Jewelry Collection Stories: Malena of Malena’s Boutique

Instagram is such a great haven to meet fellow antique jewelry collectors and connect with them–most my stories about finding people kind of begin like that, and this story is no different. I posted a photo of my dendritic agate ring and it caught Malena’s attention because she has a similar one in her West Chester, PA boutique. She commented on my photo and I checked out her page only to find an insane diamond ring which I needed to see more of!  She gladly took some photos for me to show me and our conversation grew from there. Malena’s Boutique is aptly named; her shop is filled with vintage and antique finds–from clothing to jewelry, both costume and precious. Her store has been on countless lists concerning “best of Philly” and she enjoys every moment of it. I caught up with Malena and her personal jewelry collection–here is her story:

“Even as a child I felt a gravitational-like pull towards clothing and and jewelry of past eras. By twelve I started buying vintage clothing at thrift shops and dreaming of attending fashion design school. I opened my vintage boutique about a year after graduating from Pratt and will be celebrating 14 years in business this June. On a daily basis sellers bring pieces in that they inherited or no longer fit a need in their wardrobe. I also buy from jewelers who are accustomed to pulling out stones and melting gorgeous old settings (the thought of which makes me flinch!) On some days I sort through items of up to 10 people so I am exposed to easily thousands of items each week.

To me certain pieces romance their way into my collection. I try to be “good” and not keep things that are intended for the boutique, but sometimes it’s just love at first sight and they become part of my treasury. Slightly quirky or oversized antique pieces resonate with me. I didn’t even realize I had a locket collection until a dear friend of mine commented on how many unusual ones I had! My favorite is oblong sterling silver with simple engraving of the year 1920, but on the inside the owner had written a note where the photo was supposed to go that reads, “DARN YOUR CURIOSITY” I so wish I could have met this woman and learned her story behind the note.

My most recent acquisition is the rose gold watch chain ring with diamond buckle. It articulates and the tab can be pulled to resize the ring smaller. I’ve always been drawn to the buckle motif, but the pairing of it with rose gold and the unusual construction just made it too unusual to pass up. I purchased the turquoise ring with emerald cut stones from a jeweler who had pulled the center stone and was going to scrap the platinum setting. I had a stone cutter find and set the sugarloaf Turquoise, it’s one of my most favorite pieces. Turquoise set in gold or platinum is something I collect, I am restoring some Victorian turquoise Acorn earrings at the moment I can’t wait to wear.

My extra long filigree dinner ring is definitely in my top 5 pieces I own. It was originally owned by a teller at my bank. Her mother willed her a collection of rings but this one doesn’t suit her style or lifestyle. She went to a few jewelers in our small town to sell it, but was horrified to hear they were going to melt it and pull the stones. One of the jewelers suggested to bring it to me, that I may want to keep it as is and they were right. I bought it and wear it almost everyday. Sometimes we see each other at the bank and it makes her happy to see it being enjoyed regularly and not destroyed.

Vibrant Plique a Jour Egyptian revival jewelry is my latest love. The feminine colors juxtaposed with less-than-lady-like scarab beetle motifs fascinates me. I haven’t yet settled on a piece I need to own, but who knows, it could walk into my shop at any moment.”

WANT MORE? Check out the other Jewelry Collection Stories

You can follow Malena –> @msmalena