Useful Links, Pages And Groups For Vintage Jewellery Research.

There's loads of information out there on vintage jewellery but sometimes its not that easy to find what you're looking for.  So we are trying to put together a helpful list of pages, sites and groups that can help when you need to do further research on your vintage treasures. Some of the Facebook groups do require membership and will have their own rules in place for usage but are very handy resources we wouldn't add them if they weren't  great!

Identifying Vintage Jewellery:

Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l  This website is a huge resource we have linked directly to its section dealing with vintage makers marks which can help with dating as well as identification of pieces but the whole website is dedicated to a greater understanding of costume jewellery providing an invaluable resource to collectors and is well worth a look.

Antique & Vintage Jewelry Detectives:Identification, Discussion, Study  A Facebook group, the purpose of the group is to help each other solve jewelry mysteries, share new additions to our collections, post research resources, and generally talk about anything related to vintage jewelry

Vintage Jewelry Identification Collective A Facebook group set up to help identify your vintage jewellery treasures.

All jewelry makers mark idenification, A Facebook group to identify the makers of any type of jewelry with no restrictions on age (modern, vintage or antique jewelry- anything is acceptable.)

Bead Identification:

Antique & Vintage Venetian & Czech Glass Bead Jewelry A Facebook group A Facebook group to share genuine antique & vintage Venetian & Czech glass bead jewelry, they also help with identification.

Louis Rousselet Beads and Jewellery Discussion and Identification Group. A Facebook group to discuss and identify the wonderful beads and jewellery of Louis Rousselet, master bead maker of Paris for 50 years

 Bead Collectors Helping Bead Collectors  This Facebook group BCHBC is an interesting and educational group for BEAD COLLECTORS to help each other. They encourage your showcasing of your bead collections and any useful information about them!

Czech and Bohemian Jewellery:  

Vintage Czech - Jewellery of Bohemia  This Facebook group is Not for valuation but will help with identification its set up to celebrate the wonderful costume jewellery made in the early 20th century in the region of Jablonec nad Nisou/Gablonz an der Neisser, northern Bohemia, Czechoslovakia and to share the history of the area and its bijouterie industry

 

German Jewellery:

Vintage Jewellery of Germany & Austria This is a Facebook set up group to share vintage German and Austrian 20th century jewellery up to and including the 1970s. It is intended as a 'Show & Tell' group but will help with identification. 

 

Modernist Jewellery:

Modernist Jewelry This group is dedicated to collaborating and sharing information about modern studio jewelry from the 20th century

Scandinavian Jewellery:

Scandinavian Enamel Jewelry - Vintage  A Facebook group focusing on silver enamel Scandinavian jewellery the main focus is sharing pieces and collections but they do help with identification also.

 

Turquoise Gemstone Jewellery:

Let's Talk Turquoise A specialized Facebook group for those turquoise gem collectors

Alice Caviness Jewellery:

 Alice Caviness jewellery collectors  A facebook group for Alice Caviness collectors. Includes discussions, show N tell and buy & sell they also help with identification.

Juliana Jewellery:

Is it Juliana Jewelry A website resource designed to help collectors identify Juliana Jewellery designs it is searchable by jewellery, type, stone type and colour.

Miriam Haskell Jewellery:   

 Miriam Haskell and The Gang  A Facebook group for enthusiasts to share their pieces and learn they do help with identification.

 

Sarah Coventry Jewellery:

SARAH COVENTRY and Emmons Jewelry Identification and History  A Facebook group open for everyone interested in collecting, needing help identifying, and sharing memories about this vintage line of costume jewelry.

 

Selro Jewellery: 

The Many Faces Of Selro - Jewelry Group A facebook group set up for collectors of Selro and Selini Jewellery, helpful in identifying pieces.

 

Sherman Jewellery:

Sherman Jewellery Lovers Unite.  A place for Sherman Jewellery lovers to come and share their collections. A place for Sherman lovers to drool and admire.  This ones a Facebook group  and a great resource for all those have an interest in Sherman Jewellery.

 

Schreiner Jewellery:

SCHREINER - SCHUBERT A Facebook group for collectors of Schreiner Jewellery they can offer help with identification.

The Schreinery.com  A website database set up to help identify Schreiner jewellery with hundreds of detailed photographs.

 

Restoring Vintage Jewellery: 

Restore Repair Repurpose Vintage Costume Jewelry This is currently the best group we've come across in terms of a resource dedicated to those wishing to learn how to restore, repair or repurpose wearable vintage costume jewelry.  They have pinned guides to the top which are invaluable in terms of information, they do ask you read those first before posting any questions as many queries are answered in the guides.

 

The History Of Miracle Jewellery

 Miracle jewellery is a collectable British UK Jewellery brand. The company was started in the late 1946 by A Hill and Company and was based in Birmingham.  Taking inspiration from ancient jewellery finds, they became leading British designers of Celtic Jewellery, Scottish Jewellery and Irish Jewellery.  They have also made some stunning Mackintosh, Renaissance, Egyptian, cameo and classical lines.

Celtic style faux amethyst brooch by Miracle.

 

 

This Celtic knot work design brooch can be found in quite a few different colour ways.

 

 

 

 Making their own reproductions of semi precious stones from mainly bohemian glass,  Miracle produced many uniquely coloured, beautiful jewellery pieces over the years.  Other companies associated with/bought by Miracle are Quarrier Ward & Ward Brothers, Mizpah and Sol D'or.  In 2006 the original Miracle Company closed down,  its ownership was taken over by St Justin who bought their design archive in 2013.  

We ourselves stock a wide range of vintage Miracle jewellery pieces, including stunning Miracle Celtic necklaces, Scottish style Miracle brooches, Celtic themed Miracle brooches, medieval style Miracle brooches as well as Miracle bracelets, earrings and rings. So please check out our Vintage Miracle items.

 

For those interested in finding more out about Miracle jewellery, there used to be a fantastic Miracle Jewellery collectors group based from the yahoo groups server of which I was lucky to be a member,  I can honestly say it was the best place for all information on Miracle jewellery sadly when Yahoo groups ended all the information was lost and it seems irrevocably so, there is still an image event page left on the internet but it is only a tiny fraction of the information that was in the groups sadly.  You can check out the image event site here https://imageevent.com/pastandpresent/miraclejewelry.

Some facts we do know about Miracle,  there seems to have been a Scottish works in their earlier times based in Coldstream, Berwickshire, sadly I havent been able to pull up much information on this location to date.  The Birmingham location was in Frederick Street making up part of the vibrant Jewellery quarter, the original building and factory is now gone and a new building is located where the original once stood. I am struggling to find exactly when the building was replaced but it seems to have been around 2013.  I have been able to find information tying Miracle to the this location dating back to 1962 though they most likely occupied it a lot earlier.

Other useful facts:

Miracle produced some rare and very sought after silver items in their lines.  These pieces are all fully hallmarked with the makers mark A.H though not all have the Miracle signature mark itself, the few Ive seen were assayed in Edinburgh but there were definately items assayed at the Birmingham assay office.

This ring one of the rarer silver pieces by Miracle.  It is fully hallmarked on the inside of the band A.H and was assayed in Edinburgh 1974-75.  Silver pieces whilst they are rarer do come up now and then and would make a great piece for a collector due to their scarcity.

 

 

 

Not all Miracle Pieces are signed, some Miracle pieces have other signatures or marks: Sol Dor for example.

Due to the not all Miracle pieces being signed a lot of pieces are attributed to Miracle that are not designed by them, there were other companies producing Celtic lines at the time such as Jemcraft, Jacobite and even Exquisite produced a few Celtic lines which Ive seen mistakenly seen referred to as Miracle

Miracle didn't just use faux gem glass stones they also used lucite and some real semi precious gemstones in some of their pieces, though the bohemian glass pieces seem to be the most common.

Arts and crafts style lucite set brooch.

 

 

 This vintage arts and craft style large brooch is set with a blue lucite cabochon like many Miracle pieces it was available in several different colour ways

 

 

 

 

Miracle didn't just produce Celtic style Jewellery, they produced many many other lines,  so unless that' s a line you wish to specialize in collecting make sure not to discount their other styles.

We hope to expand this page in future with further information so please keep checking back.

 

What Does AF mean on Jewellery Auctions

If you visit auctions or vintage sites you will no doubt see the term AF.
So what does it actually mean?
AF means ' as found ' apparently!, so what does ' as found ' actually mean?
Well it means you see it in the actual condition it is in ' As Found '. And AF whilst a lot of people will tell you AF means as found, it usually also simultaneously means ' At fault ' . So if you have the ability to view the goods you should. As soon as a seller mentions AF, if you can you view that item, do so that's if you want to bid/buy it, or if they haven't explained why the piece is AF just ask. 

So why buy As Found or At Fault ' AF  ' Items?

Sometimes AF pieces can provide great finds if you are a crafter or looking for pieces to restore, or just after older piece you wouldn't normally find in a complete state.  There are some people who search for AF/not perfect pieces just to seek out rarer vintage parts. A lot of crafters/restorers will actively search for AF pieces as some pieces in vintage items are just literally not made any more
 

Mostly when the term AF is described to a vintage or antique piece it means its broken, incomplete or damaged in some way or ' As Fault ' , as stated above.

If you are searching for rare vintage stones, they can provide great finds.
If you still wish to bid you should ask the auction house/ seller what has made this piece be described as AF, if its just something simple like a broken link, or something you could fix then good luck,  it could be something like missing diamonds, or chain links beyond repair but even then if your'e savvy enough the parts themselves could provide themselves very worth the purchase.

New Arrivals For October

I can't believe its already October, time moves so fast. As usual we have  has seen some unique new arrivals to the shop. So I'll take this opportunity to highlight some of our new favorites.  Its all about necklaces right now, here are some of our new faves.

This lovely stainless steel, modernist style , large carnelian gemstone set pendant dates from approx the 1970's .

The raw and simplistic nature of the 60' s - 70's modernist style resonates so well with minimalist and feng shui ideals.










Remember the 80's I know when I type this not many people will. Sob, for my showing my own age. But remember early Madonna ( the singer ) and her pearls.  Yes this long faux glass pearl necklace, totally rocks the 80's style. Its formed from pearlised creamy tone glass beads, rather than plastic ones and is long so can be twisted up or knotted. It so 80's.

Quality Creamy faux pearl long length necklace, totally 80's, hand knotted between each faux pearl.








Jewellery manufactured by Hollywood can be a bit hit and miss, their earlier pieces are fantastic and adorable and very collectable, but in later years they did skimp on a few pieces with thought and care when it came to manufacture.  Luckily this necklace is not one of those examples.

This is one of their stunning pieces, a pendant set with an art glass/ faux agate stone to its center, bordered by faux moonstones that have an opal sparkle, with a naturalistic Celtic inspired border.  It is just simply lovely.







As usual these are just a few of our pieces added please check out more of our necklaces by following the link.

Who We Sell To: Questions And Answers.

Who do we sell to? 

This is a valid question:
Who do we actually sell to?
Well its an open shop we sell to everyone, that is the simple answer.
If your interested in vintage, dressing up for a themed night, vintage cos player, love vintage or really unique pieces of jewellery, we hope to be here for you.
Yes we have antique items, we have vintage designer items as well as  general vintage costume jewellery, as well as unusual striking modern items that catch our eye.

Where Do We Sell.

We sell world wide, in fact I'm not sure there is a country we have not sold to.

Have we sold any items that have been featured anywhere:  Well,  yes, as well as selling to the general public we sell to many UK theater companies, UK and worldwide movie production companies, designer fashion shoots etc.

We have recently sold items that have appeared on several Netflix series's as well as some UK produced TV shows and should appear on some films ' Exciting '. !!!

Customer Service 

This is really important to us, we are a dedicated but small business, and we do have to sleep at some point. Although we answer all emails , within 24 hours. Sometimes we are super busy.

Valuations Online Or Over The Phone.

No, this is not possible over the phone or even through email, even with photos or you telling me every aspect of a piece.  Why because I cant tell if something is set with precious stones, for example diamonds. There is no human being alive, who can tell genuinely, whether  a piece is genuine diamond set from a photo, as well as other precious gemstones.
If you live in Birmingham and wish for the best valuation for a vintage piece,  I would recommend visiting the jewellery quarter.

New For September

As with all months, September has seen some unique new arrivals to the shop. So I'll take this opportunity to highlight some of our new favorites.  Its all about bracelets right now, here are some of our new faves.

 This lovely clear rhinestone set double row empire bangle dates from the 1950's.  These bracelets where fantastic in the day as they offered a stretch to fit all size by a hinged mechanical movement, rather than elastic or cord. So they stand the tests of time very well.  This one is signed Empire Made, and dates from the 50's.




Lets move on from the 50's to the swinging 60's.

This stunning balloon link bracelet dates from the 1960's - 70's,  Though its more likely 70's rather than 60's.
Why is it called  balloon link bracelet?  The panels of the bracelet are designed like open work paper lanterns/hot air balloons.  It really is a stunning piece and has to be one of our current shop favorites.






Are personal favorites a bad thing? I don't care I love this one.

Yes sometimes my bias will shine through, I totally adore this bangle, its two tone lucite with a faux wood effect.  It's so 1960's - 70's, if I had to sum up that period with one piece of jewellery, this would be it.







Well these are just a few of the new pieces added to the shop please click the link to check out more of our current bracelets and bangles

Taking Care Of Vintage Costume Jewllery: Stage 1: Maintenance

Taking Care Of Vintage Costume Jewellery.  
Stage 1 Maintenance.

1. Don't sleep in it, take it off before you go to bed.
There are many reasons for this, obviously a very delicate piece could just be destroyed  by the every day tossing and turning of sleep.

2, Don't shower or bathe in it, take it off before hand. Hot water will slowly erode any glue settings, rhinestones will be lost.

3, Never ever do hot tubs with jewellery on, this shouldn't even be for vintage jewellery, it should be a warning sign for ANY jewellery, the chemicals in hot tubs affect all stones, ( I cant' even, there's chlorine and bromine usually added to the general maintenance disinfect as well as many others) even precious ones if you love pearls, don't even think about it.  Pearls are really badly affected by hot tubs, keep in mind pearl jewellery is mainly hand strung the older pieces on natural fibers, you are slowly bleaching both the pearls and material used to string them.  They just cant stand up to it.

4. Perfume. Put it on before jewellery and give it time to settle, or just don't wear it in places where you are wearing jewellery.  Perfume natural or not is still just a series of scented chemicals you are applying. Spraying over vintage jewellery will leave a coating, some of the chemicals may interact with and damage your pieces.

4. If its a valued piece family piece, keep it that way, store it carefully, don't mix it up with other jewellery. And Keep any family history alive, by any letters, mentions in letters, of the pieces, photos etc. 

5, If you buy a vintage piece be aware what you have bought, a costume jewellery piece from the 1920's - 90's  will still decay quickly if you don't love and look after it.

6. Verdigris, the dreaded green sign of decay to costume jewellery.  If you notice this on a piece, separate it from the other pieces. Clean it thoroughly, if you catch it early you may be able to save the piece, but still keep it separated from other jewellery.  Think of it like a virus it can be passed on by touch, but between jewellery.


Hope these tips help, we''ll add some more practical maintenance advice soon as this list was mainly a ' Do Not Do section '

Whats the difference, between antique and Vintage? What actually is vintage.

In terms of jewellery and many other items, what is the actual difference between antique and vintage and not vintage?



Vintage:
In terms of jewellery, clothes, toys, household and pretty much all goods its commonly accepted that after 20 years of age an item becomes vintage , hence 80's and some early 90's  items are now considered vintage as are 30's 40's, 50's and 60's items. ( Wine and spirits are a whole different cup of tea when describing vintage ).

This lovely blue enamel flower bracelet is vintage, likely 1960's - 70's.  Formed in a floral design its a truly statement piece for its time. You can view more of our Vintage bracelets by clicking the link. Visit Bracelets









Antique
This is a industry standard, widely accepted term, for an item and that is 100 years plus, not just jewellery, toys, household items everything, if its 100 years plus its considered an antique.

If somethings 100+ years its an antique.

This brooch lovely Scottish brooch is an antique, it's formed from early electroplating of silver onto a base metal. You can check out more of our brooches antique and vintage Brooches by clicking the link.View the brooches










Vintage Style:
Does not mean its vintage, it is a term often used for items designed that show a nod to the past in their style and design. If unsure just ask the seller.

These stunning earrings by the designer Monet aren't quite vintage though they are made in a vintage style.
You can see more of our truly vintage and vintage style style items by clicking the link View Earrings







So if somethings an 80's thingy yes its vintage,  as is a 30's thingy, both are vintage.  If its from Ebay, or any similar site saying its vintage and they have 20 -30 of this item item in stock then its doubtful its vintage it more than probably a modern item made in a vintage style. ( Though it could be a dead stock item, that another discussion for another day )!!!
Don't be afraid of asking the seller if you are unsure!
But also have realistic expectations if you are buying an item sold as vintage item, don't think its an antique 100+ years, it shouldn't be, it has been described to you as vintage.

So in basic and the most important terms,  a truly vintage item is 20+ years up to 99 in age. 
An Antique is 100+ Years Or Older.

New Arrivals For August.

Sorry for so long delay between posts, we have just been super busy . As with all months, July had seen some awesome and unique new arrivals to the shop. ( I'm aware it August but these darlings hit in late July ) So I'll take this opportunity to highlight some of our new favorites.  Its all about earrings right now, here are some of our new faves.

These huge Swarovski clip on earrings are a true statement piece, they are clip on so can be worn by anyone.  The large deep purple amethyst crystal is truly stunning




Just because I love the over top decadence of Indian wedding,  Bollywood style pieces , I couldn't help but add these beauties.  Large, oversize they are just amazing.

Set with rhinestones, and blue beads, these large earrings are truly a statement item of jewellery.
Be brave to wear them, they are BIG.






We all love the art deco style, but during this period stunning naturalistic pieces were still being designed. These earrings sum up that style, probably produced from Europe rather than the UK.

Vintage Earrings

 These lovely screw back earrings are formed from pale aqua glass rhinestones and brass filigree, dating from the 1930's - 40's.
They are really unusual and add a certain ' Je ne sais quoi ' to any ensemble.

New Arrivals For June:

Sorry for so long delay between posts, we have just been super busy . As with all months, June has seen some unique new arrivals to the shop. So I'll take this opportunity to highlight some of our new favorites.  Its all about earrings right now, here are some of our new faves.

Unicorns, Pegasuses and horses are still so very much in and these whimsical clip on earrings from the late 40s - 50's tick all the cutesy boxes.

These lovely whimsical horse clip on earrings are from the late 1940's - 50's.
They are truly little cuties, clip on earrings so can be worn by anyone.







Sometimes everyone just loves showing off and  these lovely and very stylish drop tassel drop earrings by Swarovski tick all those boxes, dating from the late 70's - 80's, a lot of jewellery is sold as by Swarovski which only contains their crystals, Swarovski manufactured jewellery is extremely well made and is a designer brand well worth collecting.

These earrings have the swan stamp to the back dating them to before 1987.  As well as stunning emerald cut blue crystals, they have the so in vogue at the moment tassel drops.












These abstractly designed earrings by Trifari, make me think of discovered shells at with the children at the sea side and beach holidays in general.

Formed from polished and textured gold tone metal, they are stamped with the crown symbol and Trifari to the backs and make a statement without being too overpowering.

These were just a few of the earrings that have been recently added to the shop, please feel free to stop by and have a browse through some of the other designs available in our vintage earrings selection.

New Arrivals For February.

As with all months, February has seen some unique new arrivals to the shop. So I'll take this opportunity to highlight some of our new favorites. 

This lovely bracelet is fashioned from a chunky textured gold tone curb chain and is set with a charm of two lovers meeting on a bench, with a red rhinestone heart next to them. The charm is removable. Its such a lovely love and friendship themed bracelet, it really puts me in the mood for Valentines day.





Enamel and especially cloisonne enamel jewellery are some of my favourite pieces of jewellery, the art of cloisonne enameling dates back well over a thousand years so how could I not mention these.

Formed from cloisonne enamel, these vibrant daisy flower and bamboo earrings really are just stunning. Dating from the 1950's, with a screw back closure,  they can be worn by anyone.






Again biased, but I love frogs and these designer earrings by Mimi Di N tick every box for me.

I say biased they are actually an amazing pair of earrings by this collectable designer. Stunning attention to detail and just super cute at the same time.  Mimi Di N pieces or ( Princess Mimi Di Niscemi ) are super collectable, gracing the covers of vogue and Harpers magazines in the 60's and 70's.








These were just a small section of our new arrivals, be sure to check out our website for vintage earrings, vintage brooches and vintage bracelets.

Damascene And Damascene Style Jewellery.

A lot of jewellery is sold and advertised as damascene which is not actually damascene, hopefully we will clear up a few misconceptions here.

Firstly what actually is damascene?
If we use the standard typical and correct Wikipedia response,  Damascening is the art of inlaying different metals into one another—typically, gold or silver into a darkly oxidized steel background—to produce intricate patterns similar to niello. The English term comes from a perceived resemblance to the rich tapestry patterns of damask silk.

Damascene style jewellery is old, its evolution can be traced back to Damascus, hence the term ' Damascene ' The manufacture of damascene jewellery in recent history is focused in Japan and Spain and is still manufactured there to this date.

Things to note about genuine damascene
The back ground is always very dark, its formed from oxidized , bronze, steel or iron.
In true damascene the designs are etched and silver or gold foil is layered onto the designs. ( Usually 18k or 24K or high quality silver )
Faux Damascene is usually enamel coated for the darkened colours
Faux damascene usually has raised designs with a white colour wash.

Terms For The Buyer To Note:

Toledo Damascene
Whilst Toledo in Spain is actually a manufacturing hub for the production of damascene jewellery, Toledo damascene is often used as a byword for faux damascene. ( If you are after genuine damascene, be careful, ask questions any genuine seller will be more than happy top answer them )

Damascene style.
Does whats it says on the tin, so to speak. Its jewellery often made from where damascene jewellery originates but its not ' genuine or true damascene ' Its a great alternative and very cost effective for those just after the style ( We stock both, true damascene and damascene style jewellery, our faux damascene pieces are described as damascene style or faux damascene. )

Spanish Damascene:
Again this term sums up the product, its damascene jewellery manufactured in Spain.

Amita/ Shakudo Damascene:
It should possibly be referred to as Shakudo damascene, but its usually not. A popular manufacturer in Japan in the 19th century  led to this term been widely accepted in the western world. Both terms are commonly accepted.  The designs usually feature fans, mountains and Japanese style themes.

To help you out there is nothing better than seeing products before you so here are some examples.

This brooch is formed from faux damascene, set with faux pearls. Notice the raised white areas, its still a very pretty brooch, but its not damascene.

This brooch is genuine damascene in a Japanese Shakudo design, featuring a stork or crane bird, ( The crane was a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Asia )

Again Faux Damascene set with pearl and again the white raised detailing is prevalent.





Hope this advice helps, we will hopefully publish some more examples up soon.

Winter Jewellery Inspirations.

It seems like only the other day I was talking about autumn/fall themed jewellery and here we are with winter at our door already.  Time really does fly! 
Chandelier earrings are currently trending on many fashion runways and ones set with clear rhinestones, have a crisp, clean wintery vibe about them

These vintage earrings are set with a large rhinestone, leading to three symmetrical drops.  The drops are articulated catch the light beautifully as they move.  The earrings have clip on backs so can be worn by anyone.









Although winter is often associated with stark dark colours, bold reds, rich greens and golds.  Icy blues really make me think of the crunch of crisp frost underfoot on an early winters morning.

Both the shape and colouring of this brooch have a wintery feel.  Pale blue rhinestones are set in silver tone metal with light grey tear drop shaped lucite cabochons.








Chunky statement jewellery is back, in a big way! One thing the 50's had was serious bling.  Its a great era to currently select pieces from as not only will you have a piece that is currently on trend there less chance of someone owning the same piece. 

This chunky, expanding Empire made bracelet is set with large faux pearls  along its entire length.  Its a fun piece with a christmasy feel to it, the pearls really remind me of mistletoe berries.








Not one for cooler colours, then embrace the warmer red tones associated with winter/Christmas.

These vintage raised red seed bead cluster earrings have a very Christmasy feel.  The spiky design of the gold caps containing the seed beads give the earrings a Holly leaf and berry vibe.




More winter themed jewellery can be viewed on our dedicated Pinterest board.

Traditional Scottish Style Modern Jewellery Examples.

I have seen the following pieces been described as vintage, whilst very beautiful and desirable pieces they are not vintage. Both brooches are formed in a traditional Scottish style from polished pewter with a palladium coating.

 The palladium plating applied to the finished brooches makes them less likely to tarnish over time.  This brooch is formed in the traditional Scottish design of a Luckenbooth.  This one is formed from two hearts making it ideal to exchange between lovers.









Both brooch examples are made by Art Pewter Silver Ltd.  The above Luckenbooth brooch is signed DB Scotland to the back. However, not all their pieces are signed.  The company itself was established in 1968 by Hamish Dawson-Bowman so some designs that you will come across will indeed be vintage.

 This is an unsigned piece by Art Pewter Silver Ltd, it is known as the Machair thistle brooch.  It's design is inspired by the rare Machair habitats found in Scotland where wild thistles and heather grow.









The brooches themselves are high quality, the Machair thistle brooch is set with amethyst tinted crystal rhinestones.
All jewellery by Art Pewter Silver Ltd is produced by craftsmen in Scotland so they are great buys if you wish for some traditional styled high quality authentic Scottish Jewellery.
 Don't forget to check out the wide range of Scottish themed jewellery available in the Scottish And Celtic Jewellery section of our shop.

Halloween Jewellery Treats.

Our favourite holiday of the year, Halloween is on its way so ' treat ' yourself to a some spooky bling and check out some of the superstitions and beliefs of these Halloween symbols.

 These black cat and crescent moon earrings are formed from cloisonne enamel and are also available in red.







Whilst in America and parts of Europe black cats are believed to be unlucky,  in the UK the opposite applies,  black cats are believed to be lucky and one appearing at your doorstop was a sign of impending prosperity. Whilst in Japan black cats are associated with being lucky in love. ( Note to self buy 10 black cats ).

 




This antique Victorian brooch, is hand carved from a piece of Whitby Jet, an unusual antique spooky talking point.








In the Victorian era mourning jewellery was often worn to mark the passing of a loved one, popularized by queen Victoria after the death of her beloved Albert, Jet became the only accepted court jewellery.  Some of the mourning style pieces have concealed sections contains a lock of the departed's  hair.

This spider web ring complete with dangling spider would make a quirky and fun accessory to a Halloween outfit. 













Nowadays spiders get a pretty unfair deal when it comes to Halloween, being seen as some sort of spooky witches helper.  In medieval times if you saw a spider on Halloween it was actually believed to be the soul of a loved  one watching over you, prior to this they were believed to be fore tellers of prosperity and it was bad luck to kill one.

This wide chunky skull and cross bone bangle would make a great addition to any pirates haul of treasure. 










The skull and cross bone symbol whilst perhaps most commonly associated with pirates, dates back to the late middle ages as a symbol of death. It's still commonly used today as a hazard symbol often used to denote poisonous chemicals.

Thanks for reading through and wishing you all a spooktacular Halloween.

Moody Blues Are In!

One of the colours creating a stir on catwalks for the Autumn/Fall 2017 season is blue, or rather moody blue. So cast out from your mind nautical, seaside and neon shades of blue and think more along the lines of Midnight, Cobalt and Oxford shades of blue.
A great way to be on trend yet still set your own is to combine vintage and modern to create your own unique look. We have included a few of our favourite pieces from our website in the hopes of inspiring you.

This stunning vintage chunky sterling silver and lapis lazuli gemstone bracelet, combines shades of blue silver and gold creating a bold look. 








The deep blue hues that the gem stone Lapiz lazuli is formed from has been prized for thousands of years, it was once powdered to form the most expensive paint pigment ultramarine.

Although not vintage this 14ct gold and cobalt blue foiled glass necklace, combines one of the other ongoing trends, pearls! The mixture of the pearls and cobalt blue glass helps soften the overall look of the necklace.






Pearls are always a great addition to any jewellery box, classic and timeless they are easily incorporated with any outfitted. They never really go out of fashion.

This retro bracelet is formed from enamel bonded to copper in a crazy/fun flower design dating from the 1960's -  70's.

This vintage, enamel, flower bracelet mixes moody blues with lighter blue shades, forming a vibrant fun bracelet oozing classic retro vibes.

Cloisonne enamel makes up the design of  this lovely brooch, dating from the 1980's.

Another enamel piece but this one is cloisonne enamel forming a large, eye catching vintage butterfly and flower raised design brooch.

We hope we've managed to inspire a few ideas, if moody blues aren't quite for you as you love blue in all of its shades then check out our blue jewellery pinterest page dedicated to blue jewellery of any shade Blue jewellery