Store Profile: Wilson’s Estate Jewelry.

Are you ready for a virtual visit to a truly fabulous jewelry store? I journeyed north to Philadelphia, PA, to visit Wilson’s Estate Jewelry and I have so many beautiful things to share with you!!

Wilson’s Estate Jewelry is an appointment-only jewelry store with an an exquisitely curated selection of exceptional antique and vintage jewelry.

When I say “exquisitely curated” what I mean is that you can tell they simply don’t stock anything that falls below a certain standard of quality. Every piece in their store has been hand picked, carefully evaluated, and purposefully chosen. There are simply no low points in their showcases.

I’ve seen Wilson’s Estate Jewelry around the ol’ IG but this visit was the first time I’ve ever actually met the Wilson’s folks in real life, and I must say that they are all as lovely as their jewelry.

Wilson’s Estate Jewelry is in a picturesque, beautifully maintained old building. The inside feels like an art gallery: clean white walls above sloping wood floors, raised cases showing carefully arranged selections of jewels. Plenty of space, flooded with sunshine. The setting is a perfect blend of historic goodness and modern vibes.

I took the train up to Philly just to visit Wilson’s, went straight there, and stayed for 5 hours. I played with as much jewelry as one woman can in 5 hours and I still left feeling like I had only scratched the surface. This place is a treasure trove.

Wilson’s Estate Jewelry carries all sorts of vintage and antique jewelry, as well as some newer estate pieces, but their specialty is rings. They love all kinds of rings, but they have a particular weakness for antique engagement rings, especially Art Deco era, and also fine sapphires, particularly stones of notable origin and extraordinary color.

This handful of sapphires span several eras and many styles, but they all have one very important thing in common: they’re all beautiful. If you’re in the market for a sapphire ring (engagement or otherwise) I would definitely recommend reaching out to Wilson’s. They have some killer pieces and they get more in all the time.

BTW: that swirl ring is by Oscar Heyman. Perfection!

One of the first things you see when you walk into Wilson’s Estate Jewelry is a closet filled with antique and vintage jewelry boxes. I’ll say it again: a CLOSET filled with ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE JEWELRY BOXES.

If you don’t care about this fact, we are probably not friends.

I’ve been told that most of this collection of boxes is not for sale, but that special customers could potentially be allowed access to the box closet under the right circumstances.

I mentioned that Wilson’s Estate Jewelry has a stunning collection of antique engagement rings, Art Deco in particular, didn’t I? I would never say such a thing and then not prove it with pictures.

I don’t think I need to tell you how beautiful these are, because you can tell that for yourself. So instead I’ll draw your attention to the variation here: they’ve got it all, from the sleekest of chic geometric, low-profile styles to lacy filigree to small center stones to giant honking sparkleboulders in original settings.

The next time someone asks me where they can find an antique engagement ring, Wilson’s Estate Jewelry is going to be on my shortlist of recommendations. Personally, I’m in love with that sexy marquise with angular side stones AND the big frilly bombshell I’m about to give you a closer look at.

There she is!! Not too shabby, right? Pardon me while I drool/swoon/faint.

This 3.32 carat Edwardian showstopper actually looks a lot like a larger, more elaborate version of my own engagement ring…that might be why it calls to me so loudly.

I didn’t buy it, though, so if you’re feeling the love too maybe it’s meant for you! I recommend you swoop down on it before I find a large bag of money and decide to treat myself.

This demantoid and diamond lizard pin actually arrived at Wilson’s Estate Jewelry during my visit! It was a brand new acquisition and I pounced on it immediately. It didn’t even get to rest in a showcase before I was pinning it to my scarf and taking all kinds of pictures of it (and it’s still available – I didn’t end up bringing it home with me).

Isn’t it a beauty?? It reminds me of one of my favorite celebrity jewelry styling moments of all time, when Anna Faris wore a Fred Leighton demantoid lizard brooch on the back of her yellow gown at the 2013 Emmys.

This isn’t the most in-focus picture I’ve ever taken, but I had to show you this necklace! It’s Art Deco era Egyptian revival and it’s absurdly cool. The pendant is reverse-carved crystal in front of what I believe is onyx, embellished with emeralds, diamonds, and coral and set in elegant platinum on a platinum chain.

That intricate platinum chain chain may be the least dramatic part of this charismatic piece, but it’s utterly fantastic: the kind of platinum magic that belongs only to that era in time. You can get a better look on the Wilson’s website.

Another Egyptian revival piece! This one is vintage, somewhat later than the Deco piece, and it’s a mystery. It was found with a cache of other jewels that were signed pieces by masters like Boivin, but this brooch is unsigned.

It’s also made of an unidentified material. The main material either some kind of horn or perhaps some kind of desert glass. It’s been analyzed extensively, but so far definite identification has not been possible.

It’s definitely really, really, really cool, though! And the craftsmanship is exquisite. You can almost see those camels’ legs moving.

I’ve encountered a carved gemstone ring or two in my day and these two are two of the best. One carved Colombian emerald and one Burmese ruby; both platinum, both Art Deco, both perfect. Exceptional quality stones set in classic, deliciously geometric settings.

I started out in love with the emerald but eventually I became #TeamRuby. There’s just something about that luscious, rounded ruby glowing in its precise, rectangular platinum setting.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about Wilson Estate Jewelry’s fantastic holiday season charity collaboration with Street Tales Animal Rescue, the 2019 Doggies and Diamonds calendar.

You may notice that I’m wearing the bracelet on the cover: that’s because all the jewelry featured in the calendar is for sale and Wilson’s is donating 100% of the profits from the calendar and the entire purchase price of all of the jewelry pictured in the calendar to Street Tales Animal rescue. Learn more and get your calendar (or your diamonds!) here.

I’m cutting myself off here, even though I definitely have more Wilson’s Estate Jewelry treasures I could show you!!

Check out the store for yourself on their website and on Instagram, and keep an eye on my IG for videos of many of these beauties. I’m so glad I discovered Wilson’s and even gladder that I could share their treasures with you!

This sponsored post is brought to you by Wilson’s Estate Jewelry.

 

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