Archive for Vintage Jewellery
Autumn Fashions in Vintage Jewellery
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve been taking a look at all the fashions, glamour and style for this Autumn. There seem to be a lot of Vintage Jewellery being worn again this year so we can happily dig though our Grandma’s jewellery boxes and be right in style.
Taking a look around there seem to be several themes we can choose. Apparently chandelier earrings are back (eeeek, these are so heavy and catch on your clothes so perhpas best kept for glitzy occasions?)
Pearls and Cameos.
Lace and creamy colours are bang up to the minute this season. What could be better for wearing with these materials than Cameos and Pearls. Edwardian ladies worn lots of lace in creamy colours and they layered them with strands of pearls and the traditional shell cameo is just the right colour to tone well.
Red and Black
There’s lots of red and black jewellery about. So how about a red diamante brooch or some french jet glass beads. Or both? There are loads of options with red and black jewellery and you can either choose to wear one of the colours or both together. Here are some lovely old red glass beads from AntiquesAvenue, genuine vintage so added cachet for that too:
Chains
Lots of gold toned chains were big in the 1980s ( along with the hairdos if I remember rightly). Now these have been out of fashion for some time but they are now back. The good thing about this is vintage gold toned chains are cheap and abundant if you hunt around. I’ll be getting some soon for you to buy too. For years I haven’t bothered stocking these as no one wanted them , you will find this is the same with most vintage jewellery dealers – now is the time to buy before the prices creep up.
I hope you find this interesting – I’ll try a brief round up of vintage jewellery fashions each season from now on.
Happy Hunting
Anne x
Vintage Jewellery news update
Posted by: | CommentsA Vintage Jewellery news update from antiquesavenue.co.uk
Its a while since my last vintage jewellery news update. Over the past few weeks I have been searching out more fresh stock of vintage jewellery for you.
Vintage Charms:
Recently I have added lots of vintage silver charms and gold charms to the shop including some quite unusual ones. IN gold look out for the opening Adam and Eve in an apple and the strange ” Happy days” opening vintage Caravan. The most unusual silver charms include an opening dressing table by Nuvo, a Nuvo penguin waiter and interesting charms such as Don Quixote and St George and the dragon.
Vintage Brooches and Antique Brooches:
I’ve been looking out for vintage designer brooches and now have quite a nice selection including Napier, Trifari, Royal Crown Derby and Exquisite. There are also brooches by named Scottish and Scandinavian silver makers.
I am expanding my selection of vintage rings and antique as these seem very popular. These are in both gold and silver and set with precious and semi precious gemstones. Mainly these will be added to the site over the next ten days so please do keep checking back if you are interested.
Vintage Costume Jewellery
Coming soon a nice fresh selection of costume jewellery necklaces.
Vintage Jewellery for Valentines day.
I have made a short video on heart shaped charms and valentines charms which would be suitable as a gift for a loved one this valentines day
Gift Wrap.
Following several requests from customers I now have a gift wrap option which I will be adding to the site in the next week. Your jewellery can be presented in a pretty organza bag in one of a variety of colours and I have decided to charge just £1 extra for this service.
News Letter
Have you subscribed to my news letter yet? I dont often get the chance of sending one out but when I do there is always a Special offer on vintage jewellery which is exclusive to news letter subscribers. I am hoping a news letter will be on its way within the next week or two so dont miss out
Anne
Vintage Jewellery for Christmas
Posted by: | CommentsBuying Vintage Jewellery this Christmas? There is still time to buy and have it delivered ready for the big day but if you live outside of the UK I will need your order in the next couple of days. The last posting day for airmail to the USA to ensure Christmas arrival is Fridays this week ( 11 December) . Orders travelling within the UK can be ordered up until December 22nd.
Here are a few items which would go down well as a vintage jewellery gift this year:
moss agate pendant
Vintage pendant Moss Agate hardstone
Pebble jewellery is made from Scottish hardstone pebbles and were popularized by Queen Victoria when she had a passion for all things Scottish. This pebble pendant is special as it is made from moss agate having wonderful detail in the stone. This moss agate is set in 8oo grade silver and is ready to hang on your own chain. The pendant measures about 5 cms long plus bail
Victorian three Emerald pendant
What a beautiful pendant. This is from the high victorian era and is gold plated canatille work set with 3 real emeralds. Two if the emeralds are set into the main pendant, the third hangs on a drop
Age: Mid Victorian
Approx Size: Just under 1½ inch long plus bail
Approx Weight: 2.5 grams
Condition:
Excellent condition. No damage of any kind
Victorian eye agate cabochon brooch Here is a stunning Victorian brooch set with a wonderful eye agate cabochon – just look at that banding. This brooch fastens with a simple C catch and has an extended pin stem . This will date from the time when Queen Victoria has a passion for all things scottish and this spread to lots of Scottish pebble jewellery being worn.
This antique brooch measures about 3.5 cms wide
silver ring amethyst and marcasitessilver ring amethyst and marcasites
a striking ring made of silver and set with sparkling marcasites and four amethysts in art deco style Material:silver, marcasites and amethysts Size:The top is 1.5 cms wide . Ring size UK M.5 , USA 6.5 Age:Modern
a striking ring made of silver and set with sparkling marcasites and four amethysts in art deco style Material:silver, marcasites and amethysts Size:The top is 1.5 cms wide . Ring size UK M.5 , USA 6.5 Age:Modern
Vintage Jewellery News October 1st
Posted by: | CommentsVintage Jewellery news from AntiquesAvenue for October 1 2009.
Have you seen the super vintage jewellery I have recently added to antiquesavenue.co.uk? There are some wonderful original pieces of costume jewellery including the art deco glass necklaces you can see pictures of in this post. There are art deco blue glass necklaces and green ones, a wonderful wedding cake glass necklace and some lovely glass flower necklaces too.
vintage jewellery
For those of you liking something a little older I have been topping up the antique brooch section with Victorian brooches in gold and silver. Brooches added to the 20th century vintage brooch section include some amazing Scandinavian examples including this designer Anton Michelsen brooch made from silver in the shape of a star burst.
vintage art deco necklace
With the coming part season in mind I am going to add some necklaces this week for wearing with your best dress. Lovely vintage glass necklaces to sparkle in.
Just an update on whats happening on this antiques blog too: The forum is now live and needs your input. Add a thread if you like. Do you have something related to antique, vintage or collecting you would like to tell the world about? You can write an article here and have a link or two back to your site.
This week I will be adding a lovely collection of antique and Victorian dogs sent to me by a reader from the USA , I think it is the best collection of staffordshire doggies I’ve seen. Your collection can be added on here too – just get in touch.
I will be continuing the series on birthstone jewellery by looking at Octobers birthstone the wonderful Opal.
Have you tries the new on-line chat feature on antiquesavenue.co.uk yet? Just press the button when it is showing as on-line and you can talk to me through your keyboard about any items in the shop. Look forward to hearing from you
Anne
vintage jewellery
How to buy vintage jewellery, ten tips
Posted by: | CommentsBuying Vintage Jewellery for a gift this coming Christmas or to wear during the party season is a sure way to be unique and individual. Not only will you be getting something which it is highly unlikely anyone else has but you will also be very stylish.
But buying vintage jewellery is not always easy. Do you know the difference between a genuine vintage ring and a new copy made in china this year? Here are ten tops from Anne at AntiquesAvenue to help you buy an original vintage piece on-line.
vintage brooch
1. Find a reputable dealer
Ok, you may think that I would suggest that you find a vintage jewellery dealer rather than simply looking on eBay for a piece of vintage jewellery. Here are my reasons, it is difficult to tell a genuine piece of vintage jewellery from new. There are lots of people on eBay selling jewllery they claim to be vintage when it is in fact simply second hand or new and has been made in a vintage style. Buying those pieces is fine if you want something new or a couple of years old but not if you want a piece with genuine history and vintage quality.
How do you find a reputable vintage jewellery dealer? Well take a look around the Internet. Like AntiquesAvenue a dealer with lots of vintage pieces will be prepared to help you in your selection. Does the website state that the items are genuine vintage?
2. Read the description
Does the piece of vintage jewellery you are looking at say how old the piece is? Or does it just say “Vintage style”, “Vintage inspired” or has it been remade and include vintage pieces? If in doubt ask. Also look in the description for size information and condition ( see further down the page for more about these). Look at the pictures. If you are not sure then start asking questions.
3. Ask Questions
Once you have seen a piece of vintage jewellery you like the look of ask questions if these are not already in the description. You need to know:
Is this a genuine vintage brooch, what size is this vintage ring or how long is this vintage necklace?
How old is this pair of art deco earrings? Remember if it is not circa 1920s to 1940 it is not going to be real vintage art deco.
What condition is this piece in (see further down)
vintage pin
4. What makers marks or Hallmarks are on the piece?
Makers marks and hallmarks can help assure you that your piece of jewellery is genuine however many older pieces have few identifying marks. Even gold or silver from the Victorian era or the early 1900s does not need to be fully hallmarked to be real.
5. Is there more than one available?
One of the big selling points for vintage jewellery is that each piece is relatively rare and compared to new you are far less likely to see someone else wearing the same item. It is rare but not impossible for a dealer to have more than one of any given piece of jewellery. Ask the dealer. If they have more than one of most items then they are not going to be genuine vintage. Over at AntiquesAvenue I only have 2 of any item when I have bought new vintage stock from an old shop which has shut down ( the Wedgwood jasper jewellery for example)
6. Does it look new?
If the piece of jewellery you are looking at is bright and shiny and looks new it probably is . Gold jewellery is an exception to this as it does not show age in the same way as other metals. Silver can be brought back to its original colour by dipping it but most vintage dealers would not do this in order to retain the vintage patina.
7. Check the sizing
Brooches are often the best piece of vintage jewellery to give as a gift as the sizing is less important than with a ring or the length of a necklace. Even with a brooch you do not want one which is 7 cms long to do on a delicate piec eof material nor do you want a brooch measuring 1.5 cms long to go on a chunky coat or cardigan as it will look lost.
8. Check the condition
Much vintage jewellery has not survived well. Hopefully you will find a statement about the condition of the vintage jewellery on a website. AntiquesAvenue states that all items are in excellent vintage condition unless there is something specific written about signs of ageing or an issue with the piece. Some slight wear is to be expected and is acceptable on vintage jewellery , hopefully this is confined to very light touches which show as age rather than damage or missing stones
9. Learn about vintage Jewellery
Here on AntiquesAvenue blog there is lots of information about vintage jewellery and how to learn more about it. Use this an other websites and books to learn what to look for in detail. You too can find out how to date a piece of vintage jewellery by looking at it.
10. Ask how your jewellery will be posted
Once you have chosen and paid for your piece of jewellery you want to be sure that it arrives safely. All AntiquesAvenue jewellery is posted in a box and by secure post. Please do check that the piece you are to be sent will travel is a box as otherwise pin and clips can get damaged. The posts from earrings can bend if they are just put in bubble wrap, a bracelet can be crushed unless it is boxed.
AntiquesAvenue is specialising in genuine vintage and antique jewellery. Please select from the links on the left of this page to buy vintage jewellery which you can be sure is original.
Vintage Jewellery video part 2 now available
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve made a second Vintage Jewellery video, this one takes another look at the back of brooches and shows a clue to telling the difference between a Victorian or 20th century brooch. This vintage jewellery video is currently viewable from the home page of my shop : www.antiquesavenue.co.uk
This is best viewed as supplemental information to my original vintage jewellery video which you can see here:
A Vintage Brooch, the perfect gift
Posted by: | CommentsAntiquesAvenue loves all Vintage Jewellery including Vintage Brooches and Antique Brooches too . Brooches come in all shapes and sizes and are made of a wide range of materials and Vintage brooches have changed throughout the last 200 years. This article looks at Vintage Brooches from the 20th Century and the differences throughout that time.
What type of vintage brooch was popular when?
The art deco era - the roaring ’20s saw all things bright and bold in fashion and brooches were no exception. At the top end large diamonds, emeralds and rubies set into white gold reflecting the colours of the time. These brooches would be angular and geometric in shape. The 1920s also had a phase of oriental and Egyptian style: oriental fans, Egyptian scarabs, exotic dancers were all brought to life in brooches. Bakelite brooches from the 1920s are very sought after
art deco brooch
The 1930s had a more English country garden feel – think crinoline lady designs and chintzy patterns. Vintage flower brooches suited the 1930s fashion, the colours were softer and more muted than in the 1920s.
The 1940s was the cocktail era for brooches – big and bold with lots of metal. These brooches whilst large were often made of quite thin metals as materials were scarce. This means that although the brooches from the 1940s are large they are not too heavy to wear. The ballet was a popular theme in brooches and flowers remain popular too. Look out for lucite brooches these are becoming increasingly collectable and can still be found at a reasonable price.
The 1950s broght us space age in design and star burst and comet brooches followed the general trend. New innovations such as the aurora borealis stone were rapidly adopted for costume jewellery and were at their boldest in brooches. Look out for cute poodle brooches.
1950s brooch
Similarly brooches from the 1960s and 1970s reflected the trands and fashions of the time.
So as you can see there really is a huge variery of vintage brooches to select from – perhaps more than any other form of jewellery.
Vintage Brooches are super to wear and to give as gifts, perhpas easier to give than other forms of vintage jewellery as the size does not have to be as accurate as say a ring or bracelet. There really is the widest range available many of these brooches appear as miniature works of art in there own right and as such also make a great collection. The brooches available from www.AntiquesAvenue.co.uk in the Vintage Brooches section are from circa 1920 to circa 1970s but you will find an exceptional newer brooch appearing from time to time.
This article was originally published on antiquesavenue.co.uk to help customers select the right vintage brooch as a gift.
Vintage Jewellery News, brooches added to AntiquesAvenue shop
Posted by: | CommentsBeen busy adding Vintage Jewellery into AntiquesAvenue shop again this week. In particular there are some lovely new vintage brooches including Vintage Costume Jewellery brooches. Remeber if you are thinking of giving Vintage jewellery as a gift then a vintage or antique brooch is often the best piece : there is a huge variety of shpes, forms and materials to choose from and one size fits all.
Here are a few of the lovely vintage brooches fresh to antiquesavenue this week:
Antique Brooch
Vintage Brooch
Vintage bug brooch