Butterfly and Dragonfly jewellery

As its so hot today. I thought I would just showcase a few vintage brooches with butterflies and dragonfly designs.

The enamel brooch is slightly unusual by shape. The three brooches can be used together or separately. Pin to a sun hat or t-shirt.

Now for a couple of dragonfly brooches. One in enamel and the other covered with Swarovski crystal rhinestones.

But as I write this blog post its started to rain and looks as though its going to thunder. Typical English weather. 

Signatures that appear on jewellery update

Recent updates to Jewels and Finery have resulted in a new category - signed jewellery. So I thought I would write this blog to explore what a signature on vintage jewellery means. It is certainly useful for dating and recognizing the jewellery's origin. The signature can be of several different meanings: designer, brand, country of origin, pat pending, company...

Designer
Jewellery may have the designer's name on a plaque (on the back) or etched on and allso other information.

Brand
Brand signed vintage jewellery is very common. Exquisite is a brand from the company W A P Watson and so is Corocraft and Jewelcraft both from the company Coro.

Country of Origin
Often a piece of jewellery will have a signature that refers to the country of origin. Useful if that country does no longer exist as this will help with dating. Common ones found are W. Germany, Italy, Hong Kong, China, England, Japan, Czechoslovakia,

Pat Pending
Seen on jewellery that is usually pre dating 1955 as after this date the © came into use. May have a number which can be traced and used in dating.

Company

Many companies will have also sign their jewellery, unfortunately many modern companies do not. Avon sometimes will but mostly does not now. Marks and Spencer does nearly all the time still. Miracle nearly always did with a few exceptions. Sphinx used a mixture of signatures and 4 digit numbers. Ciro Pearls used the name Ciro or CP. However when the company was taken over in the late twentieth century the newer jewellery remained unsigned and just boxed.

Now for a question is this vintage brooch signed Sarah Coventry - is it a brand or company?

Just follow the links to see the signatures and backs to each piece of jewellery.Answer to the Sarah Coventry question will be posted in the comments shortly.

Jewellery by Sarah Coventry Spring 1976 Part 10

This is part 10 of vintage jewellery by Sarah Coventry taken from the Spring 1976 collection.

By publishing this catalogue - it will help in identifying, naming and dating pieces from the company. They were available at home parties and later at some stores worldwide.

Page 34 

All photographs should enlarge.
A = Pebbles ring
B = Lovely Lady ring
C = Misty ring
D = Blue Feather ring

Page 35

A = Caress ring
B = Golden Lace ring
C = Silvery Lace ring
D = Papillion ring
E = Charity ring
F = Bamboo ring in gold tone.
G = Bamboo ring in silver tone.
H = Cotton Candy ring
I = Madam Butterfly ring in gold plate
J = Dusk ring
K = Mellow ring
L = Madame Butterfly in silver plate
M = Fickle Heart ring
N = Ebb Tide ring
O = Rosalie ring
P = Scroll ring
Q = Affection ring
R = Night Out ring
S = Victorian Pinkie ring

Part 11 will be out soon - we are now about half way through the catalogue. Enjoy the weekend.

How to clean earrings

There are now two guides on Jewels and Finery on cleaning vintage jewellery. The latest is specific to cleaning earrings. Cleaning Vintage Earrings

Vintage, antique and second hand pre owned earrings have in the past been worn by someone else that we sell. They have to be cleaned hygienically - that means all clip on, screw backs and pierced types.  The guide tells you how to do this.

This guide can be used for cleaning your own earrings that you have worn from new - they do need a bit of TLC once in a while. I am also now wary about new earrings as once watched in amazement at a young woman go through a rack of new earrings in a supermarket and try them all on. She put them back on the cards afterwards for the next buyer eeewww !!
So now unless I buy new earrings that are sealed packaged or firmly sellotaped onto a card - they get cleaned before use.

The photographs today are of different clips findings and mechanisms used in jewellery making.     

 Vintage clip mechanisms in gold tone metal on a plastic button earring.

Vintage earrings with both clip and screw back mechanisms.

Earring posts with backs or clutches

A finding used for pierced ears that fastens so they can not fall out.

Screw back earring findings that are similar in use to a clip on ones.

A hook or shepherd hook style finding/fastening on earrings - these are the easiest to replace if you so wish.

Earrings with all plastic backs - these are clip ones above, but they can also be for pierced ears (first photograph on this blog).

Fish Figural Jewellery

Morning, as its a sunny and hot June! Thought I would have a look at figural jewellery and at fish ones. It is the start of the holiday season and summer........

This design is seen quite often, think that Coro did something similar and many look-a likes followed.

Because here's another one with a slight different look. You have to look closely at the front to see, but the backs are very different.

Fish necklaces are available. Look out for the genuine 1950's articulated fish necklaces - they are so cute.

Brightly coloured vintage brooches are available in all sorts of fish designs. Tropical fish, large sea fish including sharks and eels (very popular on Chinese made jewellery) and a few by artistic license. 

Wear brooches on a hat, hairband, clothing or a bag. They brighten up any outfit for just a few pounds. Wear fish or sea themed jewellery to work as a reminder of a holiday soon.

Changes To Jewels and Finery's Jewellery Categories

For the whole of May we have been busy changing around the categories for our vintage jewellery. This is so we can double the number of items available.

 Black, brown and amber vintage necklaces

This necklace will be added shortly.

So far vintage brooches are arranged by colour. The following brooch is under the white, cream and clear vintage brooches and pins.

 Rhinestone pearl ribbon vintage bridal brooch

Vintage necklaces are now arranged by length and then colour. Short (16 inch and under) and long (over 17 inches)

 Blue vintage pop it necklace

 Iona marble silver vintage brooch

Well all the Bank holidays are over for a while. Summer is here at last - so enjoy the sunshine and top up your vitamin D levels.