Levi Higgs

Be Gala-ready at all times. It helps when you have a vault full of museum quality @davidwebbjewels at your fingertips! These are two looks from the @frickcollection Young Fellows Ball, and the @gemawards that happened the last few weeks! Thank you to @frankbeverett and @sothebysjewels for the invite. ✨ #thebroochisback

This fabulous @tiffanyandco brooch features a 16.96 carat yellow sapphire, and multiple cushion-cut green zircons and diamonds surrounding. It was made in 1893, specifically for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. If you swipe over, you’ll see the tiny stamp on the back that shows this jewel was indeed a part of that famous grouping. With the design of their Louis XIV revival style jewels being led by Paulding Farnham, and Dr. George F. Kunz selecting stones, largely from American sources, this brooch couldn’t embody the spirit of American ingenuity any more, and I was happy to see it surpass its high estimate by quite a bit and sell for $66,000 at @sothebysjewels recently. 🌐

Not that I’m a huge fan of guns, but when they are steel and silver @tiffanyandco Smith and Wesson .32 caliber single-action revolvers with repoussé, etching, and niello inlay, how can you say no? I’d keep this in my purse for sure. This and many other favorites (including a lobster red chocolate pot and a huge silver swan) at the exhibition “Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore at Tiffany & Co.” at the @metmuseum . @medill_harvey @metamericanwing @christopheryoung @archivistsdelight @archivistcristina @metarmsandarmor

Thinking back to the wonderful few days spent lecturing on @davidwebbjewels at @risd1877 this past spring. Huge thanks to @risd_jewelrymetalsmithing @risdapparel @risdmuseum @decartscurator @gwen_van_den_eijnde for the invitation and for indulging me in one of my favorite topics! Swipe through for some DW eye candy. 👁️ 🍬 💎

The @gemxclub event a few weeks ago with @kiaschwan at the @bardgradcenter was so wonderful and colorful and shows just how much connectivity the decorative arts can have between themselves. Sonia DeLaunay’s work from the early 20th century and beyond was so fascinating, and this exhibition was super comprehensive. Someone lauding it at the recent @jacquelinesullivangallery dinner I attended said that this show will never be able to be staged again with all the amazing private loans they got for it this time around, so don’t miss it! And seeing Kia’s work in dialogue with it all really was the cherry on top. Bravo to @sarah_on_jewelry for organizing! 🌈 💙❤️🤍

This 1925 Egyptian revival bracelet just recently sold at @sothebysjewels . It was unsigned but had French assay marks, and appeared very like a VCA example seen at the @cooperhewitt . If the price it sold for (over 1M) was any indication, it probably indeed is by VCA. Take a look at these vibrant bufftop stones and the expert craftsmanship of these little Egyptian inspired. scenes.

Somedays you’re all discombobulated and somedays you’re blue. And somedays you’re both! @tefaf 🪩 🔵

These @ottojakob_official earrings were such a great color of orange enamel, and once I started asking questions about them, I was even more blown away. It’s not plique-à-jour, but rather each vein of the wing is an individual gold wire that had to be fitted and placed exactly in order to contain the enamel, with a thin panel of gold for the backing. Wonderfully light and articulated at the joint, they might have been my favorite Otto jewel seen at @tefaf . 🦗 #jewel #jewelry #jewels #earrings #ottojakob #enamel #jewelryaddict #jewelryoftheday #jewelryofinstagram #jewelryofig #jewelsofinstagram #jewelsoftheday #jewellery #jewelleryoftheday #jewelleryofinstagram #diamonds #tefaf #tefafny

These Sabba earrings by Alessandro Sabbatini couldn’t scream “summer” any louder to me. They are immensely light and easy to wear, and super colorful with gorgeous gemstones and just a splash of sparkle. Always love seeing the team when they are in town for @tefaf with @fd_gallery . Thank you to @jacoooll for sharing these with me! 💛💚💜🧡 #sabbajewels

These oceanic earrings by @emmanuel_tarpin are perfect for a languid Memorial Day weekend by the beach, watching the waves crash and roll in. They feature a gradient of aquamarines, paraiba tourmalines, and dark blue sapphires. They are light as a feather and I love the subtle difference in ombré between each earring. Here’s hoping this kick start to summer is just as peaceful! 🔵💧🌊💦🌐 #jewels #jewelry #jewellery #emmanueltarpin #sapphire #aquamarine #tourmaline #paraiba #paraibatourmaline #paraíba #gemstones #earrings #jewelryaddict #jewelryoftheday #jewelryofinstagram #jewelsofinstagram #jewellerylover

Reflecting on the gems of this country, both literal and figural. The @mfaboston is definitely one of them, and with their powerhouse of a curator, @jewelcurator , the public now gets to experience a fabulously reinstalled Kaplan Family gallery filled with literal gems of this country. As the only American museum with a dedicated jewelry curatorship and gallery, it’s imperative for lovers of all decorative arts (especially jewelry) to get to Boston to see Beyond Brilliance. There’s plenty throughout the rest of the museum to inspire and delight, and I’ve included some of my favorites here. But to be able to take a stroll through the annals of jewelry history in one comprehensive gallery is really unique and not to be taken for granted. Hopefully more institutions follow suit! My favorite exhibition moment was this Paulding Farnham hand ornament reaching for the Jean Schlumberger golden box, @tiffanyandco throughout the generations. ✨⭐️✨

This Palm Tree brooch by @cartier from 1948 recently sprung to mind as I’m having withdrawals from the Mexican beaches and true relaxation. This brooch features a center stone of 13.30 carats, the flexible palm trunk has marquise cut diamonds, and the palm fronds have brilliant and baguette cut diamonds. It was formerly owned by Margaret Thompson Biddle, and recently sold at auction at @christiesinc for just over $1M. 💎 🌴 #jewelry #jewels #jewel #jewelryaddict #jeweloftheday #jewelsofinstagram #jewelsoftheday #jewellery #jewelleryofinstagram #cartier #diamond #brooch #christies #christiesjewels #cartierjewelry #diamonds #jewelrylovers