The Distinct Look Of Vintage Rings.....Jason Smith

Owning a truly distinctive ring with a rich history is only possible with vintage rings. These rings were typically hand-made and have gone through a collection of styles over the decades. These styles include a selection of gem stones including emeralds, alexandrite, pearls, and aquamarine. Vintage Alexandrite Rings Vintage Alexandrite rings have been identified with blue blood or royalty. They have been indicative of higher socio-economic status during the early times, when the kings and queens reigned. The source of Vintage Alexandrite rings has been cloaked in mystery, though according to some, Alexandrite was discovered by Czar Alexander II in Russia. Since then this gem has been used in rings, crowns, and pendants for princesses, queens and czars. In fact artifacts of Vintage Alexandrite rings have been found as far back as the 19th and 20th centruires in the trinket of Empress Escretina. Astonishing examples aside, this is frequently considered as one of the more expensive gems. Vintage Aquamarine Rings A person wearing one of these vintage Aquamarine rings will get the feeling of diving in the crystalline waters of a nautical island paradise and its beaches. Aquamarine rings can be studded in platinum, white, or yellow gold base and are an ideal gift to be given to those who celebrate their birthday in March as it is their official birthstone. The word “aquamarine” is derived from Latin word meaning “sea water”. The greenish blue shading of the precious gem brings to your mind the stunning Caribbean waters, and the light azure sky making an irresistible appeal of nature's love. because of its delicate sea water color it is considered to bring good luck for voyages, weddings, and sailors. Vintage Emerald Rings Emerald is a stunning greenish mineral that has been named as the May birthstone. Vintage emerald rings started their voyage in the fashion world during the middle of the twentieth century and placed themselves in significant position over the course of time. The green stone looks lovely mounted in white or yellow gold and is often with a combination of emerald and/or diamond. In some variations, sapphire is used to make a border encasing the emerald to give it a more attractive look. For engagement rings, these vintage emerald rings are listed among the top choices. The beautiful looking stone in old style of course is very lovable among the female users. Vintage Pearl Rings It has been known to portray purity, innocence and tranquility. Vintage Mother of Pearl rings are certainly a ring that any women couldn't resist. If you want to convey your purest intention or woe your woman, then this ring would do all the wonders. It emenates elegance, sophistication and an air of assurance. Vintage Pearl rings are abundantly produced in Australia, which can be either handmade or machine made. Mother of Pearl is a blend of minerals that are cloaked by oysters and other mollusks and placed inside their shells. Various cultures have adorned their jewelries and other personal valuables with these pearls.

Vintage Jewelry Marks: Help for Dating Your Vintage Jewelry - My Classic Jewelry Vintage Jewelry Blog

Vintage Jewelry Marks: Help for Dating Your Vintage Jewelry - My Classic Jewelry Vintage Jewelry Blog

Great Tips For Buying Vintage Jewelry Online!!

On eBay alone, you will discover that at any given moment, there are close to 75,000 pieces of vintage jewelry put up or available for sale. There are numerous sites where you will get more or less the same number of jewelry.
The definition of vintage may vary depending on which site you choose to buy this type of jewelry from. However, as long the vintage jewelry was made between 1910 and 1990, it generally qualifies to be listed as such. If the history of the jewelry in your possession goes back to earlier than 1910, then it is no longer vintage, but now qualifies to be called antique. With that said, you should expect numerous requests to prove the authenticity of your claims that the jewelry you have is vintage. Documentation is important, and you should never lose or misplace the paperwork that proves the jewelry in your possession is vintage.
Most collectors choose to buy vintage jewelry online that were made between 1940 and 1970. Since you will have to put up a photograph of the vintage jewelry online, make sure that the photo is of the best quality. If you are buying, never buy any purportedly vintage jewelry online if the photo appears to be fuzzy. A partial photograph of the jewelry is never to be trusted. If you are dealing with a reputable seller, then he/she will provide clear and unmistaken pictures of the piece of vintage jewelry in their possession. These photos must be taken from different angles to show the proper state in which the jewelry is in, to avoid any doubt.
If you wish to buy the vintage jewelry online, you should be wary of sellers who lack any clear return policy. If the seller does not have a return policy, do not buy the jewelry from them. As long as it is genuine, the seller will have no problem in including a return policy. Before you place any bid for the jewelry in question, make sure that you read all feedback from others. Look for sellers with a stellar reputation, and you will avoid falling victim to a lot of misrepresentation, misinterpretation, and outright forgery that is often the hallmark of this industry. Do what you need to do to protect yourself from losing money on worthless items.
In summary, before you invest in any vintage jewelry online, you need to teach yourself how to look for visual clues to ascertain their age. If you are talking about older brooches, then their backs must be smooth and not patterned. Anyone telling you that they have aurora borealis rhinestones that were made before 1950s, is cheating you, since they only entered the market in the mid 1950s. Copyright symbols started appearing on jewelry made from around 1955, and not any earlier. Most vintage jewelry have signs of wear and tear, especially along the clasp, not unless it was stored away in your grandparent's drawer and nobody ever wore it.

Selling Vintage Jewelry...

The popularity of vintage jewelry has created an excellent opportunity for creative-types interested in owning a small business. Learning how to make money selling vintage jewelry requires some research and patience while assembling a quality inventory and scoping out the most cost-effective sales outlets. While selling online reaches an international market with a greater potential for sales, selling locally may yield higher prices due to less competition but with fewer potential sales.
For non-collectors of vintage jewelry, it's important to become knowledgeable about the field in general but specifically, it's important to learn about types of metal used in vintage jewelry, popular designers and collectible pieces. A jeweler's loop can be used to identify makers and designers marks and metal content.
Aside from gold, sterling silver and vermeil--a combination of silver with gold overlay--rhodium is highly sought after. Rhodium, similar in appearance and value to platinum, was used by quality vintage jewelry designers after World War II.
Search for vintage jewelry at garage sales, estate sales and church bazaars. Flea markets are also an excellent source for collectible vintage jewelry. Online auctions often sell vintage jewelry in lots. Purchasing jewelry in lots may yield some treasures the seller has overlooked. In addition to looking for designers signatures on jewelry, look for unmarked pieces that show excellent craftsmanship or unusual designs.
Research prices online and at local vintage shops. Keep prices competitive but leave some room for negotiating with customers. Items featured in an online store or marketplace usually have set prices. Collectible pieces and sets will sell well online where many collectors search for specific makers or pieces to finish out partial sets.
Keep in mind the fees that many online stores charge for listing items or for items sold. Merchant account fees should also be figured into the price of the jewelry. Advertising, promotion, and time spent cleaning or making small repairs to jewelry should also be incorporated into the selling price.
Jewelry sold at a flea market can be marked up to leave room for negotiating. A 10 to 20 percent mark-up should leave plenty of opportunity for bargaining and still earning a reasonable profit. When figuring the price, add in the cost of the booth rental plus the cost of gas and the time needed to set up and break down the booth.
When placing items on consignment in local vintage shops or boutiques, the shop owner will keep up to 50 percent of the sale price after the piece sells. It may be unreasonable to recoup the profit from consignment sales unless an exceptionally strong local market will support high-end prices.
Popularity of the designer, mint or excellent condition of the jewelry item and quality images, in the case of online sales, will positively impact sales. Images should reflect any damage or issues of concern to a potential buyer. Don't forget to create a mailing list of customers to promote new inventory to secure repeat buyers.

The Value Of Signed Vintage Jewelry!!

Women love jewelry of all kinds. Unfortunately, men think we only love diamonds. Diamonds can be a girl's best friend, but we like other types of gems as well. As styles become popular, more women can be seen wearing Signed Vintage Jewelry [http://www.signedvintagejewelry.com]. Yes, costume jewelry is not just for the stage or for costume balls. It can bring color and style to any outfit. Little girls like to play dress up. Well, women are just little girls all grown up. We do prefer to wear vintage jewelry that has some amount of value. To some women this type of jewelry is priceless and to others it is about setting off their outfit with the perfect accessories.
Remember the jewelry Grandma used to wear? Some of her pieces seemed more gaudy than decorative, but when she passed away, those pieces became a link to her memory. They have sentimental value to you, but they may be worth even more if they are signed pieces of vintage jewelry. If you are interested, you can check the book value and find out if the pieces were signed or not. If they are signed, they are worth more than you may think. It is very possible that you could find an antique dealer who deals specifically in Signed Vintage Jewelry.
Signed Vintage Jewelry can be found in thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales, and antique shops. Prices vary depending on the condition of each piece, when they were made, and who the designer or manufacturer was. Keep in mind that the jewelry you find may be worth more to the person selling it because it may have the sentimental value we discussed. Monetary value will sometimes be determined by what an item means to someone.
The good news is some people do not know if the jewelry they have is signed or unsigned. Once you know what to look for, it is quite possible that you will find some really great deals on Signed Vintage Jewelry.
If you have jewelry you would like priced, you can check with your local library or a bookstore for books that list the prices of Signed Vintage Jewelry. If you see jewelry that seems very similar to what you have, compare prices to help you determine worth.

A Look At Trifari Costume Jewelry~Part 2

Let's look at some characteristics of Trifari costume jewelry from the 1930s to the '50s.
From 1937 to at least the 1950s, Trifari's premier designer was Alfred Phillipe. Popular brooch designs were geometrics, florals, leaves and berries, animals and people. Colored and clear rhinestones were set in intricate patterns, or combined with pastel colored plastic inserts in the shape of flowers. Many are signed "KTF". Watch for age-darkened rhinestones, a common flaw on these early pieces.
The 1940s saw Joseph Wuyts' designs join Alfred Philippe. Florals were still very popular, in addition to birds, fish, hearts, and figures. Brooches featured colorful enameled flowers and sparkling rhinestones. Poured glass was another method used to depict flowers. Pav rhinestones (an all-over pattern rhinestones very close together) combined with red or black enamel were commonly found features on jewelry from the early 1940s.
During the War years, Sterling Silver was used in costume jewelry, as other metals were needed for the war effort. "Jelly Belly" jewelry made its appearance in 1943. These were clear lucite "bellies" that formed the bodies of animal, fish and bird figures. Authentic jelly belly pieces are very collectible, but be aware that some jelly belly jewelry has been reproduced.
The late 1940s saw more abstract designs, with florals and bird designs still popular. More jelly bellies and lots of pav rhinestones were featured. A 1949 Poodle brooch with a green jelly belly is very popular with collectors.
In the 1950s designs became even more abstract, and flowers, leaves, bows, hearts and animals in rhinestones, plastic, and jelly bellies were very popular. White plastic motifs such as apples, pears and flowers set in gold-tone metal were very desirable, as well as multi colored rhinestone brooches and earrings.
In the 1950s charm bracelets became popular, and Trifari produced charms of the signs of the Zodiac. These charms sold for $5.00! I would have had to baby-sit for 10 hours to earn enough for one, plus another 4 hours for the bracelet!
Necklaces of gold tone with clear and colored rhinestones were featured in the 1950s, and flower-and-leaf designs were popular. The late '50s saw plastic and enamel pieces in white and turquoise, as well as sparkling rhinestone brooches in flower, key and wreath shapes.
As you can see, there were many many designs of Trifari costume jewelry down through the years. If you're lucky enough to come across a vintage piece, examine it closely, be sure that it is indeed vintage, and be proud to add it to your collection.

Vintage Jewelry....Can you tell whats real or fake?

Vintage jewelry collecting, and especially vintage costume jewelry collecting, has exploded onto the market in recent years. Many are signed and many are unsigned. With this explosion has been an increase of fake jewelry to go along with it. Therefore, when it comes to collecting vintage jewelry, be sure you know what you are looking for and at. Later on, you will be glad that you did.

But, how do you know if the jewelry is real or fake? There are a couple of different ways to look at this. One would be to deal with a trusted dealer. Possibly one that either you, or someone you know, has dealt with before. The second, and probably the best way to attack this issue would be through research and education. There are many books on the market now that include many photographs that can be use to compare other pieces with. This is a highly resourceful resource that would, could, and should be used when unsure of the piece.

The internet is a vast array of knowledge on this subject also. Many collectors create and maintain a person website describing what they personally collect and enjoy. These can assist also. If you are going to search through some of the internet auction websites, rest assured that there are good as well as bed when it comes to this aspect of the jewelry collecting field. When utilizing an internet auction, do the research. Check out the seller. Make every attempt to verify that you are dealing with a creditable resource and dealer. This single most piece of advice is probably the most valuable advice any jewelry collector should heed.

There are many unsigned pieces out there. These are pieces that was, for the biggest part, created for the masses and sold wholesale to places like Sears and J.C. Penny. These are very nice pieces. However, these pieces need to be extensively researched in order to avoid the pitfalls of purchasing a fake. Some of these highly sought after and collectible designers would include Miriam Haskell, Weiss, and Eisenberg.

Cleaning is a crucial part of taking care of your jewelry. But, be aware when it comes to rhinestones. If you immerse it under water, odds are that you will destroy part of it, without even knowing that you did. There is a very thin foil lining on the back of most rhinestones. Liquids have a tendency to destroy this foil lining. To avoid this, spray your cleaner directly onto a rag or towel, and wipe the piece gently and throughly.

Buying, Pricing, And Value Of Vintage Jewelry...

Vintage costume jewelry is a far cry from the fashion pieces you will find in most department stores. In fact, while new costume jewelry will literally depreciate in value, signed vintage jewelry from the 1920's through the late 1960's and early 70's is still appreciating in value. Thousands of jewelry enthusiasts are finding vintage jewelry collecting profitable-when they know what to look for when buying.

Identifying the valuable vintage costume necklaces, rings, and other pieces to collect boils down to knowing what actually determines value on the market. No precious metals or gemstones are used to make costume pieces but some jewelry is plated with precious metals like gold or silver. In addition, vintage costume jewelry pieces were produced in masses at factories unlike fine jewelry.

Some costume designs have become so popular that they now are worth many times their original sale price. Making big money is possible when collecting but you need to understand what determines value so you can purchase the most profitable pieces to resale. Pricing for vintage pieces can be broken down into five main components:

Rarity

Originality of Design

Demand

Quality of Materials and Craftsmanship

Final Condition

The supply of vintage jewelry varies greatly and this affects pricing in a big way. The great diversity of manufacturers also created vast differences in batch sizes. Profits tend to be lower when talking about pieces made by the larger players like Coro and Accessocraft who produced jewelry in large batches. DeMario, McClelland, and other small companies might only have batch sizes numbering in the hundreds.

Because they are so much rarer, those pieces from the smaller companies will almost always sell for more than something from one larger manufacturers-but this is only a guide and not a steadfast rule. But beware, even the major costume jewelry manufacturers like Trifari and Coro would have limited runs of specialty pieces that are now considered quite valuable due to their rarity-just as is the case with the smaller companies.

A wardrobe is not complete without a costume jewelry. It's a must have addition that adds flare and flamboyance to any usual attire. Present day production techniques have allowed the creation of high-quality and exquisitely designed jewelry at a much lower cost. These techniques produced articles that are so genuine looking that an untrained eye will not be able to distinguish between genuine and imitations. This article will discuss a couple of reasons why you should sincerely include costume jewelry in your everyday wardrobe.

For one reason, costume jewelry can provide you with a wide variety at a fraction of the cost. You can create your own virtual treasure chest of blings without costing you a lot. You can find earrings, necklaces, finger rings, toe rings, body jewelry, brooches, cufflinks and even tiaras in the huge collection of costume jewelries. You can use them to adorn or accentuate your otherwise boring attire. Because of its cheap price, you can always feel and look like a million dollars wearing one.

Costume or fake jewelry are available in a wide variety. If you scout the market, you can find copies of classical designs to exorbitant pieces. A lot of designers are able to expand their creativity and thereby produce very rare pieces minus the related cost of bespoke design. You may fancy an unusual jewelry and you're more likely to find one that has a lesser price.

An expensive jewelry that gets damaged can cost a lot to be repaired. If that is not possible, you need to have the damaged jewelry replaced entirely. This can be pretty devastating as the total loss of expensive jewelry can cost more to be repaired, much more replaced. You may be covered by an insurance policy but still, this does not guarantee that you will not incur any financial cost. On the contrary, damaged costume jewelry can be easily replaced because of its relatively low price.

If you want to expand your collection of accessories, you can try to pool your fancy jewelry with friends and family. The low value placed on fancy jewelry makes it easier for its owner to swap these items without worry as compared to those high-valued items.

Because costume jewelry has a relatively low value, you can treat yourself and other people even if there's no special occasion or event. This simply implies that if you are out on your usual shopping spree and you saw a bracelet that you feel you just need to have, then you can purchase it without the guilt. If somebody just did a favor for you, you can send a gift of gratitude of costume jewelry.