What is Melee?
Not to be confused with the definition of melee that means a tumultuous ruckus or disordered fray, in the world of jewelry, melee are very small diamonds. The Gemological Institute of America classifies any diamond weighing less than 1/5 carat to be melee, meaning that these little treasures can be as small as 1/1000 of [...]
Read More →Thank You, Thank You Very Much: Most Expensive Elvis Memorabilia
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, radically changed the face of music in the 1950s and has unquestionably become a legend, a giant of musical history, a deity of hip-shaking blues. Elvis’ fans span across generations and the desirability for Elvis memorabilia still burns brightly in the hearts of the King’s followers. Therefore, [...]
Read More →Famous Celebrity Memorabilia: Elizabeth Taylor’s First Wedding Dress
She was only 18 at the time, walking down the aisle in a glimmering cream wedding dress, which was the first of many. By the age of 18, Elizabeth Taylor had already become a legendary actress and Hollywood star. She would marry Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, Jr. the same year, 1950, and divorce him after only [...]
Read More →The Secret Stamp Only Herms Connoisseurs Know
Beyond the bevy of buttery and exotic leather options, the rainbow spectrum of color choices and the impeccable Hermès craftsmanship behind every Birkin bag lies a secret language. If you aren’t already familiar, Hermès employs a hush-hush mode of communication to mark the bags specifically designed for top collectors and VIP clientele. Legendary actress and [...]
Read More →The wealthy are using pawn shops to finance their business ideas
Wealthy people looking to fund new ventures are turning to their Rolexes and art collections as collateral for quick and easy loans from high-end pawn shops. The handful of lending companies tapping into the trend let their affluent clients take quick thousand-dollar or million-dollar loans with high-end collectibles as collateral. That’s far greater than the [...]
Read More →Exceptional Birkin Bests Previous Auction Records
Crocodile leather, diamonds and 18-karat gold. Do these materials not scream luxury? What about a coveted Hermès bag with all three? One lucky buyer made history this May, winning one such Hermès Birkin – with yes, “Himalaya” crocodile leather, more than 200 diamonds and 18-karat gold hardware – after a very intense bidding war. The [...]
Read More →The World’s Oldest Wine
The origins of wine predate written records, and archaeologists remain uncertain about the details of the first cultivation of wild grapevines. However, with the transition from a nomadic to sedentary lifestyle around 10,000 BC came agriculture, and later, the domestication of wine. There are many etiological legends about the first cultivation of grapes and wine [...]
Read More →The Cartier Panthère collection – A History Lesson
The Cartier Panthère collection, an iconic symbol of strength and elegance, celebrated its 100th birthday in 2014 with a brand new collection. New York Loan Company, a high-end pawnshop that works with signed jewelry, is extremely familiar with Cartier and all of its collections. The Panthère de Cartier is exceptional not only for its long [...]
Read More →Stunning Sapphires – The Best in the World
As long as man has been finding gemstones, cutting gemstones, and using gemstones as decoration, sapphires have been among the most desired. Best known for their deep dark blue color, many people don’t know that sapphires come in every color of the rainbow. Green, yellow, white, pink, purple, red (rubies), and even in stunning combinations. [...]
Read More →Verdura and Dalí: A Surreal Jewelry Collaboration
“Fulco and I have tried to discover whether it was the jewel that was for painting or painting for the jewel. We are sure, however, that they were born for each other; it’s a love marriage.” -Salvador Dalí Back in the early 1940’s, the celebrated and successful jewelry designer Duke Fulco di Verdura was invited [...]
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