More and more people are finding an interest in vintage jewelry today, but what makes jewelry ‘vintage’ and why is it so significant now? Jewelry is vintage if it dates back to at least the 1940s, and some vintage jewelry goes back as far is the early 1700s, so there is a huge time frame to choose from. what people collect will generally hinge on what style of vintage jewelry they like the best as well as what they can afford to buy. Most jewelry that’s hundreds of years old will be more valuable than jewelry from 60 or 70 years ago, but that’s not always the case.

Some of this jewelry is also called ‘deco’ or ‘retro’ jewelry, but it’s really all vintage and just classified under different categories. People collect it, and it’s one of the hottest commodities out there today. There are shops that cater to vintage jewelry and vintage clothing, it can be bought off of the Internet through all kinds of stores and auction sites as well as through individuals, and the prices on a lot of it are very reasonable. There are some pieces, of course, which are very expensive, but most of it is costume jewelry and quite affordable.

There are generally two kinds of people who buy vintage jewelry – people who like the style of the pieces because of their often elegant and classy look, and the Goth crowd who want to be different. They buy vintage jewelry and pair it with very modern clothing to give them a unique look that you don’t find just everywhere. No matter which group you fall into (and there are plenty of people who fit into neither of these categories but still love their vintage jewelry), it’s easy to get vintage jewelry and collecting it can make a great hobby for someone.

Some people buy and sell the jewelry, and others are only buyers who wouldn’t dream of getting rid of their collections. They display them, in some cases, and in other cases they keep them packed away where no harm can come to them. A lot of people also wear their vintage jewelry as long as they feel like it won’t be damaged and as long as it’s not a piece that’s very expensive or completely irreplaceable. Pieces of that quality and designation should be insured and kept carefully so as not to be damaged or destroyed.

Vintage diamond rings are spectacular to look at, and are usually passed down through generations of the same family. Often vintage diamonds will be given to a grandson about to propose to his girlfriend, or a granddaughter graduating and going off to college. Vintage diamond rings can be worth lots of money, but most of the time they are more valuable to the person wearing them through sentiment. A special person who gave them the ring will always be remembered, because after all diamonds last forever. You can also buy vintage diamond rings for yourself or someone close to you in auctions, and antique stores.

Grandmothers love to pass down jewelry that their grandmothers passed to them. It becomes a tradition in some families and is taken very seriously. What if there isn’t a ring that has been an heirloom in your family for years? A man whose grandmother does not have any vintage diamond rings to pass on to him can still find a unique antique engagement ring for the lady in his life. He can go to an auction or an estate sale. The probability of paying a really steep price is pretty high when you go through this method. The reason being you are competing with other people who will drive up the price if they want the ring back. You can sometimes find a vintage ring at an antique store, but you may have to search for a while before you find one. Jewelers sometimes come across some jewelry that is considered vintage to sale. Buying one online can be very risky, especially if you cannot see what you are ordering. Vintage diamond rings can be hard to find, but do not lose hope. If there is a vintage ring out there for your lady then you will find it. The best thing to do is visit jewelry stores, and ask around. Most of the time a jeweler will be able to get you in contact with someone who deals with vintage jewelry. They can arrange for you to meet with them, and then you can go from there. Word of mouth will help you find the perfect ring for you.

Vintage diamond rings are a treasured possession. They are a true find when you find one at an auction or antique shop, and should be celebrated. Whether they are found for the purpose of proposing, or passed down through a family they bring lots of joy when given. Vintage jewelry is very popular and the demand is rising. It is considered fashionable to wear vintage, so this makes the rings just a bit better.

Collecting vintage jewelry is not merely a collection but an investment as well.  Most of these precious antiques have values attached to them that make them a collector’s item.  However, one should know how to make sure that they know what they are paying for. That is where a vintage jewelry guide comes in handy.

There are pieces that are not made of the best materials.  However, due to their age contributing to its historical value, antique jewelry collections should be seen as an investment and not just a mere collection. A vintage jewelry guide can help you determine the best values for you.

So if you are on adventure to find a rare piece, then it would help to know which marks on genuine pieces to help spot authentic old jewelry from a replica.  Note that these markings add value to your collection. One mark that is worth looking out for that is outlined in a vintage jewelry guide is of maker is Ann-Vien.  This mark is extremely rare as it dates its manufacturing back to the 1950s.  Not a lot of information is available about this mark since it was not popularly circulated in the market.

Another rare find would be a Bartek maker mark around the same period.  They are considered a rarity since not a lot of pieces were marketed at the time.  However, their designs are distinctively different from others. Another designer who is popularly searched by collectors is Boucher which is now a brand name of its own.  Boucher marks started in the 1930’s when his designs are being marketed under Marboux brand.  He later on moved to Cartier in the 1970’s.  Boucher vintage  costume jewelry pieces are limited and very extraordinary since they are usually numbered making it highly desirable to all collectors.

According to a vintage jewelry guide earlier marks on vintage and antique jewelry from the 1900’s that is highly sought include Lisner from Lucite jewelry and Monet marks from the early 1920’s.  Monet works from Monocraft were made of low end materials but are now considered as the high-valued collectibles.

Christian Dior also has their share of vintage jewelry lot when they began producing pieces in the early 1940’s.  With the popularity of the brand itself plus the collectible added value makes the Christian Dior old jewelry as one of the most in demand among collectors which ultimately further increases its price.

Of all the brands, the most popular mark for dress clips among all vintage jewelry were called Duettes produced by Coro up until 1975.  The brand used for the more expensive pieces was Corocraft while Coro mark can be seen on the other collectibles. In the antique jewelry brooches, Trifari mark from Italy is most desired by collectors.

The market has continually patronized this brand and up until 2008, these pieces can demand a significant amount for its price.  All Trifari marked jewelries are high end pieces and could be a very good investment when collected. There are several more vintage jewelry pieces with markings that are highly collectible.

When on a prowl for these treasures, you need to extra meticulous as these markings can be so small and placed in hidden areas.  This means that a thorough inspection would be required to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth as opposed to a simple piece of vintage costume jewelry. It is always best to consult a vintage jewelry guide to make sure you make the proper choice for your investment.

Vintage inspired jewelry is the perfect way to add an old twist to a new thing. Vintage inspired rings, necklaces and bracelets pay homage to simpler times. These were times when what was beautiful was elegance, and grace. You covered up your body in gorgeous attire and did not flaunt your body parts for men to see. You had to leave a little to the imagination and vintage inspired jewelry portrays some of that innocence. A brand new piece of jewelry that looks like an antique is a very special gift. It says that they person buying it thought about the person that was receiving the gift, and did not want to get them any sort of ordinary ring or necklace. They wanted to get them something special that they feel represents their unique beauty as they see it. It is so nice to know that someone put a lot of thought into purchasing you a gift, and did not just purchase the first thing that they saw.

Vintage inspired jewelry is very popular now, because vintage jewelry is very popular now. The large cocktail rings, long necklaces, and pretty bangles your grandmother wore have come back into style in a big way. The fashion world is obsessed with vintage dresses, jewelry, and pretty much whatever vintage object that can be worn or carried. You often see stars rocking vintage inspired jewelry on red carpets for charity events and awards shows. You will see an actress with one big statement ring, and when asked where it came from they love to reply with its vintage!

Vintage inspired jewelry is all around and is advertised as something special in every jewelry store. If you want to get something that will be cherished forever just get a vintage inspired engagement ring, and imagine the look on her face as she shows off your good taste with pride. Got a man in your life who loves jewelry, getting him vintage inspired necklaces or a single vintage inspired earring is just the ticket to his heart. The decision to buy vintage inspired jewelry over you run of the mill every day heart necklace should be easy enough. Just keep in mind that the person you are shopping for is special to you and deserves something that will be extra special to them. There are some timeless designs that never grow old, so surprise the someone special in your life with a vintage inspired piece they will love to wear forever.

Vintage inspired jewelry is perfect for the romantic in your life. The person who loves vintage inspired jewelry loves old Hollywood, and the glitz and glamour before paparazzi and tabloids took over. The person who would want vintage inspired jewelry loves the simpler times when there were no fashion police, just fabulous actresses, with fabulous outfits.

If there is one type of woman’s accessory that would never go out of fashion would be jewelry and particularly vintage jewelry.  The popularity of this type of jewelry will continue to increase specially with the attached value and collectability of rare finds.  Although the market is flooded with replicas and fakes, there are several ways to spot a genuine piece that would be worth collecting.

The first step to successfully spot a copy with a genuine antique jewelry is by studying its features and familiarizing with the distinctive designs, color combinations and more importantly the signatures.  Vintage jewellry enthusiasts can refer to several books which can help educate and guide in finding these treasures.  You should also learn the methods how the pieces were made to easily spot a replica like most vintage designers prefer setting stones than gluing.

Another obstacle for those who would like to start collecting old jewelry would be locating a reliable dealer.  To those thrill-seeking fanatics will enjoy scouring the market for different possible dealers.  To start off, the best possible source of would be the local antique stores.   Always ask the antique dealers for some information on their items.  It would also help to do some research on dealers so that you can be certain that the ones you are dealing with have impeccable reputation.  Remember that there might be some scheming dealers who would try to sell you a fake for the price of an original article.  If you prefer to do business online, you need to ensure that you are protected with a good return policy.  For online auctions, make sure that the seller has ample positive feedbacks.

When on a hunt for precious antique jewelry, you should also keep in mind that the market would also have a lot of replicas as well.  So it would be wise not to make any expensive purchases specially if you are new and with no sufficient experience in this venture.  A collector should also be on the lookout for the fake pieces that were created around the same time as the original.  However this could be a good option for those who simply purchases vintage jewelry just for its looks but this would not be a feasible alternative to serious collectors.

There are also some people who are selling their family heirlooms and vintage jewelry for a price.  The internet has numerous sites that offer to this sort of trade giving a wide array of options to collector.  Again, the buyer must be exercise extreme caution and check the reputation of the seller.  You, as a collector, should not be an easy prey for unscrupulous scammers.

Collecting antique jewelry can be a very expensive hobby since these items are more costly.  One factor that adds to their value is their age.  Other craftsmanship details like the quality of the plating and stone settings are features worth considering as these usually add value to the piece.  Ideally, the stones should be luminous and bright.  Usually, jewelries with opals, diamonds and pearls are more valuable since these stones age better than others.  If you are seriously investing in your collection, then you should consider purchasing pieces made of precious metals like gold, silver, brass, copper or bronze.

Finding genuine vintage jewellry can pose to be a difficult task.  However the rewards are immeasurable when you do find an authentic piece.  It is not only a good investment but would definitely be a good conversational item with friends who are interested in the collecting precious antique jewelries.

Bracelets are one of the most popular woman’s accessories. Over the years, several designs and concepts have progressed using different materials from wood, stone, bones to precious metals and gemstones. This accounts for the several designs of vintage jewelry found among collectors. Some of these are even used for religious purposes like mini rosaries or malas – beads used to recite repetitive prayers or chants, otherwise known as a mantra.

In earlier days, vintage bracelets include detailed designs. For the Chinese, these would include dragons and phoenixes in a gold bracelet which would usually be adorned with pearl and jade.

The Greek culture would have a different view of the use of vintage bracelets since it is usually worn by both men and women. This would actually be used for the purpose of both fashion and function. Women would usually wear this vintage jewelry above and below their elbows. Design would often be of animals like lions or snakes while men usually wear their accessory along the forearms as a protection during fights and as a main accent for their ceremonial dresses. The men’s version of this accessory can be made of metal or thick leather.

One of the most influential designs in vintage jewelry comes from the East. India contributed bangles to women’s jewelries and accessories and as proof, this is still being used today. Women would wear multiple bangles at the same time. This form of vintage bracelet can be made of many different materials, styles, color and one of the most popular designs would be the byzantine bracelets that can still be seen in present times.

Vintage bracelets from the East also include the use of lockets as charms and this locket would usually have a picture of a loved one or engraved messages. This antique jewelry would usually be made from gold or silver which makes this highly collectible and expensive as well. In present times, this fashion accessory would have this piece available in stainless steel or even platinum.

However this type of vintage jewelry is not only used in the East. Queen Victoria of England used to wear this that it became a fashion statement among the noble classes in Europe. In the United States during the 50s and 60s, charms are collected to commemorate memorable events in the lives of the American teenager.

Charms in bracelets may be considered as old jewelry design. However, one must admit that this has never really left the fashion world and has always been around. The demand for this type of vintage bracelet even increased with the popularity of several period films that Hollywood released which would have this fashion accessory on display.

Vintage bracelet design has evolved over the years of vintage jewelry to modern accessories. A variety of materials has been used from metals like gold, silver, bronze with adornment of precious and semi-precious stones like jade but none of these have really been a norm for this particular jewelry. But one cannot deny that the for thousands of years bracelets have been the symbol of fortune among all classes of people.

Cleaning your vintage costume jewelry can be as tricky as finding them.  Some of these old pieces can date back to as early as the 1930s when they first became a popular alternative for those women who cannot really afford jewelry made of precious metals.  These types of accessories are relatively inexpensive since they are made of non-precious materials and at times seen to be as disposable after use.   Designers from the 40s and 50s eras produced beautifully creative designs that became extremely popular due to its affordability.  Those who have kept these are now considered as valuable collectible.

Keeping these pieces in top condition and well maintained can further increase the value of your vintage jewelry.  However there are factors that you need to consider before you subject these pieces to cleaning substances.  If not properly assessed, some of these solutions might cause more damage than benefit to your old jewelry.  Since majority of these accessories are made of low quality materials, collectors need to take extra caution before cleaning them to preserve its bright and flashy look.

Due to the variety of materials used in vintage costume jewelry, it is almost impossible to recommend one method of cleaning.  Common materials used for these pieces include glass, wood, leather, stones, shells, plastics and relatively cheap metals.  Cut glasses were the popular substitute for precious gemstones and can be dated back to when the Roman times.  Contrary to what is normally recommended, the use of water, vinegar or even cleaning agents should be avoided.  Water can damage delicate stones and the polish.  It could at times make the stones dull and can cause some of the metals to corrode.  Same with vinegar, with this liquid’s high acid content, it has the tendency to melt, burn and do damage on the cheap materials used to manufacture these accessories.

To clean these pieces, collectors mostly propose to the use of the dry cleaning method.  This entails the use of soft bristled brushes and wooden toothpicks with a very mild cleaning solution.  Experts also suggest the use of hair dryer or squeeze duster hand pump air blowers since it is important to keep the pieces dry due to the possibility of further damage when these vintage costume jewelries are soaked in water or mild cleaning solutions.  To wipe away fingerprints, the use of a cotton swap with some mild cleaning solution is advised after brushing away the dust from the jewels.  You must be careful that these solutions do not contain ammonia, like the common glass and window cleaner, as this substance can strip the finish of your vintage costume jewelry.

Once your collection of antique jewelry is clean, they must be stored in a dry place.  Make sure that your storage boxes do not cause any dampness since this could again cause rusting of your pieces and sometimes can ruin the stones.  Moisture can also cause mold to form in these old jewelries since their materials do not have the resistance quality of precious metals.  Jewelry boxes with protective linings are recommended since this would also prevent these pieces from rubbing against each other causing them to lose luster.

Remember that although vintage costume jewelry is not as valuable as those made of precious metals, their historical value adds to their market price.  So to preserve their looks for a longer time, it would be ideal to build a cleaning regimen to maintain these pieces.

Vintage rhinestone jewelry can not only be a great thing to collect, they can also be fun to play with. Good places to find vintage rhinestone jewelry are flea markets, auctions, or an elderly person’s jewelry box. A rhinestone being an imitation diamond is not worth very much on its own. Some vintage rhinestone jewelry can be worth money simply because lots of women love anything vintage. Rhinestone jewelry can be very simple and elegant or very busy and fun. Either way buying vintage jewelry from the flea market or thrift shop is not going to break you, and can add some pizzazz to any outfit.

Vintage rhinestone jewelry can be fun to play dress up with young grandchildren, and to pass down to them so that they will one day play dress up with their children. If you have a large collection to admire it can create a very pretty display for your bedroom. Then you will not be the only one to admire the beautiful collection you have acquired. Costume jewelry is often times worth more than very expensive jewelry because of the memories you create with it. Sure you create memories with a special someone over expensive jewelry, but the rhinestone jewelry can be played with more; they do not have to have such care that a child cannot handle them. This makes them special in a different kind of way. When you take your young niece or daughter to the flea market and she picks out the biggest piece of rhinestone jewelry they have to offer, you can easily buy it for her, and she will treasure it for as long as it lasts. The rhinestone jewelry can actually withstand a lot. They can come lose but then all you need to do is take some super glue to it. The best part about buying the rhinestone jewelry is that if you get tired of it, you can buy a different kind or swap with friends. You are not really losing that much money and what was old to you is new to someone else. Vintage rhinestone jewelry is pretty can be for work or play, and is all around one of the best things a woman can share with their children. What goes around comes around too, because now all that fun costume jewelry you played with as a child has come back into style. Vintage is very in now, and bigger and busier the better. Keep that in mind when you are dressing up to go out!

Rhinestone jewelry is out there to be discovered. It can come in all shapes and sizes and surprise you with how elegant it can look. No matter whether you find a great vintage bracelet at the local flea market, or are given your grandmother’s wonderful vintage peacock brooch, vintage rhinestone jewelry can always bring a smile to your face, and help you remember those that you love.

If you prefer your jewelry subtle and serious, you might want to go ahead and set this book back on the shelf. However, if kitschy accessories made with a wink and a smile are your cup of tea, this book will have you on the edge of your chair.

The Naughty Secretary Club is packed with more than 50 kitschy-secretary-themed jewelry projects, plus lots of quirky sidebars covering hot topics such as office romance and the best secretary theme songs to listen to on your lunch break. You'll learn how to use your office supplies in a whole new way - did you know standard office fare, like binder folders and shredded junk mail, makes craftalicious jewelry? Plus, author Jennifer Perkins will teach you how to turn almost anything into a charm, including plastic gnome cake toppers, doll furniture and cast-off hotel keys.

Whatever your day job, you can be a Naughty Secretary in spirit - and in style. So cancel your afternoon meetings, take a break from watching the clock and send yourself a memo to whip up a new paperclip necklace just in time for happy hour! ]]> http://vintagejewelryguide.net/the-naughty-secretary-club-the-working-girls-guide-to-handmade-jewelry/feed/ 0 http://vintagejewelryguide.net/inside-the-jewelry-box-vol-2-a-collectors-guide-to-costume-jewelry-identification-and-values/ http://vintagejewelryguide.net/inside-the-jewelry-box-vol-2-a-collectors-guide-to-costume-jewelry-identification-and-values/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:41:15 +0000 admin http://vintagejewelryguide.net/inside-the-jewelry-box-vol-2-a-collectors-guide-to-costume-jewelry-identification-and-values/