Archive for Events
Vintage Jewellery V The World Cup
Posted by: | CommentsIt looks like the world will be going football mad in a few days. For a whole month the TV will be filled with football but what about all of us who find it a pointless waste of time and want to run as soon as we hear the start of the commentary? Vintage Jewellery lovers I’ve got some alternatives for you.
Now is the time to buy
As someone who has been buying Vintage and Antique items for many many years I would say that during the world cup will be a great time to buy Vintage Jewellery as I believe prices will be lower then. Prices are traditionally lower on eBay during the Summer than in the Winter for Antique and Vintage items. Add in an event like the world cup and you have a real opportunity for a bargain.
I will be looking on eBay for items ending during the England matches. Few will be buying during that time and auctions will end low. Similarly with real life auctions and antique fairs, those held on world cup days are likely to be poorly attended by buyers and it is your chance to grab the goodies.
Learn about Jewellery
Learn something new
Time on your hands whilst your friends and partners are watching TV? What a great opportunity to learn something more about your favourite area of Vintage Jewellery or other antiques.
There are some great books or research on the Internet. Personally I will use any spare time to find out more about Designer Jewellery especially the Scandinavian silver designers and their history. If you are quite new to collecting vintage jewellery then perhaps a book on gemstones or one of Millers books on Costume Jewellery .
Websites are also a source of information but they tend to be less in depth than books although much cheaper. There is loads of information here on wwe.antiquesavenue.com if you dig around and use the search box.
Prepare for the selling season
Another way I will be spending this quite time during the football ( yes I expect to have less customers too) is to prepare for the selling season ahead. Sorting and cleaning stock, photographing it and adding as much as I can to antiquesavenue.co.uk. If you are not planning on selling your jewels this year its still an great opportunity to clean your pieces and ensure that they are in good condition.
World Cup Final Discount
So I will be busy avoiding the World Cup by buying jewellery, Learning about it and preparing for the selling season . Everyone else will be having some excitement and so here’s an exciting offer from AntiquesAvenue for all of us who wont be watching the football. If England are in the world cup final I will give a discount of 20% for all orders placed during the World Cup Final Match. That’s a great offer from me as discount days are rare and normally only 10% . Spend the World Cup final with AntiquesAvenue instead. I believe it’s during a Sunday evening and so I will be here on line during that time to answer any questions and help select your discounted Vintage jewellery.
Antique Tile Fair 2010
Posted by: | CommentsGave you ever been to the Antique Tile fair held each year in Nottingham? If you are interested in Antique Tiles or Vintage Tiles then this really is a must go to event. There is only one Tile fair in the country and it is held just once a year. This years event will be held on Saturday 25th of September and is in the usual venue at St Judes Church hall in Mapperley Nottingham.
Got a load of tiles to sell? Why not take a stall? Michael Blood is the organiser and he is now accepting bookings for stall holders on 0115 9608502
Tile Fair
Vintage Jewellery and Accessories Auctions
Posted by: | CommentsI’m a great fan of auctions, not the eBay type but real life auctions and some of you may well have read the beginners guides I have written in the past. I regularly attend auctions and indeed buy most of my antique and vintage jewellery stock that way.
One of the steps I advise is to research when and where auctions are being held well in advance and to study the catalogues. Whilst doing my own research earlier today I came across this auction, I wont be attending but may well be useful .
Vintage Perfume Bottles.
I used to have a large collection of vintage perfume bottles especially the Devon Violets variety. Most of these have now gone to their new homes but if I were still collecting perfume bottles I certainly would want to be attending this perfume bottle auction in Leeds on June 12th. There are over 200 lots so there should be something for most tastes.
Vintage necklace from auction
Do you want to attend vintage and Antique jewellery Auctions too?
You can find Specialist antique Jewellery auctions, I believe Bonhams run them regularly for example. Specialist auctions tend to be pricey so I look for auctions where they have jewellery as part of the main auction. For example Bamfords in Derby always have a nice selection of vintage jewellery for you to choose from. Take a look at your local auction house, there is one in most major towns and you can normally look up the calendar of events on the Internet.
If your going to buy jewellery at auction do give yourself plenty of time in advance to view. The viewing will be crowded and unless you view well in advance you may find yourself struggling to get to see the pieces you are interested int. The auction will start more or less on time even if you have not finished looking. Take along a pen and paper and a 10 x magnifying loupe. you need to be prepared to accurately assess what you are going to buy and jot down notes on the item and how much you are prepared to pay. Don’t worry if you don’t buy anything at the first couple of jewellery auctions you attend. You will soon get the hang of it and snapping up some real bargains.
Vintage Jewellery Wholesale
I’ve been going to a few to many auctions recently and now have wholesale quantities of vintage costume jewellery available at discount prices. There is no gold at all in quantity but there may be a little silver. Mainly the wholesale quantities I have available are necklaces, faux pearls, chains and brooches. These are all vintage and will date circa 1920s through to the last 10 years. Most of it is from the 1950s through 1970s. If you are based in the UK and are interested then please do get in touch. I believe that this jewellery would be most suitable for sale at car boots , markets and antique fairs. You may wish to try a few lots on eBay as well. Most pieces should sell for £3 to £20. I also have some lots suitable for repair, restoration and craft projects. Sorry but the weight of wholesale quantities will make it too expensive to ship outside of the UK.
Vintage Wedding Jewellery
Posted by: | CommentsAntiquesAvenue has a department devoted to Vintage Wedding Jewellery and each time a piece goes off to its new home I think how lovely that the Bride has chosen a genuine piece of Vintage Jewellery to wear on her special day. A piece of vintage wedding jewellery can look better than new, be more individual and cost less than new. Better than all of these is that the piece of Vintage Wedding Jewellery can help fulfill both the old and blue parts of the custom for wearing ” Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe”.
These items in the poem are meant to all bring good luck to the bride who wears them and this custom probably started back in the Victorian Era
Something Old
Wedding Earrings
Technically most antique or vintage jewellery could fulfill the “Something Old” part of this good luck custom, most brides would prefer something a little bright, white, pretty or sparkling such as pearls, diamante. How about a nice necklace or pair of earrings set with diamante and pearls. This pair of earrings is chandelier type and are very large and glamorous. The “Something Old” is meant to symbolise the past and perhaps a link to the brides family. A piece of Vintage Wedding Jewellery from mum or Grannies Jewelry box would be especially suitable .
Of course not all brides want sparkling white and girly for their wedding day. Some would prefer a Gothic look and so a piece of genuine Victorian Antique Jewellery would be best for ” Something Old”. For a smart wedding where the bride is not wearing the traditional white wedding dress the Bride could still wear something old , a lovely enamel brooch to match the colours of her outfit perhaps.
Vintage wedding Jewellery is not just for the Bride, There are some wonderful pieces available for bridesmaids and the Brides Mother too.
Something Blue“Something Blue”? Why not another colour? I used to think that the colour had been made up to suit the poem however digging in to the history blue does have associations with weddings. The Romans wore blue at their weddings to symbolise Love and Fidelity and it has also been thought to keep bad spirits away. There is a wide range of different blue colours available in Jewellery from pale baby blue ( Glass Jewellery?), sky blue aquamarines too a deep almost black blue found in some Australian Sapphires.
Another idea is to have the something “Old and blue” in your engagement ring and so you will always be wearing your lucky wedding day charms.
Vintage Ring
Wedding Necklace
Antiques Master, your chance to be on TV
Posted by: | CommentsI see the BBC are making yet another antiques quiz / games show. Antiques Master will be on BBC 2 and is currently looking for competitors with a good knowledge of antiques. The following two quotes are from the Antiques Mastger website
Are you an amateur antiques aficionado with the knowledge and know-how to win the title of Antiques Master 2010?
Antiques Master is a brand new prime time quiz show and we’re looking for passionate, knowledgeable amateur antiques experts.
You’ll be battling it out over a series of challenges and questions to prove that you have the all-round knowledge to become Antiques Master 2010.
All amateur antiques enthusiasts are invited to apply.
Antiques hunters, collectors, society members, etc – all are welcome as long as you don’t earn your living in the antiques business.
To apply
Age limit: Applicants must be 18 years of age and over.
You must not work in a professional capacity within the antiques trade
BBC2 has secured comedian and actress Sandi Toksvig to front a primetime series touted as MasterChef for antique lovers.
Antiques Master will see heirloom lovers from around the country compete in a string of challenges designed to test their knowledge of different collections, periods and the value of antiques.
The 12 x 30-minute series will be produced by BBC’s in-house team at Manchester and is expected to debut in a weekday slot over the summer
The programme is the latest
antiques show being trialled by BBC2, including the primetime Cracking Antiques from Silver River and new daytime series Antiques Road Trip and Restoration Roadshow..
The Antiques Master website is at http://www.antiquesmaster.co.uk/
I’m barred from applying as I work in the antiques trade but I am interested if any of you decide to give it a go and test out your skills. Please do get in touch if you apply and let me know how you get on and I will publish your experiences here.
A to Z Vintage Jewellery, Anniversaries
Posted by: | CommentsGive vintage jewellery A to Z, Anniversaries and Aunts
The first part of my A to Z guide of occasions, reasons and people to give vintage jewellery for. A = Anniversaries and Jewellery for Aunts
Anniversaries:
Vintage Jewellery and Antique Jewellery for Anniversaries. Traditionally Jewellery has been given at wedding anniversaries but is equally suitable for other special anniversaries too.
vintage Jewellery
For wedding anniversaries the following pieces are traditional:
1st Anniversary is Paper – plain gold jewellery. A ring or a lovely brooch
2nd Anniversary is Cotton – Garnet set jewellery – a nice pendant or a pair of cufflinks for your man?
3rd Anniversary is Leather – Pearls are the traditional gift – Earrings or necklace or tie pin for men
4th Anniversary is Linen – Blue Topaz Jewellery -A lovely range of blue shades available
5th Anniversary is Wood – Sparkling Sapphires are given
6th Anniversary is Iron – Amethysts – choose a lovely deep purple one
7th Anniversary is Wool – Onyx – A Victorian Scottish Celtic brooch or dirk set with hard stone
8th Anniversary is Bronze – Tourmaline – Wonderful colours available
9th Anniversary is Copper – Lapis-Lazuli – the traditional art deco jewellery stone
10thAnniversary is Tin – Your Diamond Wedding – how about a Victorian rose cut diamond for something special?
11th Anniversary is Steel – Turquoises – one of my favourites – a vintage ring or a charm is excellent
12th Anniversary is Silk -Jade – Jade bracelets were popular in the art deco era
13th Anniversary is Lace – Citrine – a bight yellow stone that looks good set in gold
14th Anniversary is Ivory – Opal – Black or white the choice is yours – try a brooch or cuff links
15th Anniversary is Crystal – Ruby – excellent stone for rings for both men and women
20th Anniversary is China -Emerald – a beautiful shade of green – how about a necklace with an Emerald pendant?
25th Anniversary is Silver – plain silver jewellery – appreciated by both men and women
30th Anniversary is Pearl – A better quality set than for the 3rd anniversary I think
35th Anniversary is Coral – Best to go Victorian here so that we are not damaging the environment
40th Anniversary is Ruby – Big and bold to celebrate 40 years I think
45th Anniversary is Sapphire – Sapphires come in white and pink and other colours if you dont fancy blue
50th Anniversary is Golden Jubilee – Gold and lots of it please
55th Anniversary is Emerald – 55 years – wow that deserves and Emerald ring
60th Anniversary is Diamond Jubilee – Lots and lots of them for 60 years
65th Anniversary is Blue Sapphire – Sapphires again!
70th Anniversary is Sapphire Jubilee – More Sapphires?
75th Anniversary is Platinum Jubilee – A bit heavy so make it a ring
80th Anniversary is Ruby Jubilee – Twice the size of the one you gave for a 40th anniversary
Vintage Jewellery for your Aunt
Aunts of all ages will appreciate a gift of vintage or antique jewellery. What sort? How about antique brooches or vintage necklaces? Heres a thought, how about choosing something in her favourite colour or from the era ( or even year) she was born in?
Auction Party – Want to be on TV?
Posted by: | CommentsITV1′s brand new antiques show, AUCTION PARTY is looking for participants with a passion for beautiful objects and an eye for turning a profit. We are offering participants the opportunity to host their very own auction, from within their own home. Furthermore, participants will be given £500 to go out and, with the help of our antiques expert, gather a collection of items to then sell at their auction. Family, friends and neighbours will be invited to view the lots for sale while sipping on champagne and nibbling on canapés. With a professional auctioneer present to help them through, the auction pieces will be displayed around the participant’s home before going under the hammer. At the end of the day, the cash is counted and (hopefully) profits are revealed!
If you are interested in taking part please do not hesitate to contact us via our phone line - 0207 157 4599 or email – auctionparty@itv.com, clearly stating your name and daytime contact number.
Auction Party
Antiques Fairs, Which are the best for buying at?
Posted by: | CommentsI spent yesterday trawling round the Antiques fair at Peterborough’s East of England showground. Getting there soon after 7.00 in the morning you would have thought that I would have come home with an absolute car load of bargains. Nope, if fact whilst the pieces I bought are all very pretty there are only five bits of vintage jewellery, no tiles, no pots, no paperweights – oh and I did get one reference book which I had wanted for a while but am way too much of a tight wad to pay the full price for.
Why was it so difficult to buy good stock? The weather was good for a fair, not to hot or cold and nice and dry. The fair appeared to be packed with stalls and the stalls packed with stock. Economics I’m afraid, either stuff was damaged, repro or it was priced way beyond what I could hope to sell at. Do these stall holders actually sell much during their three day fair? Surely they cant just be wanting to sell to the public?
As readers who know me of old know, I stood at antiques fairs for many years before moving my shop on-line and used to make a sparse profit at fairs and only then by pricing stuff way down on its so called “market value” . So I pondered as I pottered home: Which fairs are the best for buying at?
Please don’t get me wrong if you just want a day out, to look at lovely pots, glass, jewellery and all manner of wooden items with a good quantity of junk thrown in too then the Peterborough fair is a great place for you to go. But are there any fairs worth going to for buying these days? What do you recommend? With the new trio of Newark, Lincoln and Swinderby fairs coming up within the next week – are any of these worth a buying trip?
Please leave a comment and let us know.
Anne
