Is the name of Leopold Pfisterer, a leading 18th century St Petersburg jeweler, but feast your eyes on the master’s glittering creations. Jeweler to the Empress of All Russias Catherine the Great, for as long the monarch reigned, some 30 years, Pfisterer produced magnificent treasures some of which are still preserved in the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin. A…
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Behind Every Great Man…
Enter Catherine I, the first in a line of five Empresses of Russia in the 18th century whose reign, beginning in 1725 would mark the dawn of the Romanov Dynasty’s glorious age of jewels and diamonds. Catherine was overshadowed by her husband Tsar Peter the Great, the mighty sovereign who founded St. Petersburg. Yet the story of Catherine I who…
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A Rare Find: A Russian Aquamarine Necklace and Ring Parure
The parure (a French word for jewelry set) was still the height of fashion not only in London, Paris and Vienna, but also in the courts of St. Petersburg, at the turn of the 20th century. It often consisted of a necklace, bracelet, pair of earrings, a ring, several brooches and, for the grand ones, a tiara. While several examples…
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What Learned in 2019, plus Exciting Events for 2020
After almost three decades in the jewelry business, I’m still learning. In fact, not a day goes by that I don’t discover something fascinating. Here are a few fun facts I gleaned from recent publications in 2019: Did you know that … In the 1660s London was the leading diamond cutting center in the world? Open-backed mounts for diamonds originated…
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From Cambridge to Moscow and Back Home Again to North America
I was leading such a healthy lifestyle in Cambridge UK. I was riding my bike every day, walking everywhere – I was fitter than ever. That is, until I fell victim to the lure of English Cream Teas. For those not familiar, cream teas consist of a pot of tea (never a mug), freshly baked scones, clotted cream and red…
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Summer Reflections from a Jewelry, Art & Treasures Dealer on Her Trade
I love my work tremendously, and the end of the Spring season is the perfect time to reflect on what’s happened and what’s to come – and to share those reflections with you. Here’s what I’ve been thinking as summer kicks into high gear: Buying I gave a short talk titled, “How to Buy a Diamond Like a Pro”. The idea…
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