The Vintage Jewelry Blog

2024-12-16T12:09:00.005-08:00

What Is The Best Way To Clean Vintage Jewelry?

Taking on the task of cleaning vintage costume jewelry can be intimidating! The delicate materials and intricate designs require special care to avoid damaging them. But with the right tools and techniques, you can restore the sparkle and preserve the beauty of your treasured pieces. In our latest article, we’ll guide you through the best methods for cleaning vintage jewelry, from rhinestones and enamel to plated metals and faux pearls. Whether you're dealing with a family heirloom or a recent flea market find, our tips will help you keep your collection looking its best for years to come. We also offer some suggested materials that you can find on Amazon. Check it out here:

How to Clean Vintage Jewelry : Preserving Your Treasured Pieces

2024-03-29T16:16:00.009-07:00

Gustave Sherman: An Introduction To Canada's Icon of Elegance

Imagine stepping into a world where elegance, sophistication, and quality intertwine seamlessly. That's the essence captured in the phrase "Jewels of Elegance," adorning the paper foil tag of Sherman jewelry. Gustave Sherman stands as the pinnacle of Canadian costume jewelry.

From 1947 to 1981, in the heart of Montreal, Quebec, Sherman crafted a legacy of uniquely designed, high-quality jewelry, setting the standard for elegance in every piece. With a keen eye for subtle shades and a masterful balance of size and movement, Sherman's creations exuded unmatched allure.

Every aspect of his business bore his personal touch, from design and production to marketing. Over fifty years since its inception, Sherman's jewelry remains a hallmark of sophistication, easily recognizable even to novice collectors at antique shows or stores.

Using only the finest Swarovski crystals, and later on, unique art glass stones, Sherman spared no effort in crafting designs that demanded attention, often embellishing his pieces with an abundance of stones and finishing them with double plating for lasting brilliance. What's more, Sherman's commitment to customer satisfaction knew no bounds, offering a "no questions asked" free repair service for all his jewelry. Stories exist of Sherman going above and beyond, from completely remaking bracelets to repairing competitors' broken pieces out of sheer goodwill.

In every shimmering facet of his creations, Gustave Sherman's passion for excellence shines through, leaving an indelible mark on the world of costume jewelry and securing his place as a true Canadian icon of elegance.

Follow our blog for more information on Sherman jewelry, as well as a number of other designers and general vintage jewelry topics!

2024-03-12T10:41:00.006-07:00

Exploring the Timeless Beauty of Sherman Rhinestone Jewelry: A Gallery Showcase

We invite you to peruse our extensive Sherman Jewelry Gallery, and embark on a journey through the illustrious history and captivating allure of Sherman jewelry with our vintage Sherman jewelry information article. Over the years, we've had the pleasure of curating a remarkable collection of these exquisite pieces, each one a testament to the enduring craftsmanship and timeless elegance of the Sherman brand.

As you peruse through our galleries, you'll discover a treasure trove of Sherman jewelry that we've had the privilege of showcasing. From dazzling vintage brooches to elegant necklaces, each piece has been presented to provide you with a clear view and help you identify your own Sherman treasures.

And if you happen to fall in love with a particular piece during your virtual journey, don't hesitate to click to shop our current inventory of Sherman jewelry. Who knows? You might just find your next prized possession waiting to be cherished!

Happy browsing!

2023-06-09T13:48:00.007-07:00

Come join us for our newly designed vintage jewelry website with updated reference pages!

Our vintage costume jewelry website has a great selection of carefully curated vintage, estate, and antique jewelry, plus reference pages including a 1950s jewelry information page with original advertisements, a Sherman jewellery history guide, Sherman jewelry gallery pages, and an overview of the history of vintage and antique jewelry! Bookmark and follow us as we have many more jewelry resources coming soon!

Facebook Group for Vintage, Antique, and Estate Jewelry

2020-05-11T14:11:00.003-07:00

It's been a while since my last blog post! About 5 years, by the looks of it...oops!

The reason for this is that I was working on our .com site and Etsy store, but also because our Facebook group that sells vintage, antique, and estate jewelry has been so busy, that other projects have taken a back burner!

If you love unique high-quality jewelry, you should stop by and check it out! We were doing local shows a couple of years ago when I met a vintage clothing seller who had a small selection of jewelry. Now, Amy (who used to own Buttons and Frills Vintage Boutique) has partnered with Vintage Jewelry Girl to form Vintage Jewelry Girls YEG on Facebook!

Here are some examples of the type of thing you'll find in our group. All items are in Canadian dollars and we ship orders to the US for $5 USD for multiple items! Hope to see you there! 💖

Creative, Interesting, and Totally Modern Ways To Wear A Brooch

2015-12-21T20:14:00.004-08:00

Artistic, versatile, fun, and timeless. These are words to describe one of my favorite accessories...THE BROOCH!

You can buy new brooches at most stores that sell costume jewelry. Although once you've handled a lot of vintage jewelry, you may find newer pieces so lacking in quality that they aren't worth the investment. Often, stones fall out, metal becomes discolored within a few months, and the style is so uber-trendy that you can only wear it for a season anyway. That type of jewelry has it's place but vintage is, in my opinion, almost always the way to go. For example, the pieces in the Vintage Jewelry Girl collection have retained their condition, beauty, and wearability for 50, 60, or sometimes even 80 years! A carefully chosen choice of designer or unsigned quality jewelry can elevate a simple or inexpensive outfit. You can take a look at one of our previous posts to see some of our favorite vintage brooches or as I like to call them, "outfit elevators." ;-)

But, as one fashionable, but brooch-naive friend of mine said at my most recent vintage jewelry party, "I like them but how do you wear them?" Due to the popularity of the brooch as a fixture on the upper breast of Grandma's best Sunday suit, it unfortunately conjures up an image that is a bit old, stodgy, and too traditional for a lot of "us" *ahem* younger folk.

So how do you do it? How do you make the brooch a modern accessory? And how can you use a nice vintage piece to add some old-style class and individuality to your wardrobe? Here are some of our favorite ideas for you to try!

Source: Getty Images

Let's start with the classic option. The basic shoulder brooch, although it's done exceptionally well here! I almost prefer to call this the lower shoulder brooch because you'll see in later images some pins placed DIRECTLY on the shoulder. Regardless, this look, worn here by Dita Von Teese is made striking by her choice of size. Also, there is an interesting contrast between the clean lines of her dress and the texture of the flower. The gold metal also pops against the beautiful rich royal blue color of her dress! She successfully uses a vintage style in a completely modern and striking way.

Source: A Beautiful Mess

A more modern and less classic approach is to group brooches together on the shoulder. It's so cute how this girl pairs these vintage flower pins with her vintage style top!

Source: Teen Vogue

You don't have to be outrageous about it! Maybe you're into simplicity. You could give something like this a go. This little figural pin adds some character to the collar while complimenting the line of the garment.

Image Source: Amazing Interior Design

Long flowy tops are really popular right now. Why not use a big brooch to pin it closed when you want a little extra coverage? For heavier fabrics, use a bigger brooch and for lighter fabrics, a smaller one.

Source: Vintage Jewelry Girl

The infinity scarf is often left to stand on its own. Why not add a touch of interest with a vintage brooch?

Source: Nordstrom

You can also make use of well put together clusters to decorate the entire shoulder! You can change up your choice of pins so you never have the exact same look twice.

Source: Dolce Gabbana

Why not bring that same look down the page a little. Let your pins flow down your jacket for a really spectacular look!

Source: Vintage Jewelry Girl

Here's something you may not know about. You can use a brooch converter to turn any brooch into a gorgeous pendant! This one's from my personal collection. I love the little spokes of crystals around the piece and the texture is enticing.

Source: Street Scene

And since we're on the neckline, this has to be my absolute favorite way to wear a brooch! These 60s flower power brooches are so colorful when worn all together...on RED! So fun!

Source: Vintage Baubles and Bits

This is an interesting and creative idea! Layer some necklaces together and gather them with a big lightweight vintage pin. So much more interesting than the necklaces on their own!

Source: Dolce & Gabbana

And finally, here's another "embellish your accessories" idea. Isn't it stunning! You can pick up vintage purses with some wear or slight damage that you can cover with inexpensive gold-tone brooches...and voila! New beautiful purse!

Want to see more ideas on how to wear a vintage brooch? Check out our Vintage Jewelry Pinterest board and see the styles we're pinning! See you there!

Source: Fab Gabs

Oh...one more for the honorable mention!! I just came across THIS! Can I sneak this in the end here? An aged brass filigree pin holds her dress in the back. Stunning!

Happy pinning!

Win This Vintage Costume Jewelry Book in our Holiday Giveaway!

2015-12-08T12:28:00.002-08:00

Contest on now for a limited time! Enter to win his gorgeous collector guide by Judith Miller FULL of amazing photos and great vintage jewelry and designer information! This is a Facebook only contest.

Click the image below to go to the contest!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Vintage Jewelry Girl!

Vintage Jewelry Cyber Monday Sale!

2015-11-29T13:36:00.002-08:00

Oh wow!

On Monday November 30th, 2015, Vintage Jewelry Girl is having a store wide Cyber Monday sale! From 12:00 am MST until 11:59 pm MST on November 30th, use coupon code CM30 to receive 30% off all jewelry AND FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING! This is a once a year sale folks! Don’t miss this opportunity to get yourself or someone you love a special a sentimental, true vintage, eco-friendly gift. We all need something special to wear around the holidays!

Jewelry Trend for 2015 and Beyond: The Brooch

2015-10-18T14:29:00.001-07:00

Everybody's talking about it...the BROOCH! It's the "it" accessory for fall 2015 and I'm positive it will carry over much farther into 2016 and beyond.

Check out these recent runway looks:

source

From left to right: Fausto Puglisi, Edun, Balenciaga, Prada and Luisa Beccaria. Photos: Imaxtree

source

Dolce & Gabbana F/W15

source

Now, if this trend conjures up images for you of cute little circular conservative pops of sparkle, typically worn high on the shoulder, let me be the one to tell you, a brooch can be so much more! Once you spend some time really studying all the different aesthetic styles of this versatile piece of adornment and how it can be used in so many different ways, you may just be hooked for life!

Take some of the pieces from our collection for example. Like this piece by Mazer with big glass "fruit salad" stones, clear faceted crystals, and some swirling metal elements that give it a highly feminine look. The glass stones allow the color of your garment to show through. Can we suggest pairing it with a tailored blazer, mildly distressed jeans and a pair of pumps?

Say, with something like this:

Source unknown

Here's another example that would work great with this look. This is another vintage designer piece, this time by the well known company Boucher. Such nice depth in this piece and a great combination of fantastic design and a bit of sparkle. Not too girly but highly attractive!

Or, you could also go with something like this for yet a slightly different look with a bit of sentimentality. This piece is a traditional Norwegian silver Solje brooch. Typically given as wedding gifts, the gold colored metal "spoons" are thought to reflect evil away from the wearer. Some sources say they are possibly also a reflection of how many children a couple will have.

If you like dangles, here is a statement piece with a girandole like structure.

This piece is just amazing. Take a look at the side view. The emerald glass stones are raised off the heavy brass backing with large metal prongs.

Or how about something exceptionally interesting like this vintage frog brooch with little starfish for feet and peackock eye art glass eyes? Cute, isn't he?

And here's a fun piece! This flower is in the Brutalist style. Likely a Canadian made piece, it is a rare example of jewelry made in this style that actually resembles a form. In this case, a flower.

Want to add some femininity without going overboard? Here's a glass flower pin that is both a brooch and a pendant! And it's made by Trifari. A company known for quality and design.

So pretty with your summer pastels!

Or maybe you prefer something a little more quaint like this sweet petit point pin.

If size and detail are important to you, you might consider something like this bold but feminine brass floral brooch with a twisted metal border.

Here's how I chose to wear this one for a day out shopping on the Ave.

If sparkle is your thing, you could choose to wear something like this 60's piece that resembles a leaf.

Or perhaps something outstanding like this unsigned 1960's glam designer piece from the Juliana line by DeLizza and Elster?

Of course you could always channel your inner mid-century modern style with something like this groovy wood and silver cat pin.

And one more...just for fun! A great 1940's vintage piece by Coro. A magnificently designed piece with charm and sophistication. Just think of the personality it would add to that blazer and jean combo! Perfection!

The brooch. So many different shapes, styles, and finishes! And vintage is the way to go if quality and design are important to you. Whether designer signed or not, you're sure to find something that speaks to you.

Which style do you like? Do you currently wear brooches? If not, do you think you might in the future given their current popularity? Tell us in the comments below!

Our next blog post will cover different ways to wear the brooch. Subscribe to this blog or join our newsletter for updates!

UPDATE: See our newest post on Totally Modern ways to Wear a Brooch.

Vintage Jewelry Contest on Our Facebook Page

2015-10-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Time to give away some gorgeous jewelry! Don't miss it.

Join and follow our Facebook page for details and your chance to win!

Vintage Jewelry Display: Ideas From An Outdoor Market

2015-10-10T11:15:00.001-07:00

Recently we had the opportunity to participate in an outdoor market!

Fun!

I hadn't done a market in YEARS, so given that I had two weeks to prepare, I think it turned out alright! But with more shows planned on the near future, I thought I'd share some ideas and tips for anyone else out there planning on attending their own market or show. And speaking of markets and shows, make sure you visit our Alberta Market Guide For Vintage and Craft Fairs.

Ok, on to the good stuff!

(above) A DIY step display made specifically for brooches. Made from strips of foam clued together into "steps" and covered with black velvet fabric. Also, a cute sign quickly fashioned from a bit of paint on a couple of pieces of Saskatchewan barn wood.

I LOVE a good display, don't you? Something that grabs someone from a distance and pulls them in. Something with levels, style, color, and of course...sparkle!

This is what I tried to achieve with my display.

Now, I have to preface this by saying that I only had two weeks to prepare and I had nothing ready (including pricing) prior to this. Plus, I have a job...and a baby...and a house...and yard to maintain so there is potential for much more here! Also, I unfortunately forgot an entire box of display items at home including beautiful vintage china and silver that was supposed to take my display over the top. Oh well, I have another show coming up to make those revisions. Make sure to follow this blog for updates and more photos! :-)

The event was the Big Rock Brewery 30th Birthday Bash in Calgary, Alberta. Not something you'd expect to find vintage jewelry at but they graciously hosted a farmer's market with vintage inspired, true vintage, and handmade items. It was such a cute market with so many really talented vendors! Shopping, beer, and live entertainment...what a fun way to spend a Saturday!

On with the photos!

Photo by Stephanie Arsenault

(above) A basic spinning earring display with clip earrings. It was difficult to find way to display them without having them fall off. I used plastic and velvet earring cards. I cut the bottoms so the clip part would grip the velvet. An even better idea would be to glue some spongy black foam to the cards for the earrings to grasp.

(above) Photo by Stephanie Arsenault

(above) A vintage book (The Book of Golden Deeds) with pages folded in to create an attractive ring display.

(above) An old wooden case made into a jewelry display.

So, all in all, not bad for a first shot at it with very little time to prepare and having forgot an entire box of display items at home. More posts planned for the future including vintage jewelry display inspiration and tips for jewelry shows.

Do you have any good jewelry display ideas? Share them in the comments below!

Grand Opening of Vintage Jewelry Girl Dot Com!

2015-10-07T14:46:00.001-07:00

We are SOOOO excited to announce, that after a long summer of toiling over WordPress, our new vintage jewelry store is officially OPEN for business!! AND, it works Thank Goodness)!! ;-)

The new site offers a beautiful clean design with large photos of items and an easy to use picture lightbox for each image. The new Vintage Jewelry Girl site also features a new blog and jewelry information and tips. It'll be continually updated and provide fun vintage and contemporary fashion information as well as valuable identification, historical, and treasure hunting information!

SO . MUCH . FUN

In addition, we are offering a grand opening discount of 20% on all orders for a limited time with coupon code VJG20)! Stop by today to get a great deal on a unique, quality piece of vintage jewelry. The Christmas season is quickly approaching! Wouldn't it be fabulous to get something special for those on your list this year? Stop by and check it out and please comment on this post with any feedback you may have. If we find it especially useful, we may just send you something pretty for free!

See you at the shop! :-)

5 Great Reasons To Shop Vintage This Holiday Season!

2013-11-26T17:07:00.005-08:00

There are so many reasons to shop vintage this holiday season!

Here are our top five:

1. Give Special and Unique Gifts

Seriously, who else in your circle do you know who is going to go out and get someone some cute 1960's Christmas ornaments or (obviously I'm biased) a beautiful1940's Christmas brooch?

Shop: http://www.rubylane.com/item/693657-brchrefl-178/Brilliant-Vintage-1940s-Ruby-Red

2. Invest in Quality Lasting Treasures

You can go ahead and spend money on something that was mass produced in China in under a minute or you can give a mini investment to someone you love. Give them something that was produced by hand and has been around for decades. If they get sick of it, the value won't plummet off a cliff the moment it leaves the hands of the seller. There will always be someone who would be interested in a piece of the past.

See what I mean?

Source: http://showautoreviews.com/embrace-the-diversity-of-the-classic-car-market/

3. Vintage is Eco-Friendly!

You know the three R's? Which one isn't covered by buying vintage? EXACTLY!

You can create a greater market for things and stuff and fill our world with more items and plastic packaging which contribute to the Christmas carbon footprint....or you can buy something that was produced years ago and is likely better quality than anything you could buy today for the same price! If it makes you feel more modern and hip, go ahead and call it "eco-chic".

This piece? Produced in the 1930's. It's totally unique and still cool today. What's not eco or chic about it?

Shop: http://www.rubylane.com/item/693657-neceln-177/Vintage-Nut-Necklace-Celluloid-Chain

4. Support Small Business

Do you really want to give the executives at Nike a bigger Christmas bonus this year? Or maybe you'd like to boost the income of someone who has built up a small niche business from scratch and has spent the last year investing 12+ hours a day in their passion. Do you really want pad the bank accounts of those already living well beyond the average and increase the widening gap between rich and poor? You can encourage creativity and uniqueness in the world and strengthen our economy by supporting those who build something from scratch. Doesn't that sound nice?

5. Inspire Nostalgia and Good Memories

And finally, on our list, but certainly not the final reason to buy vintage, is for the memory. Ever walk around an antique mall listening to people's conversations about the items they see? If you have, you have no doubt heard people's voices raise in excitement when they see a toy or game they used to have or a piece of jewelry like their grandma used to wear or a glass candy dish like the one they gave their mother as a young child. Nostalgia and memories of loved ones and times past is nothing short of priceless. Jog old memories and create new ones by buying vintage this holiday season.

Source: http://www.mylearning.org/toys-through-time/images/2-1053/

And here's one additional bonus reason to shop vintage comfortably online from home or at the relaxing antique mall during the mall's busiest time of the year:

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2078991/Big-High-Street-names-collapse-days-despite-2-5bn-day-sales-boom.html

So go forth! Buy vintage this season...and have a HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Vintage Sherman Jewelry Gallery: Identification via Example

2013-09-06T00:05:00.011-07:00

Vintage Sherman Jewelry Information and Gallery: Identification via Example

2023 UPDATE! Click here to see our updated Sherman Jewelry Gallery!

2023 UPDATE: Click here for our newest article on Sherman Jewelry History!

So, you think you have a Sherman piece and you want information to confirm or deny that. Or perhaps you're a collector and you know the jewelry well and you just want some eye candy. Or maybe you're just interested in what makes Sherman jewelry so special anyway? (scroll down for pictures)

This post hopes to give you either the answers to your questions, the eye candy you desire, or the information you're looking for. It's a big one so sit back and enjoy this gallery of past pieces from Vintage Jewelry Girl and my analysis of what makes Sherman jewelry what it is.

First, I am not a Sherman expert. However, I have been selling vintage jewelry in Canada since 1998 and consider my "Sherman eye" fairly refined. Your comments are welcome and encouraged!

Sherman Jewelry

Sherman was a Canadian (Montreal) company that produced costume jewelry of exceptional quality most commonly in Austrian crystal, either of the rhinestone or bead variety. According to Illusion Jewels, it was in existence from 1947-1981 and bore at least 3 signatures. SHERMAN in all caps, Sherman in script, and Sherman with STERLING in all caps underneath it. The company logo, “made to last a lifetime,” was evident in the heavily gold-plated, rhodium-plated, and japanned settings with the highest quality crystals which were sometimes ordered according to Gustave Sherman's exacting specifications. Because of this, pieces are recognizable by the brilliance of the stones as well as the components commonly used in the jewelry. Sherman pieces were expensive in their day and remain so through the collectible market. Sherman jewelry ceased to exist in 1981 and Gustave Sherman passed away in 1984. Please see Collector's Weekly for more information.

The following is a gallery of vintage Sherman jewelry I have had throughout the years. I hope you enjoy the show of the beauty that is Sherman! Click each image to make it bigger. It's worth it!

Sherman Gallery

People collect jewelry for many different reasons. Here is one of mine. This is my Grandma's jewelry box complete with vintage Sherman brooch and earring set and necklace. This started my love for shiny things and the connection to my grandma started my love for vintage items which are connected to people and times gone by.

This set is in a highly collectible color called Siam red which brings some of the highest prices in Sherman jewelry. It's actually a darker and deeper red than the image shows.

This piece is a prime example showing the thin navette stones which Sherman so often used and cluster element at the top, also seen repeatedly in Sherman designs.

Here, you can see the back of the cluster which shows that the stones are open-set. This type of backing is also seen on pieces by Schreiner.

This next piece is a flower design which is common to Sherman jewelry. This piece, however, has some unusual grey striped stones which I haven't ever seen in any jewelry before ever!

The next two photos show a light pink Sherman brooch and earring set along with the signature on the brooch. This would be considered a less desirable piece because of the less interesting design, however the crystals are still of the utmost quality.

Next is a Sherman necklace in yellow. Even simple designs like this can cost upwards of $100 due to quality of materials and collectability of the brand name.

You can see by the image of the back, the heavy gold plating and the components used, including extender chain which makes the necklace adjustable.

This piece, which has unusually brilliant crystals compared to other jewelry of this style, would be another lower valued item, however, still coveted due to its brilliance and quality. The center stone only looks dark due to my lack of photography skills.

The same comments about the last item can be made about these super sparkly clear crystal Sherman earrings.

Sherman yellow screwback earrings with "keystone" crystals.

An example of higher end Sherman earrings. Brilliant, big, and gorgeous!

Here you can see the heavy rhodium plating on the earrings.

Sherman brilliant topaz brooch with aurora borealis stones and little floret earrings. Little florets are common to Sherman jewelry designs.

Sherman clear crystal necklace in super brilliant aurora borealis crystals.

Back of the necklace. Notice the elements on the end. These "rhinestones interspersed with loop elements" in addition to the "J" hook clasp are common to Sherman designs and serves to make the piece adjustable.

Here, you can see the same elements in another Sherman necklace.

The SHERMAN in all caps signature, on the earrings shown above, can be seen here.

And this is the script signature on the necklace with a close-up of the adjustable chain element.

Sherman brilliant clear bracelet with fold-over clasp and safety chain.

The crystals are amazing!

An example of a wider Sherman clear crystal bracelet utilizing many thin navette stones.

Beaded Sherman Jewelry

Beaded jewelry is something Sherman commonly made. Here is an exquisite example of a multi-strand bracelet with faux pearls and red crystals.

Signature on the bracelet.

This is what I believe was the matching necklace, although unsigned.

I had these earrings along with the bracelet. I'm not completely certain they were a match but they looked incredible together.

Signature on the back of the earrings.

Unsigned Sherman Jewelry

Which brings us to the discussion of the unsigned. There is plenty of reliable evidence that points to the existence of unsigned Sherman jewelry. If the piece didn't have a place for the signature to be added, one might be added by paper tag, making the worn vintage piece appear unsigned. Here are some examples to illustrate that point.

The academic consensus (as well as my own) holds that many Sherman pieces were unsigned, including smaller crystal necklaces like the one shown below. Elements that lead me to make the attribution to this as a Sherman piece are: 1. Brilliance of stones that are unmistakable to a trained eye in person, 2. Use of the same adjustable rhinestone and loop element seen in many pieces above, 3. Heavy rhodium plating and exquisite quality as shown in all three photos.

Another example is this brilliant green crystal set which bore a signature on the earrings only. Beaded necklaces are commonly unsigned because they only had a paper hang tag which was later removed.

I find this piece unusual because of the diamond-shaped element at the closure.

Here is another example of the same type of thing. The silver coated crystal earrings are signed but the necklace is not.

This next image shows the "J" hook clasp with a single crystal navette element decorating it which is common to Sherman jewelry. Also notice the three navette crystal element which connects the three strands.

Here is another unsigned piece that I believe is Sherman. First, the crystals are unlike any I have seen on other unsigned beaded necklaces (see other photos). Second. The piece is adjustable and has the crystal navette decorative element on the clasp. What do you think?

Also, these earrings appear to be unsigned Sherman. The crystals are incredibly brilliant, there is the use of thin navette stones, and the tall slender sprigs are signature of Sherman jewelry. Opinions?

Here is an old blog post with some other pieces I've had a long with a bit of additional information and some explanation regarding color.

This ends today's lesson.

I hope it was helpful and inspires some conversation on the topic!

When I Grow Up I Want To Be.....Featured on the Advanced Style Blog!

2013-06-15T14:22:00.002-07:00

What exactly is a grown-up? How do you know when you're finally an adult? Did you know that most people don't consider themselves a complete grown-up until after 40 and some people never completely feel like an adult (something I read somewhere in my developmental psych materials).

Well, when and if I do grow up someday, I hope to have the confidence and eye for style to dress like the young adults on the Advanced Style blog by Ari Seth Cohen.

Photo By Ari Seth Cohen of the Advanced Style blog

I think the bottom line here, in terms of great style, comes down to three things:

1. Go BIG, go BOLD or go HOME!

2. Dress to please YOURSELF!

3. Don't be afraid of color or pattern or accessorizing...just don't!

Photo By Ari Seth Cohen of the Advanced Style blog

I once saw one of those internet ecard thingies that said, "How to wear vintage: 1. Put it on. 2. Move around.

I thought that pretty much summed it up!

So use these adorable, amazing, inspiring people on this blog as your role models. Be yourself and don't be afraid of standing out or expressing the uniqueness that is you.

I know I'm inspired.

Photo By Ari Seth Cohen of the Advanced Style blog

TWEET!

2013-06-06T12:10:00.001-07:00

Vintage Jewelry Girl just joined Twitter and is finding lots of really great things to share! Do you tweet? I do. Join me and I'll follow back!

https://twitter.com/VintageJewelryG

Call to Facebookers!

2013-05-31T12:48:00.002-07:00

Our Facebook fan base is growing and so much is happening on our page!

1. Deals, Discounts, & First Dibs

As a Facebook fan, you get an automatic 10% off all orders and the opportunity for further discounts. You also get a chance to view and purchase jewelry before it goes up for sale on our site.

2. Vintage Jewelry Information

We offer all kinds of information on designers, terminology and period identification.

3. Vintage Fashion Inspiration

Like our page to see some of the most beautiful images from days gone by.

4. Contests, Giveaways and Games

We will be starting to offer regular giveaways to say thank you to our fans. Plus, participate to "guess the designer" of some of our great vintage pieces. Don't miss this!

See you on Facebook!

Jewelry Terminology - Pavé Setting

2012-07-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

From time to time on our Facebook page we have jewelry terminology information. Here is the latest:

Jewelry term of the day: Pavé Setting.
What is it? Pavé Setting is when the metal of a piece is covered in stones that are set very close together so as little of the metal shows through as possible. It's as if the metal is paved in stones. Here is an example of crystals set this way on a pair of Butler and Wilson Earrings.

To see bigger images and more views or purchase click: http://www.rubylane.com/item/693657-bwdkear-135/Vintage-Butler-Wilson-Large-Pave

Join our Facebook page for updates, sneak peeks of jewelry to our site, information, and discussions about vintage costume jewelry!
https://www.facebook.com/VinJGirl

Visit our online vintage jewelry store to buy interesting and unique vintage jewelry!
http://www.rubylane.com/shop/vinjgirl

Jewelry Term: Earrite Earrings by Boucher

2012-07-17T14:16:00.003-07:00

This summer Vintage Jewelry Girl will be introducing you to a list of vintage jewelry terms. You may have heard some of these before and you may not. Join in the discussion!

Today's Term: Earrite Earrings. What are they? The Earrite earring is a design patented by Boucher in the 1950's and it is a style of earring with no screw or clip. Maybe he was trying to say that because of this they are just right? They wrap around the ear, showing a design element at the top as well as the bottom of the ear. Have you seen these before? Maybe you own some? What do you think of them? Would you wear them?

2012-05-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Check out our new video which showcases some of our favorite pieces! Click the link below. :-)

Vintage Jewelry Video

Worth Point Review Update

2012-01-02T13:32:00.002-08:00

Do you value your items based on Ebay closed auction prices? Worth Point does. I do and I don't and here's why.

Why I sometimes do:

If there are a lot of your type of item on Ebay in the SOLD auctions, you can generally take an average of the closed prices and that will give you a general "Ebay value" for your items. This is helpful if you are selling on Ebay or to a dealer or auction house. If there is only one of your item in closed auctions, you may have a better idea of retail value because collectors are willing to pay more if an item is harder to find, even on Ebay. If you are an average person looking to sell some of your items to dealers then Ebay may be a good reference point for you. As a dealer, you should expect to basically double to triple the auction price to find a true retail value.

Why I usually don't:

When finding the true value of an item, you should use as many sources that are available in helping you determine worth. Reliable sources include Etsy, Ruby Lane, Google Images (for a variety of web sources), and yes, Worthpoint to some degree. Ruby Lane shows their sold items for a period of time on the last page of the listings. This can be a starting point to determine worth although sites like Ruby Lane are going to be, on average, lower than book value because it is a mall with many competing vendors.

Due to the fact that Worth Point seems to get most (maybe all - keep reading to find out why I'm not sure) of their values from Ebay, I think it is highly overpriced for what you get.

Here are their fees (taken directly from their website):

Basic $9.99 / Month 25 Worthopedia Price/Item Lookups per Month 5 Classified Ads Free Profile

Professional $24.99 / Month 75 Worthopedia Price/Item Lookups per Month 20 Classified Ads Premium Profile

Power $49.99 / Month Unlimited Worthopedia Price/Item Lookups per Month 40 Classified Ads Premium Profile

I signed up for Power with unlimited lookups. I looked up a few items (you get only 5 with your trial) and was cut off from using the system again during the 7 days of my free trial. I cancelled my subscription immediately. What I received for the trial was not even close to enough to be indicative of this service's value or to give me a true idea of how they work. This was enough to make me question their business and run for the hills (note the date of this article - 2012).

In closing, I just want to say, use the power of the internet. Do a bit of research to find out which sites are reliable for pricing and information. Combine that with resource books and experts in forums (if you have the time and desire to do so). My valuation of Worth Point is, for purely practical reasons, about a 5/10.

Worth Point Review

2011-12-20T19:58:00.002-08:00

Worth Point (dot com) is a website that will apparently tell you what your vintage or antique item is worth. Recently, I am going through a shift in selling. I have an entire room full of vintage items that need to be cleared out from a recently deceased step father who loved to buy anything and everything he could at auction. My husband and I were looking for values of the first box of items: Franklin Mint series "Birds and Blossoms of the World". I signed up for the "free" trial on the Worth Point website which gives you a month of unlimited searching for items on the site for about $50.00 USD. Be careful if you do this! After the 7 days of trial, if you don't cancel, you will have to pay the money for the program you signed up for! After I signed up, it became apparent that the values for the items were based off Ebay auctions and various internet sites that have closed more than three years ago.

So, overall, I concluded that Worth Point is not worth your money for a number of reasons. First of all, Ebay auctions are not a reliable source for the valuation of your vintage items. Secondly, they base the worth of your item off one auction that closed (in my case) more that three years ago. This does not seem like a realistic valuation of my items. In looking further into Worth Point, it seems that what they do is pull values off different internet sites like Rubylane or Tias or Ebay. So if I have the same item that you have and I have no idea what it is actually worth and I price it at $25.00 on Rubylane or Tias, Worth Point will pick up the sale and state it as a value on their site with no extra valuation expertise or experience. I suggest instead, going directly to rubylane.com or tias.com or etsy.com to get the true internet value of your items. If you do the footwork yourself and take an average of the value of the items sold or listed that are like your item, you will get a better idea of value than if you went only to Worth Point. In addition, you should consider buying some of the many valuable resource books that are available to the general public on the topic of vintage collectibles.

These sites will give you a more realistic view, however, not the full retail value. That is because they are malls with many competing vendors. That is why the values at these sites should be consistently less than book value.

I will continue with my "free" trial and let you know how it plays out. Hopefully I will find some worth in Worth Point.

Article - Unique Ways To Display Vintage Jewelry

2011-07-11T15:48:00.006-07:00

I thought this was an interesting article from styleathome.com. I display my grandmother's Sherman jewelry on, around and draping out of an old musical jewelry box I received from her. Do you have any interesting ways of displaying your jewelry?

http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/styling-secrets/unique-ways-to-display-vintage-jewelry/a/21731

Here are some of our mall displays for your viewing pleasure. You can see my grandma's jewelry box in the top left of the second picture. I "borrowed" it to my booth at the antique mall to display my jewels.

SALE For Facebook Fans of Vintage Jewelry Girl!

2011-07-11T13:11:00.002-07:00

Vintage Jewelry Girl on FACEBOOK!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Jewelry-Girl/156478367739918

WOW! So many new likes! Welcome all. To thank you for joining, I would like to offer our dealer discount of 15% on all items during the month of July. Just mention that you are a Facebook fan when placing your order and I will adjust your total before sending a final invoice. Buy three or more pieces and receive a 20% discount. For Facebook fans only!

http://www.rubylane.com/shop/vinjgirl

Vintage Jewelry Girl! from vinjgirl on Ruby Lane

www.rubylane.com

Adorn, express, reminisce.. Selling collectibles and antiques online since 1999! Customer service is our top priority along with providing quality jewelry with accurate descriptions. We enjoy finding and sharing beautiful and unusual glass beads and anything that scre

Sherman Vintage Jewelry Guide

2011-05-03T22:13:00.009-07:00

For Updated Info On Sherman Jewelry, Visit Our New Sherman Jewelry Guides.

Sherman Jewelry, produced in Canada from 1947 to 1981, boasts exquisite craftsmanship and fine Austrian crystal rhinestones. Pieces are often plated in rhodium or gold, with some featuring japanned or "gun metal" finishes. Popular motifs include florals, wreaths, and leaves, alongside more uncommon figural designs like basket brooches and butterfly pins. Rare finds include coveted cat brooches. Pink, purple, fuchsia, and red are the most sought after colors and pieces with opaque stones are generally harder to come by. Bright orange and emerald has also known to command higher prices as do unique fall color combinations of orange, topaz and green, or the tropical "tutti fruity" fuchsia, purple, green and pale yellow. Rhinestone brooch and earring sets, as well as less intricate necklaces are common. Wide glitzy bracelets are a collector favorite. You may also find crystal beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings by this company. Not all pieces are always signed so it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with common elements and construction of this popular designer.

Blue is a more common color although it is still desired by collectors. This particular striking showstopper of an earring design is highly sought after.

This light topaz necklace has a subtle play of a neutral color scheme that is enhanced with stones featuring an "Aurora Borealis" finish. The large center stone is less common and desirable.

Full and partial sets are always exciting to Sherman collectors and enthusiasts and this "tutti-fruity" color scheme highly sought after.

Deep red is always a favorite by Sherman collectors. This gorgeous necklace has a deep Siam red glass drop which makes it very special.

Sherman manufactured beaded sets such as this one. Only the earrings are signed which means that there are likely a number of beaded necklaces out there being bought and sold without either party knowing that they are Sherman pieces. The necklace would have has a paper hang tag, which was removed before wearing.

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Click the image below to go to the contest!

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It's that time again! Time to give away some gorgeous jewelry! Don't miss it.

Join and follow our Facebook page for details and your chance to win!

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SO . MUCH . FUN

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2023 UPDATE! Click here to see our updated Sherman Jewelry Gallery!

**2023 UPDATE: Click here for our newest article on Sherman Jewelry History!**

When I Grow Up I Want To Be.....Featured on the Advanced Style Blog!

TWEET!

Call to Facebookers!

Jewelry Terminology - Pavé Setting

Jewelry Term: Earrite Earrings by Boucher

Worth Point Review Update

Worth Point Review

Article - Unique Ways To Display Vintage Jewelry

SALE For Facebook Fans of Vintage Jewelry Girl!

Sherman Vintage Jewelry Guide

For Updated Info On Sherman Jewelry, Visit Our New Sherman Jewelry Guides.

For Updated Info On Sherman Jewelry, Visit Our New Sherman Jewelry Guides.

2023 UPDATE: Click here for our newest article on Sherman Jewelry History!