By Anne-Sophie Mallard, Kate Matthams-Spencer, Ruby Norris.
From Place Vendôme to Madison avenue , fine jewelry vintage dealers and heritage houses like Messika, Graff Diamonds, Christie's and Buccellati are throwing open their doors on Instagram. From close-ups of rare pieces and clutches of raw gemstones, to atelier shots and vintage inspiration, step inside a closed world, with the kind of access previously only available to a handful.
Fine Jewelry on Instagram
Graff Diamonds(01 of10)
Laurence Graff might have made a rare trip to the City of Lights in September for the Biennale des Antiquaires, but Graff Diamonds is firmly based at London's beating heart. If the cascade of yellow diamonds at the house's stand at the event gave a hint of what the workshops might be like, Instagram takes us right through the doors, with a veritable avalanche of carats, sketches of piece and even the famous $1 Million Hair & Jewel piece, created in 1970, just because.Instagram.com/graffdiamonds
Christie's Jewels(02 of10)
With "a daily dose of sparkle" as a mantra, Christie's sets the tone with its new Instagram account, launched in September and centered around a love of all that glitters. Even though the auction calendar is mainly squashed into the December/January period, there's enough here to keep gem-lovers occupied all year round, complete with a closer look at rare pieces being worn, for a completely different view of these unique treasures.Instagram.com/christiesjewels
David Morris(03 of10)
From rare pearl sautoirs, to rose diamond brooches, the London jeweler showcases his fine jewelry collections on Instagram, in a never-ending digital unfurling of stones with serious sparkle. Far from blasé, even the highly professional team behind the David Morris account are carried away from time to time: #wow on a 102 carat Burmese sapphire says it all.Instagram.com/davidmorrislondon
Alexandre Reza(04 of10)
Alexandre Reza is known for the Golconda diamond, sapphires from Sri Lanka and emeralds weighing in at more than 100 carats. Such treasures were previously kept to the confines of the Paris salons at Place Vendôme's Hôtel de Fontpertuis for the happy few, but now this most secretive of houses has surprised loyal fans with an Instagram account and a digital offensive that peaked in September for the Biennale des Antiquaires.instagram.com/alexandre.reza
Buccellati(05 of10)
As fourth-generation Buccellati, Lucrezia, takes control, a wave of modernity has washed over the fine jewelry house. From tulle d'or Eternelle rings and bangles, to the Unica gemstone-set iPhone and iPad cases, the New York-based designer showcases pieces from the label on Instagram.Instagram.com/buccellatimilan
Erstwhile(06 of10)
Many a vintage jewelry enthusiast has walked in circles between 5th and Madison Avenue looking for this New York Art Deco specialist, but there's an easier way to see the rare diamonds, via Instagram. New acquisitions rub shoulders with street scenes on the Upper West Side and beach views in Montauk, in one of our favorite new digital inspiration destinations. And we're still looking for clues to the store entrance in the background.Instagram.com/erstwhilejewelry
Harry Winston(07 of10)
Mixing up new designs, diamond acquisitions, mini films and archive images, the Fifth Avenue jewelry house presents a grab-bag of pictures from its long and illustrious history to Instagram followers. It's a carefully edited account, with almost daily discoveries whether they are new visuals, vintage black and white #throwbackthursdays from the 1950s or stories of famed Harry Winston stones like the Vargas, le Lesotho III or the Jonker.Instagram.com/harrywinston
Fred Leighton(08 of10)
Fred Leighton's Madison Avenue store is worlds away from the red carpet, where the jeweler's pieces so often appear. Leighton Jewels lifts the lid for a closer look at the rose-cut diamonds and antique Van Cleef & Arpels mystery settings that made this vintage specialist's name.Instagram.com/leightonjewels
Messika(09 of10)
Admire the full-pavé diamond Amazon cuff, a single diamond on single gold thread or the innovative jeweled chokers and earrings Valerie Messika unveiled during haute couture week, as Messika shares images of everyday pieces as well as fine jewelry creations on its Instagram account.Instagram.com/messikajewelry
Kentshire(10 of10)
Kentshire, another one of New York's much-loved vintage jewelry dealers, showcases jewels dating back to the 1920s to a worldwide audience on Instagram, offering a new lease of life to stunning René Boivin, Cartier and Tiffany pieces of yesteryear.Instagram.com/kentshire