Vintage Jewelry Survey - Results Published June, 2008



What do other people who buy vintage jewelry collect? What kinds of designers do people enjoy? How many pieces do they own? Are their interests similar to yours? Here are the most popular answers given by our newsletter subscribers. 



Q. What is your primary reason for buying vintage jewelry?

A. I enjoy collecting it.



Q. What types of costume jewelry do you enjoy buying?

A. Rhinestone, designer signed and "Whatever I like."



Q. 3. Where do you like to buy your jewelry?

A. Antique malls and shops.



Q. Have you bought any vintage costume jewelry in the last year?

A. Yes.



Q. How many pieces do you currently have in your collection?

A. More than 100.



Q. What sources do you use for learning about vintage jewelry?

A. Mostly internet, then books.



Q. How many vintage costume jewelry resource books and guides do you own?

A. 1-5.



Q. Do you have a favorite vintage jewelry designer?

A. No, I like many different designers.



Q. If you had to pick a few, who would be your favorites?



RESULTS (each list of designers is ordered from most to least votes within each category)



Very Popular (Chosen by more than 20 people): Miriam Haskell, Weiss, Trifari



Popular (Chosen by 10-19 people): Coro, Eisenberg, D&E (Juliana)



Moderately Popular (Chosen by 5-9 people): Sherman, Kenneth Jay Lane (KJL), Florenza, Har, Sarah Coventry, Hobe, Kramer, Boucher, Various Mexican Sterling Designers



Less Popular (Chosen by 2-4 people): Mazer / Jomaz, Lisner, Joan Rivers, Joseff of Hollywood, Hollycraft, Demario, David Andersen, JJ, Chanel, Art, Heidi Daus, Matisse, Ciner, Vendome, Schreiner, Nolan Miller, Cini, Pennino, Kirk's Folley, Van Dell, Monet, Whiting & Davis, Panetta, Alice Caviness, WIlliam Kerr



Special Mention (Chosen by 1 person): Bogoff, Hattie Carnegie, Schiaparelli, BSK, Barklay, VRBA, Staret, Sandor, Sweet Romance, Lunch at the Ritz, Piddley Links, Miracle, Sphinx, Butler & Wilson, Selro, Christian Dior, Avon, Jensen, DeRosa, Laguana



So why do all these people like to buy vintage jewelry? What do they do with it? Some answers may surprise you!



The answers in no particular order are:

- to restore

- to wear

- to study

- for re-enactment purposes

- to frame for art display and keepsake

- to re-sell

- for gifting

- to appreciate

- to remind of a loved one

- to brighten up the day

- to capture art and beauty of the past

- to play with



Do you have an interesting collection? Tell us about it!

Hello! I hope your jewelry finds have been good thus far this summer!



I came across a doozy of a brooch and earring set in the most vibrant fuchsia color. The minute I saw it, my instinct said Sherman but I turned it over and no signature! So does this mean the set is for sure not Sherman? Not at all. There is some misinformation out there that all Sherman jewelry was marked. This is not the case. I have had two pieces side by side and not a difference to them and I do very thoroughly inspect my jewelry. Not only that but in beaded parures with the necklace, bracelet and earrings you'll often only find one piece marked although they have the same workmanship and use the same components and may have even came in the same Sherman box. I have a set like that right now that I'm struggling with as well. In addition, other dealer friends agree that they also have had unsigned Sherman.



So, what do you think about attributing unsigned items to a designer?  Is it ethical?  Should price be affected and if so, how much?

Vintage Jewelry Tip Of The Month:Most Useful Reference and Price Guides 05/07

There are so many resource and price guides available for vintage jewelry but how are you supposed to know which ones are most worth investing in? Our library contains over 50 of these books so we've outlined the ones we find most useful for identification, information, and pricing.

1. Unsigned Beauties of Costume Jewelry: Identification and Values by Marcia Sparkles Brown: A collector favorite! - This book has many photos of jewelry of all different kinds. It's fun to search through or pieces you already own! The price guide is reasonable although consideration is not given to unsigned pieces that are known to be from certain manufactures which results in an under pricing for some items.

2. Collecting Rhinestone & Colored Jewelry by Maryanne Dolan. - We like this book not only for the pictures and price guide (most pictures are in black and white) but for the extensive section on designer trademarks. It will encourage you to search for designers you had never heard of before! Almost half of the large 399 page book is dedicated to this topic with images of each mark included.

3. Answers to Questions About Old Jewelry: Covers 1840-1950 by Jeanenne Bell - This book has information about jewelry and fashion specific to each time period with pictures and values to support it. If you are purely interested in costume jewelry, you may be put off by the amount of fine jewelry represented in this book. However, it is a valuable resource for learning about fine pieces and styles which costume jewelry you collect was modeled after.

If you have a more refined, eclectic taste for vintage jewelry, we strongly recommend the following three books. I don't believe "American Costume Jewelry" is being produced anymore so you may have to find it in the second hand market. Please feel free to comment on this if you know more.

A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA by Carla and Roberto Brunialti

AMERICAN COSTUME JEWELRY by Carla and Roberto Brunialti

EUROPEAN DESIGNER JEWELRY by Ginger Moro

What are your favorite books on vintage jewelry? Let us and others know by leaving a comment.

I am very excited to announce the opening of The Vintage Costume Jewelry Blog!



Bookmark this blog for information, news and discussions covering a wide variety of topics under the broader topic of vintage costume jewelry. Topics may include designer marks, construction, current fashion, hot trends, remakes, design, style and our current findings.



My name is Jo-Ann and I am the proprietor of Vintage Jewelry Girl!, an online store and resource site for vintage jewelry. That's my picture in the top right corner. It was a professionally done 1940's glamour shot where I was able to dress the part and make like a Hollywood starlet. I am wearing the most gorgeous long rhinestone earrings from a later period. I have been dealing in vintage jewelry for 8 years and am self taught with the help of various excellent internet resources and zillions of books which are the most precious part of my library. I treasure them as much as I treasure my jewelry!



We'll start off with a new find for today which is not yet listed on the site. The brooch above is a pink diamond or square (depending on how it is worn) piece with molded iridescent glass stones. Do you know who made this piece? Leave a comment with your guess and I'll update the blog later to tell you if you were right.



Well, that’s all for today. Take Care!

Jo-Ann