Journal archive
Ideas worth looking at closely.
Maison history · 17 August 2026The archaeological revival was not antiquity: how Castellani turned history into a necklace
A museum-led reading of a gold-and-glass necklace from about 1880—and a careful framework for separating revival style from maker, age and value.
Responsible sourcing · 15 August 2026Gold’s second life is not its full biography
How to separate recycled content, due diligence and chain of custody—and ask for evidence before paying for a responsible-sourcing claim.
Designers and artists · 12 August 2026A moon over blue water: Ferdinand Hauser’s moving brooch
A museum-led reading of Jugendstil, moonstone and thirteen suspended drops—where documented symbolism ends and close looking begins.
Design history · 10 August 2026Not diamonds: what a 17-element steel parure reveals about luxury
A museum-led reading of cut steel, coordinated dressing and the questions a historical set should make a collector ask.
Craft · 8 August 2026Light without a backing: reading plique-à-jour through a 1900 brooch
A museum-led reading of an exacting enamel technique and the boundaries between documented fact, close looking and conjecture.
Stones · 5 August 2026Emerald care begins before cleaning: ask what fills the fractures
A treatment-aware guide to cleaning, storing and discussing emerald jewellery.
Collecting · 1 August 2026Before you buy: what a hallmark proves—and what it never can
A practical guide to reading precious-metal marks without mistaking them for a complete certificate.