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All jewelry tells a story.
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QAIMNSR Charm Once in a while we run across a piece of estate jewelry which clearly has its own very special story. These photos show such a piece. It was an English gold coin, whose reverse side had been polished away so it could be engraved and worn on a bracelet. I was intrigued by the initials "QAIMNSR," and turned to our favorite source, Google, to see what they stood for. Here is what I found: "Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve." Now this simple gold coin tells a completely different story, of a brave young woman's wartime service in France. The loop at the top is nearly worn through, telling us that this was a cherished charm which saw a lifetime of wear. What a wonderful story this tells!
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Gail’s Pin This simple gold pin was given to me a few years ago by a friend with a terminal illlness. We had the privilege of visiting with her and her husband, dear friends of ours, not long before she died. She had been giving different pieces of her jewelry away to close friends, and that weekend I had the honor of being presented with this pin. Whenever I wear it, I think of her; it’s as though there is a bit of her spirit with me.
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Champagne Diamond This diamond ring is one which my mother gave me a few years ago. She remembers the day she and my father purchased it from a dealer in San Francisco on one of their regular buying trips to the big city. It was one of the first significant pieces of jewelry they purchased on one of these trips, normally devoted to replacing sold stock. My father gave it to my mother, and she recently gave it to me. It attended many different events on my mother’s finger, and I am proud to carry that tradition on. She enjoys seeing me wear the ring, and it brings back many happy memories for her.
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Castilleja School Ring Several years ago I was at an estate jewelry show held in Las Vegas in conjunction with one of our industry's major trade show. Slowly perusing the cases, I saw a familar crest on a gold ring. It was a ring from Castilleja School, a local girl's school from which I graduated too many years ago. This particular ring was worn by a student who graduated in 1927; her initials, MM, are still engraved inside. Of course I had to buy the ring, and later presented it to the school to display with many other items from its century of history. Imagine the hope and excitement which was felt by the young woman who wore this ring upon her graduation, looking ahead to college and marriage and family! This ring has a real legacy, and I was pleased to be able to complete the circle.
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