Author Archive for fitzcharming
Wanda Fitzgerald is a Florida native and an vintage charm collector who loves to share her adventures in an e-commerce jewelry business with anyone who is interested.
Fitzcharming Collects – Installment Three – Ethan Allen Furniture
Here’s another look at one of my personal collections, outside of my charm collection of course which I need to get busy and organize so I can feature them here more regularly. In my dining room I have a long skinny table that seats 12 and around the perimeter of the room I have an assortment of Ethan Allen Custom Room Plan modular pieces.
The Beauty of Bohemian Garnet Jewelry
Bohemian Garnets are a unique type of gemstone which are mined almost exclusively in the mountains of the former Bohemian empire, now part of the Czech Republic. Valued for their fiery red beauty and clarity, Bohemian Garnets are used extensively in jewelry.
Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical J’s
Jade – A form of Jadite that is usually green but appears in many other colors and is often carved into gemstone shapes or cabochon.
Japanning - A jewelry finish that is finished with a black color.
Jasper – An opaque variety of Chalcedony that is found in all colors including.
Jet – Fossilized coal that is [...]
The Charm Cellar is Open for Business
It’s been a while since I started visualizing having my own site where I sell vintage charms. About a year ago I began with a vision and now it’s finally ready.
Snapeez® Magic Charm Bracelet Jump Rings – Are They Secure?
I get this question all the time from my ebay customers. And I always respond with the same truthful answer.
Jewelry Quote of the Month – March 2010
“The hues of the opal, the light of the diamond, are not to be seen if the eye is too near” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
February Birthstones – Amethyst
February’s birthstone, the amethyst, is a form of quartz, which varies in color from pale lilac to dark purple. It is found in Canada, The U.S., Australia, India, Russia, and Sri Lanka as natural crystals within rocks.
Amethyst has been a foundation of royal jewels throughout the ages, as intense violet is a associated with royalty. [...]
My New Maps of European Countries Charm Bracelet
I just bought this bracelet on ebay and was going to disassemble it to sell but now I can’t decide if I want to sell it or keep it. It’s got ten enamel sterling silver European country maps including their flags in pastel colors. I’m a sucker for enamel charms.
Jewelry Quote of the Month – February 2010
Posy and pearls
Amethyst and gold
Forever you and I
Our precious love to hold.
~Astrid Alauda
Thomas L Mott – Vintage TLM Charms For Sale
I’m a big collector of Thomas L Mott vintage charms. As I sorted through my collection recently I realized that I have a few duplicates and have decided to offer them for sale. Most are bright and pretty enamels and some are sterling silver with a warm vintage patina.
January Birthstones – Garnet
Anyone born in January knows their birthstone is a warm deep red garnet. My first thoughts are of Bohemian garnets found in antique jewelry from the late 19th century. What most don’t realize is that garnets are found in almost all colors except blue.
Collections A La Fitzcharming
This is another look at the things I collect, other than charms of course. Last time I showed you my Artesania Rinconada dogs and birds, my blue soapstone eggs, and my glass pumpkins. Of course that wasn’t all. You know those of us with the collector gene don’t stop at just a few collections, so this will be a continuing series until I get to the end, which may take a while.
Jewelry Quote of the Month – January 2010
“Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.” ~ Thomas Carlyle
Fort of Providence Rhode Island Charms
I’ve seen these vintage shield charms for years and always wondered what company manufactured them. They are little souvenir colored shields in a sterling silver frame. The mark on the back reads sterling and has a Trojan Soldier looking guy with a spear and armor shield with an E in the center.
Jewelry Term Definitions – Alphabetical I’s
I. G. I. – International Gemological Institute (IGI) – the largest independent gem grading and appraisal institute in the world.
Inclusion – A solid, liquid, or gaseous particle of foreign matter within a mineral. These can decrease the value of a stone, however sometimes, as in the case of a star sapphire, the inclusion is prized.
Ingot [...]
