Hello friends! As you may have seen author Heather Moll is currently on tour celebrating her new release, Nine Ladies – which sounds like such a fun and romantic time travel adventure. 🕰🍃
And today she is stopping by Austenesque Reviews with a perfectly romantic (and super
interesting!) post just in time for Valentine’s Day. 💗 We hope you enjoy!
Acrostic Jewelry
Hello Meredith! It’s good to be back at Austenesque Reviews and I’m excited to talk a little bit about Nine Ladies and show a romantic side to Darcy.
Jewelry can be a way to accessorize and express our personality, but it can also give us a sentimental connection. Maybe you wear the earrings you inherited from your grandmother. You wear the pearls you got on your 18th birthday. You wear your engagement ring alongside your wedding band. Jewelry is personal. I incorporate jewelry into every story that I write and Nine Ladies is no different. Those of you who follow me on social media have seen me post about #GeorgianJewelry. Nine Ladies shines a light on a type of jewelry distinct to the Georgian era.
“It is exquisite and the style is au courant.”
“Perhaps it is too sentimental?” Darcy asked as they looked at what was in the jewelry box.
“No. Elizabeth would appreciate so considerate a gift.” Georgiana’s expression grew thoughtful. “She was the first person who said that they thought me a capable woman. She is dear to me, too.”
Georgiana and Darcy are looking at a piece of jewelry that Darcy is considering for Elizabeth. This particular piece gets described in detail later in the book, but what they’re looking at is an acrostic ring. Acrostic jewelry were love tokens usually in the form of a heart locket—sometimes with a key dangling—a half hoop ring, or a cluster ring made of different gemstones. These cherished mementos conveyed a secret message.
Jean-Baptiste Mellerio, jewelry designer to Marie Antoinette and the French court, is credited with inventing acrostic jewelry, particularly with “j’adore” rings. Napoleon commissioned acrostic jewelry for himself and other family members.
The first letter of the name for each gemstone would spell a romantic word or phrase. The wearer could openly display that they were loved. Common phrases were:
Ruby Diamond Amethyst
Emerald Emerald Diamond
Garnet Amethyst Opal
Amethyst Ruby Ruby
Ruby Emerald Emerald
Diamond Sapphire
Topaz
Lapis Fire opal
Opal Opal
Vermeil Ruby
Emerald Emerald
Vermeil
Moonstone Emerald
Emerald Ruby
In case anyone is narrowing their eyes at how we got that gemstone for V, hessonite garnets used to be called vermeil. It’s only now that vermeil means gold-plated silver.
As the popularity of this style rose in the late Georgian era and through Victoria’s reign, the messages were no longer secret. They were even put on bracelets or brooches to spell out longer messages or even dates. But it’s the more popular rings that spell REGRAD or ADORE that are likely to be found today. More of them were made and they were less likely to have their gems reset.
Darcy’s gift for Elizabeth is actually a hidden love note in gemstones. Here are three examples of acrostic rings. See if you can translate them, and read Nine Ladies to learn exactly what Darcy picks out for Elizabeth and what it means to her when she sees it.
Wow, I really loved this post, Heather! Thank you so much for sharing! I never knew this was a thing and I am amazed at the cleverness of using stones to convey a romantic message or word. The acrostic jewelry pieces themselves are both beautiful and extra-special with their hidden meanings. 💍
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GIVEAWAY TIME!
Heather Moll is generously giving away 6️⃣ ebook editions of Nine Ladies in conjunction with this blog tour!! Woot woot! But you must enter fast – this giveaway ends tomorrow!! 💨
Commenting on this post and filling out the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Heather!
- This giveaway ends February 13th!
It’s a fabulous book!
Thank you for saying so Leslie! I’m so pleased you liked it.
I love the jewellery, especially the heart and key and the rings. I don’t enter Rafflecopter giveaways but luckily I’ve already read this wonderful book, such a great Darcy ❤️ And thank goodness Elizabeth was there!
Hi Glynis! This Darcy is awesome, isn’t he? So devoted and determined. Plus, he picks out nice jewelry. He’s a keeper!
Thank you for hosting me and Nine Ladies today Meredith!
I read (and loved) this story both as an unpublished and published story! Best wishes with its further release.
Thanks for your well wishes Sheila!
I read it last week I think, and it immediately became one of my favorites. The characterization is wonderful, the take on Mrs. Bennett wanting her girls to be intelligent was brilliant, and the chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy was swoonworthy.
This is a fabulous review Cassandra! I love hearing that you liked the characterization, (especially Mrs. Bennet’s take). And who doesn’t want to make sure there’s good E and D chemistry before they start to read? You made my day!
This is on my wish list…thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Love the hidden meaning in the jewelry…what an original way to
express your love…only for your beloved….
Hi Stephanie! Aren’t these hidden messages unique? I think they’re fascinating. Best of luck in the giveaway
Always love seeing Heather’s jewelry posts, and what a beautiful and clever way to bring them into Nine Ladies!
I love sharing the pretty jewelry! Much more feasible than me trying to buy every cool piece I see. Thanks for saying hi Cat!
Very interesting! I’d never heard of acrostic jewelry. Very romantic, I must say!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book!
Isn’t it fascinating? So personal, and I think that’s what makes them so romantic. Good luck in the giveaway Pam 🙂
Loved learning about the stories behind the jewelry.
Isn’t it interesting? And such gorgeous pieces, too.
Thank you for sharing the details and photos of the jewelry. Most interesting, and definitely a help in understanding the intricacies of your new release.
I’m so glad you liked the acrostic jewelry, Brenda. And Nine Ladies Darcy picks out good jewelry for his one and only 😉
I love this story! And what beautiful jewelry!
Thank you Katie! So glad you liked the jewelry, and now you have some visuals for that ring Darcy got for Elizabeth.
Thank you for the interesting post. I can’t wait to find out what Darcy gives to Elizabeth. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of your book!
Darcy’s got a romantic side after all Thanks for saying hello and good luck in the giveaway!
Hi Heather! As Meredith says this post is so amazing! Thanks for sharing this knowledge. The truth is that I’m not very fond of jewelry (maybe because I don’t have the means to get a diamond! LOL) but your post has given me a new perspective: acrostic jewelry is fascinating with its chance of hiding secret messages!
I’m of the opinion of Phoebe from “Friends”: “That is brand new information!”
Thanks for the incredible giveaway and congrats on your release!
Thanks Meredith for hosting such an interesting post! I can’t wait to visit the “The Nine Ladies” circle!
I think jewelry can be like other types of art: maybe we don’t like or wouldn’t hang on our own wall, but we can still appreciate the effort and talent and beauty in it. I might wear an acrostic ring, but I don’t think I’d ever wear a big gem-studded locket with a key dangling from it. Either way, these pieces are pretty unique. And, fun way to show Darcy’s romantic side
Thanks for your well wishes and best of luck in the giveaway!
Thanks for sharing this interesting information on jewelry. It reminds me of the language of flowers and their meanings. I can’t wait to read your book.
That’s so true Kim! Like hidden messages in gemstones I hope you enjoy the book!
What a wonderful post!
denise
I’m so pleased you liked it Denise! Good luck in the giveaway
Love the history on the jewelry. So fascinating!
Thank you so much Dung! I’m glad other people found it as interesting as I do
That is so neat. I never thought of it – I just thought they were just to dazzle the eyes with beauty. eager to know which Mr Darcy picked for Lizzy and if she will get the meaning.
It’s really romantic and personal when you think about it, isn’t it? Darcy has a sentimental side that only Lizzy gets to see 🙂
That is so cool! I had never heard of acrostic jewelry before. And how fun to incorporate it into the story!
I’m so glad you found it interesting. It’s fascinating to think about secret messages in jewelry. Thanks for visiting!
I found the jewelry information really fascinating. I love the lockets! I just bumped this book up to the top of my ‘to read’ list and am looking forward to it. I have the last book of Heather’s to read too and had that at the top but I am tempted to read ‘Nine Ladies’ first. Decisions. I really enjoyed ‘His Choice of a Wife’ (I think I need to reread that soon,) and ‘Two More Days at Netherfield.’ I know I’m going enjoy this new one. Meredith, can you believe Feb. is half over?
As someone who is notorious for moving new books to the top of my towering to-read pile, I vote for putting Nine Ladies at the top lol I don’t want to be the only one who bumps books! I’m so happy to hear you’ve enjoyed my other books Michelle ☺️
Oh yes…the book bumping. Guess what. I started Nine Ladies late two nights ago (mistake, that,) wow it grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go! Loving it so far. A lot.