Merry Christmas! (Day 12)

Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you so much for making this Holiday season so enjoyable & such a success. From all of us here at Rebekah Brooks we wish you a happy, healthy & prosperous 2014!

12 Days of Gifts, Day 11

We may have lost count along the way but, nevertheless! Here we are at our final day of posts before we all tune to that universal holiday frequency where the rush of the world grows quiet at least for a day. If like me you still have a few people you either forgot or haven't found that perfect gift for - let us suggest our register earrings. These have been more popular than ever this year - both due to price (starting at $25) and the fact that they're bound to please even the most particular on your list.

12 Days of Gifts, Day 10

What's old is new again - take brooches. These gorgeous emblems are badges of style. They may seem antiquated but in truth are significantly more modern than given credit for. Though less utilitarian than a necklace or earrings, they're no less useful in creating a splash. We've got a lovely collection - an all-seeing eye framed in pearls, a sterling spider, a basket of fruit set with precious stones, a cameo forged from lava! See what I mean - unique, daring & beautiful - just like you.

12 Days of Gifts, Day 9

Do you have a queen in your life? We've got just the thing! Cut Steel & Marcasite Jewelry. We've been slowly collecting some really nice examples of this. Cut-steel jewelry is jewelry 'set' with tiny faceted and polished steel studs, fashioned to resemble gemstones and usually riveted in place. The Swiss pioneered this process as early as the 1700's often using cut steel as a substitute for diamonds. Later Marcasite was introduced as it took a higher shine than the steel & didn't rust. These pieces are almost always made with Silver & the craft involved in making them was exceptional. We've got some gorgeous pieces from the Georgian era up to the Deco period. 

The Elves Are Fired, or, Day 8

This is what our studio desks look like this time of year. A festive sort of overwhelming mayhem where each day is a scramble to keep up. Not a bad feeling really as we're grateful to be busy crafting these sparkling labors of love. The morning of the 25th we always imagine people opening our boxes & the joy we hope it brings.

12 Days of Gifts, Day 7

Perfect for that last minute (yes, we're approaching last minute) gift we've got our Register Necklaces. Atop the counters at both shops these come in a variety of styles - Silver or Gold, with stones or without - all of them handmade and quality, priced comfortably under $100.

 

12 Days of Gifts, Day 6

Lockets! Timeless, classic, sentimental. We stock an ever changing selection of beautiful vintage lockets, lovingly restored from the Deco, Edwardian & Victorian periods. Some are plain, some engraved, they come in 14k, 10k or Silver - something for everyone & they never go out of style.

12 Days of Gifts, Day 5

With the Winter Solstice fast approaching what better way to bring some color & light to your life at the darkest time of the year than with our Briolette Drop necklaces & earrings. These perfectly simple (and affordable) necklaces & earrings come in just about any stone, color or metal combination you could desire. They wear great casually or dress up beautifully in time for ringing in the New Year!

12 Days of Gifts, Day 4

A more utilitarian suggestion for today's missive - gift certificates! One of the many remarkable things about our jewelry is that it really does appeal to women of all ages, grandmother's come into the shop with their teenage grandaughters & they both leave with something they're excited to wear. All this to say these are a perfect solution to any gift dilemma - even comes wrapped in a beautiful envelope ready to go under the tree or be hidden discretely in a stocking.. 

Antique Aquamarine Ring

This antique Aquamarine ring - just finished with it's restoration today - is surely one of the most amazing rings we've ever had! This 6.5-7ct Aquamarine is set into a 14kt yellow and rose gold, hand engraved Victorian setting with a chased (sculpted) bezel of leaves allowing you to see inside the setting. It is so beautiful the ladies at the studio couldn't stop looking at it through a loupe because the detail is so fine. The ring has a band with our favorite Victorian wheat pattern, a symbol of fertility and abundance. This is a one of a kind piece we won't ever see the likes of again and the ultimate Holiday gift!

12 Days of Gifts, Day 3

The holiday whirlwind has been in full effect here & as a result Day 3 of our gift posts is a bit belated - but totally worth the wait! Shopping for that special someone in your life can be a serious challenge. You want to hit the mark with something unique & meaningful. Well, what could be better than beautiful vintage cufflinks! These are a subtle yet undeniable statement of style. They work well with someone who likes adornment, or doesn't. They're cool. They encourage getting dressed up. We've got a lovingly curated selection of them you won't find anywhere else. What more could you need?

In-Store Holiday Event

12 Days of Gifts, Day 2

Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds - the enduring beauty of precious gemstones is without question. So, what better gift for that lucky lady in your life! We have an expansive & evolving collection of precious gem jewelry, from necklaces to earrings and rings. These saturated beauties look stunning on everyone & never go out of style. This may be just the thing..

12 Days of Gifts, Day 1

To chime in December we've created 12 inspired days of gift ideas for everyone on your list. These will unfold from now thru the 24th in an effort to help keep your holiday gifting simple & fun. Day 1 begins with our always popular Initial Charm Necklaces. These are kind of fool proof because, really - who doesn't want a simple & elegant necklace with their intials? Tailor made for moms, girlfriends, teens - you kind of can't go wrong. Prices start at $75 in Sterling Silver and $85 in 14k Gold Fill. Initials can be engraved in various fonts & necklaces can be customized with gemstones or birthstones of your choosing.

 

Small Business Saturday

Two of the years biggest shopping days are upon us. For Black Friday we are offering an online discount of 10% off any web purchases (antiques included) - starting now! Just enter the code BLACKFRY at checkout & you will see the discount. We will be celebrating Small Business Saturday at both stores with a drawing for some free earrings & other festive activities. Please stop in, look around & whatever you do - support your local community businesses!

Gratitude

We feel immensely grateful for all of the incredible, talented people that work together to make our company what it is. This past October we had the pleasure of getting everyone together at our new studio. It was a great time & a first that we had both Cambridge & Northampton folks all in one place - hanging out, drinking wine & talking shop.  Thanks to them, and to you, for all the support - we couldn't do it without you!

Gem Show

We're just back from the last gem show of the year, the place we get many of the stones we work with. Walking thru the doors it's always inspiring to see the colors, cuts & clusters waiting to be discovered. While we always have to buy our staple gemstones, inevitably we walk away with fresh, sparkling acquisitions that ignite new creations.

 

Beautiful People

One of the best things about making handmade jewelry is all of the wonderful people we get to meet & work with along the way. Sometimes, these same wonderful people send us pictures of them wearing their beautiful new creations. One such couple is shown below, they generously sent us these pictures from their wedding & offered that we could share them on the blog. Thank You!

Beautiful Mabe Pearl Ring

This lovely ring is one of the nicest examples of a Mabe Pearl we've come across. Mabe pearls are semi-spherical cultured pearls. Instead of growing inside the body of the oyster, these pearls grow against the inside of the shell. This process causes Mabe pearls to have a flat side, as opposed to being relatively spherical like standard pearls. The unique nacre of the Mabe oyster allows for hues that are quite brilliant and rainbow-like which this pearl has in spades. This type of color is what brings the value to Mabe pearls in addition to their superiority in texture and luster. Add to all that the elevated scroll work of this ring & you've got something quite special.