Out of Style

He stands before me, in a brown Members Only jacket, Plaid shorts, Jesus sandals with white socks! Good heavens his wife let him leave the house dressed like that, or there are no mirrors in the house.

His request is for a particular piece of jewelry that went out of style the same time elephant bell bottom jeans did - I mentioned the ring in my last article, I believe. He’s asking for a white gold blue Linde’ star sapphire ring. I politely explained no one would stock such an obsolete piece - I mentioned I had several loose stones I managed to accumulate during the last half century and I could put a ring together in a couple of days, but he wanted it then and there. I then mentioned there may be a small chance he could locate one in nearby Naples pawn shops.

I sensed he was obviously disappointed that I could not show him a tray or two of Linde star jewelry. Wait…do I detect ice melting on his eyebrows? Was this guy just defrosted from a fifty-year-old cryogenic chamber? Wait till he sees his first iPhone!

I get many requests for stuff that is just plain not in demand due to the fact it’s out of style!!!

It could be a request for the infamous ring style “The Insert.” This was two wedding rings with or without diamonds that are spaced apart up top and joined together at the base, where you insert one’s diamond engagement ring between them. The insert was the hottest bling thing back then (1970s) like the Pandora Bracelet was at one time (which by the way, Pandora loving folks, I hate to break the news, I believe your bracelet is now considered Tre Passé aka “out of style” in the here and now hip public eye and especially in the jewelry industry). Meanwhile in 2021 to my surprise I had two requests from young brides-to-be for diamond inserts. 

Every holiday season of the past decades you would see promotions on TV for the “had to have” pieces of jewelry. One season it was the three-diamond necklace “Past, Present and Future.” Having a twisted sense of humor and being single on the island at the time I had a version of the pendant that reflected the Marco dating scene…it had only two diamonds and an empty place for a third diamond, I called it the “Past, Present and if you are still around in a year, I’ll give you the third diamond!”

A year or so later the “Circle of Love” pendant, a year later the diamond “Journey Pendant.” One promotion was the Two Diamond Ring or pendant that went over like a lead balloon; it failed miserably on the island also.

It’s a fact in the jewelry profession that you can’t please everyone. I have what a person sorta kinda wants staring at them from the showcase. Only they have to modify it beyond recognition, “Can I get it in pink gold instead of yellow?” or can the style be made larger, smaller, wider, thinner or a different color stone or add more or less, heck, let’s just totally redesign it!

I do a lot of repairs and restorations, so I see many styles of jewelry, like heirlooms from the 1800s. Lavalieres were a popular item back then, a simple chandelier filigree style choker pendant, some with precious gems with often a pearl hanging from the bottom, no proper lady would leave the house without wearing one.

From the beginning of time, every century (and even decade) had a particular style of jewelry that was worn by the masses.

After the Victorian Age became the age of Art Deco and pieces became more colorful and flamboyant. 

I still get to enjoy and absorb every style and taste from every one of those historic trends. Some were wonderful to wear and flaunt and some downright homely, namely chunky gold nugget jewelry…the 70s called, they want their nugget jewelry back!

Richard Alan is a designer/goldsmith and the owner of the Harbor Goldsmith, Marco’s Island jeweler since 1994. He is celebrating his 25th year providing fine jewelry, diamonds and five-star professional services for Island residents and guests from around the world. He welcomes your questions and comments about All That Glitters. www.harborgoldsmith.com.