Some of the personal items seized by Federal Marshals in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme fiasco were auctioned yesterday, bringing in about $1-million dollars, twice as much as originally estimated. Ruth Madoff's diamond pendant earrings fetched $70,000 -- three times the expected amount. A pair of Cartier onyx and diamond earrings brought the same price. Several other pieces of jewelry formerly owned by Madoff and his wife did well, but bids on a few vintage watches didn't bring the minimum and remained unsold.
One of the most insane bids was for three duck decoys. Valued at about $50, the trio sold for $11,500. Hopefully the money recovered from this and future auctions (for big-ticket items, like Madoff's homes and boats) will actually go to the people who were impacted by the scheme.
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
It takes just a few words to describe the most popular fall and winter jewelry trends: richly colored, textured and asymmetrical. Wooden bangles and beads remain popular, and many have noticeable grain lines or metal embellishments. Stacked bracelets and multi-chain necklaces are still trendy, but the newest looks aren't quite as massive or convoluted as we've seen in the past few years.
That's what it seems like Jennie Lorette Keatts does with her unique, handcrafted pottery stones and beads. Set in hand fabricated sterling silver and adorned with other metals, Jennie's pottery stones have all the depth and patina of turquoise and other semi-precious gems.