GETTING INKED
1 If your resolution for the new year includes trading some of your digital communications for putting pen to paper, why not do it in high style? The Desiderio fountain pen from Montegrappa is a good place to start. With its two-tone resin, trim in sterling silver and filigree-cut 18K gold nib, it feels like a big upgrade from your run-of-the-mill keyboard. montegrappa.com.
PRICE: $850
THIN IS IN
2 A stealthy wedding proposal will be ruined if the engagement ring makes a premature appearance. Gunther Mele’s latest ring box will keep the hidden treasure under wraps until it’s time to pop the question. So slim that it is undetectable in any pocket, the ring within will be out of sight for as long as it takes to find the perfect moment. gunthermele.com.
PRICE: $2.29 each
THE MIDAS TOUCH
3 In his 30-plus years as jewelry designer and manufacturer Mark Maxwell has learned a thing or two about perfecting the toughest bench techniques, and his book The Classic Goldsmith is a fast track to mastering them. The 113-page volume tackles intermediate and advanced projects that incorporate skills like forging, piercing and soldering, plus tips on how to bring CAD/CAM tools into the mix. Available on Amazon.com amazon.com.
PRICE: $29.95
ON THE UP AND UP
4 Who doesn’t want to maximize the options for updating jewelry displays while keeping clutter to a minimum? The Burlap Hexagonal Nesting Block Riser Set from Rio Grande is a simple way to stagger the heights of products in a display. The set of six contains graduated blocks ranging from just over one inch to a little more than 6 inches; any of the risers that aren’t in use can be concealed within a larger one. riogrande.com.
PRICE: from $12.73
TAKING A DIP
5 Dazzle Drops, a jewelry-cleaning product from Connoisseurs, delivers a fresh batch of solution whenever it’s time to give a favorite bauble a bath. Each package contains a cleanser that combines with water, a dipping scoop for submerging jewelry in the mixture and a brush, and bears the Good Housekeeping seal for extra peace of mind. connoisseurs.com.
PRICE: $9.99