Jet jewellery is a favourite amongst many collectors of antique and Victorian jewellery. I have written all about jet jewellery in the past but recently I was lucky enough to visit the museum in Whitby where they have the best collection of jet jewellery Ive ever seen. Whitby Museum allow photography and so I was [...]

Another great piece of vintage pearls jewellery from AntiquesAvenue. This pearl ring is a super piece of vintage jewellery. The pear is in a decorative setting with the shoulders of the ring appearing to go right up the sides of the pearl. The pearl is about 6mm diameter. The inside of the shank of this [...]

A very special pearl necklace with five graduated strands of cultured pearls. This necklace fastens with a nine carat gold clasp which is set with more pearls and three rubies. The catch is stamped as 9ct and measures about 2.3 cms long. The pearls in this necklace are graduated and the smallest measure about 3mm [...]

This week I’ve been adding lots of  Pearl Jewellery to AntiquesAvenue webshop and was struck by how may different designers have incorporated faux or costume jewellery pearls into their jewellery to great effect. Pearl finished jewellery is hot fashion news this season to go with the lovely lacy fabrics that are about. The designer vintage [...]

I’ve been finding out about Majorica pearls today as I came across this most beautiful faux pearl necklace and I thought they were worth researching. Majorica pearls are made in Majorca, in fact I remember visiting the workshop where they are made about 30 years ago. At that time I thought they were truly wonderful [...]

Coral forms in tree like structures in warmer waters such as the mediterranean and around Japan and Australia. This is the external skeleton of a tiny water polyp which when polished up makes a wonderful Jewel. Coral can range in colour from pale pink, red through to black. Generally we see the pinky / red colour [...]

About Cultured Pearls Pearls have their own unique beauty which is popular in jewellery as the finish compliments and enhances the skin tones of the wearer. Vintage Jewellery set with pearls is  sought after and antique pearl jewellery can reach very high prices. Pearls can be worn with almost every outfit and most ladies like to [...]

Rounding off  Antique jewellery and Vintage jewellery materials beginning with the letter B. As we all know vintage jewellery can be made of so many more materials than the precious metals and gemstones.  Today as part of my A-z of vintage jewellery materials I am rounding off the letter B with Berly, Bone, Bronze and [...]

About Bog Oak Jewellery Bog oak is a jewellery material widely used during the Victorian era in mourning jewellery.  Today you will normally find that jewellery made of bog oak is antique jewellery over 100 years old. Bog oak is fossilized wood and is also sometimes known as bog wood.  Most bog wood is made [...]

I’ve just been cleaning a lovely vintage set of cultured pearls, it was such a shame to see them grubby but after a little work they look as good as new. Fortunately these cultured pearls have been kept in their original box and so there was no damage just years of grime. Do you own a [...]

Pearls, popular in jewellery for centuries, come in many different types and kinds. You hear about natural pearls, faux pearls , cultured pearls, Akoya pearls, SouthSea pearls and Baroque pearls. Do you know the difference between any other type of pearl and a baroque pearl? A Baroque pearl is a pearl which is not round, [...]

Agate is a colourful form of Quartz gemstone which can be cut and polished into Cabochons or panels and set into jewellery. There are lots of different decorative agates which have been used for hundreds of years but became particularly popular in the Victorian era as part of the Scottish trend. Many of these agates [...]

Cinnabar Lacquer Jewellery I really want to show you this wonderful bangle and brooch set made of Cinnabar Lacquer. This is original  vintage costume jewellery  dating from the art deco era.  During the 1920s / 1930s this type of jewellery was quite popular but is becoming much rares and hard to find these days. Cinnabar [...]

Beautiful precious pearls  are the birthstone for those born in June. This is excellent news for those buying a gift for someone with a June birthday as there are a huge range to choose from to suit all tastes and prices ranges.I wrote back in May about how to choose a pearl necklace , this is [...]

Pearl Necklaces – how to choose the right one to wear So you fancy a vintage necklace? Pearl necklaces are very fashionable now but how do you choose from the huge variety available. As with all Jewellery is is nice to buy vintage jewellery as you will have something more unique and most likely at [...]

Whitby Jet comes from Whitby on the North East coast of England. It is a natural material which has been formed over millions of years from coal. This is the finest of the forms of jet and was greatly sought after. Whitby jet was carved and shaped into most forms of Victorian Jewelry and very [...]

Here is a subject I find a little difficult – brooches made from butterfly wings. These were very popular in the art deco era, the wonderful shine on the bright blue looked beautiful set into silver. Above are a couple of examples of genuine vintage brooches set with butterfly wings. But what about the poor [...]

Amber Amber is an organic gemstone , it is made from the fossilised resin of pine trees which lived millions of years ago.  It can be carved or polished so that it has a smooth polished surface and in this form it is popular in jewellery.  Occasionally an insect, small leaves or a pine needle  can [...]

There are some names which excite jewellery lovers. Names from history such as Faberge, Cartier and Tiffany. When it come to cultured pearls that exiting name is Mikimoto. Their new cultured pearls are nice but in my opinion their vintage cultured pearls are even lovlier. Here are a superb pair of Mikimoto pearl earrings. Set [...]

From todays postbag: “I have a paperweight which belonged to my grandmother.  It is small, probably only an inch and a half across.  It has an orange glass butterfly suspended in it, with green at the bottom (glass grass).  It is from the 60′s/70′s I think.  can you tell me anything about it?”   Anne’s [...]