Chances are you’re probably giving your mother flowers this Mother’s Day. In the U.S., nearly 70% of all gifts given on Mother’s Day are flowers. It’s a sweet tradition that’s centuries old. If you want to treat your mom with flowers that won’t wilt or fade, consider floral jewelry instead.
Flowers have inspired jewelry designers since the dawn of recorded history. Egyptians and Minoans were making floral jewelry at least four millennia ago. More recently, floral motifs were popular in the 19th and 20th centuries especially during Art Nouveau (1895-1910).
The tradition continues today, as jewelry designers look to Mother Nature’s lovely creations for inspiration, turning them into wearable works of art.
For the professional mom, here’s a different take on flower power: these sophisticated colorless and yellow diamond earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels would wear well with a tailored business suit. (c) GIA and Tino Hammid. Courtesy of a Private Collector.
The variety and creativity you’ll find in contemporary floral jewelry is impressive. Pieces run from fanciful creations, to geometric re-imaginings, and everything in between. Here are a few designs to get you inspired as you’re shopping for the mom in your life.
The Princesse de Monaco rose brooch. Courtesy Mikimoto (America) Co., Ltd.
The Princesse de Monaco rose brooch is a breathtaking work. A rare natural pink conch pearl glows in the center. Tahitian pearl buds and demantoid garnet leaves crown the piece. The workmanship is equally impressive–setting round, pear, oval, and marquise shaped pink diamonds and round white diamonds on a concave surface requires the hands of a master craftsperson.
Fancy colored diamond brooch. Courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada Certified by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board under the terms of the Cultural Property Export and Import Act
With a bit of jeweler’s magic, Max Halpels for Bulgari took 47 fancy shaped diamonds and fashioned them into a floral spray appearing to bend in the wind. The three largest flowers, composed of white diamonds and natural fancy color yellow and pink diamonds, are mounted on tiny springs–a manufacturing technique called en tremblant–which imparts lifelike movement to the platinum brooch.
Rose motif brooch in 18K blackened gold surrounded with diamonds, sapphires and garnets. Gift of Dr. Gary R. and Barbara E. Hansen. Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA
Imagine a windswept moor, with a lone flower brightening the bleak landscape. Perhaps this was the inspiration for this stunning brooch depicting a spray of wild roses. Pink and purple sapphire roses with tsavorite garnet leaves create a striking contrast against the 18K blackened gold branches. Nine small accent diamonds bringing life to the design.
Zoltan David’s Homage to Nancy ring. Includes 20.85-ct intense orange spessartine garnet surrounded by 320 round brilliant cut tsavorite garnets in the petals. Jewelry courtesy of Nancy’s Collection.
Homage to Nancy, Zoltan David’s AGTA Spectrum Award-winning ring, was inspired by a “client and friend who had a personality that was always blossoming.” The platinum ring features a 20.85 ct intense orange spessartine garnet surrounded by four petals of 320 round brilliant cut tsavorite garnets. The gold edging was set using David’s patented metal ornamentation technique.
Flower enamel brooch with 5.95-tcw of diamonds. Courtesy of Novelty Jewellers.
A sunflower with its face turned upward is a cheerful sight – and so is this brooch. The rich detail on this piece makes it especially cheery: the unique shape of every leaf, the bright enamel work in oranges, pinks, and greens, not to the mention the intricacy of the encrusted diamonds.
What do you plan to give this Mother’s Day? Would the mom in your life prefer these jeweled flowers, or the real thing?
Main image courtesy of Paula Crevoshay, Albuquerque.
