MidCentury Jewelry

Excellent Vintage Costume Jewelry US Patent Reference Web Sites

2009-05-13T03:56:00.001-07:00

Let's say you have a piece of vintage costume jewelry with a patent pending stamp or a patent # on the back. There are excellent web sites that are dedicated to identifying costume jewelry which was produced when jewelry designs were patented in the US. Patenting as a practice died out in the early 1950s and the heyday of patented costume jewelry was from the 1920s-1940s. The Trifari pin featured above is patented and is dated to 1953.

These sites can help you determine who manufactured and sold a piece of jewelry, the name of the designer, the date of patent, as well as other details. This information is extremely important in determining the value of a piece of vintage costume jewelry.

The following links show sites with comprehensive research resources. The sites are organized by jewelry maker and dates, along with design drawings and patent dates.

www.jewelrypatents.com

www.vintagejewelrypatents.com

Also, if you want to see a site with loads of high-end magnificent costume jewelry that was produced during the hey-day of design check out the link below. Many of these pieces have the patent information provided.
www.trifari.com

My site: www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

1970s Lanvin Enamel Pucci-Inspired Pendant Necklace

2009-05-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

This 1970s era Lanvin signed enamel pendant necklace came from an estate in central Ohio. It appears to be inspired by Pucci's wild geometric prints of the time.

Where To Find and Buy Vintage Jewelry

2009-05-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

I get asked fairly frequently where I get my vintage costume jewelry. Below is a list of the different sources I use to obtain jewelry. I've listed the sources in descending order based on my personal success in finding quality jewelry there.

1. My Contacts -- over the years I have cultivated different people who I've met while conducting business. These people know that I am always looking to purchase jewelry. I contact these people every couple of months to see if they anything to sell me. Most often, these "pickers" are my best and most reliable source for jewelry. These pickers are often out in the market doing the same thing I'm doing...working their own contacts, attending sales and auctions and garage sales.

2. Auctions -- I read the auction section of my local classifieds each week and also check a website named www.AuctionZip.com. Both of these sources advertise local auctions in my area each week. I only attend auctions which advertise a decent amount and quality of jewelry. I like www.Auctionzip.com because sometimes photos are posted that allow me to preview the auction. I have a pet peeve about auction listings, though....if an auctioneer is going to feature jewelry as one of the main highlights of an auction then he/she should PLEASE post some photos!

3. Local Jewelers -- Sometimes local jewelers (I'm talking about independently owned jewelry stores, not mall stores or chains) come across vintage costume jewelry in the course of doing business. I've fostered relationships with a few local jewelers who do not consider me to be competition and are happy to sell me costume jewelry in bulk. I try to reciprocate by telling everyone I know how wonderful these jewelers are. I respect these guys and have confidence in their honesty and am happy to refer potential business their way.

4. Pawn Shops -- I've visited local pawn shops and have found very good deals in the past. Again, pawn shops sometimes end up with vintage costume jewelry in the course of doing business. The only way to find which particular shops do deal in this type jewelry is to go in and ask.

5. Scrap dealers (AKA Jewelers and Coin Dealers) -- Some jeweler and coin dealers will be happy to let you pick through the scrap jewelry that they originally intended to sell at scrap value. Lots of jewelry is scrapped when there is absolutely nothing wrong with it other than scrap value has, at times, exceeded the value of the jewelry itself (but jewelers don't know costume jewelery and will scrap a real treasure). Don't be embarrassed to go into a store and ask if they are willing to sell you scrap jewelry. The worst thing that they can say is "no".

6. Antique Stores/ Antique Malls -- I do walk through antique stores in the hopes of finding unidentified or underpriced "treasures". This technique takes a lot of patience since it's typical that once something is being merchandised in a store that there's not too much profit margin there for me. But if I have time to kill and really need jewelry, I will visit stores in my area. I have found some wonderful things over the years.

7. Craigslist -- I look at Craigslist every day and most of the jewelry there is not what I'm looking for. Every once in a while, though, I've been successful in contacting a seller and making a good deal.

8. Goodwill -- Not usually a good place in my experience but I still visit periodically. Usually low end items are there.

9. Garage Sales -- I don't attend too many because I'm not interested in getting up at the crack of dawn and fighting other people for jewelry. I haven't found too much good jewelry at garage sales. But when I do attend a garage sale, I ask the seller if they have any additional jewelry. Surprisingly, the answer is sometimes "yes" and then they bring out the jewelry still in the house.

10. Estate Sales -- I went through a spell where I attended these for a while. However, estate sales often require you to get there and line up to get a number hours before the sale starts -- only to get into the house and see that there's nothing there. It can be a crap shoot but is an option.

11. Online auction sites -- there are sites that conduct auctions in real time online. I've had some excellent but spotty results at these auctions. Read the terms of the auctions closely so that you are aware of shipping costs and additional charges.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Maximal Art Jewelry

2009-05-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

I have a large group of Maximal Art holiday motif jewelry, some of which is listed on eBay now. Maximal Art, designed by John Wind, features images from vintage postcards and other printed materials, Austrian crystals and 14K gold plated settings. This jewelry has charming, vintage-inspired designs. My Maximal Art jewelry is new old stock.

Another Angry Ebay PowerSeller

2009-05-04T04:25:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me state that I've been a seller on Ebay since 1998 and these sales have constituted the majority of my income at times. I've been a PowerSeller for years and usually have 100% feedback. I have my complaints about Ebay but the feedback system is what is going to cause me to leave for good.

About a year ago, Ebay revised their feedback system so that only buyers can leave negative feedback. This has been a TERRIBLE change for honest sellers. About 99% of buyers are great. There is a tiny percentage of the buying population which create all the heartache.

I recently sold a vintage ring for $19.00 on Ebay. The description was clear and accurate with lots of close-up photos. The ring was made of silver and glass, as was clearly stated in my description.

Next thing I know, I receive a negative feedback from the buyer. According to their eBay feedback, I am a LIAR. The buyer is angry that the ring is not gold. What? Nobody said the ring was made of gold. It's silver, just like the description and photos show.

I contacted the buyer, asked why they did not write to me prior to leaving negative feedback and I offered a return with a full refund. My correspondence with the buyer left me convinced that this person was getting a real charge out of the conflict. The refund was not what the buyer wanted...the buyer wanted to engage someone in a back and forth contest of long-distance insults. This was the kind of Internet correspondence that left me wondering about the mental health of the person I was dealing with and the idea that maybe it's not totally safe to engage this person. The kind of emails that made me check the shipping address of the buyer to make myself feel better that he/she would not show up on my lawn some afternoon with a knife. Seriously...

Then the buyer revised their feedback and called me a CROOK.

I called Ebay and was told that a buyer can say just about ANYTHING they want about sellers on Ebay unless there is profanity or racism involved. This is Ebay's policy because feedback reflects the buyer's opinion. If the buyer wants to call me a liar and a crook or say untrue things about me, this is their opinion and their prerogative.

Unbelieveable. I have no recourse other than to take a deep breath and let it go. And I'm taking a vacation from Ebay until my disgust evaporates. I know that this is not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things but it's so unjust.

I've read that sellers are leaving Ebay in droves and that Antique Week had to call a moratorium on angry letters to the editor about Ebay's policies. Ebay needs to wake up before it's too late and give some support to the people that actually pay their bills.

Antonio Pineda Mid-Century Modernist Sterling Silver Link Bracelets

2009-04-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

I purchased and then sold these two vintage Antonio Pineda signed sterling bracelets within just a few days in January. I try not to think too often about them or I'll be sorry I sold them. One is a comma style bracelet and the other, I'm not sure what it is.

What is a Japanned Jewelry Finish?

2009-04-23T10:03:00.001-07:00

In costume jewelry, the term "japanned" denotes jewelry that has a black and glossy finish on the setting. See the photo!

Fun at Burlington Antique Show

2009-04-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

I set up a space and sold jewelry this past Sunday at the Burlington Antique Show in Burlington, KY. I'm always nervous before doing these things because it requires a lot of advance preparation without knowing if there will be enough sales to make it worth the effort. I'm also nervous about thinking I'm going to get there too late. I arrived a little before 7am on Sunday and was definitely one of the last dealers to arrive but that's about as early as I'll ever be.....

Regardless of the slightly chilly and wet weather, a large group of enthusiastic people were at Burlington on Sunday. It's always fun to meet new people and to see some that I sold to last year.

I would say that the majority of my sales were higher end costume jewelry and sterling silver jewelry. There were a few dealers and collectors that honed in on the higher quality jewelry and much of it was sold.

Now my challenge is to find more!

Vintage Mexican Silver & Amethyst Panel Bracelet

2009-04-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

I picked this bracelet up recently at an auction. It is a circa 1940 Mexican silver panel bracelet with very large amethysts set into the front. The size of the amethysts is unique and I've been all over the web looking for similar bracelets. I haven't found anything quite like this bracelet.

Dealing with so much jewelry tends to make me blase' about most jewelry. It's exciting when I run into something I haven't seen or owned before.

This bracelet is currently for sale in my eBay store but I almost hate to part with it. Not that I need any more jewelry.....

Fabulous Designer Necklace from Vintage Enamel Flower Pins

2009-03-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

I saw this fabulous necklace online and fell in love. It appears to be made from vintage 1960s era enamel flower pins. It may be new...it's hard to tell from the photo. I don't know who made it but would love to find out.

2009-03-17T04:12:00.000-07:00

I went to my local thrift shop yesterday to drop off some donations. I always give the jewelry cases a cursory look but NEVER find anything of value to buy. Actually, most of the jewelry appears to be junk jewelry that I've donated in the past. But yesterday was a different day. In the back of the showcase was this swirled medium green bakelite bead necklace and matching screwback earrings for $4.00. I snatched this set up immediately. My only other "find" here was years ago and I really regret reselling it for a song. It was a vintage lucite chair -- probably worth many times the $40 I sold it for. Oh well.....

Searching For Antiques in Southern Ohio

2009-03-12T04:55:00.001-07:00

On my way to an antiques auction yesterday, I passed this cute antiques store. The store in located in Seven Mile, OH, which is a charming wide spot in the road. I love country antique stores like this. It seems that there are fewer and fewer of them around.

Anyway, the store had a charming interior. The wood burning stove and the shaggy pet dog added to the quirky atmosphere. Lots and lots of antique furniture.

How to Slenderize With Jewelry

2009-03-03T05:02:00.001-08:00

Depending upon your body type, certain jewelry looks better than others and accentuates your good points. I know you know that already!

To look thinner, I recommend long chain style necklaces with dangling pendants. Do not wear a necklace where the bottom rests on the boobs. It needs to be a little shorter than that or you'll look as wide as a battleship in your side view.

Symmetrical pins, worn alone on a coat collar or lapel or used to anchor a scarf, are an excellent look.

For earrings, long chandelier style earrings are a good look. Hoops look good on everyone. I'd avoid round, button style earrings. They tend to widen the look of the face.

Stacked bangles in a variety of patterns and colors draw attention to the wrists and can hide a thick wrist. I'd avoid tight cuffs. I also wouldn't waste my time with a delicate bracelet, like a tennis style bracelet. If I'm going to wear a tennis style bracelet, I try to wear several constrasting looks.

When I wear rings, I tend to go for the larger stones. I want to draw attention to my hands.

I'd avoid anything tight, tight choker necklaces, tight bracelets, tight rings, cuff bracelets, tiny pins, button style earrings.

How to Polish and Restore The Finish to Dull Bakelite

2009-03-01T10:39:00.001-08:00

Sometimes a piece of Bakelite has been made dull from overzealous rubbing or testing, or from age and use. It is possible to restore the original sheen of Bakelite at home. Simichrome polish or Maas Metal polish are small tubes of slightly abrasive (like toothpaste) cream that are sold in hardware stores. Both of these polishes are excellent for restoring the original sheen to Bakelite.

To restore, squeeze a pea-sized amount of polish on a clean soft rag. Rub the cloth all over with a little bit of elbow grease, then polish with a clean cloth. It may take several rounds of polishing the Bakelite but the dullness and light scratches can be removed by employing this method.

Both polishes are also useful in identifying Bakelite. Unless a piece of Bakelite (like black Bakelite) has a coating on it, a small amount of polish rubbed on with a cloth will come away slightly yellow when applied to true Bakelite.

www.maasinc.com

www.competitionchemicals.com

www.midcenturyjewelry.com

The Recession Has Hit Vintage Costume Jewelry Sales

2009-03-01T06:47:00.001-08:00

The recession can be felt by jewelry sellers on eBay and the Internet. I belong to a vintage jewelry seller's group and everyone sees a drop in their sales as a result of the recession. I have documented a drop in the average dollar amount per item I am receiving on eBay sales these days. I'm not complaining....it's just something I have to live through until things get better.

The 1950s-1960s Winard signed gold filled cameo and matching clip earrings featured above sold this past week in my eBay store for $9.99. A heart-breaking price for me to accept, especially since a set like this would have sold for $45-50 this time last year. There are definitely bargains out there for people still buying.

Surprisingly, the competition among resellers at antiques auctions for jewelry continues to be strong in my area. Sometimes I see resellers purchasing jewelry at higher prices than I can resell it for. Either they know something I don't or they're not very smart. Also, winter seems to bring out people who are desperate for more stock when the pickings are slim in the cold weather months.

In my opinion, the market will continue to be depressed for a while. I think that some sellers will not survive the recession. Those who can hang on will be the sellers who already had strong customer bases and sufficient capital to survive the down times.

Mid-Century Copper and Enamel Pendant Set -- Signed Le

2009-03-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

I need help identifying the maker of this copper and enamel pendant and matching earrings. The set has a bright orange background with raised flowers on the front. The backside of the set is also enameled. The pieces are of obvious high quality but I have not been able to identify the maker's mark on the attached sticker. I've asked everyone I know in the vintage jewelry trade and still don't know. If someone out there knows who this maker is, please email me! Thanks!

Definition: Cuff Bracelet

2009-02-24T18:08:00.000-08:00

What is a cuff bracelet? It's a bracelet that spans the wrist but is open in the back. The opening allows the wearer to put on and remove the bracelet. Cuff bracelets can be thin or thick. Most fit the wrist fairly snugly and do not move around on the arm when the bracelet is worn.

What is Art Moderne Jewelry?

2009-02-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

Art Moderne style is an extension of Art Deco design and is associated with the later period of Art Deco style. Art Moderne can be dated from the late 1920s to the start of WWII. Art Moderne style is geometric and blocky. To me, it appears to be influenced by the Machine Age. Colors are bright and bold in Art Moderne jewelry. In contrast, Art Deco is more delicate.

Mid-Century Wingback Earrings - Judith McCann Invention

2009-02-18T04:07:00.000-08:00

What are wingback earrings? Wingbacks were a 1940s invention of jewelry designer Judith McCann, for women who didn't want to wear the clip earrings of the time. Wingbacks have an unusual 2-part wire setting in back. There is a t-bar shaped piece that fits inside the ear, resting on the top of the lobe. The upward-facing single wire fits securely behind the lobe and holding the earring in place.

Every pair of wingbacks that I've sen are stamped "WINGBACK" on the side of the long wire in back. There is always the patent number for this invention stamped after the Wingback name.

Most wingback earrings are substantial in size. I've seen them in rhinestones, enamel and beaded.

Photo of Wingback ad courtesy of www.antiquingonline.com.

midcenturyjewelry.com.

Rhinestone wingbacks are available in my eBay store.

Visit My eBay Store: MidCentury Jewelry

Vintage Painted Cincinnati Box Purse

2009-02-15T11:15:00.001-08:00

My mother-in-law got this purse in the 1970s and passed it on to me a few years ago. I have a thing for hard-sided box purses and this Cincinnati, OH themed purse is my favorite. It's shaped like a house, which is unusual. One side of the roof swings up to let you into the purse.

The sides of the purse are painted with Cincinnati landmarks: Cincinnati Reds, Music Hall, Roderick St. Johns (I'm not sure what that was, maybe a store?), Riverfront Stadium, Maisonette, Cincinnati Bengals, Pigall's, Art Museum.

I wish someone could make some plain box purses for me so I could paint up a storm.

I'm not sure who made the purse. Caro-Nan made a lot of purses at the time but this one is unsigned.

midcenturyjewelry.com.

My Daughter's Now Interested in Costume Jewelry

2009-02-14T06:34:00.001-08:00

My kids have always hated old stuff. I've got these 1950s dishes that my son refuses to eat off of because the brown colors gross him out. He has his own personal bowl that no one is allowed to eat out of...the bowl is totally white. I guess he likes his white bowl because he can tell when it's clean and that it's not "contaminated" with the cooties of previous owners.

My daughter is the same way. For years, she has spurned my efforts to give her vintage jewelry from my collection. I can shake an old necklace at her like a voodoo totem and she'll back out of the room. I always said to her, "I bet other girls would just love to have some jewelry". Well, my prediction has come true. Her friend Sara loves to come over and pick through my jewelry to find the funkiest piece in the bunch. Last week, Sara took home some truly strange fuzzy Christmas wreath earrings with reindeer leaping across the front. Now that my daughter's friends are interested in my jewelry, she is too.

So, this post is for my daughter. I'm glad that she will at least stay in the room when I drag my jewelry out to show her......

midcenturyjewelry.com.

Vintage Boho Hippie Chic Jewelry

2009-02-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

I picked up a ton of jewelry recently from a local estate. All of it was from the 1970s or so and, to me, epitomizes boho hippie chic! Tons of beads, mixed metals. Everything hand crafted and one-of-a-kind.

Most of this jewelry's going to end up in my eBay store. See the link to the right of the blog.

midcenturyjewelry.com.

Vintage Flower Jewelry -- Perfect For Springtime!

2009-02-11T05:09:00.000-08:00

midcenturyjewelry.com.

US Bicentennial & Patriotic Jewelry

2009-02-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

I run into a lot of 1976 era patriotic jewelry. Some of it is pretty whimsical. The 1976 lariat is in the shape of the state of Arizona.

The enamel Flag necklace can be found at eBay store "Orphaned Items". Check out the owner's video on the home page. stores.shop.ebay.com/Orphaned-Items__W0QQ_armrsZ1.com

The 1970s Arizona State map copper & gemstone lariat is available at midcenturyjewelry.com.

Green Plexiglass Fendi Cuff Bracelet

2009-02-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

This Fendi apple green plexiglass and goldtone cuff is stunning! I love the modern design. I've got a thing for plastic (plastic, Bakelite, Lucite, celluloid) anyway.

This cuff can be found on www.eluxury.com

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Stack Those Bangles As Far As They'll Go!

2009-02-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

This 1920s era photograph by famed photographer Man Ray shows Nancy Cunard with African bangles up to her elbows. I would call this jewelry "bohemian" style jewelry.

I can see how boho jewelry could fit into today's fashions. A spring outfit with a tunic top would be complemented by a chunky amber & bone necklace along with loads of bangles. I'm going to try it if the snow ever melts and when I can finally unbundle.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Boho Ivory & Bone Jewelry -- How To Identify Ivory?

2009-02-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

Went to a local antique store today, looking for jewelry. I ended up buying a ton of bohemian style ivory, amber, bone & horn pieces. Most will end up on my web site since eBay has now banned ivory from listings.

How can you identify ivory versus bone?

Ivory normally has a finer appearance than bone. It will have fewer marks and striations in the material. Sometimes with bone you can see with the naked eye some cracks, black lines, pits, etc. See the lines in the bone on the bottom bangle? Ivory would not have these lines.

If you look at ivory with a loupe, it may show a slight grain or cross-hatching in the material on back.

There is a “hot pin test” for ivory. True ivory is virtually impenetrable with heat and so will not be damaged by this test. Take a needle or a straightened-out safety pin and heat it until it is red-hot. In an unobtrusive spot on the piece, poke it. If the piece is true ivory, there will not be a hole and there will be a tiny mark. Smell the spot. It should smell like burnt protein (burnt hair). Bone is also resistant to heat, but not as much as ivory. It will not put out the same strong smell as ivory.

Bone is not free of grain and will have little "pock marks" in it where the marrow or blood was. You may have to use a loupe to see these pock marks.

Ivory can yellow over time.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Why Dogs Are Better Boyfriends Than Men

2009-02-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

I read recently that 34% of American women polled admitted that if their dog was a man, they'd date him. OK.................OOOH! But I have to admit that my husband would never wear womens' necklaces and sit still for that perfect photo just because I kept chanting "TREAT!!!" over and over again.

Dinky is wearing 1960s multi-strand beaded necklaces from Japan.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Are Pearls Coming Back In For Spring 2009?

2009-02-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I'm a news junkie. MSNBC or FOXNEWS are always in the background when I'm at home.

I've noticed that female politicians and public figures are wearing pearls these days. It's good to see pearls again -- they are classic, timeless and versatile.

Pearls can be large and chunky, delicate, long or looped around the neck many times. Faux (fake) pearls can come in pastel colors like pink, peaches and blues.

Vintage pearl necklaces are a lady-like accessory for the fresh spring clothes coming out in 2009.

Dress found at Neiman Marcus online. www.neimanmarcus.com

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Vintage Rhinestones Can Look Like Golden Globes Diamonds

2009-01-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

Eva Mendes shines at the 2009 Golden Globes awards show in a Dior dress and Van Cleef & Arpels jewels. Vintage costume jewelry can approximate the real jewels shown at the Golden Globes. Eva's earrings are a classic look that can be found in multiple vintage rhinestone cluster earrings. Most of my personal rhinestone necklaces are not as intricate and chunky as the one worn by Eva but can be found on the market at other sites.

The vintage jewelry photographed below Eva is on my site www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Vintage Beads: A Pretty Springtime Look!

2009-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

These cute dresses, sold at Forever 21 stores www.forever21.com, are adorable. Paired with a vintage multi-strand plastic bead necklace, they take on a more individual feel. Vintage beaded necklaces are sold on my web site www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

NO!!! Terrible Idea!

2009-01-27T07:53:00.000-08:00

I know that this bunch of berries on the front of Jane Krakowski's is attached to the dress, but it's a good illustration of what NOT to do. Don't let jewelry & ornamentation overwhelm an outfit. Please!

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Youthful Fashions With Rhinestones

2009-01-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

I'm still on my "How to wear vintage costume jewelry without looking like a granny" thread. It IS possible to wear vintage costume jewelry in a youthful way.

America Ferrara is wearing a large slightly curved rhinestone pin directly on the shoulder of a gown with a simple line. It's fresh and unexpected to see a pin in this location.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

How To Wear A Scarf Pin Without Looking Like a Granny

2009-01-25T09:56:00.000-08:00

As someone who sells vintage costume jewelry, I'm aware that some of the jewelry can look "granny-ish". I tend to wear a lot of vintage necklaces and bracelets but not too many pins. They're a little tricky sometimes to fit into an outfit without looking matronly.

My favorite was to wear a pin is to use it to anchor a cute scarf. I drape the scarf around my neck with one end in front and the other end over the shoulder. The photo above is a good example.

The scarves above are for sale on www.etsy.com in amysfunkyfibers shop. www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243023

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

How To Find Real Bakelite -- Not Fakelite

2009-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Everything, it seems, is made in China these days. Even fake vintage costume jewelry is coming out of the Far East. Fakelite (fake Bakelite) bangles are being imported into the US and these copies are quite good. The carving is excellent and of the same quality as old bakelite. How do you tell if the vintage Bakelite bangle sold online is real?

First, where is it coming from and how many Bakelite bangles are being sold by one seller? If a seller is selling too many similar items, I would have to wonder how they are able to come up with an unusually large selection of hard-to-find Bakelite. On eBay, a seller's history and feedback mean a lot to me. A reputable dealer will not mind answering questions. I would feel comfortable buyer Bakelite from a reputable antiques/jewelry dealer but not from a flea market or from someone in the Far East on eBay.

Real Bakelite has a clunky look and feel to it. It's heavy but not as heavy as the fakelite. Because it is "old", it will usually have tell-tale signs of slight wear. If a bangle is too perfect, ask yourself if it's too good to be true.

Real vintage Bakelite will usually show up in certain colors -- reds, yellows, oranges, greens, black, browns. No neon colors here.

Real Bakelite will not have mold lines. The interior of a bangle will be sommth with no mold line evident. The back of a pin will be smooth.

Hardware will be affixed to the piece, not glued on.

These are some clues that will help you diagnose whether your bakelite is authentic vintage jewelry. Again, my main advice is to stick with reputable dealers and beware of bargains too good to be true.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Michelle Obama Wears Costume Jewelry To Inauguration

2009-01-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

Michelle Obama wore a costume jewelry piece to the 2009 Inauguration. The colorless rhinestone piece appears to be attached to the sparkling Isabel Toldeo designed dress.

Note that the length and width of the piece is a perfect addition to the neckline of the dress.

This look proves that it's OK to wear big rhinestones during the day, as long as they complement the oufit and don't overwhelm it!!!

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

How To Identify Celluloid Jewelry

2009-01-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

Celluloid was manufactured as an early plastic. Jewelry made of celluloid dates to about 1900 and was quite popular during the Art Deco period.

It is a lightweight plastic, many times a cream color. Sometimes the cream celluloid is painted to add color, though.

In the 1950s, a lot of celluloid jewelry was manufactured in Japan. Celluloid can be quite distinctive looking, many times with rhinestones embedded into the jewelry or molded/carved into floral designs.

Smell test: Hold your celluloid jewelry under hot water for 30 seconds. Now, put it up to your nose and smell it. You should smell a camphor or vinegar-like scent.

Weight: Celluloid feels very lightweight in the hand.

Needle Test: There is a test where you can apply a hot needle to celluloid to bring the camphor-vinegar smell out. Celluloid is FLAMMABLE so I would NEVER recommend this test!

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

How To Clean Sterling and Silver Jewelry

2009-01-15T04:41:00.000-08:00

I have my particular preferences for cleaning sterling silver and silver plated jewelry. My preferences have been formed from years of experimenting and sometimes RUINING jewelry by cleaning with harsh chemicals.

First, let's talk about sterling silver. Since the early part of the 20th century, US sterling jewelry is required to be stamped so. You will normally see either "Sterling" or "925" on the back of a piece. Sterling jewelry is at least 925/1000 percent pure silver, thus the .925 mark on sterling. You may see marks on silver from "800, 850, 900" to "950 and 970". Anything above 925 is considered sterling silver. There is an excellent online site dedicated to silver marks, Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks and Makers' Marks: www.925-1000.com

Sometimes I'll come across a silver piece of jewelry with some tarnish on it. I know it has some silver content because it is tarnished but I don't know how much silver is there.

Regardless, how do I remove tarnish?

1. Well, the first way to PREVENT tarnish is to WEAR your jewelry. The slight rubbing that silver jewelry gets when being worn prevents tarnish from forming.

2. I've seen sterling stored in soft felt-chamois type fabric storage bags. I'm not sure where to buy these but they prevent exposure to air and prevent tarnish. I'd check with the silver flatware replacement sites online for these bags. Also, there are anti-tarnish pads that can be purchased where jewelry supplies are sold. I've not used them but you put them where you store your jewelry and they are supposed to prevent tarnish.

3. NEVER, EVER dip jewelry in dip cleaners. Dipping jewelry in a dip cleaner WILL remove the tarnish but it also changes the patina of the piece. The silver will turn a white silver color....too bright for vintage jewelry. There are some pieces of silver jewelry, such as Native American jewelry, that have blackened details. If you dip your silver, these details will go away and you've just messed with the original patina. Also, some natural stones are porous and can be ruined by dip cleaners, especially pearls, opals, turquoise.

4. If a piece of sterling or silver has many details, I will start with the Wright's paste cleaner. I dampen a sponge or rag and clean the jewelry with the paste mix. Once cleaned, I rinse and dry thoroughly. The paste cleaner is good for getting into crevices with a Q-tip. Cleaning with a paste cleaner gives the jewelry a soft glow and protects the silver from tarnish in the future. The silver will tarnish again but at least it retards the process.

5. My favorite method is to clean with MAAS Metal cleaner. It is a small silver tube that can be purchased at Walmart, on eBay, in hardware stores. It can be used to clean about any kind of metal. The advantage of Maas is that it will remove tarnish but can also slightly buff vintage jewelry. Buffing removes some of the tiny scratches that occur when jewelry is worn. To clean with MAAS, I put a pea-sized drop on a clean cloth and start rubbing the jewelry. It takes some elbow grease but you should soon see black tarnish coming off onto the cloth. It's amazing what comes off jewelry that appears to be fairly clean. Once I'm satisfied with the cleaning, I polish with a clean cloth. In my opinion, MAAS is a miracle worker which restores the beauty to silver.

I do not worry about removing plate from silver plated jewelry. I've used paste cleaners for years and have not had problems.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Websites That Identify Vintage Costume Jewelry From Makers' Marks or Stamps

2009-01-14T03:00:00.001-08:00

You've just obtained a beautiful vintage costume jewelry pin! You'd like to know how old it is and who made it. If you spend enough time around vintage costume jewelry, you'll begin to see that most manufacturers had styles, patterns and techniques that were specific to that maker. But without looking at anything else, many times it's possible to identify a piece of jewelry solely by the stamps/names/maker's marks on back.

There are a couple of web sites that are incredibly helpful in identifying makers' marks and learning about the jewelry makers. My favorite is Illusion Jewels website. This site lists many makers, the dates they were in business, and lots of photos of their marks. I use this site almost every day. www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarksa.com

Morning Glory Antiques and Jewelry is a gorgeous site which shows photos of some marks but also has many reference pages with photos of classic vintage jewelry such as Trifari, Eisenberg, Miriam Haskell. http://www.morninggloryjewelry.com/jc/JewelChatMarks.html

A site which is great for researching letters and symbols stamped on chains and jewelry. It's called "Ornament, Jewelry and Accessory". This site has a different page for every letter of the alphabet, and these pages don't appear to be linked. To find a page for each letter of the alphabet, change the last letters in "OJAS" on the web address to the proper letter of the alphabet. So, for letter A, I change the address to "OJAA". http://www.tace.com/vendors/bjarrett/OJAS

There is a website which is a virtual museum of Classic Trifari jewelry from before 1960. N&N Vintage Jewelry sells Trifari and other makers but their photos and info are fantastic. Check this site out! www.trifari.com

Another thing that I do with good results is to Google the heck out of a jewelry mark. If I've exhausted my favorite web sites and cannot find info, I'll Google a description of the mark. There are many marks which are just letters and symbols. I'll literally describe this mark on Google and see what pops up. Sometimes I'm able to find the makers from this technique.

And, of course, eBay is an excellent resource. Once I've identified my jewelry, I always check out Current and Completed auctions to see what things are selling for.

There are many more helpful sites out there, and I've barely even touched on the subject. I'll talk more in later blogs.

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.

Getting Ready for the 2009 Burlington Antiques Show

2009-01-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

I am SO ready for the Burlington Antique Show this coming spring! Last year, I sold at Burlington a couple of times and loved it.

The show is on the 3rd Sunday of every month, April - October. It is an outdoor show at the Boone County fairgrounds that features about 250 antique and collectible dealers. Some dealers are out in the open while others are under cover. Food vendors are present at the show, too. I like the fact that dealers are not supposed to bring "new" items to the show.

I'm in the process of gathering lots of jewelry to sell. I've found that it's best to have a great deal of jewelry and to have items in a variety of price ranges. I've sold to people who want junk jewelry for grandkids to play dress-up in or who want to use junk jewelry for craft projects. I've also sold very high end jewelry to serious collectors. That's what's fun about Burlington -- interacting with all the different people and talking to them about their interest in vintage jewelry.

I plan to sell at Burlington each month in 2009. Hope to see you there!

www.burlingtonantiqueshow.com
Burlington Antique Show
Boone County Fairgrounds
5819 Idlewild Rd. (KY Route 338)
Burlington, Kentucky(10 minutes south of Cincinnati)

www.midcenturyjewelry.com.