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Vintage
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
What Is Vauxhall Glass?
01/07
Vauxhall
glass was so named from a mirror glass which was made
in Britain in the early 1700's at a glassworks which was
located in Vauxhall, London. It was most commonly made
in a deep burgundy color but other colors existed as well.
It is considered quite hard to find because much of it
became damaged in wearing. For more information, see A
Collector's Guide To Costume Jewelry: Key Styles and How
To Recognize Them by Tracy Tolkien and Henrietta
Wilkinson. You
may also want to check out this information on Vauxhall.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Testing Pearls
Nov,
2006
Can
you really tell if a pearl is real by biting it?
Well, not really but you can tell a few things about a
pearl using just your senses. First off, do not bite,
but rub the pearl against your front tooth.
If it feels gritty, not dirty but more textured, chances
are that it is a cultured or genuine pearl. If it feels
smooth, it is likely glass or plastic. Distinguishing
the difference between cultured and genuine pearls is
more tricky and it is recommended that you take your item
to a jeweler to have it identified. If the pearl is drilled,
look at the hole to see the thickness of the nacre.
If it appears thin, it is a cultured pearl. But
how do you know if your synthetic pearl is glass or plastic?
The teeth come into play here again. Tap the bead against
your tooth. if it makes a "clunk" sound, it
is likely plastic. If it makes a "clink" sound,
it is likely glass. Test this with other items you know
to be glass or plastic first to get a feel for the different
feels and sounds. In addition, glass tends to
be cold to the touch as opposed to plastic so
temperature can an indicator of material as well.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month: What Exactly Is Patina?
Oct, 2006
Patina
is a term used to describe the change of color of a metal
when it is exposed to oxygen. The change is gradual over
time so it can be used to help date an item. The term
is most commonly used with silver but other non-precious
metals can be affected as well. Some collectors like the
aged look that it provides and prefer that their jewelry
be left with its patina in tact. Others prefer their items
to look like new so they will use a polishing implement
to return the item to its original state. Vintage and
antique jewelry that has built up a patina over time will
be more difficult to polish to a shine than jewelry with
a fresh patina. It is important to be cautious when using
patina to date a jewelry item because there are products
available that can imitate its look on newly made items
which are made to look older. Patina does not damage an
item and should not be confused with verdigris.
A good example of vintage patina can
be seen here.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Atomic Jewelry
Aug,
2006
Did
you know that around about 1945, jewelry made in star
or sunburst shapes and patterns became known as "atomic"
jewelry? These were so named after their resemblance to
the atom and its circling particles. This particular fashion
trend continued on into the 50's and is commonly seen
in brooch and earring sets with rays or spokes of metal
or rhinestones. Click
here to see an example of a 1940's Coro atomic brooch.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:Signed
vs Unsigned
July,
2006
If
you are not a collector of vintage jewelry, should you
care if a piece is signed or unsigned in determining whether
or not to purchase it? The answer is both yes and no.
Some items, (such as this Coro
Lily of the Valley brooch), are well known pieces
made by famous designers and the inclusion of a signature
on the back helps reaffirm that the piece is genuine and
not copied. Having said that, there is jewelry on the
market today that has been manufactured and signed by
someone other than the original manufacturer. When the
original manufacturer's name appears on these pieces,
they are called fakes and are intended to deceive. Their
only value is in the eyes of a particular buyer who either
just wants to own the piece regardless because the original
is too hard to find, or they just like the way it looks.
They will not be willing to pay the market price that
the original would bring. In addition, being signed does
not guarantee an item's quality or desirability. Unsigned
pieces, on the other hand, are sometimes of excellent
quality and design and are very desirable. Sometimes they
are just regarded as "unsigned beauties" while
other times, they can be positively attributed to a designer
through magazine ads, patents, or knowledge of construction
style of a particular manufacturer. This Coro
necklace is an example of that. Either way, it is
wise to buy what you like keeping condition and quality
of construction in mind. This will steer you on the right
path to buying for investment or pleasure.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month: Czechoslovakian
Jewelry
June,
2006
If
you haven't yet discovered the beauty of vintage
Czechoslovakian costume jewelry, you are really
missing seeing and acquiring some of the most intricate
and feminine jewelry available! Vintage Czechoslovakian
jewelry often incorporates Victorian and Art Deco design
utilizing delicate open work metal, molded and faceted
glass gemstones, and geometrically cut glass beads and
stones. Jewelry marked Czechoslovakia was likely made
between 1918-1939.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Trifari's Alfred
Philippe
May,
2006
Alfred
Philippe was
Trifari's most celebrated designer who began working for
the company in 1930 and continued on until 1968. It is
fitting that he used designs by famous fine jewelry designer
Cartier, as inspiration for his own work since he himself
was educated in the production of fine jewels. The "fruit
salad" look achieved by using molded glass stones
in rich jewel tones is an example of how Philippe's tastes
for genuine jewelry transferred over to costume jewelry
in his designs for Trifari.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Jewelry from the 1950's
April,
2006
Jewelry
from the 1950's is characterized by the "glitzy
look." Faux diamonds called rhinestones in various
shapes, cuts and finishes were the main focal point on
necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches and other adornments.
Bright silver rhodium plating was commonly used because
it did not tarnish like sterling silver. Gold plating
was also used. Brooch and necklace sets were extremely
popular.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Sherman Jewelry
Feb,
2006
Jewelry
marked Sherman was manufactured in Canada
between 1947 to 1981and was made using fine Austrian crystal
rhinestones. Metal on these pieces can be found in rhodium
or gold plate although some was also japanned. Floral,
wreath, and leaf themes were a popular choice for the
company although they also made abstract and figural pieces.
Pink, purple, fuchsia, and red are the most sought after
colors and pieces with opaque stones are generally hard
to come by. Rhinestone brooch and earring sets, as well
as less intricate necklaces are common. Wide glitzy bracelets
are a collector favorite. You may also find crystal beaded
necklaces, bracelets and earrings by this company. Click
here to see the Sherman jewelry we currently have for
sale.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Castlecliff Jewelry
Dec,
2005
Castlecliff
Co., Inc., of New York was founded in 1918.
Lucien Piccard took over the company in the late 60's
and there is evidence that Castlecliff later became part
of Hattie Carnegie Industries., Co. The company manufactured
jewelry in a variety of styles and materials including
charm bracelets, beaded sets, gem encrusted bangles and
rhinestone sets. Some of their most interesting pieces
employed the use of art glass stones and among the most
important collections is the Marqueterie which was advertised
in 1929. Click
to see the Castlecliff jewelry we have for sale.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Lea Stein
Nov,
2005
Lea
Stein is a French costume jewelry designer
who produced whimsical laminated cellulose acetate jewelry
in many shapes, textures and styles. Some of her most
popular items are brooches in the shapes of animals, women,
children, flowers, leaves, insects, cars, hats, purses,
and various other small items. Multi-layered colorful
bangles by Lea Stein are also a hot collectible although
she also made necklaces, earrings, and buttons. Lea Stein's
jewelry was in production from 1969 until 1981 when she
then pursued other ventures. In the late 80's she began
making her jewelry again, developing new original designs
which had not been seen before. We recommend Ginger Moro's
"European Designer Jewelry" as a valuable reference
for Lea Stein plastic jewelry.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Opera Length Necklaces
19/11/05
The
term "opera length" refers to a single strand
necklace that is from 30" - 35" long such as
this one by Rousselet.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month:
Plastic or Glass?
19/10/05
You
can test a material to see if it is plastic or glass by
tapping it on your teeth. Plastic will make a
deep "clunk" sound while glass will make a higher
"clink" sound. Practice first on items you know
to be glass or plastic to get the feel for the different
materials. Also remember that glass will be colder to
the touch than plastic.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month: Rousselet
Jewelry
01/10/05
Did
you know that French jewelry designer Louis Rousselet
began apprenticing to make handmade glass lampwork beads
at age eight in the year 1900? His beads continued to
be made until 1975. He passed away in 1980 and is said
to have left behind a large stock of these small glass
artworks. Click
to see examples of Rousselet's lampwork beads from the
30's.
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Vintage
Jewelry Tip Of The Month: Jewelry
Valuations
27/09/05
Did
you know that VintageCostumejewelry.com offers valuation
services for your costume jewelry? Click
to see what we offer.
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