Solid Gold Apollo 11 Replica Headlines Forbes’ Space-Themed Jewelry Exhibit
There aren’t a whole lot of associations between the Space Age and luxury. Even though tons of money has gone into space exploration over the years, most of that funding has gone into research and development. And until I pimp out my Accord with Curiosity Rover wheels, it looks like we’ll have to turn to the Forbes Galleries to find our story.
From March 16-September 7, 2013, New York City’s Forbes Galleries will host the “Out of this World! Jewelry in the Space Age” exhibition. Three of the event’s highlights are solid gold replicas of arguably America’s greatest success in travel history: the Apollo 11 spacecraft. Each one is a nod to the Apollo astronauts of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. I can’t think of anyone who would want to honor me with anything made out of gold, except for this goose I keep locked up in a spare closet.
This gorgeous piece of vehicular extravagance was created by the Parisian jeweler Cartier, one of many international jewelry companies — including Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and Jacob Albee — exhibiting such exquisite items. Donna Distefano’s “The Love that Moves the Sun & the Other Stars” ring has a centerpiece of actual meteorite held in by the diamond-studded gold.
In a press release on the gallery’s website, guest curator Elyse Zorn Karlin explains their motivations:
Space has always been in our consciousness and often expressed in jewelry. The ancients wore amulets depicting the moon; in Georgian and Victorian jewelry we see numerous depictions of the moon, stars, and Halley’s Comet. The mid-20th century saw an explosion of ‘space age jewelry’ and corresponding couture, and today the ‘futuristic’ look in fashion is ‘in’ thanks to Lady Gaga and other entertainers. Many contemporary fine jewelers and studio jewelers still look to space for inspiration and the result is some of the wonderful jewelry you will see in this exhibition.
Maybe I can sell some of these goose eggs in order to afford some of this excellent swag, but chances are, they’re only golden due to a malnourishment issue.
