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.

Why we closed Jewels & Finery UK

Why we closed Jewels & Finery UK 

It was after 11 years of selling vintage jewellery and pre-owned jewellery on Jewels and Finery that we made the difficult decision to close our online store. (We were also known as vintage and handmade jewels). Last September, we noticed a rapid decline in sales and visits to the website. It just got worse and worse. Nothing we did seemed to do made any difference.

In January 2019, we noticed that our categories had multiple versions. In that our vintage brooches section had over 16 different versions of the same page. It was happening with all our main categories and even when we created new categories, it was also causing duplicates.

It wasn't the only problem that we had. The photographs on some items had just disappeared before Christmas. Leaving over 50 items without any pictures. Then it was noticed that our page speed had become so slow. To our horror, the other photographs had been converted from JPG to PNG. This makes a larger file and so slows a website. It meant that all the 1,500+ photographs would need to be either retaken or converted back to JPG. A huge undertaking. But the actual code on the website was also slowing it down and this was beyond our control. It would need major upgrading.

Unfortunately, these were not the only problems that we had. The blog attached to the website was in an HTTP formate - which shows up as unsecured. As a WordPress blog. It should have been in the https formate. But the company we were with did not seem to care. Had they given us a chance to upgrade we would have. But it meant that even if we took on another WordPress blog and swopped it - we couldn't use our website URL.

Now don't get me started on the sitemap. It was showing duplicate URLs, the blog as HTTPS!, wrong formatting and informing Google that it was changed weekly!. We paid another company to create a sitemap and uploaded it to Googles search console. Almost immediately it showed the number of URLs increased. It also seemed to update daily and be read by Google daily. With our own sitemap on the website. It hadn't changed or updated for months. No matter how many changes or submissions we did. I checked other sitemaps of other websites from the same company. The sitemaps were the same format.

There were a few other problems that kept occurring. Broken links to the newsletter. Which apparently took 3 weeks to sort. I am not sure if it then worked, as by this time I had had enough.

Yes, I repeatedly asked for it to be sorted out. But it was horrendous. From January to March I rang and was first told to get in touch with Google. Then eventually in March, it was put to the developers. we got an email 2 weeks after closing the store. Saying it was fixed!!!! The sitemap had apparently been fixed, but when I looked it had had just a couple of minor changes to priority - this took 3 weeks to do! The blog HTTP was still on there though. When I queried it I was told. that is how it will stay and no further changes were going to be made!

I had written on the forum that I was not happy and would be moving. Their reply was to give me an instant ban for life !!

Until a year ago. I would have recommended them. But they seemed to not know what they were doing. No communication and sudden moving of the facilities that we had signed up for. Analytics went - it was only available with a higher plan. I was paying over £70 a month as it was. You had to ask for everything back. Not very good practice for a company. They seem to start things. Like regular informative blog posts. Then it all stops. Instead of carrying on. Add a blog, then not maintain it. Start a "what do you want" forum post. Then not continue or communicate.

Worse was that we couldn't transfer any of the links created over the last 11 years. With all the duplicates it had done untold damage. We could not be sure this was fixed properly either. We also did not know what else had been wrong, had we or the website company been penalized by Google with so much other clutter around it was impossible to tell?

Unfortunately, we could not leave a review for the website provider, as they do not publish the bad ones - only the good reviews. No website can have all good reviews. It is impossible.

PS. We will be publishing all the research we did and had on the old website at some point as time allows.  

Yeah A Little Vintage Necklace for Friday

Yeah, A Little Vintage Necklace For Friday.

Its early September and it is raining. The weather across the world is horrendous. So we have chosen a yellow bead vintage necklace from the 1950s, for our Friday treat. Below is our necklace image and a little bit of fun lettering added to it.

Yellow fixed bead necklace 1950s.

Forget the rain and wind. Just wear a little bead necklace today in a bright and cheerful colour. Then maybe we will have some better weather next week!!. This is a fabulous yellow resin bead piece with indentations around the beads filled with a reflected enamel coating. Well, that's what it looks like to me! It is of the fixed bead variety - i.e. that means the beads have been fused onto the string. It makes this beaded necklace quite durable and will wear very well. Ideal for those moms and grand moms that have small children grabbing the necklace.

We have many different vintage necklaces to showcase. From beads to chain and many are very unique featured on this blog post. 

Take a look at this vintage wooden bead necklace above. The beads are of polished natural wood. It has been hand knotted and is probably pre seventies of age.

A 1960s vintage beaded necklace with a mixture of white faux pearls, glass beads in green, amber and gold onto three strands. Unsigned.

Unique 1980s vintage necklace in plastic. Dark colours of amber and black with beads and fringe detail. Unsigned.

This is a vintage mesh and clear rhinestone necklace from the 1960s. Gold wire is meshed together and knotted design with an edging of glass stones. Unsigned.

Boxed two stranded faux pearl necklace with a rhinestone clasp. The clasp is in blue and clear glass stones. Unsigned but in it's original box with the Ciro logo on.

A pretty Milk Glass beaded vintage necklace in white with an ornate clasp. The clasp has a glass cabochon that has a pink floral design on. Unsigned and dates to the 1960s. 

Rare 1950s Pop It bead necklace. The beads are pushed into each other and can be pulled apart to make a choker or two bracelets. Originally Pop It beads were made for adults, but quickly became popular with children and made into their own jewellery range.

A statement 1980s necklace with matching clip earrings. Turquoise, purple and blue onto gold tone. Unsigned.

This is part of the Birthday range from Exquisite. A 1960s - 1970s vintage enamel necklace of pansy shaped links.  

A warm Mothering Sunday in March

Today is Mothering Sunday. A day to say thank you to all mothers everywhere. Well in the UK at least, I think other countries celebrate on another day not in this traditional cold March day. However, we have been experiencing some very warm weather of late. Not like the usual cold and often snowy day we usually get. Yesterday I managed to grab a few minutes sat by our pond sunbathing! It was that warm.
Most moms will receive little gifts of flowers and chocolates today. So here are a few flowers to all moms where ever you may be.

 
An edelweiss flower.

Vibrant blue and yellow flowers edged with pink.

Just a mixture of gorgeous summer flowers in bright cheerful colors.

I just love sunflowers - these are in Eloxal silver but nether the less very pretty.

Another sunflower on this scarf clip.

A rainbow of beads around this flower shape, just perfect.

Jewellery and accessories to create your individual style and look amazing

So jewellery and accessories to create your individual style and look amazing is our part of our new looking website at Jewels & Finery UK. We still sell fabulous vintage jewellery as well as antique, pre owned and new jewellery. But for 2014 we have now added some new categories and moved a few older ones around. Our vintage brooches collection has all original vintage brooch and our vintage necklaces are all true vintage.

Here are just a few pieces of jewellery added recently:

vintage cufflinks in silver tone.

Stainless steal wishbone ring.

Unusual vintage brooch by Miracle - large.

Trifari vintage necklace and bracelet with faux pearls.

Now this is our first blog for 2014! Just can not believe how the time has flown by. 

Genuine jewellery we have in our collection

Recently added genuine jewellery we have in our collection. We have pretty sparkling vintage brooches ready for the party season and more demure vintage necklaces. Just have a look at some of the gorgeous antique and vintage jewellery pieces we now have available.

Amber, citrine and clear aurora borealis coloured rhinestones used in this sparkling vintage brooch by Jewel Craft.

Not vintage but an antique brooch with fabulous sparkling Austrian faceted stones. Crescent moon shaped with a brass setting.

Superb large Monet green diamante brooch. Love this one as its so bold with its Maltese Cross design.

Looking for something special? Then this vintage necklace from Castlecliff and Larry Vrba is just perfect. Large and very striking. Vintage jewellery that deserves to be worn.

A multi bead necklace that is so vintage in style. 1950s jewellery that has some great unique vintage plastic beads from Hong Kong.

How about a 1970s medallion necklace with Atlas holding up the earth on it. Greek inspired by the ancient Gods of old.

1970s blue and green abalone shell pendant necklace by Exquisite. Long chain with a diamond shaped pendant. This is just a little that we have added to Jewels & Finery recently. Our aim is for between 30 and 50 unique pieces of vintage jewellery each week. Not forgetting that we have new and previously owned jewellery as well.

Sara heart tag on a gemstone necklace

Below is a very pretty Sara signed gemstone necklace a gemstone jewellery piece that we have at the moment. Sometimes we come across a piece of vintage jewellery or in this case previously owned that is signed and modern but we do not know who produced it. There is a clue on that it is signed with a small tag at the fastening.

This quality turquoise and silver coloured bead necklace has a distinctive metal tag. Its heart shaped with the name "Sara" on one side in small case lettering. This has real semi precious turquoise coloured gemstones and silver coloured beads with a central ornate heart charm. See below.

On the reverse of this heart tag it has three dashes that form a happy smiley face.

Would love to know a bit more about the company and designer jewellery. We do know that its not Sarah Coventry and have an inclination its from a clothing store in the UK that sells Sara jewellery and accessories. If you know, just leave a message on this page's comments please.

Unsigned jewellery beauties for COW Jan 2013

Merry suggested this months jewellery COW of unsigned beauties for the Jewelry Ring forum on Yahoo. There is a huge amount of vintage brooches, earrings, necklace, scarf clips, bracelet and many more pieces that are unsigned. Here is our gallery of photographs on just some of the ones we have. If I have counted right there are 37 different unsigned beauties to view below.

   Huge blue and green rhinestone vintage clip earrings - sorry but already sold.

Ceramic vintage clip on earrings - brooches like this can also be found - unsigned.

Butterscotch clip earrings

Big drop clip earrings with turquoise coloured cabochon.

Spiky vintage clip on earrings - very large.

Love the colours in this large rhinestone vintage brooch.

Spiked rhinestone brooch.

This is a superb vintage brooch with a rich yellow gold plate.

Another unsigned beauty with a safety chain.

You don't often see many vulture brooches and this one is on the larger size.

Enamel and tin acorn brooch - so detailed.

Horse brooch with plique a jour detail.

Love these cute rabbits on this enamel brooch.

Think this one is so stylish and pretty - unsigned.

The colours on this gorgeous rhinestone brooch with a faux opal middle are just stunning.

This is in my own collection from my grandmother and so colourful star fish brooch.

Very pretty rhinestone flower brooch with pale yellow, topaz and amber coloured stones.

Not sure what this animal is but unusual and unsigned.

Silver vintage marcasite brooch of a peacock.

Unsigned trembler flower brooch. 

Large shoulder brooch of a panther - unsigned.

Enamel and marcasite flower brooch - just a bit unusual!

In own collection - three headed dragon brooch.

Another one from my own collection - a flying horse enamel brooch.

Cranberry red glass rhinestone and clear rhinestone brooch.

This one is a bit different star shaped brooch with clear stones and a silver tone setting.

Large flower basket brooch.

I do like the colour green in this rhinestone European brooch.

Enamel floral brooch in bright colours.

Vintage scarf clip with faux pearls and detailed conkers and leaves.

Unsigned mens tie clip and a pair of buttons with red cherry detail.

Copper and red enamel cuff bangle - not sure how old this is but a beautiful unsigned artisan piece.

Treble strand glass bead necklace in blue and pearl. Like the blue beads with bits on the outside, not sure what this technique is called?

Pretty clip earrings think there are necklaces to match available but unsigned.

Aquamarine coloured necklace.

Last but not least a lion necklace.

All the above are unsigned beauties. Thank you for looking.