Any Excuse Will Do!!

One thing about my love of vintage jewelry is how easily I can come up with an excuse to buy a piece.  Luckily it doesn't happen that often but this weekend, I just couldn't say "No" to a huge, knuckle-busting ring.

The minute I laid eyes on it, it took me right back to the first time I had seen one like it.  It was when I was 16 and working a Summer job at a service station pumping gas.  (This was long before 'self serve' was the norm)

I remembered the sunny day when a long, sleek, shiny red car pulled up to the pumps.  I walked out and there driving the car was the most glamorous woman I had ever seen.  She had long dark hair, big sun glasses, bright red lipstick, and long drop earrings.  She was dressed to kill with perfume stronger than the fumes from the gas I was pumping into her car.

Then when she handed me the $10 bill (yes, you could actually fill the tank of a big gas-guzzling sedan for $10 in those days!), I saw the biggest, flashyest ring I had ever laid eyes on.  I was so mesmerized by her and how glamorous she was, I blurted out how much I admired her ring and asked her what type of stone it held.

With a raspy voice much like Lauren Becall, she laughed and responded with "Ohhhhh my dear, it's smoooooookey topazzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

I've never forgotten her or the impression she made on my 16-year-old self so when I spied this ring over the weekend from my favorite vintage jewelry vendor, I just couldn't resist.

And in case you're wondering, "It's smooooookey topazzzzzzzzz" Lol!!!