Valentine’s Day posts are rough. I mean, yeah, you got your “Top Ten Coolest Heart Designs” post over here, but, that’s been done a million times over. You of course also have your anti-Valentine’s Day posts showcasing jewelry for the relationshiply-challenged, and those can be quite interesting, especially since so many of them usually include pieces from my friend, Wendy Brandes. But what about jewelry for peeps who just like jewelry? I mean, does it have to be hearts? Can’t a lady be happy with some diamond hoops or a big flashy morganite right-hand ring? Sure she can, but how does that make for a blog post any different than say “Five Fun Gifts to Get Mom on Mother’s Day”? It doesn’t, so I’m going to keep with the lovey-dovey-schmoopie-centric eyelash-batting holiday theme by showcasing some pieces in this post that give a proper shout out to the little Greek fat boy with the goddess mother and the satchel of arrows: Eros. Or as he’s more commonly known in 1950’s doo-wop songs and tales of love from Roman mythology… Cupid.

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
Nor hath love’s mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.
And therefore is love said to be a child
Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Who here has never experienced love at first sight? I’d tell you to raise your right hand but it’s likely that your cold and blackened heart gave out years ago, sparing this world another future ruthless tyrant. So many of us know what it’s like to feel love’s first injury; to look at a human being whom you’ve only just met and feel your stomach go out for martinis as they hand you their business card and say goodbye to you, likely forever. Those of us who aren’t emotionally dead inside know full well how dangerous a strike by Cupid’s arrow can be, but we also know he has a job to do in seeking out those non-believers, and introducing them to the concept of falling in love with nothing more than an impassioned, adoring look. Good ol’ Cupid. He deserves to be pedestaled.

If you’re a new lover or a lover on a budget, the perfect way to honor the tiny winged warrior is by purchasing a pair of Mariella Pilato’s “Cupid’s Arrow Earrings” in sterling silver for your special someone. For less than the cost of dozen delivered roses, you can copy the quote above from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in your own handwriting (the ladies go NUTS over that) into a blank greeting card (oh my God… no store-bought sentiments?? She just fainted.) and let her know that the earrings represent the arrow that pierced your heart the first time you touched her boo…tiful face.

For the partner who has put some time in and maybe has a bit of an appreciation of antiques or even the arts, I’m a huge fan of the cameo work of Southern-Italian jewelry maker Amedeo Scognamiglio. This gorgeous 14K yellow gold and blue agate Cupid ring might just earn you enough brownie points to get away with flowers and chocolate next Valentine’s day. Maybe. I know if my guy got it for me there just might be something special waitin’ in the bedroom for him tonight. That’s right… uh-huh… it would get reeeeal warm in there tonight, ‘cause I’m surprising my man with… well, with actual heat since we haven’t had any for two days because of these damned storms but it got fixed today. Surprise! (??)

OKAY! Onto more chubby-dude jewelry! If she’s not a ring wearer (um, then she’s stupid), Vicenza-born Tagliamonte offers an entire Cupid-themed collection of pendants, bracelets, and charms made with the company’s signature Venetian glass in Italian gold and a variety of colors. And hey, if anybody knows jewelry and love, it’s the Italians (said the Italian writing this blog).

You want more, you say? Oh you didn’t, that was just the voice in my head? YOU GOT IT! How about you pop the question this Valentine’s day? Oh, come on… I know it seems like it’s the obvious thing to do, but you know she’s expecting it, so stop being difficult. NO, YOU ARE! Look at this ring by Zoe & Morgan. It’s got a center white diamond, six small black diamonds, and two Cupid’s arrows on the shank. It’s darling! It makes me want to say yes all over again and I hardly even know you! Yes, of course I’ll marry you! And she will too if you just put the Cheetos bag down long enough to drop to one knee. 

That’s all I have for you today, lovers and adorners. If you’re not the type to want to put your heart on, then hopefully these ideas will help you get your Cupid on. Either way, have yourselves a wonderfully passion-filled Valentine’s Day and night.

Watch out for flying arrows. They get you when you least expect it.