Fitzcharmings Jewelry Articles
Cincinnati Charm Convention 2009
A couple of weeks ago I attended the very first national meeting of the “Joan’s Vintage Charm and Charm Bracelets” group. We met in Cincinnati and so our first event was called the Cincinnati Charm Convention.
Jewelry Quote of the Month – October 2009
No gold-digging for me; I take diamonds! We may be off the gold standard someday ~ Mae West
Gold Heart Charms Overload
This is my gold heart bracelet. Some are lockets, some puffy hearts, some have stones, some ARE stones, some are enamel, and all are made of 10K, 14K, or 18K gold, even if it’s just the bail. I never wear it because it’s too noisy.
Vintage Nuvo British Charms
Nuvo was a British jewelry company that produced some of the most beautifully detailed and well crafted charms during the 1950’s through the late 1970’s. Their specialty was sterling silver three dimensional and moving charms, although they did make some 9K gold charms. Occasionally one can find vintage Nuvo charms containing colored crystals, like the frog charm in my photo.
Vintage Jewelry – Is It Real Gold Or Silver?
When buying vintage jewelry, the best and most surefire way to ensure the piece is truly the metal quality you are expecting, is of course to view a hallmark of the metal purity, such as 14K or Sterling Silver somewhere on the item. For those of us who buy collectible fine vintage jewelry that’s not intended to be heirloom or investment quality, there are other methods that are often used to establish the value of an item.
Sapphire Birthstones and September Birthdays
A deep blue sapphire is the traditional and modern birthstone for those born in September. Read more to find out about this lovey stone and the September born….
Vintage Trifari Summer White Jewelry In Excess
I believe I’ve OD’d on vintage Trifari White Jewelry. Some of it is made from thermoset, a plastic similar to bakelite; some is milk glass, or poured glass, and some is Lucite. The pieces belong to several different Trifari named collections and they are all circa 1940s through 1960s. I have several duplicates and some […]
Gemstone Hardness and The Moh’s Scale
Diamond, which is the hardest naturally occurring substance, is highest on the scale, and talc, which can be scratched with a fingernail, is at the bottom. The position of a substance on the scale is determined by finding the hardest material that the given substance can scratch, and/or the softest material that can scratch the […]
Jewelry Quote of the Month – September 2009
“Let us not be too particular. It is better to have old second-hand diamonds than none at all”. – Mark Twain
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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
Vintage Charm Bracelets in Modern History
Charms and amulets of one sort or another have been around for thousands of years. They are well documented in ancient Egypt, Rome, and many other historical eras as talismans worn to ward off evil spirits or bring luck. For this article I’m focusing on the rise in popularity of charms and charm bracelets in […]
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