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Tel: (928) 239-9361

Please call for hours of business which will change with the seasons.

Village Jeweler by Borrego Goldsmith, Inc. a Arizona Corporation doing business in beautiful Village of Oak Creek  Sedona, Arizona

Village Jeweler
a full service jeweler in Sedona, Arizona
100 Verde Valley School Road, Suite #108
Weber’s IGA - Village Crossing Shopping Center
Sedona, Arizona 86351
Tel: (928) 239-9361
www.VillageJeweler.biz       To Email, please click here.

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Women in History &
Their Jewelry
as featured in Way Back When Magazine

It was said that Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile ground Lapis Lazuli stones into a powder and used it as eye shadow.

In ancient Rome Amber jewelry was only worn by lower class women. Wealthy women thought it was obscene. The wealthy women wore gold jewelry, making it easy to tell a woman’s social status.

Catherine the Great, was one of the greatest monarchs in the history of Russia. She ruled from 1762 to 1796, a full 34 years! Catherine truly enjoyed the arts, literature and education and Jewelry made by jewelry craftsmen of St. Petersburg. She was a great collector and connoisseur. Her collection included an emerald and diamond brooch and earrings (pictured). The brooch was later gifted to The Grand Duchess Maria (Pavlovna) Vladimir Alexandrovich in 1874 who was often seen wearing the brooch whenever she held court.

Historical records tell us that royalty have always set the jewelry fashion trends. For instance Queen Elizabeth loved cameos and Catherine the Great had significant collection of them. Queen Victoria wore cameos during her reign making them quite popular during that time. Italian carvers began using shell for their cameo carvings around 1805. Cameos are still enjoyed by many.

First Lady Abigail Adams – wife of US President John Adams had her portrait done while wearing a long strand of pearls tied at the neck with ribbon allowing her to wear them at different lengths.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has so much jewelry that she has a special and huge room to keep it in situated 40 feet beneath Buckingham Palace. Of course the Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower of London. The Queen's personal jewelry is valued at approximately $57 million, most of which she received as gifts. I believe there is a book titled “The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth”. This would be a great resource for anyone seeking a listing and/or pictures of the Queen’s extensive Jewels!

Elizabeth Taylor’s book “My love affair with Jewelry” depicts her well known jewelry collection, including the 33.19 carat Krupp diamond and the 69.42-carat pear shaped Taylor-Burton Diamond. In her book you can read all about the many historical pieces dated from 1621 to present, including La Peregrina, one of the largest and most historic pearls in existence, a pear shaped drop weighing 203.84 grains once owned by the Spanish royal family. I have a copy of this book in my library, and enjoy it often.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis enjoyed very large colored gemstone jewelry, especially necklaces and bracelets. When she married Aristotle Onassis she received from him $5 million in jewelry and he continued to gift her with exquisite pieces monthly. Her engagement ring from Onassis sold for $2.6 million at the auction of the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1996. I can’t imagine what the rest went for!

Marlene Dietrich wore her own jewelry in the movie “Desire” where she portrayed a jewel thief in 1935. Her ruby bracelet sold at auction for $990,000! Marlene wore a huge 37.41ct cab emerald, and once lost it while baking a cake. The ring was finally found by a dinner guest inside a piece of the cake!

Mary Pickford didn’t wear much jewelry in her films, but she owned both the 60-carat Star of Bombay and the 200-carat Star of India both of which she enjoyed wearing in public.

Joan Crawford loved sapphires. One of her favorite pieces was a bracelet set with three star sapphires of 73.15 carats, 63.61 carats, and 57.65 carats. She also received a 70-carat star sapphire engagement ring from her second husband. She also owned a 72-carat emerald cut sapphire which she often wore on the same finger! In the forties, Crawford added a 75-carat amethyst ring and a huge 100-carat citrine ring, both emerald-cut with a simple mounting.

Jean Harlow also collected sapphires: her engagement ring from William Powell was a 150 carat cabochon sapphire. She wore it in her last movie, "Saratoga", in 1937.

Diana Frances Spencer. She was born on July 1, 1961 at Sandringham, England. Her father, Lord Althorp served for both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Charles proposed to Diana in February 6, 1981.Her engagement ring was an 18-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Now, the popularity of her ring has brought every jeweler imaginable to attempt to duplicate the design – or have in their inventory a “Lady Di” ring.  She made history in many ways…..

Will your family pass along an heirloom?