Jewelry journalist and historian, founder of Bejeweledmag.com
Favorite jewelry era: Georgian
Most cherished personal piece of jewelry/horology: An art deco diamond bracelet that has all different shapes of stones — marquise, trillions half-moon shapes that I purchased from a dealer who came back to me seven years later and asked me to buy it back for five times what I paid for it — as those in excellent and authentic condition were becoming increasingly harder to find. I kept it of course. I have it now for 22 years.
If money were no object, which iconic jewel/watch would you like to own: Princess Grace of Monaco’s Cartier diamond tiara with three detachable floral clips with ruby cabochons surrounded by diamonds and set in platinum. Can I choose two? I would also love the Van Cleef & Arpels platinum, ruby and diamond bracelet with the inscription “Hold Tight” – it is one of the many inscriptions that documents the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s romance. I believe this one was which Edward VIII had engraved around the time that he first approached Ernest Simpson about seeking a divorce from Wallis.
Best book to learn about jewelry: Maybe not all jewelry but definitely one of the only ones written on the Georgian Era that captures this period in the writing and photographs so well: Georgian Jewellery 1714-1830 1830 by Ginny Redington, Olvia Collings, with photographs by Tom Dawes
Expert’s tip to a jewelry collection beginner: Buy pieces you are going to get a lot of wear out of, not pieces that you are going to save for special occasions that will wind up in the safe or safety deposit box more then it winds up on you!