RSSCategory: All About Old Jewelry

Stanhope Lenses – What Are They?

Stanhope Lenses – What Are They?

I frequently get this question from readers and customers. The short answer is that a Stanhope is a tiny peep hole, called a lens, containing a micro photograph and inserted into a novelty souvenir. The photo inside these trinkets is the size of a pinhead and has to be held up to a light and close to one’s eye to view the image.

June 17, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Stuart Nye Handmade Nature Inspired Jewelry

Stuart Nye Handmade Nature Inspired Jewelry

I’ve had quite a few pieces of Stuart Nye jewelry since I’ve been collecting. The problem with having Nye jewelry is that someone always wants to buy it from me. And I usually sell what I’m wearing for a tidy profit and forget about it until I see another piece that I can’t live without. […]

June 7, 2010 | By | 4 Replies More
“Mid-Century Plastic Jewelry” – A Book Review

“Mid-Century Plastic Jewelry” – A Book Review

Mid Century Plastic Jewelry“Mid Century Plastic Jewelry” is a soft cover book published by Schiffer in 2005. The author, Susan Maxine Klein, and photographer, Jori Klein, have done a remarkable job of packing the book with details of the evolution of plastic costume jewelry from its beginnings in the early 20th century to the present time. As the interest in costume jewelry grows I expect this book to be a staple in any collectors’ library.

May 1, 2010 | By | Reply More
Collecting Vintage Silver and Enamel Travel Shield Charms

Collecting Vintage Silver and Enamel Travel Shield Charms

Vintage souvenir travel shield charms are highly collectible today. Most travel shield charms have enameled pictures of landmarks, animals, flowers, or birds, along with the name of the travel destination on the front. They are quite inexpensive and it’s a great way to get introduced to the world of charm collecting.

April 30, 2010 | By | 4 Replies More
Vintage Charm Collector Spotlight – Sandy Weinstein

Vintage Charm Collector Spotlight – Sandy Weinstein

I’m adding a new component to my vintage charm bracelet collector’s blog. Every now and again I’ll be featuring a charmer who has been influential to me on my charm collecting journey. My inaugural article introduces Sandy Weinstein of A Genuine Find.

April 29, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
Charms To Collect – Why $449 ?

Charms To Collect – Why $449 ?

Does anybody know why this book is so expensive? I’ve been watching it for several years and it’s always been like this. It’s not even a hardback. Early on I saw it on Amazon for around $60 and I should have bought it but I didn’t.

April 10, 2010 | By | 3 Replies More
Evil Eye Beads and Jewelry – History, Meaning, and Lore

Evil Eye Beads and Jewelry – History, Meaning, and Lore

There are many different colored evil eye beads used in jewelry, and they are worn as a fashion accessory as well as a good luck charm. Usually in the form of a single eye image set in a blue background, evil eye beads have a long history of protecting the bearer from jealous and greedy gazes.

March 30, 2010 | By | 1 Reply More
The Beauty of Bohemian Garnet Jewelry

The Beauty of Bohemian Garnet Jewelry

Bohemian Garnets are a unique type of gemstone which are mined almost exclusively in the mountains of the former Bohemian empire, now part of the Czech Republic. Valued for their fiery red beauty and clarity, Bohemian Garnets are used extensively in jewelry.

March 18, 2010 | By | Reply More
Snapeez® Magic Charm Bracelet Jump Rings – Are They Secure?

Snapeez® Magic Charm Bracelet Jump Rings – Are They Secure?

I get this question all the time from my ebay customers. And I always respond with the same truthful answer.

March 6, 2010 | By | 2 Replies More
Elco Enamel Travel Shield Charms

Elco Enamel Travel Shield Charms

I’ve seen these vintage shield charms for years and always wondered what company manufactured them. They are little souvenir colored shields in a sterling silver frame. The mark on the back reads sterling and has a Trojan Soldier looking guy with a spear and armor shield with an E in the center.

January 6, 2010 | By | 2 Replies More
Vintage Nuvo British Charms

Vintage Nuvo British Charms

Nuvo was a British jewelry company that produced some of the most beautifully detailed and well crafted charms during the 1950’s through the late 1970’s. Their specialty was sterling silver three dimensional and moving charms, although they did make some 9K gold charms. Occasionally one can find vintage Nuvo charms containing colored crystals, like the frog charm in my photo.

September 27, 2009 | By | 8 Replies More
Vintage Beau – Beaucraft Charms

Vintage Beau – Beaucraft Charms

Beaucraft, Inc., known to many as “Beau”, manufactured sterling silver jewelry from 1947 through 2004 from its Providence, Rhode Island factory. The company was one of the leading producers of fine sterling jewelry for 57 years. They made popular mid priced pieces including charms, rings, necklaces, earrings, and brooches. Charms were their best selling category […]

August 17, 2009 | By | Reply More
“Charms and Charm Bracelets The Complete Guide” Book Review

“Charms and Charm Bracelets The Complete Guide” Book Review

This book is the essential guide for serious and casual charm collectors alike.  Charms And Charm Bracelets: The Complete Guide is a hardback book published by Schiffer in 2005.  The author, Joanne Schwartz, and photographer, Robert N. Schwartz have done a brilliant job of packing the book with charm bracelet history spanning the 19th century […]

August 12, 2009 | By | 2 Replies More
Vintage Charm Manufacturers – Danecraft, Inc.

Vintage Charm Manufacturers – Danecraft, Inc.

If you’ve been collecting vintage charms for any length of time you’ve probably run across old sterling charms with the Danecraft hallmark.  The mark is very common on vintage charm bracelets and charms, as well as other pieces of jewelry.  Danecraft sterling silver charms were some of the best manufactured during the period in terms […]

August 5, 2009 | By | 4 Replies More
Vintage Charm Bracelets in Modern History

Vintage Charm Bracelets in Modern History

Charms and amulets of one sort or another have been around for thousands of years.  They are well documented in ancient Egypt, ­­­Rome, and many other historical eras as talismans worn to ward off evil spirits or bring luck.  For this article I’m focusing on the rise in popularity of charms and charm bracelets in […]

July 29, 2009 | By | Reply More
Vintage Sterling Silver Jewelry Buying Tips

Vintage Sterling Silver Jewelry Buying Tips

The popularity of sterling silver jewelry, and in particular, vintage pieces, is growing quickly and has become a popular collectible category.  There are a few reasons for its resurgence in popularity, in particular the affordability of silver, and the beautiful sheen that evolves from years of daily wear, called patina.  Because silver is generally more […]

July 22, 2009 | By | 1 Reply More
Charm Bracelet Clasps – A History and Style Lesson Part II

Charm Bracelet Clasps – A History and Style Lesson Part II

Three more examples of bracelet clasps and a bit of description about them…. The top left is a watch chain with a fob fastener.   These were used to attach men’s watches to their apparel in Victorian times.  They were easily adapted to bracelet clasps, and the swivel mechanism on the clip is sturdy and works […]

June 28, 2009 | By | Reply More
Bracelet Clasps – A History and Style Lesson

Bracelet Clasps – A History and Style Lesson

Bracelets come with lots of different types of clasps, which vary in the ease of operation, security, and functionality. The clasp on a particular bracelet is one of the clues that I use when verifying the period of a charm bracelet.  That method isn’t always reliable because sometimes an older bracelet may have had the […]

May 11, 2009 | By | 9 Replies More