August 7, 2009

One of the more affordable vintage designer pieces has always been Weiss. Over the past year, I’ve had some beautiful jewelry from Weiss and sold most of it very quickly, probably because it’s so pretty and so inexpensive compared to Sherman, Schiaparelli and others I could name.

At this point, I have very little Weiss left. Shown above is one of them which I’ve just listed in my SHOP AT RUBY LANE at a ridiculously low price since I’ve decided to get out of costume jewelry altogether. Click on the photo to see more and read all about this one, which I’m giving away for only $59 + shipping. That pink color is gorgeous, and always popular whichever designer it comes from. So here’s your chance to add a truly lovely Weiss necklace to your wardrobe at a truly reasonable price.

So while I have you, if you haven’t read about it on my Sherman blog, as I said above, I’m liquidating my vintage costume jewelry stock, both signed and unsigned. My signed items include pieces by Sherman, Schiaparelli, Alice Caviness, Miriam Haskell, Kramer and more. Most are shown in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE and have been marked down already. But we’re also running a true clearance sale on this stuff, in that we’re giving you the chance to buy these pieces at our cost.

We’re inviting you to MAKE AN OFFER on any vintage costume jewelry … necklaces, bracelets, sets. IF YOUR OFFER MATCHES OR BETTERS WHAT WE PAID FOR THE PIECE, IT’S YOURS! You have nothing to lose. All you have to do is email us from the page of that item in our Ruby Lane shop and tell us what you’d like to pay for it. Make us an offer on this incredible Schiaparelli set shown below:

You might be surprised what you can get it for but you won’t know if you don’t MAKE AN OFFER! Or what about this lovely JULIANA bracelet set on the bottom left?

It has large amethyst colored cabochons and is in beautiful condition. Our price on this one is already only a few dollars above our cost, but if you match our cost, it’s yours. MAKE AN OFFER!

There’s also a lovely multi-colored JULIANA brooch that is the ants pants. Check it out here.

Or maybe you’d like the elegant set of Miriam Haskell beads shown below. We’ve listed them at our cost already so we can’t take offers. But Miriam Haskell in superb condition for $135? Wow!

Well there’s lots more. You’ll just have to go over to our SHOP AT RUBY LANE and poke around. Don’t be shy. MAKE AN OFFER. You won’t insult us. And yes, there are still some Shermans left too!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

What is it about the Art Deco styling that so attracts buyers of today. After all, we’re talking about the designs that were popular in the 30’s and 40’s. And yet, if there’s one style or period of jewelry that sells well from our SHOP AT RUBY LANE, it’s Art Deco. We just recently sold a superb art deco diamond bracelet to a gentleman in the Netherlands. He purchased it for his wife who is expecting twins in November. As he wrote to me, this gift is more than just about the dollars it has cost him …the bracelet appraised for over $10,000 … it’s about buying jewelry that will be loved and cherished by his wife and their children as the years go by because of the significance it bears as a gift on this joyous occasion.

And yes, that’s what the better pieces of jewelry are all about: something that is timeless, something that gains value both dollar-wise and as a family heirloom over the years. Perhaps that was why someone years ago purchased the gorgeous Hallmark Art Deco Watch we now have for sale in our Ruby Lane shop. This magnificent watch with its 21 jewel movement is still ticking away perfectly although it’s a good 60 years or more old, thanks to its Incabloc movement which is guaranteed for a lifetime. This particular watch, is fully 14k gold and has over one carat of top quality diamonds, not just around the watch face but also throughout the entire band. It’s in marvellous shape with a very secure clasp. But what I love best about it is its slightly ornate, totally art deco design. This is more than just a watch: it’s a bracelet!

Sadly, we purchased this one for one of our customers. However, times have been rough economically as we all know and she’s now not able to proceed with this purchase. So we’ve put it back in our shop. We’ve priced it by comparing it to others available online, at Ruby Lane, on eBay and elsewhere and feel it’s very competitively priced. We hope you’ll slip over and take a closer look at this glorious watch. We are receptive to offers and yes, you can put it on layaway.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

July 8, 2009

Back on January 5, 2009, while browsing through our local newspaper over breakfast, I was delighted to come across an article headed “Retro Rules: The appeal of Art Deco design endures after almost 100 years”. Accompanied by several photos of jewelry currently being made by the likes of Cartier and Kwiat, the article pointed out how today’s collectors are seeking retro pieces and how those straight lines and geometric designs continue to please jewelry lovers everywhere.

This didn’t really come as a surprise to me as I’ve noticed the art deco jewelry we have offered in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE always attracts buyers and quickly. And not all of it is expensive kind with diamonds and real gemstones. Some have been inexpensive paste or rhinestone bracelets.

According to the article in the paper the roots of Art Deco were formed in the 1800’s, but “it is now largely defined as the period between the 2 world wars.” And Art Deco didn’t just apply to jewelry: “the Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building and even the Empired State building are all Art Deco Style.” What makes a piece “art deco”? Art Deco jewelry blends straight lines with circles, rectangles … geometric shapes. You can see that in the gorgeous art deco bracelet featured at the top of this post and available from OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE. That particular bracelet is made of 14k and has 3.55 cts of brilliant diamonds and was appraised in February 2009 at over $10,000. You can see more photos of this bracelet and read all the lovely details by clicking the links or the photo above.

On the left is another gorgeous example of Art Deco jewelry, this time in one of our currently available rings. It contains about .75 cts of VS diamonds nestled in 14k. And just look at that fabulous design: triangular shapes and slightly curved lines housed in a circle. It’s exquisite, don’t you agree? Again, you can click on the photo to see more shots of this one and read all the details in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE. This ring is very reasonably priced. Can you see yourself flashing this one at that next cocktail party?

A representative from Cartier says (in that article) that art deco continues to be an inspiration today because “it’s abstract but it’s concrete. It’s complicated geometrics … but not frou-frou” as perhaps some of the jewelry from the Art Nouveau period was seen to be. “Frou – frou” is another word for “fussy”. And yet, finding genuine Art Nouveau jewelry is also of great interest to collectors. We have one ring in RUBY LANE SHOP that harks back to Art Nouveau:

Note how different it is from the Art Deco pieces above: the stones are set in pretty little ‘buttercup” bezels and the overall design is much “fussier” or more complicated than the art deco pieces. And yet, in its own way, it’s very lovely … just not everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s certainly a rare ring and very much worth collecting. As our ad reads:

“Circa 1910, this ring features all the classics of the Arts & Crafts period during the Art Nouveau movement: Bezel set gems (diamonds & rubies in this case), dainty gold leaves & flowers, a large, high setting, and intricate, heavy gold work (14k yellow gold for this piece). And when we say “large”, we aren’t kidding! This knock-out antique ring weighs 10.32 grams, measures 24.90mm by 24.30mm wide, and the top of the ring (from finger to top diamond) sits 11.56mm tall.”

The opal/garnet ring on the right most likely belongs to the Art Nouveau period, rather than Art Deco, too. Again, the setting is fairly complicated and if you click on the photo to see more of this one, note the detailing in the band and the overall construction. Quite complex. This ring, by the way, is SALE-priced right now, and contains 4 beautiful, fiery opals and 5 garnets, all set in 14k.

If Art Deco appeals to you, we have more rings in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE along with the paste clamper bracelet shown below that is just stunning. That one is very affordable as it isn’t made from real gold and the stones aren’t diamonds. Why not slip over now and take a closer look at it too! It’s only $75!!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Some time back I ran a post on the popularity of snake jewelry as I was mystified by its popularity. Since then, I’ve been amazed at how quickly we sell snake bangles when we list them in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE. I had the rare Egyptian sterling silver bangle shown on the

left listed for less than 24 hours and it was sold. Of course, the price was right and the piece was a collector’s delight. You can still read up on that one by clicking on the photo.

The same has happened with all my snake bangles i.e. listed today, gone in no time. So the lure and appeal of snake bangles is obviously timeless and ongoing.

That’s why I’m thrilled to have come across the fabulous sterling silver COBRA bangle shown at the top of this blog. This isn’t just another snake bangle: this one is different! That cobra head is upright, ready to strike. It’s very flexible so it can fit any size wrist or be worn high on the arm. While I’ve never personally been a fan of snake jewelry, I warmed to this one immediately because it was so unique. Weighing just under 20 grams of sterling silver, it’s a slender 1/8″ wide, keeping it feminine and sexy! You can read all about it and see more photos by clicking on the photo at the top of this blog or HERE.

If snake bangles aren’t your thing, but you love sterling silver bangles, you might like to take a closer look at the lovely FORSTNER Sterling silver bangle shown on the right which we’ve just listed in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE. We acquired this one at an estate auction about a month back. It’s in wonderful condition with beautiful etchings. Complete with safety chain, it weighs 19 grams of sterling silver and opens to a full 3 1/2″ to accomodate even a large wrist. It’s 1/2″ wide and very, very pretty. At only $49, it’s a steal!

We still have our beautiful BIRKS Sterling silver bangle on sale in our booth at BONANZLE too. It’s only $50 OBO and includes shipping! WOW! A signed Birks original for such a low price? Click on the link to check it out now too.

We’ll have more sterling silver items to list in the next while, including a TIFFANY charm bracelet and an unsigned Sterling silver multi-link charm bracelet. So be sure to subscribe to our blog to stay on top of any new additions to our online shops. HAPPY CANADA DAY everyone!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Life has been insanely busy for me over the past 2 weeks and I’ve had little time for this blog and jewelry-related business. But thanks to one of my best customers who has purchased many rings from OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE, I have a very interesting video to share with you. So sit back, relax and enjoy this fascinating viewpoint on why the wedding ring is worn on the wedding ring finger. And when you’re done, if you’re looking for a lovely ring for that special someone, whether it be a wedding, eternity, or other special occasion ring, please visit us at VINTAGE JEWELRY SHOWCASE at RUBY LANE where rings, like the gorgeous ART DECO wedding set shown above are our biggest sellers. You can read all about that one and see more photos of it by clicking the photo at the top of this blog. It’s a real beauty!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

June 10, 2009

I’ve been watching a lot of Sherman cuff bracelets lately on ebay and have done a double-take more than once on just how high a dollar buyers are prepared to spend on them. There’s no doubt in my mind that right now that Sherman cuff bracelets are amongst the “hottest” vintage designer pieces you should add to your collection if you can afford one.

This was driven home even more when I watched the auction for the outstanding signed Cartier bracelet shown in the photo above. Talk about a collector’s piece of jewelry! It’s authentic vintage, with real AAA quality pearls measuring approximately 7.5mm each. That fantastic Cartier clasp is not only stamped 18k gold, but it comes with a patent number. And it has an interesting history too ie. it was purchased from an actress’ estate in Florida. The actress’ son said it was custom-designed for his mother in the 1970’s. Finally, it has a retail value of over $12,000! What I’d give to be able to afford this one!

Well you can imagine my shock when on the same day that this auction ended, so did the auction for the Sherman cuff bracelet below:

Now, for sure, this is yet another magnificent cuff bracelet set by Sherman and came in a nice color combination of champagne, amber and blue stones. It was in superb condition with no stones missing and all original…definitely a top buy for a Sherman collector. But if you check back through my Sherman blog, you’ll notice several cuff bracelets similar to this one. So the design isn’t all that unique, unlike the custom-designed Cartier above with real gold, real pearls and an interesting history.

Well, what do you think: which one fetched the bigger dollar? For me, it was a bit like what happened last night on American Idol: the Sherman sold for nearly $400 more than the Cartier! Incredible. The Sherman sold for $1631.96 USD. The Cartier sold for $1227.00. Whatever has happened to the value of real pearls and 18k gold over the years to make them so much less valuable to buyers than those fabulous fake stones in vintage costume jewelry? Our husbands will probably never understand this: as I’ve mentioned before in my blogs, as much as he admires the workmanship and beauty of designer costume jewelry, in his books they’ll never compare to real gold, real diamonds and real gemstones. When I see outcomes like this, I tend to agree with him. But then, I was rooting for Adam, the real superstar on Idol last night. So what do I know about people’s tastes LOL!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

I haven’t been buying much jewelry lately but I’ve been doing lots of studying and lurking around eBay to see what’s hot and what’s not, what’s selling, what isn’t, and what’s fetching high dollars. I probably don’t need to tell you, if you also follow my SHERMAN BLOG that Sherman cuff bracelets have been selling for incredibly high prices. Take the one shown on the right: it just finished this afternoon and sold for a whopping $1600 USD! That seller must be celebrating. He just sold one last week for almost a thousand on top of that. Yikes!

Now compare that to what the lovely, very unusual and very wide rhinestone bracelet on the left fetched: it sold for just over $70USD. That cuff bracelet is a very attractive mix of baguette, square and round cut stones, and there’s enough of them to light up a room since this bracelet is 2″ wide! I don’t know anything about the construction, but it is vintage glitz. It’s also something else: it’s unsigned. What an incredible difference a signature makes to the final price. But for those who can’t afford the Shermans, but want the pizzaz and bling, a purchase like this just makes good sense.

So what else has my lurking yielded? Well I discovered that while Sherman cuff bracelets are the high-ticket items, other Shermans, for the most part, are not. I’m talking here about necklaces, brooches, earrings and sets. They still get a good dollar but nothing much more than what they were getting this time last year. When it comes to necklace/earring sets, Schiaparelli has Sherman beat. For instance, the set shown below sold for $228 USD. That may not be much but

when you realize that one of the earrings has been chipped off at the bottom, it’s surprising the set still got that kind of a dollar. I guess that’s because Schiaparelli is just that much harder to acquire. Another reason Schiaparelli still sells so well, at least on ebay, is it’s dear to the hearts of American collectors of vintage costume jewelry, while Sherman is primarily sought after by Canadians. And while there seems to be a lot of Sherman around, especially on ebay these days, the Schiaparelli, just like Alice Caviness, Schreiner, Robert are in short supply, and hence command higher dollars. I couldn’t believe the Schiaparelli brooch shown below fetched about the same dollar as that Schiaparelli demi above. But it did.

Of course, it’s in that most coveted color for Schiaparelli i.e. pink, just like that magnificent necklace and earring set I covered in my blog here a few posts back and that you can see HERE.

What else have I found is selling high in designer signed jewelry? Well just look at this HAGLER:

What an outstanding set! What did it sell for? The buyer was asking $485 or best offer. She received and accepted $390 USD. Hagler is so highly collectible that this buyer made a very smart move investing in this set.

And speaking of cuff bracelets, on the right is a real beauty by Hollycraft that sold for $381 USD.
Honestly, if you want to, and can afford, the price of Sherman cuff bracelets, then more power to you but something like that Hollycraft is worth buying too and costs so much less.

So, bottom line, what’s in a name? Obviously a lot. Just like everything else, from clothing to shoes, to jewelry to art, if the name is a recognized one, it’s worth collecting, if you can afford it. If, on the other hand, you just like pretty glittery jewelry, there’s a lot of it around, and in this tough economy, it’s nice to know it’s so utterly affordable in comparison. For many of us, it is indeed all about dollars and sense.

You’ll find both signed and unsigned jewelry in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE and our BONANZLE Booth. Drop by and poke around. Thanks for reading.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

If there’s one item we can’t seem to keep on our shelves in OUR SHOP at RUBY LANE, it’s those lovely Victorian bangles. These fly out the window almost as soon as we list them, sometimes even before I list them LOL! I had no idea they were this popular when I listed the first one I’d ever acquired and shown on the right. It was a fabulous buckle bangle from Bacon & Bates, over an inch wide, and featured both rose and yellow gold-fill. As soon as I listed it, several people added it to their wish lists and it was gone in a week, with others writing to request if the sale fell through to please let them know: they were kicking themselves for not acting sooner.

Well when customers ask me to find something for them, I’m happy to oblige. So the next one I got was the slim, beautifully engraved chased gold bangle on the left. In its own way, it was even more valuable than the one above as it was indeed an antique and made of actual 9ct. gold. The same buyer who purchased that stunner up top was smart enough to jump right in and snap this one up too. Honestly, I had no idea these were so collectible and popular.

By this time, one buyer had lost out twice ie.. she’d wanted both of those other bangles so I promised her that when the one shown on the right arrived, I’d send her some photos before I listed it so she’d have first chance at it. This one was another Bacon & Bates, not as wide as the first one but a good 1/2″. This one wasn’t a true buckle bangle either but she loved the design anyway and didn’t hesitate to buy it with its lovely rose gold touches and gorgeous repousse work. Off it went to her without ever being listed.

The next buckle bangle I acquired was a fantastic find and a real collector’s piece. It’s the bangle shown below. It was made by “Bigney” and signed with the hallmark SOB. But what makes it

particularly valuable is that it’s fully inscribed with lovely script from WP to HU and dated 8.27.34. Isn’t that fantastic! If there’s one thing I’ve found out in buying and selling vintage jewelry is that collectors jump on dated, signed pieces. Dare I tell you that this one has also already been spoken for? The same lady who got that 3rd bangle before it was listed has purchased this one too! Honestly, I never thought these bangles would be that popular. Of course, my prices are reasonable too and that makes a difference doesn’t it.

So now what? Well I do have one new addition to the shop and again, as soon as it was listed, it got added to wish lists. This time, it’s a 1/20th 12k bangle by WINARD that’s in marvellous condition and if you’re quick, you can buy it from OUR SHOP at RUBY LANE for only $125 USD

This is a very beautiful bangle, featuring black enamel engraving that is known as “Taille D’epargne”. It has been suggested that this type of enamelling emerged in the 1930’s in copy of a highly popular Edwardian design. This particular bangle has no dents or nicks, a tight clasp and a security chain, all original. You can’t go wrong if you’re in the market for one like this.

I have another combination waiting to be photographed that might be most appealing to someone who likes the idea of mother/child bangles. Both are buckle bangles in rolled gold, with the child’s bangle showing animals in the engraving. It’s delightful. I’ll be selling these as a pair when they are ready to list. So stay tuned!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

I’m not the biggest Schiaparelli fan in the world, especially after being scammed and sold fake Schiaparellis about a year ago. I wrote about this in this blog and if you never saw it, you can still read it HERE. That incident really frightened me, not to mention it cost me money and since then, I’ve shied away from purchasing Schiaparelli jewelry. But then I saw this one! It’s the most gorgeous Schiaparelli I’ve ever seen and I just had to have it. It cost me a bundle, but given its condition, color and the name, I knew this one was worth every penny.

For those of you unfamiliar with Schiaparelli, her jewelry is today highly collectible and not easy to acquire: there’s just not that much of it around. That of course, also makes it quite expensive.

Schiaparelli began producing jewelry in the 1930’s but she wasn’t limited to jewelry: she had scarves, perfume and hosiery. Movie stars wore her items and her name was on everyone’s lips. According to the book, COSTUME JEWELRY 101 by Julia C. Carrol, “Schiaparelli’s famous ‘Shocking’ fragrance is still produced today in France, in limited edition bottles selling for $1,000 each”. Talk about a successful name brand!

Elsa Schiaparelli’s jewelry was often “large” i.e. bold in design and size of stones. She also favored irregular shapes and cuts and her “watermelon” bracelets, brooches and earrings were sought after then and now. But her signature color was shocking pink. And that, dear reader, is just one of the reasons I jumped on this set when I saw it: look at the fabulous use of pinks in this showpiece set.

In this set she has used the occasional charcoal aurora borealis bead to contrast the stunning pink glass crystal beads. Keeping with her love of unusual cuts and shapes, these give way to fuschia colored marquise and large round cuts. Notice though something really different about this necklace: it’s asymmetrical! That photo isn’t crooked: this is how the necklace is worn i.e. with the crystal beads suddenly yielding to a fantastic melee of charcoal flowers and smaller floral clusters that run up only one side of the necklace. This is such an amazing necklace in every way. It comes, of course, with the matching earrings shown in the top photo.

All stones are in great condition, as is the rhodium-plate backing on all the pieces. I just wish you could see the cut of some of the stones. I’ve never seen anything like these: the faceting is often asymmetrical, just like the necklace design. Only the person who ultimately buys this one will see what I mean. It’s a marvel in so many ways. And both necklace and earrings are signed “Schiaparelli”.

You can see more photos of this collector’s Schiaparelli by clicking on the photos above or clicking THIS LINK to our RUBY LANE SHOP. As I said earlier, Schiaparelli jewelry in her beloved pink, and in this superb condition is what serious designer vintage jewelry collectors seek. The price is less than what some are paying for Sherman cuff bracelets, but in certain circles, a Schiaparelli like this one can be even more valuable because of its rarity. Don’t let this one go to someone else. Make it yours!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Time for a break from talking about designer vintage costume jewelry … especially when I have so many superb pieces of period jewelry to share with those who visit this blog. “Period jewelry”? If you’re wondering what that term means, well here’s what I learned a few weeks back about the difference between “vintage”, “period” and antique jewelry:

Antique is that jewelry, costume or fine, that is 100 years old or more.

Vintage is that jewelry, usually costume, that is at least 20 years old.

Period is that jewelry that is both at least 20 years old and is made of fine materials i.e. gold, silver, genuine gemstones, diamonds etc.

I never knew that! I just called anything that I knew wasn’t antique, but was at least 20 years old, “vintage”. So tonight I want to share some of the fabulous “PERIOD” pieces we currently have listed in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE, like the gorgeous 14k white gold necklace shown at the top of this blog. This one is something else: it’s made in Italy and stamped both 14k and 585. It contains .60 cts of sparkling top quality diamonds, hangs to a finished length of 20″, and weighs 11grams. But what I just love about this necklace is its workmanship and design: it’s superbly crafted with intricate filigree-type work surrounding the diamonds. And for some reason, it reminds me of lace. It’s reminiscent of art deco but it most likely does not date to that era. I’d say it’s from the 70’s or 80’s. For me, this necklace merges old world styling with contemporary tastes. What a way to dress up your best evening gown or your blue jeans!

Shown above is another of our recent “period” additions to our SHOP AT RUBY LANE, and wow, do I love this one! This one is an opal lover’s delight. It’s both a brooch/pin and a pendant i.e. there’s a loop in the back through which you can insert a chain. I am currenly showing it at VINTAGE JEWELRY SHOWCASE on an 18k choker length chain which may not suit you if you like your pendants to hang lower on the chest. The chain I’m supplying is only 15″ long so the opal pendant sits in the hollow of your neck. I like it like that but if you don’t, you can purchase just the pin. Details are on the ITEM PAGE.

This pin/pendant is fashioned from 14k yellow gold and has a diameter of 1 1/2″. The opals in this pin are outstanding, full of fire and not a nick in them anywhere. And yet, this brooch dates back to the 30’s or 40’s. The condition is amazing. Those who collect opal jewelry should definitely add this one to their collection.

Last but not least tonight, I’d like you to take a look at this art deco ring featuring 14 square cut genuine rubies and 5 glittering diamonds. Again, what a beautiful design in this ring. How many do you see like this? I guess that’s one of the reason I’m so keen on vintage, period or antique jewelry: the designs, the craftsmanship and the quality so often surpasses what we find in the shops today. And because you are buying something that has been pre-worn or if you prefer, pre-loved, you can often buy it for so much less than you would a similar brand new piece today. Oh sure, when it comes to rings, bracelets etc, expect that there’ll be signs of wear, some scratches to the gold, and sometimes even chipped stones, but then, you’re not paying megabucks either. But what you’re getting is unique and beautiful and often, in remarkably good condition, as is this ring: it’s 14k, a size 6 and plenty of gold for re-sizing if needed. Do click on the photo to see more and learn more about this ring and the other pieces I’ve shared with you tonight. Happy shopping folks!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Newer Posts »