RUSER 14k Hummingbird Pin w/Pearl Wings & Sapphire HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE!!!! Start Price USD 1,250.00 Current Price USD 1,250.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 1,595.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 13, 2008 End Time Saturday, August 23, 2008 Location Reston, VA See more about 'RUSER 14k Hummingbird Pin w/Pearl Wings & Sapphire ' Description It's stunning! This HIGHLY collectible 1950's Ruser 14k pin is signed by the jeweler who created it. Nearly life-sized, the beautiful little bird is distinguished by its intricate detail and two dimensional sculpting, making it seem almost real! A faceted deep blue sapphire is placed as an eye and the wings are fashioned of pearl. Our pretty bird measures 1 1/2" x 1 3/4" and weighed at 13.65 grams. Stamped 14k. Pictures just don't do this gorgeous piece justice. Let this lovely hummingbird take flight to you and rest on your shoulder. You'll absolutely adore it!! Read the history of this piece: Textured and baroque-shaped natural American freshwater pearls were largely regarded as curiosities by an industry focused primarily on button making in the late 1930s. William Ruser, however, saw tremendous potential in the pearls' fanciful shapes and bought several shoe-box-sized boxes of them from a button manufacturer. Some were long and thin, others rounded and flat or cupped slightly like flower petals. Many looked like little wings, others were larger and rounder, suggesting snail shells, rosebuds or the bodies of birds and animals. Most were a lustrous silvery white, though there also were delicate pink, light yellow, peach and salmon, deep rose, pale green, light blue and lavender along with metallic shades of purple, gold, bronze and copper. Sizes ranged from tiny seed pearls to baroque shapes an inch or more in diameter. After serving in World War II, Ruser opened a shop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA and specialized in pieces designed around his marvelous collection of unusually shaped freshwater pearls. Carefully selected large baroque pearls were incorporated into the bodies of birds, fish, animals and childlike figures of sculpted gold. This whimsical collection included birds with pearl wings, bodies and beaks, ffoxes and fish. Particular favorites were the skunk known as "Pepe Le Peu," the hummingbirds with pearl wings (like ours!) and bumblebees. These figurative jewels became instantly popular and soon caught the attention of actress Loretta Young, who acquired a swan with a pearl body and pearl wings. Actress Joan Crawford often wore two Ruser poodle brooches. In 1969, Ruser retired and sold his establishment to Van Cleef & Arpels, which is still there. From time to time, Ruser's whimsical creations appear at auction or in antique shops, where they're quickly snapped up by discerning collectors. Each one is unique and irreplaceable. Place a Bid!