antique beads and bead styles shown

Antique beads and vintage bead styles shown here.

Beads have been around for centuries, our ancestors used seeds, bones and shells strung together to wear around their necks.
In today's blog, I have decided to look at some of the different styles of antique and  vintage bead necklaces available both costume and fine necklaces. Above is an antique Carnival Glass necklace.

The most simple beaded necklace can be made by threading beads onto a string type of material to produce a necklace that is long enough to slip over your neck. Once the beads are long enough the ends are tied together so no clasps are used.

These were popular in the 1920s with flapper revolution. Women wore their hair and skirts short for the first time and layered bead necklaces around their necks. 

Again in the 1960s, long beads came very much to the front of fashion for hippies. With their love beads, multicoloured clothing and jewellery to match - flower power very evident.

1960s vintage beaded necklace in green. From Hong Kong and signed on the hook clasp. Three strands of beads in plastic.

A long vintage bead necklace from the 1960s. Shaped beads of glass in a lime green colour.

Bright stone beads dyed in bright colours. Antique and very unusual.

Long necklaces can be made from many materials, pearls, faux pearls, Bakelite, celluloid, plastic, seeds, gemstones and wood to name but a few.
Today long necklaces can be wrapped around your neck once or twice to create a layered effect. Several different colours can be worn. Try a long black bead necklace with a faux pearl bead necklace. It looks great with a plain t-shirt and an over shirt worn as a jacket.

Long necklaces can also double as bracelets. Wrap one several time around your wrist for that fashionable layered look.

Opposite is a long red bead necklace circa 1980s

A single string of beads with a clasp fitted is I think the next type of necklace for popularity. My pearl necklace is probably the one that I use the most for the day and going out in the evening. The clasps can be plain or ornate. Vintage necklaces with an ornate clasp were often better made and more expensive when new. Designed to wear with a hairstyle that left the back of your neck bare, so the clasp was clearly visible. Audrey Hepburn was a classic beauty with her black dress, long black gloves and a beaded necklace with an ornate clasp. Very stylish in the 1930s and 1940s when everyone went to the cinema and the Hollywood stars were copied
The clasp need not be at the back of the neck. Today such a necklace can be worn with the clasp around the front in any position. Double stranded bead necklace of glass pearls with a blue rhinestone clasp.

Multi-layered bead necklaces have been fashionable for centuries. Even in this issue of December's Vogue UK, there is a multi-layered bead necklace by Chanel. The clasp has been replaced by a bow, quite easy to copy at home - if the ££££ price tag is a bit too much. Just attach a bow available from haberdasheries to a long slip over bead necklace or to a plain clasp on a shorter layered necklace. Coordinate the bow to match the necklace.

Coral bead necklace 1960s with an ornate clasp.

Milk glass beaded necklace 1960s with an ornate clasp fastening.

Antique Tigers Eye bead necklace - see the irregular shape of the beads that have been hand cut.

Yellow long bead necklace 1920s with metal pin links.

Beads and more jewellery of beads to wear

We love beads and the more unusual the better. So just a showcase of some of our bead jewellery to wear. From beads of strings to beads used on brooches and earrings. We like vintage and the more unusual shaped or colours. So take a peak at our selection. Of course they were all available on Jewels and Finery. We have now closed down our website. But have kept up this blog for information and of course many photographs of the different bead jewellery available once upon a time.

Black Cloisonne beads in this pair of earrings. Pretty and dangling pair of beads. Modern and made in the last 20 years.

How about this turquoise and black dangling earring pair? Unusual beads jewellery and a great look. Estimated made in the 1980s.

Citrine yellow coloured glass beads. Lovely faceted and long enough to just slip this necklace over your head. Circa 1930s vintage.

If its party wear - then this beautiful purple and yellow acrylic bead necklace is a beauty.  Multi faceted to catch the light. Acrylic crystal look that is a modem made piece and ideal for a sparkling occasion.

Amber beads in both light and dark shades make up this lovely necklace. Long and elegant as well as being collectible.

Fixed beads in plastic go a long way and are a lot cheaper to buy and wear. You can also wrap these around your wrist as a wrapped bead bracelet. Versatile and unusual jewellery. This red fixed bead necklace above has some unique patterning. Circa 1960s to 1970s of age.

Brooches with beads make a lovely gift. This floral piece has some unusual bead accents in orange translucent colours with the antique gold tone filigree it is very striking and unique. Probably made in the sometime between the 1960s and 1980s 

Bead embellished face brooch by Gothic White Witch, handmade and new. finished our collection of bead jewellery.