10 Quick Facts About Vintage Jewelry

One aspect of owning a vintage Etsy shop is that to keep current you must continue to keep learning.  Warman's Jewelry by Christie Romero (cited below) is a great book about vintage jewelry from the 19th and 20th century including Victorian, Art Nouveau and Costume.
Here are 10 quick facts I bet you didn't know.


1.  Marilyn Monroe's "diamonds are a girl's best friend" were really rhinestones,

2.  A Victorian tradition, the art of hair making jewelry originated in Denmark and Sweden.

3.  Cufflinks are also known as sleeve buttons, tie pins, signet rings, collar buttons and shirt studs.

4.  The earliest attachment for holding "ear jewels" for unpierced ears were patented in 1894.

5.  In the 1880s, silver coins also known as love tokens were engraved with ciphers or names of family members or loved ones and made into bracelets or brooches.

6.  The Navajo were the first to use turquoise in combination with silver.

7.  Cameos became popular as a tourist souvenir in Europe in the 19th century. 

8.  Women suffragists had a secret code translated into jewelry.  They would wear green, white and violet pieces which stood for Give Women the Vote.

9.  When electric lighting was introduced in the 1880s sparkling diamond set jewelry became more desirable.

10.    Coral- popular in the nineteenth century was often worn by children.  It was thought that it would fend off disease and evil spirits.  Victorians believed it had curative and protective powers.



Sources:

Romero, Christie. Warman's jewelry. Radnor, Pa.: Wallace-Homestead Book Co., 1995. Print. 

JURSVI - polymer clay jewelry: Everything old can be new again

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Vintage Jewelry in Your Modern Fashion

Do you have a beautiful vintage piece sitting in your jewelry box just waiting for you to wear? Maybe you have a collection of pieces but have no idea how to put them together in an outfit.  You don't want to look like you dressed up for Halloween.  If you ever wondered how to incorporate those cute vintage pieces into your style then read below for some easy ideas.

One thing to keep in mind when incorporating vintage jewelry into your style is to utilize your existing wardrobe.  

Pearls:  Pearls are timeless, classic and elegant.  The modern way to utilize those vintage pearls is to layer them.  Different colors, different lengths and several strands for a chunky look.  Whether you pair them with that little black dress or use them to "dress up" that plain colored shirt you can't go wrong.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/103610762/vintage-marvella-pearl-necklace


Brooches:  Brooches are probably my favorite type of vintage jewelry.  There are so many designs and styles the possibilities are endless. A scarf draped around the neck with a large singular brooch can be stunning.  A brooch that would work for this can be seen here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/103191435/vintage-goldtone-flower-leaf-pin-purple


Brooches look especially beautiful on jean jackets and blazers.  Bring some feminine sparkle with a piece like the one below.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/88110837/vintage-antiqued-silver-flower-pin



A unique way to utilize a brooch is on a mailbag or handbag. Choose a sturdy piece like the one below to adorn it.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/98470664/vintage-goldtone-americana-eagle-pin




Earrings:  Vintage earrings are often large and sparkly.  One might think the look is outdated.  However you can still wear these earrings in this modern day if you keep them as the main  statement.  If you choose to accessorize, do so minimally.  Here is a great pair for that.

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/93517283/vintage-coro-rhinestone-costume-jewelry



Bracelets:  Vintage bracelet styles are back in fashion.  The chunkier the better.  Layered or not.
Again, when wearing vintage pieces remember to choose the ones you wish to highlight. Remember, you don't need to wear every piece you have in one outfit!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/90440301/2-1980s-chunky-bracelets




Necklaces:   Lastly vintage necklaces can really accent your outfit.  If the necklace has a pendant consider changing out the chain for different lengths and colors.  Bright colored blouses showcase these necklaces best.  However, jeans and a t-shirt paired with a beautiful necklace can really give you an updated look. The one below would look great with jeans and a white t-shirt.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111876116/vintage-wooden-goldtone-70s-style-retro



 In a sense when we wear vintage jewelry we are displaying and preserving history. I've always felt that the designs of vintage jewelry and the quality are often better than jewelry made of recent years.  If you have any other tips please share them in the comments!

Coro Jewelry

"Corocraft" also more commonly known as Coro is a vintage jewelry line. It was a more moderately priced jewelry in comparison to others.  Coro was made from 1901 to 1979 in the United States and 1998 in Canada.  This jewelry line offered many unique high quality designs in brooches, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.  A factory was established in Providence, Rhode Island in 1911. 
There is a very long list of marks. Please see the list on this website    http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarkscoro.html   to view all of them.  Many many patents existed. 

Here is an example of a Coro pair of earrings:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/93517283/vintage-coro-rhinestone-costume-jewelry




Any ideas for future blog posts you are interested in seeing?  Write me a comment below.




Resources:

http://www.illusionjewels.com

Carroll, Julia C. Collecting Costume Jewelry 202: The Basics of Dating Jewelry 1935-1980 : Identification and Value Guide. Paducah, KY: Collector, 2007. Print