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Why I Love Gold

January 16, 2012 by WendyB

I don’t love the high price of gold, but I just can’t quit that metal. It’s a beautiful color, of course, but it also malleable and resistant to tarnish and corrosion. That makes it good for complicated mechanical jewelry (as well dentistry).

As I’ve said before, my signature Wendy Brandes jewelry line is inspired by the timelessness of antique gold jewelry. I was reminded of this by a photo of a gold and emerald ring found this June in the 1622 wreck of a Spanish treasure ship.

Photo from Mel Fisher's Treasures, via the Wall Street Journal. Click for source.

You could wear that ring now and it would look totally appropriate and beautiful.  Make sure your insurance is in order, though, because it was appraised at $1.2 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Worth every penny, I’d say.

The wreck of the ship, the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, was discovered in 1985 by deep-sea diver Mel Fisher and his team, which has been extracting gold and silver ever since. A few pieces of the salvaged treasure will be auctioned on January 25 by Freeman’s. Alas, the ring is not in the catalog, so if you’ve got $1.2 million burning a hole in your pocket, you’ll have to spend it on my jewelry instead.

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Filed Under: gold

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Collette Osuna says

    January 16, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    If I had an extra 1.23, or even an extra few thousand for jewelry, Id totally send it your way:0

    Hope you had a great weekend!

  2. Christine says

    January 16, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    That ring is sensational, and you’re right, it would look as wonderful today as it did back when it was created.

    I used to like silver when I was younger, but I don’t own many pieces today. My three sisters all love silver over gold, never wear high heels, and would rather die than wear red lipstick. Fortunately, my youngest niece is quite interested in my red lipstick, tries on my heels (“Aunt Christine, those red shoes with the studs are a CLASSIC!”, and isn’t too interested in silver jewelry. She did, however, accept the teeny genie necklace and wondered if she could have it in gold, when she’s “a little older”. She’s nine.:)

    Christine

    • WendyB says

      January 16, 2012 at 12:47 pm

      I like her already!

  3. Allison says

    January 16, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    Wow! This is exactly what I picture pirates treasure looks like!

  4. Julia, the Thanksgiving Girl says

    January 16, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Oh how I love gold too!!!

  5. Samar says

    January 16, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    You’re so right about gold – don’t ever quit it! I have gold bangle I inherited from my mother which she got from her mother: http://highpointshoulder.com/2011/06/20/upon-her-passing/
    Anyway my mother never took this thing off and now neither do I yet it still looks as brilliant as ever without any maintenance (and it’s been through a lot). I cant totally see why this is a metal of choice for timeless pieces!

  6. madeleine gallay says

    January 16, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    That is a handsome ring … the personal jewels you create are forever and heirloom and wonderful.

    The price of gold … so dependent on day traders and less on the reality of it all.

  7. For Those About To Shop says

    January 16, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    I agree timeless is timeless and that ring would absolutely look spectacular today.

  8. sulky kitten says

    January 16, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    That ring looks amazing….(it’s gonna be a bigger bank job than I thought!) If you love something it’ll always be timeless to you. When I read one of your posts I get trapped here for ever looking at all your links and reading more and more…

  9. stacy says

    January 16, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    That’s incredible. Proves that good design and good quality are timeless.

  10. K-Line says

    January 16, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    The older I get, the more I love gold!

  11. mystyle says

    January 16, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    Wow, that is truly one beautiful ring, well worth the money I’m sure, sigh!!

  12. Consider Me Lovely says

    January 16, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    That ring is amazing! I would totally wear it today! I don’t have 1.23 million laying around, but I sure hope to add a Wendy Brandes pieces (in my budget) to my jewelry collection this year :-).

  13. liz says

    January 16, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    Gold….yummmmmmmm….nothing like it- ever! While I wish silver looked good on me, it doesn’t, and it tarnishes like a big dog! Besides, silver does not feel as good to the skin as gold. Love it love it love it!

  14. Be Inspired! - Susa says

    January 16, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    Gold is so royal and timelessly chic! You are right in loving it, and working it to wonders!

  15. Lady Harriet says

    January 17, 2012 at 1:54 am

    As soon as I saw that the ring was from 1622, I knew it was from the Nuestra Senora de la Atocha! I just finished reading Gary Kinder’s book Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea, which, although it is about another shipwreck, talks about Mel Fisher’s search for the ship. I think you would really enjoy the book

    • WendyB says

      January 17, 2012 at 8:33 am

      Thanks for the recommendation!

  16. Mary says

    January 17, 2012 at 6:09 am

    I love the look of gold, especially vintage jewels but it just does not suit my skin colour. Also I could never afford the style of jewelry I prefer in gold.That ring is TDF.

  17. brett says

    January 17, 2012 at 9:41 am

    that ring is such a timeless classic
    wow on that price tag!!
    brett

  18. The Style Crone says

    January 17, 2012 at 9:43 am

    The beauty of this ring is beyond comprehension!

  19. Susan Tiner says

    January 17, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    If I had $1.2 million burning a hole in my pocket I would buy all of your jewelry!

  20. Elizabeth says

    January 20, 2012 at 10:47 am

    I am inspired by that ring. I’d love to have one just like it.

    I have to give you credit for rekindling my interest in yellow gold. I eschewed it for decades, and only when I bought a piece of your yellow gold jewelry did I feel love for it again. I wear that necklace on every job interview. It’s my good luck charm.

  21. Pure Gold Jewelry says

    February 4, 2012 at 5:48 am

    I love Gold for it’s purity and also for the fact that it brings numerous results if bought for investment 🙂

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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