Archive for Seasonal
10 Vintage Jewellery gifts under £35
Posted by: | CommentsLooking for a Vintage Jewellery Christmas gift for £35 or under? . Here is AntiquesAvenue’s top 10 suggestions . Remember these prices all include postage costs and can be delivered to you in plenty of time for Christmas day.
1. Silver enamel peacock brooch £35
- peacock brooch
2 lucite brooches
3. Silver Dunce charm £26
silver dunce charm
Just one of loads of vintage charms for you to choose from on the antiquesavenue website . What a cute articulated silver charm. This is in the shape of a Dunces cat with a face on the front and the letter D on the reverse. There are a pair of legs which are articulated and so move when you wear the charm.
This charm is made of silver and measures about 2 cms ( maximum) including the O ring and legs
4. Vintage silver ring
Most rings are made of gold and this tends to push the price a little out of budget range. Vintage silver rings however can often cost less and still be most attractive. How about this ring at just £26?
amethyst ring
5. Silver Identity bracelet for the man in your life £33
identity bracelet
A chunky silver identity bracelet. This bracelet measures about 21 cms long and so is probably most suited to a mans wrist. The bracelet measures about 0.9 cms wide and weighs about 41 grams
6. Animal print bangle by Joan Rivers £28
Here is an enamel bangle bracelet with an animal print design coming from the Joan Rivers Classics Collection. This bangle stretches to allow it to fit on your wrist. The colours are enamel on gold tone metal and there are panels of diamante to give a very striking piece of costume jewellery. Before expansion this bangle measures about 6 cms diameter ( internal measurement) and about 1.5 cms deep. This Joan Rivers bangle comes in its original box .
The box is a little damaged and the bangle is in really excellent condition.
7. Gold earrings £35
Theres not much you can buy in the way of real gold jewellery for£35 these days but here is a pair of earrings which would be great for any gardener.
gold earrings
This pair of earrings are in the shape of leaves. They are made from fully hallmarked 9 carat gold. Each leaf earring measures about 1.5 cms long. You will need to add your own butterfly backs to these.`
7. Freshwater pearl necklace £25
pearl necklace
A very pretty necklace made of fresh water pearls and real gemstone chips. The gemstones include amethysts, aquamarines, peridots and citrines. This necklaces would be excellent to wear to a wedding or possibly for a bridesmaid? It measures about 40 cms long
8. Vintage glass necklace
There are loads of vintage glass necklaces from you to choose from for £35 and under. These are much nicer to wear than modern plastic bead necklaces and they have a better weight, colour and feel. The glass also has a better shine than plastic.
9. Micromosaic jewellery
Again there is a great selection for £35 and under. Micromosaic Jewellery, made from tiny glass pieces set into colourful patterns. This jewellery was mainly made in Italy and brought back as tourist souvenirs. Micromosaic jewellery is mainly costume jewellery although occasionally you may find pieces in silver and gold.
10 Love Jewellery for that special Lady
AntiquesAvenue offers a whole seleciton of romantic jewellery. Pieces in the shape of hearts are particularly popular.
Wear your sparklers for Bonfire night
Posted by: | CommentsNovember 5th the day we celebrate gunpowder treason and plot with things that burn, bang and sparkle. This years why not brighten you yourself for bonfire night with some wearable sparklers of your own? Bonfire night is a time for wrapping up warm with lots of layers so we need jewellery which is big , bold, colourful and not too expensive for the occasion. Here is a great selection of vintage costume jewellery brooches from AntiquesAvenue which will make you stand out on the night.
Vintage brooches
Costume jewellery vintage brooches in firework colours can be pinned to your coat or used to hold a scarf in place. Why wear just one? Several can be pinned to a hat or a bag. Suitable colours include red, yellow, crystal clear, green and blue. Perhaps not the occasion for black or brown jewellery as it wont be seen in the dark.
A huge and sparkling vintage diamante brooch .This brooch has the diamante prong set into it which is a good sign of age and quality as this method of production was very time consuming. There are three articulated tails hanging down. In total this brooch measures about 8.5 cms long and up to 6 cms wide. I believe that this brooch dates from circa 1930s to 1950s. It is in really excellent condition.
Bonfire night history.
Do you know why we celebrate Bonfire night every year? Most of use know the old rhyme from childhood
“Remember Remember the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot.”
It was on November 5th 1605 when a plot to kill King James 1st was foiled. The group of men who were plotting against King James had planed to use gunpowder to blow up the house of Lords whilst the king was there. Once word got out that the plot had been foiled the people of London lit bonfires to celebrate it and an act of parliament was passed to ensure the day was celebrated anualy ( is this still Law ?)
Halloween theme vintage jewellery
Posted by: | CommentsIts nearly Halloween, the time of year for celebrating all things of the night, magical, creepy, superstitious and evil. Over the years this theme has often been applied to jewellery and looking though any collection of vintage jewellery you find some piece suitable to wear at this time of year.
As with all vintage jewellery pieces with a Haloween theme can be found at at both a budget and luxury price. Here Im taking a look at the buget pieces which can be found for £50 and under.
Bugs and spiders
A real real bargain piece of jewellery , a gold bug or fly brooch for just £30 from www.antiquesavenue.co.uk. This gold brooch could also be worn as a tie pin, it dates from the earlier 1900s.
gold bug brooch
Spider in web silver pendant
- spiders web pendant
This charm on a chain is suitable for any lover of spiders or perhaps an Emo or Goth
Witches and their cats
The witch is one of the most enduring images of halloween and of course no self respecting witch goes about without here familiar in the shape of a cat.
witch charm
This vintage charm is in the shape of a witch flying on here broomstick. She is made of silver and will date from circa 1950s to 1970s. This silver charm measures about 1.8 cms high and will make an excellent addition to any vintage silver charm bracelet. This piece of vintage jewellery is quite nicely detailed
cat earrings
Apples and leaves
Apples are the fruit of halloween and its the time of year when all of the autum leaves are on the ground.
apple charm
Here is an Essex crystal charm intaglio carved from behind and hand painted as an apple. Essex crystals are quite collectable these days, they are made of glass. This Essex crystal measures about 1.5 cms diameter and will make a colourful addition to any charm bracelet.
leaf brooch
A most attractive piece of costume jewellery made by Hollywood . The brooch is made of gold toned metal and had a golden textured finish to the leaf with creamy diamante round the edge. This nice leaf brooch measures about 5 cms long
Unique Easter jewellery gifts
Posted by: | CommentsIts that time of year again when the Easter bunny is collecting all his Easter treats together ready to hide on Easter Sunday morning. Ive had a sneak preview of this years offerings and see that the Easter Bunny is going vintage this year and handing out wonderful desirable vintage jewellery to all of us lucky ladies ( well I do hope so anyway 
). By the way Easter is late this year falling on April 24th.
So what pieces of vintage and antique jewellery are most suitable for Easter giving. Anything egg shaped, Im hoping for a Faberge egg but suspect that the nearest Im going to get is looking at these Faberge egg pictures instead:
Faberge eggs
Other Jewels suitable for Easter would be any animal or bird shaped piece especially baby animals, chicks, bunnies and baby lambs. Vintage silver charms can be found in almost any shape. For a more sophisticated lady any bird or animal shaped vintage brooch or charm would be a great idea.
Yellow butterfly brooch
Easter jewellery ?
Flowers and animals for Easter.
Flower jewellery would also be a great gift this Easter. Flowers in bunches or in bright colours yellow, white, green tend to be Easter colours or pastel shades of blue and pink. Heres some great pieces of jewellery you could give as an Easter gift.
Dont forget the men in your life either this Easter. Vintage cufflinks to be worn with evening wear or a lapel pin to add a touch of interest to their work suit.
I can still get jewelley with you to arrive in time for Easter. Please order by
Vintage jewellery for Valentines
Posted by: | CommentsAre you still looking for that perfect Valentines gift for your beloved? And do you know (or care) why we celebrate St Valentine? Heres a little look at our most romantic day of the year and a few suggestions of vintage jewellery as the perfect gift for this occasion.
Mizpah brooch
History of ”Valentines Day”
Celebrated each year on February 14th throughout the English speaking world, Valentines day is named after an early Christian martyr. It is thought that Valentine was a priest who helped Christian couples by marrying them. It was a crime at that time to help Christians and Valentine was put to death on February 14th by Claudius 11. Before he dies ( according to legend) Valentine passed a message to his jailers daughter which read ” From your Valentine”.
Another theory is that the Christian church replaced the Pagan Roman tradition of celebrating the Goddess Juno on February the 14th with a Christian festival. Whatever its history the tradition of exchanging messages between lovers on February 14th was well established in the middle ages with the fashion for “courtly love”.
It was during the 1800s that Valentines cards became commercially available, these were often very decorative with real lace attached and romantic poems inside .
There is a tradition in Wales of giving wooden Love spoons on Valentines day , these Love spoons are often carved with heart and key decoration with the meaning of “the key to my heart”. This lock and heart is mirrored on vintage charm bracelets with the heart shaped padlock having a key hole in it – if you are very lucky you can occasionally find a heart shaped charm bracelet with padlock that actually has a working key.
Flower jewellery
The fashion for giving gifts on valentines day started in the mid 1900s. These gifts included anything with hearts, cherubs and flowers. Chocolate and jewellery and of course the romantic meal out .
Valentines day gift ideas
Ive already mentioned that vintage silver charm bracelets have heart shaped padlocks. The heart theme is also found in most types of vitnage jewellery brooches, bracelts, lockets , earrings . Fancy a change from a heart? How about a cherub or angel? Silver vintage charms in the shape of Eros, A Wedgwood cameo decorated with a cherub? Flowers are also a popular theme in vintage jewellery so a floral brooch would also be appropriate.
Antiquesavenue.co.uk has an entire section called Love Jewellery which has heart and cherub jewellery. There is also a selection of gold Mizpah brooches which are given as a gift between parted lovers and a Mizpah brooch would be great for those who can actually see each other on Valentines day.
Favourite vintage jewellery 2010
Posted by: | CommentsIts traditional at this time of year to round of the last 12 months with lists of happenings during the year. I see lots of vintage jewellery every day but just for a treat for me I thought today Id take a look at my top ten pieces of the year. In no particular order here are my top ten vintage jewels of 2010.
1. Brooch
What fun, vintage jewellery does not need to be made of precious materials to be adorable. This vintage brooch is made of wooden beads bright and colourful with lots of movement. This wooden bead brooch is thought to be by Mirriam Haskel although like most pieces of this type it is unsigned. This wooden bead brooch will date from the 1940s and there are two rows of beads dangling down. The brooch measures about 3 cms wide and up to 6.5 cms long. The wooden beads remain bright and clean
2. Charm
Im selecting this lovely lady mermaid as my favourite charm of 2010. Quite rare and beautiful.
Here is a mermaid sitting on a rock with one hand playing with her hair. Her tail is articulated and so this charm will provide a little movement to their bracelet. Have you ever seen this vintage charm before? I haven’t so she is quite well made and detailed. The base of this mermaid is stamped as silver. The mermaid charm measures about 2 cms high plus the O ring and the mermaid is 2.5 cms long. Tis nice piece of vintage silver jewellery would hang from your charm bracelet but could equally well be hung from a chain round your neck
Mermaid Charm
3. Pendant
This pendant has such lovely colours in the turquoise and the stying is from one of my favourite jewellery periods in history in the early 1900s .A lovely old necklace made of nine carat gold ( stamped 9ct) and set with two turquoise stones. Necklaces like this are from the early 1900s being popular from circa 1910′s to 1930. . The chain is about 41 cms long with the pendant drop adding a further 4 cms. The clasp is a newer replacement
Turquoise nine carat gold pendant necklace
Selecting my favourite bracelet of 2010 was easy, infact this could well be my favorite jewel of the year.
This opal and gold vintage bracelet is really beautiful. The opals are solid and sparkle with red and green colours. Each opal measures about 0.8 x 0.5 cms with the bracelet being about 18 cms long in total.
There is a heart shaped padlock to fasten the bracelet and an attached safety chain. The padlock is fully hallmarked for 9 carat gold and can be dated to 1970.
Vintage bracelet opal 9ct gold 1970
5. Locket
When it comes to lockets I like the unusual shapes like this one. A very pretty piece of antique jewellery. This locket is made of a warm rose coloured gold and set with tiny pearls on the front. The back has a locket compartment which is currently occupied by a picture of a Victorian gentleman but could be replaced by a photo of your own choice. This locket will date from the later 1800 and measures about 1.7 cms
Antique locket rose gold Victorian
6. Earrings
These earrings are made of another of my favourite gemstones Citrines.These vintage earrings are really beautiful. Each earring has a real citrine gemstone set into silver. The citrines are a little over 1 cm diameter and so make quite a bold pair of earrings. These earrings are for pierced ears and they date from the early to mid 1900s
Vintage Citrine Earrings
7. Ring
Ive chosen this ring because of the colour of the stone – this will have been created by man but what a super shade of blue:
There is a beautiful Royal blue spinel set into this gold cocktail ring. The gemstone is flanked either side by a floral setting . The ring is fully hallmarked as 9 carat gold.
The spinel measures about 1.1 x 0.8 cms and so is quite chunky although the ring size is for a smaller finger or a pinky ring. This is UK ring size J.5, just over USA size 5
Blue Spinel gold floral ring
8. Necklace
A beautiful piece of antique jewellery which will date from the Edwardian era. This necklace is typical of Edwardian Jewellery which has a much lighter feel to it than Victorian jewellery. There are bows and a dove all set with sparkling paste stones. This necklace will have been made of European grade 800 silver. This necklace measures about 39 cms long plus the pendant drop of about 2.5 cms
Antique Edwardian Necklace Bows and Dove
9. Gemstone
My favourite gemstones this year are definitely the subtle moonstone. Look at this excellent bug brooch set with a moonstone.
antique spider brooch
10. Dress Accessory
Have you seen the detail in these lovely buttons – all hand painted in enamels.
These antique enamel buttons are really beautiful. They are enameled with the centers having a hand painted enamel floral spray. Each button is made of gold tone metal.
These buttons will date from the later Victorian era or possibly the early 1900s. Each button measures about 1.5 cms diameter and there are in lovely condition
Button
Sparkling Vintage Jewellery its Party Time
Posted by: | CommentsEveryone likes a bit of sparkle and shine at Christmas and its a wonderful opportunity for us vintage jewellery lovers to show off our finery and look out most glamorous. We can dig out out best sparkling necklaces, earrings, bracelets, cocktail rings and brooches. Most of the year just one piece at a time is in order but at Christmas and New Year we can forget the sophistication for a while and wear as many pieces as take our fancy.
Diamante necklaces
Ive a selection of vintage diamante necklaces to show you which will look really great at any Christmas ( or New Years Eve) party. Normally I suggest these pieces of jewellery for vintage wedding accessories but they can be worn at either.
Many of these necklaces are original 1950s part necklaces they were known as prom necklaces at the time.
Diamante necklace
Sparkling earrings
Vintage earrings, especially costume jewellery ones were often large and colourful . How about these lovely crystal clear and pink diamante earrings?
diamante earrings
Marcasite Bracelet
Of course diamante are not the only stones to sparkle and shine . Marcasites are wonderful under artificial light and so particularly suited to this time of year.
marcasite bracelet
Snowflake Brooch
Some vintage jewellery not only sparkles for parties but also comes in shapes to suit the time of year too. How about this special snowflake brooch in crystal clear and amethyst colours?
Last Christmas orders for Australia and Japan
Posted by: | CommentsJust a quick reminder , I need your orders for Christmas delivery by mid morning (UK time) tomorrow December 6th for the following countries:
South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East (including Japan), Australia and New Zealand.
Of course I will still dispatch any orders received after this time but there is no guarantee that your gifts will be with you in time.
There is still a few more days to order for all other countries and I will be back with reminders nearer the time.
December 10th ( Mid Day) Eastern Europe, USA and Canada
December 13th ( Mid Day) Western Europe
December 22nd (Mid Day) Scotland – Yes I know the official Special Delivery is the 23rd but I have too many experiences of the Special Delivery service arriving a day late in Scotland to trust it.
December 23rd ( 10.30 am) England and Wales. This will be via next day special delivery – please ensure you are able to be in to receive your parcel.
Happy Shopping
Anne x