Stories of Gems

In this post, I’d like to focus on how jewelry can create beauty and hope in times of war. Like a previous post about the bird pins made by the Japanese during their internment, these bird pins are also from the World War II era. They also have real sentimental value. But our location has changed. Instead of America, we find ourselves in occupied France. With Cartier. Perhaps you think of watches when I say Cartier, but Cartier was all about jewelry. Founded in 1847, they w

By now, you should all know how much I love brooches and pins. I have a great little collection of owls and other animal pins. But one day, a good friend showed me something like I had never seen before! In his hand was an exquisitely carved wooden bird pin. Now, some jewelry designers do incorporate wood into their pieces, but it’s pretty unusual. And to have a whole piece made entirely from wood, it’s quite rare. So I had lots of questions. And I learned a fascinating story