Cartier Meli Melo Ring, Number 21
Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 10:39PM 
Every so often I find myself on Post Street, just off of Union Square. It happens – San Francisco is a small town, and our high-end shopping district is even smaller, and we only have one. Unlike New York, we don’t have a choice between Madison, Fifth, and SoHo – we have only Geary, Post, and Maiden Lane. But the shopping is good along these mini miracle miles, especially the window shopping.
Which brings me to lucky number 21 on my list: the Cartier Meli Melo ring made of platinum, precious, and semi-precious stones. This bubbly confection of fine jewelry has arrested my pace along Post Street more than a few times. It is true, the necklace is just as gorgeous, as is the all-diamond version, but the colored stones version is the one with personality. Who knew personality could come out of a Cartier window? I did. I’ve been in love with this personality for many years. Why? Well - for one thing, it ain't a solitaire. There is absolutely nothing about it that says "proper," never mind "engagement" - hush your mouth! This ring is the meeting of fine jewelry and fun - woe be to the man who thinks this bauble remotely speaks the language of "affiancéed".
Cartier is of course, Cartier, and it is not many of us that actually have a piece of the age-old maison. Art deco cigarette-cases, vintage panthère medallions, a délice de Cartier, and perhaps a tank or pasha - it's important jewlery that holds its own for generations, but have you ever actually seen an important piece of Cartier outside of a museum? I have, only once, and she was wearing a Meli-Melo ring. (But it was the all-diamond version – not the one with personality.)
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Lilou