Miracle jewellery | St Justin Jewellery

Miracle jewellery designs now under the ownership of St Justin jewellery

Since 1946, Miracle LTD has been a resident of Birmingham in the UK. But early in 2013, it was announced, that on the retirement of the owner, it had been taken over by the Cornish company St Justin. Both companies produce fine pewter and silver made jewellery in the style of Celtic, Scottish and historical reproductions. So we are showcasing both vintage Miracle jewellery and pre owned St Justin jewellery together. 
Below is a faux agate brooch signed Miracle. Dome shaped with a pewter setting.

  

  Miracle jewellery information 

First produced in Birmingham, England in 1946. It produced the famous Mizpah designs that were first made by the Quarrier Ward and Ward Brothers over 100 years ago. The Mizpah jewellery was set with the purple Bohemian glass that looks like amethyst and glass Cairngorm stones in its yellow-orange colour. Silver made jewellery was also produced in the Miracle, Ward Brothers and W Johnson designs. Handcrafted with engraving and completed with real semi-precious gemstones.

Although it's sad that Birmingham is at the end of an era for Miracle. It is still continuing Ward Brother’s legacy. We are very glad that the company has remained in the UK.

Large clip-on earrings - not in the usual style of Miracle.

 

Miracle stamp under the clip - can be missed at first glance

On this page, we will showcase the Miracle, Mizpah and St Justin jewellery that we have sourced and photographed. We will be leaving them so that you can see the many designs and information.

Mizpah jewellery stamp = 2 hearts with an arrow through. (not to confuse with Mizpah Victorian pieces) 

St Justin jewellery SJC mark used by St Justin early in the companies history and St Justin there after.

Large cartwheel brooch in box with information by St Justin.

Another pewter Celtic brooch in it's original box by St Justin.

Cosmic Celtic brooch by St Justin in pewter.

Pewter Celtic brooch stamped SJC.

Celtic knot brooch stamped SJC.

SJC pewter signature on the reverse of a brooch.

St Justin box with the logo on.

St Justin signature on the back of a jewellery brooch.

Miracle stamp on a brooch below.

Back of the thistle brooch by Miracle.

Amber glass thistle brooch from Miracle - probably from the 2000s.

Red stone and enamel Welsh dragon brooch by Miracle. This brooch was produced in several colours. From the 2000s.

1990s pair of faux agate clip earrings in green circa 1990s.

Unusual cherub brooch by Miracle. In an all pewter metal with dangles. 

Large faux turquoise gem pendant stamped on the reverse Miracle Britain.

Colourful cabochons in this Celtic brooch signed Mizpah.

Faux green agate Celtic cross brooch and pendant by Miracle. 

Art Glass in brown in a garter design pendant necklace by Miracle.

Blue diamante Celtic cross pendant necklace signed Miracle.

Corocraft jewellery

Jewelcraft to Corocraft and Coro jewellery. With Vendome

One of the brand names used by the jewellery company Coro was Jewelcraft. It was used here in the UK quite a lot, because of the court case that Ciro Pearls the UK company had with Coro – over the right not to use their name here as it was too like their own. Ciro won and so Coro was not allowed to use their brand name of Coro here and that means that many of the pieces found here in the UK will be marked “Jewelcraft” or “Corocraft” instead. All the ones we will be showing are signed – unless they come within a set and at least one other is signed. But I will tell you about this when I show the jewellery.

In this blog, we will gradually add the photographs and signatures of Jewelcraft jewellery that we have found and hopefully build up quite a jewellery library of images. Below is a pair of large earrings by Jewelcraft with a red enamel design and next to it the Jewelcraft markings on their jewellery.

Corocraft box with signature

Corocraft was another Coro mark. Above is a leaf with the Corocraft stamp on. Pretty in all gold tone. In the seventies and eighties, I can remember that when shopping most of the jewellery around was saying Corocraft. But few are found here today – I puzzled about this for a while. I think that the cards and boxes were signed but not the actual jewellery pieces. Which will make it difficult to firmly identify.

Corocraft earring backs in their original packaging

Corocraft earring backs with the information shown from their original packet

The above is a matching Jewelcraft jewellery set of a bracelet and earrings. In a light brown/taupe color. The bracelet is signed Jewelcraft but the earrings are unsigned. Without them being sourced together we would not have known they were from Coro.

As usual, we will be adding more Coro/Jewelcraft jewellery photographs as we take and source more. So please bookmark this and all our jewellery blogs. 

Stratton jewellery

Stratton jewellery and accessories with their men's jewellery

Stratton jewellery and accessories. Once based in Birmingham and London - This company started in the 1860s and folded in the late 1990s. The brand name "Imitation" was also produced by Stratton.
They made a wide range of items from women's jewellery, men's jewellery, jewellery boxes, trinket boxes and accessories to buttons and not forgetting their range of famous compacts. All our items have been sourced here in the UK and photographed by us. 

Stratton Made in England. Stamp on the reverse of a pretty trinket box

Stratton long tie clip in white and gold

Signature on the back of the above white tie pin. It says "Stratton, made in England, Pat app for" Patent applied for

Some Stratton pieces are unsigned. This pair of cufflinks has "Metal" and Pat number on only.

Stratton of London on the inside of a box

The patent number on one of Stratton's cufflinks

Presented by Stratton England on a box containing cufflinks and tie pin

The passant lion is an emblem used on Stratton boxes with the gold and red detail. However, this is not signed Stratton. It is from a shop on Bond Street, London.

Bond Street jewellery but in fact made by Stratton. See above on how to identify

Collecting funky jewellery this year 2020

What funky jewellery am I collecting this year?

At the start of each year since 2012, I have racked my dysfunctional brain on what unusual and funky jewellery to collect. It has to be cheap, fashion or costume, slightly kitsch and a mix of pre-owned and new. Throughout the year, I photograph and showcase that collection. In previous years, I have collected alien and space themed jewellery, dinosaur jewellery, recycled, witch, Gothic and magic styled pieces. Along with Egyptian jewellery and unusual vintage beads. Not forgetting those plastic brightly coloured rings that could be found on cakes from a well-known shop.

Avon cat with brooch witch brooch.

Do I wear my funky jewellery?

Actually no. I see it as art pieces to display and admire (Or cringe - depending on your tastes). Yes, I would wear it in the right circumstances - but that has yet not been an option or the opportunity has not reared its head at this point. However, the funky pieces that I collect are made to be worn.

Do I stop collecting jewellery?

Ahh...No. Every year I end up adding to previous yearly collections. So that's another alien brooch, space rocket earrings or an Egyptian pharaoh necklace that I find on my travels ends up in its respective theme jewellery box. I find my jewellery mostly at vintage sales, car boots, charity shops, jumble sales, stores, markets or online. As I am no longer selling vintage and handmade jewellery. I tend to only look a couple of times a month now and only buy a couple of items that catch my eye. Everything I have that I brought to sell is in storage until I find the time in a few years time to start to sell jewellery again. However, each year's themed collection is not for sale as I keep them for showing at a later time on another blog to inspire and see how much is available out there. Also, Google tends to archive blogs and it is better to add a fresh collection over time. So look out for each past year's funky collection that I will be re-photographing and showcasing soon.

 Now what to collect this year?

There are so many things to create a brand new theme that I was spoilt for choice. Some of the ideas are Disney jewellery, sea-themed, real shell, fossil, science (as in DNA and molecular shaped), political or fruit. I considered cactus-shaped, charity and those rubber/silicone band bracelets. I wanted something that I would not normally source and it had to be interesting.

The funky jewellery I intend to collect this year is politically inspired and news related jewellery.  

As at last, we are getting out of the European Union. I have decided to collect politically related pieces. Starting with Brexit and moving on through the different political and news-related issues that are ever-present in the world. I hope to find climate change inspired jewellery and badges. I think that someone will also produce charity jewellery to raise funds for the Australian people and animals harmed in the awful fires soon. So that we do not forget and raise more money. 

As this year continues there will be other things that happen. Political, environmental, social and other changes here and abroad. As well as breaking news issues. If no specific jewellery is produced then I plan to buy a kangaroo brooch and koala earrings, for the Australian fire reminders as well as other similar pieces that serve as a memorial or commemorative piece. But they may not have been first made for that purpose intentionally.  

To start off - I have ordered a few Brexit badges and plan to buy a necklace.  So watch this blog...