work, all lost in an instant. I got very lucky and was able to restore my suspended Instagram in just three days, instead of the months it usually takes. Now, after weeks of trying, I finally managed to get on a phone call with Instagram and get some solid answers about what happened – and some advice about what to do if it happens again. I’m going to share all the info at…
I have a very special piece of jewelry to show you today. my darlings: The Gem Corps’ Sweet Chairiot, a cleverly designed social justice talisman that has already made a huge impression on the jewelry lovers of Instagram. Sweet Chairiot is many things: an adorable itty-bitty folding chair, an impressively engineered piece of fine jewelry, a chic addition to any neck stack. But the most important thing about this tiny chair is the countless years of perseverance and bravery it represents. It is my honor to help spread the word about this remarkable design, but as a white woman, the…
I will be writing blogs again, but on a very occasional basis, when the mood strikes me. I thought that a number of estates were coming my way but they didn’t materialize. At the same time, I was doing a significant amount of business from my website. So I decided to do a full 360°. I’m back to my regular business. I never retired, as some people suggested, but I directed my attention to estates. I’m still interested, if and when they come my way. So here’s a few nice items I purchased recently. Very fine Tiffany Studios 16″ Black-Eyed…
Hello darlings, Happy new year!! Is it still okay to say that on January 16th? I’m going to say yes, because the year still feels all fresh and new. January can be a rough month for me: the sky is dark, the weather is cold, and I’m still worn out from holidaying through the end of 2023. But we just had the fireplace in our new house repaired, so I’ve been spending a lot of time curled up in a fuzzy blanket in front of a warm fire, reading great books. It’s lovely. The sun will return eventually and then…
