Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Automotive Motif of the Art Deco Period

October 10, 2009

During the Art Deco Period within jewelry, automotive motifs became popular as a result of the first ever automobile. This era occurred during the 1920s & 1930s. I love all the vintage possibilities of this motif, and many of them are in the form of charms. During my trip to California, I was wooed by the awesomeness of the Blue Angels jets as they tore up the sky (it literally sounded like they were tearing up the sky!) At the Miramar Air Show I also got to see WWII war planes flying through the air. Not only did that sight sort of transported me back in time, but it helped me to understand why planes were made into pieces of jewelry. {14k yellow gold British taxi, Price: $205 from CHARMCO} {14k yellow gold with rubies airplane, Price: $215 from CHARMCO} {14k yellow gold cruise ship, Price: $205 from CHARMCO} {18k yellow gold propeller with diamond, Price: $225 from CHARMCO} {14k yellow gold double-decker bus that opens, Price: $200 from Beladora2} Read More

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Battle of the Bracelets: Snakes vs. Skulls

September 29, 2009

I've seen many takes lately of snake and skull bracelets/bangles. For now, we will focus on snakes. Tomorrow will be all about the skulls. After these two styles go head to head, everyone can vote on which they like better. Check out my favorite snake bracelets below! Circa 1970, this snake bracelet has some beautiful etchings which give it its unique look. I also like how it wraps, and would look great worn higher up on the arm. This would make a great investment piece as well, seeing that it is made of 22k yellow gold. This one's from Beladora and priced at $2250. Love this style, the snake seems to come off as a delicate creature when designed in this way. This little guy has ruby eyes and done in 14k yellow gold. Designed by Sarah Jannerbo, a team of two sisters, using the lost wax method. These lovely ladies are based in Tennessee, not too far from myself. Price: $1760 If you want a more sparkly take on a snake bracelet, this one outshines them all. From Beladora, this piece has 7 carats worth of diamonds and 3 carats worth of sapphire, set in platinum! The huge pear-shaped sapphire accenting the snake's head is killer. This one's from the 1950s and is priced at $7550. The moment this snake bangle was "Twit-Pic'ed" I thought it was amazing. It is done in 18k yellow gold with a diamond on the snake's head. I love the design, with the end curled around, meeting back to the head. This piece is designed by C. Greene and can only be found at Broken English. Price: $2200 Read More

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Leaf Motif: Leave it to Autumn…

September 24, 2009

Photo taken by ming_chai The first day of Autumn has arrived and although the weather has been terrible here in Tennessee, this is usually a beautiful time of the year. The first thing I think of is fall leaves. Many hours were spent as a kid raking leaves and jumping into huge piles of them. Now, I just love the colors and the beauty. Leaves have been a motif within the realms of jewelry for quite some time. Famous Jewelry Houses like Tiffany & Co. have used it in many of their designs. It makes for some elegant jewelry pieces as well as having a symbolic side. They could represent a new chapter in life or an end of another. Take a look at these gorgeous examples of some jewelry that feature leaf motifs. The leaf motif is used as the main design element in this bracelet by Tiffany & Co. circa 1940. The leaves alternate between 14k yellow and 14k rose gold. This bracelet can be found at Ross-Simons in their estate jewelry section and priced at $2995. Secretly obsessed with this ring from the 1950s. It is done in 18k yellow gold with sapphires and diamonds. I like the detailing of the leaf, but more importantly the brilliance of the design. It's like a leaf wrapped around your finger! Found at 1stdibs by seller Neil Marrs, price: $3750 This is such an elegant piece--a leaf motif bracelet from the 1970s. Each link is perfected with texturized 18k yellow gold. The total carat weight is 3.5 in diamonds! Would look great worn any time of the year, really. Can be found at Ross-Simons, estate jewelry section, price: $9995. Here is the use of the leaf motif in a neat way, done in 14k yellow gold. The ring is a bypass style, featuring a gray and white cultured pearl. This elegant little ring is from Beladora2 and priced at $146.25! Read More

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

The Sunday Paper

September 20, 2009

The weeks are passing by so quickly--everyday it gets darker a bit earlier, and a littler cooler than it was before. Brooches are not a top pick for many jewelry collectors and they were never my favorite. It was only until my first purchase of this Victorian brooch with enameling that I became an overnight fan. I like the immense versatility of brooches--you can seriously pin them anywhere you'd like. So far I've used mine on button up shirts, to close a cardigan, pinned to a suede headband, and on purses (like above). I've seen tiny Victorian bar pins that I think are so beautiful, I am on the hunt! Do any of you have bar pins? Any bar pin collectors out there? My Pick of the Week: The Fulvia ring from Wendy Brandes' Jewelry Collection. This ring is done in 18k yellow gold with an exquisite 6.5 carat green tourmaline. Anyone who would wear this ring would put me under a spell--I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off of it! I love the architectural design of the ring, it goes so well with the tourmaline's cut and color. Price: $5000 My eBay Pick of the Week: I've had my eye on necklaces of this style: sort of like a bib but not that drastic. This one is from eBay seller: doverjewelry whom I've purchased from before, very reputable. The necklace is done in 14k rose gold with a single buttercup set diamond. Love the filigree work (sidenote: you can have a fun time typing in keyword: filigree into eBay). Only thing, I wish the necklace length were a bit longer. Wonder who the lucky high bidder will be?! Read More

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

“I could spend my whole life Goodwill hunting…”

September 20, 2009

Ok, so I know this has nothing to do with jewelry but treasure hunting is my favorite thing to do. And although I usually only look for jewelry when I "treasure hunt, " I spotted an amazing brass urn. I am slightly obsessed with things that feature lion heads and this was brass--exactly what decorates my bedroom. This item was found on my first ever trip to a local Goodwill. As luck would have it, everything was half off! Score! A $3 find is always the best...take a look at this DIY. Most people probably would take one look at this and walk away because of the incredible tarnish it was covered in. I saw it, loved it, and immediately declared it as my little project. Here is how I cleaned it up: 1. Take an old wash cloth and cut it in half. One half will be used with the cleaning solution, the other will stay dry and act as a buffer. 2. Buy some brass polish at a local store--I bought mine from Bed Bath & Beyond. 3. Scrub the tarnished brass using the one half of the cloth dedicated to cleaning only, using dime-sized amounts at a time. Then buff using the dry cloth. Repeat this as many times until you see a shiny, bright surface underneath. Be patient! * I left a few spots, especially around the lion's face, with some tarnish remnants--it is somewhat impossible to get all the tarnish off 100%. I think it gives the decor some character anyway. Read More

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Treasure Hunting with Gem Gossip Fan, Trevor

September 19, 2009

Check out this beautiful Edwardian ring that was purchased by Gem Gossip fan, Trevor. He is an antique jewelry enthusiast and has been collecting for quite some time. The recent ring acquired (pictured) has quickly become one of his favorites. It is all done in platinum, with a mine cut center diamond, which is over a half carat. He purchased the ring on eBay. Amongst his other rings in his collection, a few favorites include a ring once owned by the last empress of Iran, as well as a GIA certified .60 pear cut diamond ring. In the works for Trevor is a special project he is excited about. A family heirloom brooch is being fully restored--sounds like a story that needs to be added to our "Family Heirlooms" section! Trevor says when he is searching for antique jewelry he looks for anything unusual or eye-catching, pieces with filigree work is a plus! Diamonds that are colored, rather than white are something he looks for as well. We thank Trevor for sharing a peek into his antique treasure trove of a collection. Trevor says, "The thing I love about Gem Gossip is that I get to see some amazing finds, stories and jewelry pieces from all over. I also like the information about antique stores that are visited and adventures. It's very interesting." Thanks Trevor, and there will be more adventures to read about in the future! Read More

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How to Identify Genuine Georgian Jewelry, part 1

How to Clean Antique Jewelry — The Important Do’s & Don’ts

Where to Sell Your Unwanted Jewelry

Ten Reasons — What Makes Customers Buy Jewelry from Specific Designers

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Automotive Motif of the Art Deco Period

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Battle of the Bracelets: Snakes vs. Skulls

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Leaf Motif: Leave it to Autumn…

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Antique & Vintage Jewelry

The Sunday Paper

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

“I could spend my whole life Goodwill hunting…”

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How to Identify Genuine Georgian Jewelry, part 1

How to Clean Antique Jewelry — The Important Do’s & Don’ts

Where to Sell Your Unwanted Jewelry

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Treasure Hunting with Gem Gossip Fan, Trevor

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