“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.” Once again, the wise and witty wordsmith William Shakespeare penned a sentiment that, while true for love birds, also aptly expresses the pang of parting with your beloved jewelry, whether when sleeping or swimming. Alas, to preserve your precious jewels and maintain their beauty, you must spare them from some of life’s daily rigors and rituals. Take note of these basic dos and don’ts. Housework, Gardening, and Cooking? No! No need for your jewels to join you as you clean the house. Vigorous scrubbing, dishwashing ..read more

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, sang passionately about her conflicted participation in a “Chain of Fools.” Here at Lang, we confess–we are fools for chains! How could we not be? Curious how a series of metal links connected one to another can be so utilitarian in function, a highly desirable object of adornment, and, sometimes, both at once. From ancient Mesopotamian queens to contemporary rap artists, chains endure as an essential element of decoration, one available in seemingly endless variation. Find the style that suits your taste and join our company of willing fools. Chains o ..read more

With the golden age of Hollywood going full tilt, movie stars–from the zany Lucille Ball to the alluring Ava Gardner—brought back the joy of glamour and, of course, that included gorgeous jewelry. And screen icons were not the only ones adorned with beautiful jewels. Everyone enjoyed the art of accessorizing on some level, sporting everything from breathtaking diamond earrings, to a single strand of pearls, to whimsical brooches embellished with bright gemstones. There was–and is–something for everyone. Taking a look back, yet firmly planted in the 21st century, our Lang sparkle speci ..read more

Art Deco Era – 1920s-1930s Art Deco Flapper Sporting a Sautoir. The 1920s, often referred to as the “Roaring 20s” was a time of great prosperity and innovation—including a striking new aesthetic in jewelry. The style that we call “Art Deco” received its—thankfully shortened–moniker from the Exposition International des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Held in Paris in 1925, the Exposition was largely dedicated to the jewelry arts, emphasizing the association of art and modern industry. French Japonesque Cinnabar, Diamond and Onyx Jabot Pin.Influences/Advancements of the Era The Jaz ..read more

At Lang, we love hearts just as much as the next romantic. We also appreciate that, as the ballad proclaims, “Love is a many-splendored thing,” and can be expressed in a myriad of imaginative ways. So, while there’s no need to abandon the tried-and-true hearts and lockets, you can make your sweetheart swoon with jewels that are utterly delightful, unique, and most of all–cupid-approved. Captivating Carvings Depicting everything from lovely ladies in profile to frolicking cherubs, cameos have charmed jewelry lovers for centuries. Exceedingly popular during the Georgian and Victorian er ..read more

Lose 10 pounds. Save more money. Travel more. Learn a new language. The New Year is here and with it, the requisite resolutions. We start off with rousing enthusiasm and then, somewhere around May, our resolve diminishes bit by bit. Yes, you’ve learned how to ask, “Excuse me, which way is the Metro?” in French, but you hit a wall at the plus-que-parfait verb tense. We have some resolution recommendations that break with the ordinary, provide immediate gratification, require no conjugations, and will last throughout the year and beyond. We think you’ll find them easy to keep. RESOLVE TO: Be ..read more

The Aesthetic Period  – 1885 – 1901 Throwing off old conventions, jewelry artists moved towards a more refined taste, reflected in artisanal rather than mass-produced creations.  Influences and Advancements Electricity, Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau Movements promoted original creations instead of imitations, Gibson Girls, Suffragist Movement. Metals Gold Lighter, airier jewelry designs took advantage of the availability of lower-karat gold.  Silver-Topped Gold Still a popular option for diamond jewelry requiring a white metal setting. The gold layer protected skin fr ..read more

Retro Period – Late 30s-1940s 1940s Women Wearing No-Frills Fitted Suits. In 1937 the International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques in Modern Life was held in Paris, and on display were jewels designed with bright gemstones and motifs—scrolls, volutes, flowers, animals—that we associate with the fabulous Retro period. In 1939, The Great Depression ended and WW II began.  After the war, things began to boom in every way— from babies to beautiful jewelry. Trabert-Hoeffer, Mauboussin Gold Brooch with Rubies.Influences/Advancements of the Era During the war, the rationing of preciou ..read more

Art Nouveau Era – 1895-1915 Plique-à-jour Dragonfly, René Lalique (1860-1945) Courtesy of sprklg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Backlash and whiplash. The Art Nouveau movement began in France and was spurred by artists’ dissatisfaction with design-deficient machine-made goods of the Industrial Age, focusing instead on handcrafted naturalistic pieces that emphasized design rather than the materials used. When Samuel Bing, an art dealer in Paris, renamed his revitalized Asian art gallery L’Art Nouveau (meaning “new art” in French), he gave this new aesthetic its name. Influences/Advance ..read more

Edwardian Jewelry -1901 – 1915 Edwardian Tiffany & Co. Dinner Ring. In 1901, the long-reigning (almost 64 years!) Queen Victoria died and her eldest son, Prince Edward VII, for whom the era is named, became king. Evolving alongside the Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts movements, Edwardian jewelers, too, rejected the machine-made jewelry of the Victorian era. Known in The United States as The Gilded Age, and in the rest of Europe as La Belle Époque, which translates as “the beautiful age” in French, Edwardian jewelry was like a light and lacy breath of fresh air. Influences/Advancements ..read more