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by Clive Kandel   |   February 9, 2015

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching (in case you’ve just emerged from a cave, the big day is Saturday, February 14), love is in the air. And that’s got us thinking about our favorite depictions of l’amour on the big screen. The most seductive movies feature passion, desire, heartbreak-then-happiness and, more often than not, transporting scenography, cinematography, costumes and, oh yes, that all-important finishing touch: jewelry. Glittering baubles, of course, are what many of us plan to present to — and receive from — our loved ones later this week, so we thought we’d provide gift-giving stimulus in the form of close-up-ready jewelry and Technicolor gems culled from 1stdibs dealers and inspired by some of the most celebrated romantic films of all time.

 


 

Breakfast At Tiffany’s

“You can always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the
earrings he gives you. I must say — the mind reels.”

Audrey Hepburn proves diamonds — or perhaps pearls, or maybe just a cat named Cat and a guy named Paul (played by handsome George Peppard) — really are a girl’s best friend. Don’t leave your sweetheart staring longingly into the windows on the corner of 57th and Fifth: Make a surprise of one of these Holly Golightly-worthy finds.1. Tiffany & Co. 1.52-carat diamond-and-platinum engagement ring, offered by Israel Rose 2. Mikimoto five-strand choker of pearls, diamonds and white gold, 1999, offered by Fortrove 3. Rolex rose-gold women's Datejust wristwatch, ca. 1960s, offered by Fourtané 4. Tiffany & Co. diamond rivière necklace, offered by Betteridge 5. Tiffany & Co. diamond-and-gold double-heart brooch, ca. 1960, offered by Nigel Norman Fine Jewels  6. Tiffany & Co. diamond-and-platinum heart brooch, 1910, offered by Alice Kwartler 7. IWC rose-gold wristwatch retailed by Tiffany & Co., 1960-69, offered by Peter Suchy Jewelers 8. Diamond-and-platinum crown-shaped brooch, 1950-59, offered by Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry 9. Tiffany & Co. gold wedding-cake charm, ca. 1990s, offered by Alice Kwartler 10. Omega rose-gold wristwatch retailed by Tiffany & Co., 1960s, offered by Peter Suchy Jewelers

Audrey Hepburn proves diamonds — or perhaps pearls, or maybe just a cat named Cat and a guy named Paul (played by handsome George Peppard) — really are a girl’s best friend. Don’t leave your sweetheart staring longingly into the windows on the corner of 57th and Fifth: Make a surprise of one of these Holly Golightly-worthy finds.

1. Mikimoto five-strand choker of pearls, diamonds and white gold, 1999, offered by Fortrove 2. Tiffany & Co. 1.52-carat diamond-and-platinum engagement ring, offered by Israel Rose 3. Rolex rose-gold women’s Datejust wristwatch, ca. 1960s, offered by Fourtané 4. Tiffany & Co. diamond rivière necklace, offered by Betteridge 5. Tiffany & Co. diamond-and-gold double-heart brooch, ca. 1960, offered by Nigel Norman Fine Jewels  6. Omega rose-gold wristwatch retailed by Tiffany & Co., 1960s, offered by Peter Suchy Jewelers 7.Tiffany & Co. gold wedding-cake charm, ca. 1990s, offered by Alice Kwartler 8. Diamond-and-platinum crown-shaped brooch, 1950-59, offered by Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry 9. IWC rose-gold wristwatch retailed by Tiffany & Co., 1960-69, offered by Peter Suchy Jewelers 10. Tiffany & Co. diamond-and-platinum heart brooch, 1910, offered by Alice Kwartler


 

To Catch A Thief

“Look, John. Hold them. Diamonds…The only thing in the world you can’t resist. Then tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Even before she became Princess of Monaco, Hollywood royal Grace Kelly haunted the French Riviera of the mid-1950s, as cat burglar turned thief-catcher Cary Grant finds the person who stole her mother’s jewelry — and steals her heart in the process. Do the same by making a gift of some of these utterly romantic diamonds.1. Cartier diamond-and-gold undulating-fringe necklace, 1950s, offered by Fred Leighton 2. Round- and baguette-cut diamond bracelet, 1950s, offered by Fourtané 3. Boucheron diamond-and-platinum ear clips, 1940s, offered by FD 4. Harry Winston 9.31-carat diamond-and-platinum ring, offered by J. Birnbach 5. Earrings of aquamarine, diamonds and platinum, 1950s, offered by Fourtané 6. Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ring, ca. 1950s, offered by Berganza 7. Boucheron diamond-and-platinum ear clips, 1950s, offered by Lang Antiques 8. Boucheron bombé ring in diamonds, platinum and gold, ca. 1950s, offered by Macklowe Gallery 9. Van Cleef & Arpels gold-and-diamond cuff links, 1950, offered by Foundwell 10. Fancy-shaped diamond-cluster drop earrings, 1950s, offered by Fourtané

Even before she became Princess of Monaco, Hollywood royal Grace Kelly haunted the French Riviera of the mid-1950s, as cat burglar turned thief-catcher Cary Grant finds the person who stole her mother’s jewelry — and steals her heart in the process. Do the same by making a gift of some of these utterly romantic diamonds.

1. Round- and baguette-cut diamond bracelet, 1950s, offered by Fourtané 2. Cartier diamond-and-gold undulating-fringe necklace, 1950s, offered by Fred Leighton 3. Boucheron diamond-and-platinum ear clips, 1940s, offered by FD 4. Harry Winston 9.31-carat diamond-and-platinum ring, offered by J. Birnbach 5. Earrings of aquamarine, diamonds and platinum, 1950s, offered by Fourtané  6. Fancy-shaped diamond-cluster drop earrings, 1950s, offered by Fourtané 7. Van Cleef & Arpels gold-and-diamond cuff links, 1950, offered by Foundwell8. Boucheron bombé ring in diamonds, platinum and gold, ca. 1950s, offered by Macklowe Gallery 9. Boucheron diamond-and-platinum ear clips, 1950s, offered by Lang Antiques 10. Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ring, ca. 1950s, offered by Berganza

 


 

The Great Gatsby

“I knew it was a great mistake for a man like me to fall in love.”

With the emerald-green light of East Egg always beckoning in the distance, Mia Farrow and Robert Redford play out F. Scott Fitzgerald’s romantic but tragic modern-American myth. The Jazz Age mise-en-scène calls to mind these stunning Art Deco settings of practically priceless diamonds and other precious stones.1. Cartier bracelet of emeralds, diamonds and platinum, ca. 1920s, offered by Frank Giganti 2. Cartier diamond-and-platinum dangle earrings, ca. 1900, offered by Peter Suchy Jewelers 3. Cartier diamond-and-platinum pendant pin brooch, offered by Fortrove 4. Diamond-and-pearl tassel earrings, offered by Shreve, Crump & Lowe 5. Cartier diamond pin, 1915, offered by FD 6. Cartier diamond-and-platinum necklace, ca. 1929, offered by Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry 7. Cartier women's watch in platinum, diamonds and onyx, ca. 1920s, offered by Betteridge 8. Cartier 1.02-carat round brilliant-cut diamond-and-platinum engagement ring, offered by Betteridge 9. Cartier sapphire-and-platinum cufflinks, 1930s, offered by FD 10. Patek Philippe rose-gold wristwatch, ca. 1920s, offered by Matthew Bain Inc.

With the emerald-green light of East Egg always beckoning in the distance, Mia Farrow and Robert Redford play out F. Scott Fitzgerald’s romantic but tragic modern-American myth. The Jazz Age mise-en-scène calls to mind these stunning Art Deco settings of practically priceless diamonds and other precious stones.

1. Cartier bracelet of emeralds, diamonds and platinum, ca. 1920s, offered by Frank Giganti 2. Cartier diamond-and-platinum dangle earrings, ca. 1900, offered by Peter Suchy Jewelers 3. Cartier diamond-and-platinum pendant pin brooch, offered by Fortrove        4. Diamond-and-pearl tassel earrings, offered by Shreve, Crump & Lowe 5. Cartier diamond pin, 1915, offered by FD 6. Patek Philippe rose-gold wristwatch, ca. 1920s, offered by Matthew Bain Inc. 7. Cartier sapphire-and-platinum cufflinks, 1930s, offered by FD 8. Cartier 1.02-carat round brilliant-cut diamond-and-platinum engagement ring, offered by Betteridge 9. Cartier women’s watch in platinum, diamonds and onyx, ca. 1920s, offered by Betteridge 10. Cartier diamond-and-platinum necklace, ca. 1929, offered by Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry

 


 

The Age of Innocence

“I want somehow to get away with you into a world where words like that — categories like that — won’t exist. Where we shall be simply two human beings who love each other, who are the whole of life to each other; and nothing else on earth will matter.”

Belle Époque New York and Europe set the scene for this highly mannered Edith Wharton tale of love denied, deferred and dismissed. While Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis’s tortured would-be paramours present themselves as the picture of restraint — for the most part, anyway — the jewels of the era were anything but. 1. Gold-and-enamel heart-shaped locket, 1890, offered by Fourtané 2. 14-carat gold cufflinks with horse and jockey, ca. 1895, offered by Nigel Norman Fine Jewels 3. Diamond-and-natural pearl drop earrings, 1882-98, offered by Romanov Russia 4. Moonstone-and-diamond double-heart ring, 1880, offered by Bentley & Skinner 5. Coral-and-gold earrings, ca. 1870, offered by Kentshire 6. Gold-and-pearl heart pendant, 1900, offered by A La Vieille Russie 7.Turquoise-and-gold fringe earrings, 1890s, offered by Fred Leighton 8. Garnet-and-diamond beetle cufflinks, 21st century, offered by Bentley & Skinner 9. Garnet-and-diamond drop earrings, ca. 1860, offered by Glorious Antique Jewelry 10. Amethyst-and-gold necklace, 19th century, offered by Kunsthandel Inez Stodel

Belle Époque New York and Europe set the scene for this highly mannered Edith Wharton tale of love denied, deferred and dismissed. While Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis’s tortured would-be paramours present themselves as the picture of restraint — for the most part, anyway — the jewels of the era were anything but.

1. 14-carat gold cufflinks with horse and jockey, ca. 1895, offered by Nigel Norman Fine Jewels 2. Gold-and-enamel heart-shaped locket, 1890, offered by Fourtané 3. Diamond-and-natural pearl drop earrings, 1882-98, offered by Romanov Russia 4. Moonstone-and-diamond double-heart ring, 1880, offered by Bentley & Skinner 5. Coral-and-gold earrings, ca. 1870, offered by Kentshire          6. Amethyst-and-gold necklace, 19th century, offered by Kunsthandel Inez Stodel 7. Garnet-and-diamond drop earrings, ca. 1860, offered by Glorious Antique Jewelry 8. Garnet-and-diamond beetle cufflinks, 21st century, offered by Bentley & Skinner                9. Turquoise-and-gold fringe earrings, 1890s, offered by Fred Leighton 10. Gold-and-pearl heart pendant, 1900, offered by A La Vieille Russie


 

Casablanca

“Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.”

A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh, and no matter how much time goes by, this World War Two-era epic of forsaken love — set in the Nazi-occupied Moroccan city of its title — continues to captivate. Perhaps if Ingrid Bergman and Bogie had given each other some of these pieces, they would have stayed together. 1. 2.25-carat diamond-and-palladium ring, ca. 1940s, offered by Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry 2. Cartier gold-and-diamond dice cuff links, 1955, offered by Bentley & Skinner 3. Gold-and-enamel straight-flush money clip, 1930s, offered by Alice Kwartler 4. Ostertag platinum-and-diamond lighter, 1930, offered by FD 5. Jean Dunand enamel-and-metal cigarette box, ca. 1925, offered by Kunsthandel Inez Stodel 6. Boucheron silver-and-rose-gold cigarette holder set with rubies, ca. 1945, offered by Berganza 7. Van Cleef & Arpels gold-and-diamond bracelet, 1940s, offered by Kentshire 8. Circular- and baguette-cut diamond brooch, 20th century, offered by Betteridge 9. Gold dollar-sign money clip, 1940s, offered by Antique Reflections 10. Cartier yellow-gold Tank Normale wristwatch, 1940s, offered by Matthew Bain Inc.

A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh, and no matter how much time goes by, this World War Two-era epic of forsaken love — set in the Nazi-occupied Moroccan city of its title — continues to captivate. Perhaps if Ingrid Bergman and Bogie had given each other some of these pieces, they would have stayed together.

1. 2.25-carat diamond-and-palladium ring, ca. 1940s, offered by Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry 2. Cartier gold-and-diamond dice cuff links, 1955, offered by Bentley & Skinner 3. Gold-and-enamel straight-flush money clip, 1930s, offered by Alice Kwartler 4. Ostertag platinum-and-diamond lighter, 1930, offered by FD 5. Jean Dunand enamel-and-metal cigarette box, ca. 1925, offered by Kunsthandel Inez Stodel 6. Cartier yellow-gold Tank Normale wristwatch, 1940s, offered by Matthew Bain Inc. 7. Gold dollar-sign money clip, 1940s, offered by Antique Reflections 8. Boucheron silver-and-rose-gold cigarette holder set with rubies, ca. 1945, offered by Berganza 9. Circular- and baguette-cut diamond brooch, 20th century, offered by Betteridge 10. Van Cleef & Arpels gold-and-diamond bracelet, 1940s, offered by Kentshire

 

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