What is Vintage Jewelry?

 

The main things to look for today is particular designers and condition when buying vintage jewelry. A few Top designers of vintage jewelry are Alice, Coro, Triffari, Japan, Lisner, Gerry’s, Giovanni, Monet, and Weiss are just a few to mention. Another thing to look at is the era or circa ‘year’ and type or design of jewelry you like.

 

The 1935 to 1940 circa is considered a Retro style and was the beginning of costume jewelry which we consider Vintage jewelry today. Some made in fine or precious metals and gems some not. Many pieces offered synthetic stones in a variety of colors and the floral and bow brooch was a true love.

 

The next circa are the 1940’s which was retro as well and post-war era pieces your grandmother and mother may have worn.

 

The jewelry of the 1940’s is very similar to 1930’s jewelry but more dimensional and with design elements transitioning from Art Deco to a style that would eventually, due to WWII, come to be called Retro Modern. Also, Victorian Revival jewelry was still very popular during the 1940s, although the styles were more delicate than those of the thirties.

 

The 1950’s circa offered quite a bit of change in jewelry design. Looking more enchanting with larger rhinestones, floral pieces and large bows with stones The 1950’s developed it’s own definitive styles which include multi-strand beaded necklaces with much larger beads than seen in the faux pearls in previous years. Lucite thermoset inserts of the ‘40s became the rage along with Confetti Lucite and embedded Lucite jewelry.

The 1960’s circa a lot of art deco was released with clear rhinestones, More pageant looking, a richer flashy look.  

The Art Nouveau revival in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. Pieces are very colorful, some almost psychedelic, including loads of cloisonné butterflies, dragonflies, and lady motifs. The Art Nouveau revival of this era was also widespread in the print and home design industries.

 

The 1980’s which would be the newest or youngest pieces in the vintage lines, more designers released pieces without the extreme rhinestones and offered more gold and silver, chunky pieces of jewelry. Many of these are still considered vintage. Most pieces from the 80’s still in very good condition were bought stored and never worn or just worn once or twice. They circa still is considered as vintage.

 

Today items made during the years of 1935 - 1981 is considered VINTAGE.

True Vintage jewelry are collectors pieces.

 

Enjoy the Art from the past and pass it on to your own loved ones :)

 

HERE IS A LIST OF MOST LOVED VINTAGE JEWELRY MAKERS:

Art, Avon, Austria ‘jewelry made in Austria’ Barclay, Berberi, Bogoff, BSK, Beaujewels, Bonetto, Boucher, Celebrity, Charel, Czech, Dodds, Emmons, Germany & West Germany, Giovanni, Givenchy, Gerry’s, Goldette, Gold Crown Inc., Haskell, Harry Iskin, Hobe, Hollycraft, India, Italy, JJ, Judy Lee, Juliana, Kennth J. Lane KJL, Kramer, Laguna, Limoges, Little Nemo, L.S. Co, Lustern, Marslieu, Marvella, Miracle, Monet, Napier,

New England Glass Co. (N/E in Chalice,) Parklane, H. Pomerantz,

Reed & Barton, Renoir & Matisse, Schrager, Selro & Selini, Sphinx, Swoboda, Van Dell, Weiss, Whiting & Davis