Vintage Jewellery Big and Small

Looking again at what makes a piece of Vintage Jewellery unusual or rare, today focusing on the size. Small pieces of jewellery are relatively common compared to very large and chunky pieces.

Brooches

Most Vintage Brooches are 2 to 5 cms in size and so anything measuring about 1 cm long would be unusual as is anything of over 6 or 7 cms long. The smallest brooches we see today are often referred to as pins . Many Antique Georgian brooches or pins are quite small as are lapel pins worn by Men.

This Antique Wedgwood brooch is unusually large measuring a massive 7.5 cms long

Huge Brooch

Have you ever seen a ring with ahead as wide as this one – it actually crosses three fingers wide although it is worn just on one:

Large Ring

Necklaces

A large necklace can either be a chunky one or a very long one. Very long necklaces were popular in the 1920s – we know them as flapper necklaces these days. In the Victorian era very long chains were know as Muff chains ( for holding your muff on) or guard chains .  Some bead necklaces have multiple strands. Two and three strands bead necklaces are quite common but if you look long enough you can find 5 strand necklaces – or more?

Earrings

Now heres a piece of jewellery which some people like to wear large – Chandelier earrings can reach down to the shoulders . These Chandelier earrings are something you need to practice wearing as they are heavy and uncomfortable at first. Chandelier earrings were popular with the Victorians, at times through the 20th century and I hear they are back in fashion for this year too.