12 Days of Gifts, Day 1

In order to help you feel inspired with your Holiday gift giving we're presenting 12 Days of Gifts -  both here & on our facebook pages. What we're showcasing on the blog are specific pieces from the shop, things that are in some way special & that we think would light up anyone's face once unwrapped. To kick things off we've got this awesome Bulova watch that just came in. This is a gorgeous vintage time piece - 23 jewels, a gold front & stainless back with modern amenities such as being self winding & waterproof. A cool engraving on the back dates it 1956. Fully serviced it ticks along beautifully with a brand new leather band that suits it perfectly - get it while you can. 

Georgian Jewelry (Circa 1714-1835)

Georgian Jewelry (Circa 1714-1835)

We covet any treasure from this elegant era of jewelry history! Tastes and style changed considerably over the span of this era. The start of the period was mainly gold and silver with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. Later though, the fall of the aristocracy and neo-classicism led jewelry designs into a different world altogether - one of less costly materials and semi-precious gem stones. During this time, a rising middle class began to afford the luxury of jewels and finery. Paste jewelry came into vogue as a substitute for diamonds by a growing middle class that couldn't quite afford them. Pastes (which are glass composites) are softer than ordinary glass but have a higher index of refraction and dispersion that give them great brilliancy and fire. Quality paste stones from this era were faceted & polished in the same way an actual diamond would've been cut - and often, no less beautiful.

 This stick pin is a simple example of paste jewelry from the end of the Georgian era.  

 

Bridal Jewelry and Accessories

Wedding Season has begun and we have stocked the store with lots of bridal jewelry and accessories in preparation.  From clutches to earrings to antique hair combs, we have every thing you may need for the special day!

New Antiques

I found some really great antiques at the flea market the other day. Check out our new items, many more are in the store! And Happy Spring to you all!
Beautiful silver plated candlesticks, and a small sweet pair of bronze ones!

This Art Deco pocket watch is a 14k white gold fill, much more rare than 14k yellow gold fill pieces. The etching on the back is wonderful, and it comes with an antique watch fob! The pin is all rhinestone and has a lot of sparkle.

One of my favorite finds are these two beautifully beaded pieces. The peacock is a purse that is all wire beaded and is simply stunning, with a second peacock on the backside as well. The other one is a small box lined in red, and would look great next to any jewelry collection!

Shopping for Art Deco Objects

As purveyor's of these objects ourselves, we thought we'd direct you to a piece in today's NY Times around shopping for beautiful Deco finds. As Guy Oliver, a period authority, says - 'Art Deco doesn’t age, because of the lines'. We agree! Deco pieces sit nicely alongside & embellish their more modern counterparts - whether a ring or a martini glass. Read HERE

Pretty Vintage Barrettes

New this week- several different varieties of vintage hair clips- so fun and unique!

Rebekah interviewed at Krrb.com

Our good friend Brooke Williams (artist/photographer, dj, mom) is the executive editor of the blog at Krrb.com, covering all things local and vintage. She has just done a really nice spotlight on Rebekah, offering some insights into what inspires her & where she finds some of the unique pieces you can find in our shop. Check it out here (along with the Krrb site itself) and leave a comment!

New (to us) Vintage Cluster Rings

We just got three of the most unique cluster rings we have ever had!

This first one is 14k White gold, with 2mm diamonds on the outside and a 3mm diamond in the center of the cluster. It is an Art Deco ring and these diamonds are very large in comparison to most diamonds used in cluster rings.

This second ring is a square cluster ring! The diamonds are all approximately 2mm, round diamonds set into a square setting. The setting is 14k White gold and the shank is 14k Yellow gold.

This last ring is the smallest but is definitely very unique. The diamonds on the outside are all about 1mm and it has a beautiful, light colored sapphire in the center. The shank is 14k Yellow gold and the setting is Platinum. There is also a lot of beading around the smaller diamonds, adding a lot of texture to the setting.

Oldies but Goodies

One of my favorite things about knowing jewelry so well is being able to look at a beautiful vintage piece and see the uniqueness and value before it is even polished. I love vintage jewelry and think that it is such a valuable piece of history and artistry. So in that light, I wanted to show you all some of our new vintage pieces that I've acquired in the last couple months.

This ring is a vintage rose cut diamond set in a rose gold setting. I love how small and simple it is, and the rosy hue of the gold adds such a warm feeling to the ring.

This band is called the "Hollin Style" and can be found with and without the diamond setting on the top.

This last ring was purchased for one very lucky lady just a week ago. It is a vintage Cluster Diamond ring from the Edwardian period and is set in rose gold. The setting was very low so it sat close to the finger and was a petite size 5. The great thing about buying vintage engagement rings is that the diamonds and gold have already been mined. It is one of the best ways to be "eco-friendly" with a diamond. And the styles are so unique and wonderfully crafted. If the style of the ring is still popular now, 100+ years later, then you know it can stand the test of time.