Adrian Mann - Ways to date jewellery using knitting patterns

There are many ways to date jewellery, but today I have one way that has not been covered before.  Here is a photograph of an Adrian Mann vintage brooch produced in 1984. It is in a Scottish jewellery designed in silver tone with a mock Cairngorm stone in the center of the thistle flower. Also on the page is a plain gold tone bangle.

Vintage knitting pattern for women - sweaters

The jewellery is on a vintage knitting pattern for a woman's sweater. Easy to date as the pattern has a date inside. Also they have actually put the name of the jewellery supplier. Most times on patterns the jewellery is not named or dated but occasionally I do come across one such as this.

This last week we have added over 30 new pieces to Jewels and Finery. Here are just a few..

Ceramic white anemone flower vintage brooch in white vintage brooches

Diamante clip on earrings by Pell - in our vintage clip on earrings collection.

  

1960s vintage necklace with matching screw back earrings by Coro in silver tone and mock coral coloured cabochon. 

Just a few exciting jewellery pieces - as we source the unusual and often unique style. Not found on the high street.

Well it does look as though spring has arrived early in the UK. Good weather has meant that we have been able to start a major renovation on our front garden. Taking out all the overgrown shrubbery and trees. My plan is to have a more colourful and productive front garden this and subsequent years.

Here is a photograph as to what it looks like now.

Overgrown with ivy and the soil is awful and so dry. My husband does not have a clue when it comes to gardening so he lets me carry on and he just does the clearing and some heavy stuff. I said in a blog a while back about loosing some weight. So I have joined a gym - which I enjoy using (especially the pool and jacuzzi) This gardening is also helping, along with eating better foods. Have lost weight as finding my clothes are not fitting!

Amber jewellery and Brooches

Having now almost completed our different collections. I thought I would look at amber jewellery and also amber brooches.

 Amber glass vintage bracelet attributed to Sphinx

We have included both real tree resin amber and also amber coloured items  in the collections.

So here is a little about the fossilized tree resin amber which is a natural plastic and was formed from trees that grew many million years ago.

It is used in jewellery but also in perfume and as a medicine by some cultures. 
Amber is mostly seen as a glorious orange yellow colour and material. But there are other amber colours such as blue, cherry amber to nearly black around. The shades can vary so much, which makes it interesting to collect. Occasionally the amber would have captured an insect during its liquid state. Though this is rare, but a manufacture will sometimes add an insect to raise the value of the amber as it is highly prized. It is a thermoplastic resin that can be heated to soften and then remolded many times. Tests for amber include heating a pin - which will go easily into the material, but this needs to be done in a place where it can not be seen and is not recommended.

Genuine amber vintage jewellery is now harder to find. So we sourced some new pieces that had a vintage style to them.

 Amber rhinoceros brooch in silver

Amber coloured glass and other plastics have been popular across the decades. From the 1950s to the 1980s, produced large glass stone brooches, necklaces and earrings. The colour amber is used for spacer beads as they enhance other coloured beads. In fact if you look closely - the colour amber may not be the main colour in today's jewellery but often lurking in the background.

Black and amber plastic necklace 

Amber rhinestone brooch by Jewel Craft

Large amber rhinestone brooch by Exquisite

Large amber rhinestone brooch by Exquisite 1960s.

Amber rhinestone Scottish brooch by Exquisite

Cairngorm glass stone in a grouse foot vintage brooch. A yellow amber coloured stone typical in  Scottish jewellery

Beautiful amber coloured five strand vintage necklace

 
Thankfully we leave February behind. Not a great month in more ways than one, but at least I have now lost weight with a regime of diet and exercise. Not wanting to buy any new clothes until I drop 2 dress sizes I am having difficulty finding a pair of non belted trousers that stay up!  

Brooches in black

In this years blog posts, we will look at each collection that we currently have. This blog we will look at our black brooches. Just one of the many collections within vintage brooches that we have sourced over the years.

Starflower black brooch 1990s 

The black brooch collection includes vintage, pre owned and new pieces. So in all around a hundred years of jewellery.

We have bead brooches and other colours mixed with the black colour ways. The above faceted bead brooch is quite large and just shimmers with the black facets and crystal glass beads.

From elegant simple designs like this bar brooch to larger complex ones.

Black brooches are traditionally associated with memorial jewellery as well as Gothic modern jewellery. The brooch above is in a Victorian memorial style dating to the 1980s - 1990s. 

It can also be seen in love brooches such as this black cats one.
We add at least 30 to 50 different pieces of jewellery each week, so there is always something new to see.

My visit to Butler and Wilson shop South Molton St London

On Saturday 28th 2012, I had the opportunity to visit London with my daughter. I thought I would go and visit one of the Butler & Wilson shops in London and buy myself a couple of brooches. Something that was on my bucket list!

Because my daughter had an interview very early on that morning, we left the West Midlands at 3 am.
Now I was really looking forward to seeing lots of lovely jewels and sparkling brooches as well as soaking up the atmosphere of a successful costume jewellery company of the UK. I have in my own collection a couple of necklaces and a brooch (that has had to be repaired). I had tried to buy a Christmas tree pin last year from Butler & Wilson but had been unable to. I had looked at their website and on QVC's website in September and again at the and of November, but there was not one tree brooch available. So in early December I went elsewhere. Unfortunately I would have loved to watch QVC to see if they had one in the run up to Christmas, but as I can only dip in and out occasionally, so this was not an option.

Those of you that read my blog and visit our website, can hazard a guess that I am quite patriotic and believe that we should be proud of our heritage and support UK companies, etc. However sometimes I find myself shaking my head in frustration and I think I can confidently say - my visit turned out to be such an occasion.

After a successful interview, my daughter and I arrived at the South Molton Street shop at around 11 am. There is so much walking to be done in London, that after a long debate I had worn an old and very comfortable pair of walking come gardening boots. It was the only way that I could have managed this trip. The shop is just off Oxford Street, so taking the tube to Bond Street we took a long walk through the crowds and eventually located it.
Happy with the morning, we first ambled around the small sized shop looking for the brooch section. However unable to find any and realizing that they had only sale stock, old stock, stock that was seconds and some Native American style items in a dark show case. Unlabelled and difficult to tell what they were. We ended at the front of the store quite quickly. If you are planning a trip to the store - I would ring first to make sure they have the jewellery item that you want as there were very few "glitzy" jewellery but lots of necklaces with agate and quartz.

I next turned to look at the jewellery in plastic bags located in boxes that were in the middle of the store. There were also racks around the walls with a few pieces of jewellery hanging on them.
We had already been asked once if we needed any help. Pet hate - usually send me fast to the exit. But we had been busy looking at something and had acknowledged the request with a polite "no thank you".

So trying to hold onto a walking stick and open plastic bags was difficult enough; and when a sales assistant waved a small basket in front of me and asked (well I think it was to me - she was looking down the shop at the time!) "did I want to use one of these". I explained no, and went on to say that it was difficult with holding and using a stick. The sales assistant didn't answer or even look at me. So I went back to what I was doing and then over heard her say to a colleague (within my poor hearing) something about not wanting one in case you spent to much!!

Now I am not known for my tact or keeping my mouth shut. But I was in a good mood and not wanting to ruin it - I just carried on looking and didn't make a fuss.  Besides I didn't want to be thrown out of the store for telling them what I thought!!

I eventually brought the above necklace. Its a tad too short but looking at the chain, it should be quite easy to add an extension chain and so not have the tag and clasp on my shoulder. Would have spent a lot more but very unusually for me - I couldn't find anything else I wanted.
When I came to pay - the same "basket" assistant took my plastic bag with the necklace in. Again she did not look at me the whole time. It must be a practiced art form to stare ahead of you and not acknowledge someone being there at all. There is of course autism (that makes eye contact very difficult) and I wondered if this was the case or was it just plain rudeness.

Before I forget - The items are priced with tiny tiny labels - so I would recommend taking a magnifying glass with you - if you have anything other than perfect sharp eyesight.
It took 2 shop assistance to take my purchase and money. Another sales assistant with her back to me keyed in the price in the till (located on the back wall) and when I had payed, the first "basket" assistant bagged my purchase into a blue plastic bag - no don't expect a "Butler & Wilson" bag, you just get an ordinary plain one.

Saying thank you and extracting my purchase from the "basket" assistance, who was holding it in front of her by two fingers. I wondered if  this woman was suffering from severe PMT or had she been stood up the night before (can you blame them)? But miserable face seemed to be endemic as I didn't see any of the staff smile.

My daughter and I took our leave. Unfortunately the floor is uneven and slopes towards the door. The building does seem old. Managing to trip as I do so many times - my trusty walking stick came to my aid. This shop is too small for any form of disabled equipment and if you use such - I would advise ringing to see what they have to assist you. The floor assistant/bouncer (a nice young man) opened the door for me - how nice I thought, but he followed it up with "I hope you get better soon" which left me stunned. Oh my god I look ill I though.............

So thank you Butler & Wilson company for making my visit enj.....memorable.

PS I probably have multiple sclerosis. My consultant neurologist is as yet undecided and I am looking forward to seeing him next week. Last year I was up and down like a yo-yo with bouts of dizziness and it has taken since 2006, to get to the level of fitness that I have today. Difficult in moving and at times comfort eating (who wouldn't be upset when suddenly without warning life turned upside down and you are literally thrown in the gutter by society) it has meant I have piled on a few pounds to 12 3/4 stone. Pleasantly plump no just too fat and hating it. This year I started with the resolution to get fitter, loose weight and enjoy life to the full. Follow this blog to see how I get on. Oh and will I be visiting Butler & Wilson in the future - what do you think?      

                 

Five brooches for the new year!

This is our first post of the New Year 2012. Just been a bit busy making a few new collection categories to Jewels and Finery. Our vintage brooches has been split into themes. So over the next few weeks we will be showing each new collection category.
New additions to vintage brooches over the next week to come and here are a few already available:

Crescent garland vintage brooch by Jewelcraft

Pretty vintage brooch by Jewelcraft which was the mark Coro used in the UK.

Wheat or grass vintage brooch

Unusual vintage brooch - think it looks better pinned this way. Very 3D and well made. Unsigned beauty.

Fish brooch by Poole Potteries

The three vintage brooches and pre owned brooch will be added shortly, just a few of the many we have photographed and will add soon.

Happy New Year 2012 from Jewels and Finery

As 2011 draws to an end, its a time to reflect and plan for the New Year. We have had another fabulous year at Jewels and Finery UK. Sourcing many great pieces of vintage jewellery that we know have gone to good new homes to be worn for special occasions and every day, collected and admired.

Plans are now well in hand for this coming year, new ideas and lines on our website.  Which we hope you will enjoy.

So to all have a Happy New Year, good luck, good health and a prosperous one.


Sue & Mark Jewels and Finery UK

Scottish brooch by Mizpah

Dating Sarah Coventry jewellery Part 15

I can not believe its been almost 3 weeks since I last blogged. But this time of year is so busy. Lots of jewellery to pack and send to new homes.
This blog is part 15 of the spring 1976 Sarah Coventry brochure to help date and identify their jewellery.

Page 47

Vintage earrings all for pierced ears

A = Tiny Garden**
B = Mushroom*
C = Tiny Turtle*
D = Hollywood Squares*
E = New Twist*
F = Taffee Tones**
G = Luv**
H = Madame Butterfly*(G)
I = The Big Apple**(G)
J = The Big Apple**(S)
K = Serenity Cross*(G)
L = Moon Drops**(G)
M = Golden Lace*
N = Madame Butterfly*(S)
O = Diamonice*
P = Serenity Cross*(S)
Q = Moon Drops**(S)
R = Silvery Lace*
S = Papillon*
T = Flair**
U = Swing Away*~~ (S)
V = Classic Tassel*~~(S)
W = Wishbone*
X = Princess**
Y = Texture Twist*
Z = Senorita*(S)

AA = Swing Away*~~(G)
BB = Classical Tassel*~~(G)
CC = Capers*~~
DD = Tiny Cross*
EE = Senorita*(G)

*Surgical steel post
**Surgical steel wire
~~Sarah convertibles - may be worn with or without dangle.

Page 48

A = Tailored Accent Necklace/Belt 37"
B = Tailored Accent Bracelet.

Our Sarah Coventry Jewelry available.

New additions to Jewels and Finery

Mother of pearl shell bracelet

Amber oval ring

And don't forget our sale vintage jewellery...............