Archive for August, 2009
Dept 56 Christmas Village Silver Charm Bracelet
Dept 56 makes a collection of silver bracelet charms that are mini versions of their Christmas Villages buildings. I’ve collected a few and am always on the lookout for more. I’m not sure how many charms are in the series or when they were offered for sale by the company because I haven’t found any [...]
Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical E’s
Edwardian – The period during the reign of Edward VII of England (1901-1910). In jewelry the style refers to the years of Queen Victoria’s reign, from the late 1900′s until shortly before World War I when the more geometric style of Art Deco began to make headway. Electroplate – A process whereby metal is plated [...]
Sea Life Charm Bracelet
No helpful jewelry information in this post, just a photo of one of my gold bracelets. This one is a beach / sealife theme, with lots of enamel fishies. It’s not necessarily vintage although some might be. It’s harder to tell with gold charms. The pelican is my favorite. I think I need to add [...]
Gold Fun Facts
A while back I purchased a diamond and gemstone testing machine from IGEM Instruments. Turns out it’s quite a handy and useful gadget. Anyway I must have signed up for their mailing list because this week I began receiving newsletters from them. Volume #1 was filled with a bunch of gold trivia and I thought I would share with you.
Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical D’s
A little music to relax by while you learn about jewelry terms starting with the letter D….. Damascene – A process of inlay whereby a soft metal is placed with a harder metal. Dead Stone – a foil backed rhinestone that has lost it’s shininess, usually when water has damaged the backing. Demi-Parure – Matching [...]
Vintage Beau – Beaucraft Charms
Beaucraft, Inc., known to many as “Beau”, manufactured sterling silver jewelry from 1947 through 2004 from its Providence, Rhode Island factory. The company was one of the leading producers of fine sterling jewelry for 57 years. They made popular mid priced pieces including charms, rings, necklaces, earrings, and brooches. Charms were their best selling category [...]
“Charms and Charm Bracelets The Complete Guide” Book Review
This book is the essential guide for serious and casual charm collectors alike. Charms And Charm Bracelets: The Complete Guide is a hardback book published by Schiffer in 2005. The author, Joanne Schwartz, and photographer, Robert N. Schwartz have done a brilliant job of packing the book with charm bracelet history spanning the 19th century [...]
Vintage Coro Yellow Thermoset Plastic Jewelry
A little change of pace from vintage charm collecting for your viewing pleasure. This is a parure set made by Coro probably in the 1950s. The set consists of matching necklace, bracelet, and clip earrings. Made from a type of plastic called thermoset, it’s sunny yellow tone has endured the test of time. I’m planning [...]
Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical C’s
Cabochon – A stone that is flat on one side & has a rounded dome on the other, with no carvings or facets. Cameo – A carved gemstone or shell in which the design is raised relief above the background of a different color. Cairngorm – A variety of quartz crystal found in the Cairngorm [...]
Vintage Charm Manufacturers – Danecraft, Inc.
If you’ve been collecting vintage charms for any length of time you’ve probably run across old sterling charms with the Danecraft hallmark. The mark is very common on vintage charm bracelets and charms, as well as other pieces of jewelry. Danecraft sterling silver charms were some of the best manufactured during the period in terms [...]
Jewelry Quote of the Month – August 2009
“A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a witty person, but a pebble in the hands of a fool.” ~ Author Unknown
