Emmy's Favorite Jewlery

(2 photos)

During our first visit to the jewelry stores on the Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge over the Arno River), Emmy fell in love with an elaborate 18K gold ring that sparkled with 18 jewels — she could have her choice of sapphires, emeralds, or rubies. I wasn't convinced it was all that great, but after spending a few days in Rome, I determined I didn't want cold "toast" for the rest of the trip, so on our way from Rome to Switzerland, I stopped in Florence and made the $70 purchase — she had selected emeralds as the jewels of her choice.

Later, I arranged for a friend, who visited Florence the following year, to buy the matching 18k gold bracelet with 64 emeralds, for $125. The bracelet was presented in the restaurant at the top of the Bank of America building in San Francisco, on our 20th wedding anniversary.

A jeweler looked at it 10 or 15 years ago and said $8,000 to $10,000.
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There are lovely items here from Florence, Italy; Brussels, Belgium; Acapulco, Mexico; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, Calif.; Toledo, Spain; St. Thomas, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands; and who know where else. I just loved buying pretties for my Lovely Sweetie.