Tuesday, December 20, 2005

What's been hot in Vintage Jewelry-This Month!

Hi all,
Since it comes up from time to time in various online list groups, I thought I'd add a topic about what's hot in vintage jewels!
Based on what's moving at Garden Party Collection, brooches have lost much their impact (thought not dead by any means) and necklaces are back in! Beads are back, back, back! Big beads, multi-strand glass beads, unique faux pearls.
We didn't see as much Christmas jewelry sell this year as last, but holiday jewelry was still an important staple for the season. Particularly the more unique items, such as a vintage W.German plastic Santa, harder to find vintage Christmas trees, and contemporary pieces by Swarovski and Radko. The usual glitzy rhinestone necklaces are selling, in all colors. They're a great compliment to any holiday outfit!
Art Deco designs remain strong as do quality higher end or more scarce designer pieces.
Looking towards the spring, I'm hearing that chunky turquose beads will be big and hope to add more of that Southwestern 1970's look to the site. We'll be starting a new update right after the new year, and plan to add some very unique hearts for Valentines' Day including a HUGE rhinestone heart Depose (French) fur clip and some gorgeous pink and red rhinestone pieces, knowing Valentine's Day will be right around the corner. But, let's get through Christmas, Hanukah and New Years first! Not necessarily in that order, this year.
If you have any requests for the type of look you'd like to see more of, please post your comments. We have tons and tons and tons more inventory and while we do try to keep as big a veriety of styles, eras and designs as possible on the site, there's always more that hasn't been listed yet. Suggestions and requests are always welcome and helpful.
If you're a dealer, please feel free, also, to post your ovservations about what's hot in your store! We'll add to this thread every month or so, as an ongoing feature, keeping our thumbs on what's hot in collecting vintage costume jewelry!
Happy Holidays everyone and have a GREAT New Year!!!!!!!!

Monday, November 21, 2005

Vintage Jewelry FAQ

Question: Can anyone recommend a book that shows backs of jewelry, and clasps?

Answer: There isn't a book that deals specifically with construction. Some books are better at showing backs than others. Most don't do much of it at all. Cathy [Gordon] & Sheila's [Pamfiloff] book is the only one I know if that deals with this in depth, and of course, theirs is only about Haskell.
The problem with studying backs and findings and construction is it really tells so little of the story. You can not ID a piece from the back alone, for the most part. There are some exceptions, but in general the back of a piece, the type of clasp used, etc. is really not the important part of jewelry.
Finishes and clasps and findings were bought in bulk and used for years and years. So, even using them to date pieces is not very accurate. The same earring clip back could have been used for he last 60 years. There are SOME clues, but they are general. For example, in general, textured finished on plated backing was not used much before the 1950's. Or, there's a certain type of hinged pin stem that was not used much after Victorian times.
The problem with focusing on the backs and construction is one forgets to look at the style and design of a piece. If one is trying to determine a maker of an unsigned piece, beginning with construction is the wrong starting point. One should look at the design, the style first. THEN, look at the construction which *may* help validate (or not) the age or maker of an unsigned piece.
Also, if one is trying to learn how to date a piece, again, using findings is not the place to start. Start with history, what was popular when, what were women wearing when, what developments were going on in industry at the time.
Wearing jewelry has a LOT to do with social customs, popularity, Hollywood, economic times....etc. Get to know some fashion history, and you will be able to date pieces a little easier.
Some easy things to remember and there are generalities, and like everything else, does not mean always or never BUT
For the most part..white and/or silver metals were popular in the 1930's. Platinum look. Remember, rhinestone jewelry as we know it today was just beginning to experience popularity in the 1930's. Costume (meaning jewelry without precious gems) jewelry certainly existed before that, but costume jewelry per se, was influenced by several factors: popularity of movies and Hollywood starting in the late 1920's (hence the term 'costume' jewelry), b) the depression (starting in 1932) when people could not afford the real thing c) developments in manufacturing of rhinestones.
All white rhinestone (diamond look) jewels were more popular in the first half of the 1930's with more colored gems (rubies, sapphires, emeralds) being added to the mix in the latter half of the decade.
1920's was an era of economic wealth, people wore lots of jewels, all over, many necklaces with many bracelets with hair pieces and brooches. Color was BIG as was influence of travel and other cultures.
1940's white metals went out of fashion, gold tones came in. Including lots of rose gold combined with yellow gold. And, as WWII approached, gold washed sterling as other metals were used for the war effort.
Women started to work in large numbers, for the first time ever. That created quite a shift in fashion, jewelry included. Styles became, at least for daytime wear, more mannish and tailored, to go along with the more mannish suits that became more fashionable.
1950's signaled and end to war, lots of glamour and glitz. Movies and the new TV were big influencers. Lots of new manufacturing techniques, lots of mass production techniques developed for the war effort and then filtered into the private sector. It made jewelry affordable for the masses. White metals became popular again, the golds of the 1940's faded.

Fashion and dating info like this IS in books. You have to go through them and look and compare. Warman's is great. Old Jewelry really good. Victorian Jewelry excellent. Jewels of Fantasy terrific, though nearly impossible to get. Also, books that focus on specific eras are good too, like Art Deco jewelry. And don't forget books on fine jewelry or books like 'Hollywood Jewels' which track fashion trends. Costume jewels trends followed fine jewelry trends, so those are important to look at too, even if you don't deal or collect fine vintage.
I say.....get as many books as you can. Get all of them. I'm pushing close to 100 books now and have about 6 on my holiday wish list.

Friday, November 18, 2005

I Collect....

If you'd just like to share you vintage jewelry collections, fee free to add comment to this thread. You can post pictures and links!

I'm Searching For....

If you have a piece of jewelry or style you're looking for, please click the comments link below and add your requests. You can add pictures or links.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Vintage Marcasite Rings

Hi,
Today I'm looking for interesting and unusual VINTAGE marcasite rings. My mother collects, so I''m looking n time for the holidays. Post or send me links. Thanks.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Set Completion Sydrome

Hi all,
Welcome to my re-vamped blog. This blog is now all about collecting vintage costume jewerly.
If you'd like to add to your collections....post here.
If you'd like to share your collection....post here.
If you have SCS (set completion sydrome)....post here
This blog is archived, so you will be able to go back and see if anyone responded to your requests.
For example, I am looking for matching pieces to this Juliana brooch:



Please let em know if you have any matching piece available for sale.

Feel free to start your own threads, post in response to threads, etc.
Onky 2 rules....no advertisments and no spam. The posts and comments are moderated, so if you try that, it will not get through anyway. Other than that, feel free to post about what you collect or what you're looking to collect in the way of vintage jewelry. HTML and posts of pictures are OK.

Have fun and good luck with your search!