“just because it’s Tuesday and I love you.”

I am passionate about jewelry, especially estate and vintage pieces. I often hold a piece and wonder “Why was this given?” If it could only talk and tell us where it has been and what it has seen! A hopeless romantic, I imagine jewels as being tokens of love. My favorite gifts are “just because.” Richard Burton made this idea famous when he gave Liz Taylor a suite of emerald jewelry “just because it’s Tuesday and I love you.” I recommend we embrace this idea and shower our loved ones with magnificent jewels.

My love affair with jewelry began in my grandmother’s jewelry boxes. Fourteen years before I was born, my grandfather, Frederic Hammer, died. My grandmother, Ida Katherina Hammer, affectionately called Oma, never remarried. After the loss of her husband, she turned her master bedroom into a walk-in jewelry box. This room ignited my imagination and fueled my appreciation for magnificent baubles. The walls were filled with framed vitrines of vintage brooches while jewelry boxes of necklaces, rings and gem bracelets were scattered over every available surface of the room. As a child, I spent hours finding hidden treasures. Often playing pirates so I could wear as much jewelry as possible without ridicule!

Picuted Left: During the Victorian era fine emeralds were more valuable than diamonds. These emeralds are large, beautifully cut and of exquisite color.

 

Picuted One: Oma, circa 1925

Picuted Two: Detail of an earring 18th Century Dove Florentine micro mosaic, which is created by using small pieces of cut gemstones set in onyx.

Bon Voyage!

Part of the Trenta Daniel collection are these unique bangle bracelets. Each bracelet is a one-of-a-kind  created from ancient African trading beads. The bangles consist of 19th century faceted turquoise glass beads, Russian blues, floral Venetians & Milleifori Mosaic trade beads. With over 100 years of life on them they adorn the wearer with not only style but history that started in Bohemia and Venice and travelled the globe to darkest Africa all the way to the Knight&Hammer studio in New York! Now that's a fashion forward voyage and for $295 everyone can afford to get on board!

Collaborating with Daniela Corte

This unique collection was created for fashion designer Daniela Corte's 2010 Spring Fashion Week runway show. It combines elements from Knight&Hammer's Trenta and Le Mal Afrique collections.

Showing that Knight&Hammer designs all its collection to work as a cohesive story. The Trenta Daniela bead collection is available on a first come, first serve basis as the beads used are antique and limited. The Trenta Daniela collection will be available for acquisition at hitchcock, 1406 34th Avenue, Seattle, for a limited trunk show appearance from February 3 - 14, 2010. The collection can be viewed on-line at http://www.KnightandHammer.com/. The pictures in the collage are from the Runway Show! It is an honor to be able to work with such an incredibly talented fashion designer.