Tear Down the Wall! West German Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry marked "West Germany" carries a certain cachet in the jewelry community.  The region produced surprisingly whimsical designs during a dark time in their history, and these pieces are appreciated today as increasingly rare fashion relics.

The materials used in West German jewelry  were inexpensive due to the struggling economy in which they were produced, but they resulted in a wide range of funky pieces; plastic was big, as seen in beaded necklaces, produced in both monotone and quirky color schemes, like the green example to the left.  Necklace and cluster earring sets were also made.

Plastics were also used in the making of all kinds of bangle bracelets, from smooth to carved-look.  Crystal beaded cluster earrings were also a big item out of West Germany.  Their beadwork suggests an emulation of American jewelry Miriam Haskell.

West German beaded cluster earrings.

When it comes to dating West German costume jewelry, sources are slightly conflicted on the matter.  A glance at a history textbook tells us that genuine West German pieces could have only been manufactured from 1949 to 1990, the period between Germany's division and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 Identifying stamps and tags from the region vary.  The marks considered genuine by jewelry afficianados include: "West Germany," "Made in West Germany," "Western Zone Germany", "American Zone Germany", "W. Germany,"   and "Made in Western Germany".   (By contast, East German pieces were marked: "German Democratic Republic".)

Here is an example of a mark, on a plastic kitschy West German figural brooch:  

 Brooch marked "Made in W Germany"

 These West German marks are considered accurate for the most part, but there is always the chance that there are pieces out there bearing West German stamps that are not genuine; pre-stamped jewelry findings could have been sold and used by other manufacturers in places far away from Westdeustchland.

If you have any insight about West German jewelry, or anything to add, please leave a comment.  This was a unique time for costume jewelry; discussion is most welcome!

 West Germany pieces can be found at:

www.bakelitejohnnys.com

www.raefielddesigns.com



Instant Style: Vintage Shoe Clips

For a quick fashion upgrade without paying a lot, try the shoe clip.  Shoe clips are an inexpensive way to dress up any outfit.  Popularized in the 1960s, shoe clips add flair to any pair of high heels, dress shoes, or sandals.  Try high impact rhinestone shoe clips to instantly transform your look for a formal occasion. 

For more everyday wear, why not add a fun floral shoe clip or plastic shoe clips to a pair of sandals or flats?

 And these clips are not just for shoes, either.  Be creative and add a shoe clip to boots, scarves, hats, or collars.  Make old new again with this classy accessory.  Geometric circular shoe clips and other interesting enamel shoe clip designs are a fun throwback to the 60s and 70s.  And how fun is it to wear vintage jewelry accessories?  It's style with a story that, best of all, doesn't break the bank.

Check out our store of vintage shoe clips at:

www.raefielddesigns.com

www.bakelitejohnnys.com

Vintage Duette Clip Mechanisms

The Art Deco age ushered in a new idea for jewelry makers. The 1920s showed the use of Fur Clips and Dress clips and in the 1930s jewelry makers started to think about how they could make their jewels multi functional and convertible. The clip pin was born. The Duette, Clip Mates, and other clip pin variations were made by many companies. These take two or more dress clips or fur clips and mount them into a special frame which creates a very large brooch. I have taken some time to view our previously sold inventory and have come up with this assortment of interesting clip mechanisms we have had in the past.

Most of what we tend to find in estates are Coro duettes. The most famous and most popular  Coro duettes which have come through our hands are the Verrecchio
birds & the quivering Camilla.

The Verrecchio birds are two fur clips set in a brooch.

Patent 1798867 - Design Patent D126490. April 8,
1941

This piece is in Brunialti's American Costume Jewelry on Page
57-58. In Schiffer's Fun Jewelry Pg 142.

The Quivering Camilla was also designed by Gene Verrecchio.  This design was patented by Coro in 1938 patent 17988687 Just stunning. Two matching dress clips with trembler flowers which can be assembled on a frame and worn as a brooch. 

Coro also used the trembler flower and clip brooch concept in other less elaborate sets: 

You can see this smaller brooch has the same construction as the larger brooch.

Here is another example of one of Coro's later smaller designs:

 

These more well known and more popular duettes from Coro were preceded by some wonderful geometric Art Deco designs which inspired the idea in the first place.

Coro, and other companies churned out thousands of variations on the Art Deco clip pin. Many came up with unique patented clip designs to compete with those of Coro and Trifari.

Here are a few of Coro's Art Deco era designs:

This early deigns sports a 1931 design patent.

Coro Duette Patent - 1798867

This set is beautiful -   Signed Coro Duette with Patent Number 1798867 and
      1852188.

Many companies made similar Art Deco clip pins with ingenious mechanisms.

Ralph Polcini was a goldsmith Italy who founded the Polcini Company in 1911. Which became LEDO - Leading Jewellery Manufacturing Company in 1949. This Ledo pin we think dates to 1936.

We have also found these really interesting unsigned examples, they have patent numbers and can probably be attributed, the research was done long ago, I have copied what we said at the time. 

This item has two patent numbers 2066969 and 2653834 or maybe 2053834.. The first was issued in 1935 to E Farnham of Providence RI , the second I cannot find, I must not be reading it correctly. There must have been dress clip parts which attached to these to make them two dress clips. We only have the brooch backing now, note the pin back was damaged at one time, and is
      interestingly attached now (but working)

This piece has patent number 2161668 & 1945268. John Fielding North Providence. 

Some of the most unusual clip setups I could fine are on totally unsigned and unmarked pieces:

This is one of my favorite duettes, is a Coro set in the latest Brunialti book. It unforutnaley does not have the frame.  If anyone thinks they have it, please let us know, we do plan to auction it in the near future and would love to be able to sell it as a complete set.

Be sure and check our vintage stores for vintage costume jewelry:

www.ajraefields.com

www.raefielddesigns.com

www.bakelitejohnnys.com

Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

1910-1930 Vest Watch Chains and Fobs

Some of my favorite pieces are these two watch chains. I would date them both as 1910-1930.

Its wonderful here how they were carefull to include detailing on the back as well.

www.vintagewatchcrystal.com

Classy Mens Jewelry Sterling Silver Cufflinks

Here are some of our past highlight in sterling jewelry for men:

Wallace Sterling "Romacing the Sea"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

1965 Contessia Sterling Silver Cuff Links

Cool 1960s Sterling LCufflinks

www.vintagewatchcrystal.com

Bling For Men! Mens Rhinestone Cufflinks

We have amassed a large assortment of men's jewelry over the years, including quite a bit of CUFF BLING. Here are some of the highlights:

All these blingin rhinestone cuff links are on Mesh wrap Links

 

   

The PERFECT accessory for the Liberace in your life!

www.vintagewatchcrystal.com

Mens Jewelry Toledo Gold Damascene Cufflinks

Damascene is the craft of hammering 22k gold leafing in different hues to a base metal to create a design.  The design is then oxided to create a Neillo background from which the damascened elements stand out. The art of Damascene jewelry has a long history in Japan and Spain.

The jewelry of Toledo Spain has been a treasured souvenir for visitors to that area for ages. Many of the estate pieces you find were a treasure procured during a trip to Spain. There was also an influx of this type of jewelry in the 1970s when all things exotic were imported to the states. Many different items were made: pins, earrings, necklaces, cufflinks and more. Here we have a number of examples of Mens jewelry we have had in the past and have now.

For more detail on this art form check out this example of the work being done: http://www.aimjewelry.com/damascene.htm

From Spain, we also find another form of Toledo Gold. Here we see jewelry which is 22k plated as the damascence form and but the detailing is black and white enameling, as seen in these links, we have been calling them Toledo Gold for years, but I bet there is a more proper term for them.

Check our www.vintagewatchcrystal.com store for what we have in Toldeo Gold links now. Check www.ajraefields.com and www.raefielddesigns.com for ladies toldeo gold jewelry.

 

Swank and Studly: 1960s Man Jewelry

The 1960s were a time of various fashions for men.  There were the mods, the hippies, the proper businessman... but one of the most exciting trends was one decidedly more theatrical.   Shagadelic, you might say.

Kim Craftsmen, based in New York City, were one of the leading designers in the U.S. with their "Kim for Him" jewelry and accessory line.  Some of their popular items for men were spats, suspenders, suede gloves, and headbands.  Kim Craftsmen was one of the most innovative jewelry companies, as they picked up on the upcoming trends of the time and designed accordingly.  Then they mass produced these styles, but not in the usual robotic way-- their employees came up with ways to make a large amounts of an item without sacrificing quality, a technique they describe as "mass individuality."

We have men's jewelry available at www.bakelitejohnnys.com and www.vintagewatchcrystal.com.  

Summer 2009 Recession Buster 25% MONEY BACK

Repeat Customer 25% Money Back on ONE order in each of our stores 

We are ready to do our part for economic stimulus! This summer we are offering our repeat buyers (customers who have purchased at least one item from us prior to 6/28/09) 25% money back on one order in each of our stores between now and August 30,2009. 

We specialize in vintage jewelry, vintage plastic jewelry, new costume jewelry, inexpensive fashion jewelry, and mens jewelry. 

 NOTE - Our Vintage Watch Crystal store not only sells vintage watch crystals, but is an authorized Speidel watch band dealer and specializes in new and vintage replacement watch bands. 

WHY 25% MONEY BACK?
This recession buster offer will work best with eBay's current offerings. We are already offering FREE 1st Class USA & Canada Shipping and 1st Class International shipment on ANY order at $3.49. eBay's system does not allow for store coupon codes, so we have taken it upon ourselves to come up with an offer to give you an additional incentive to shop. As a REPEAT BUYER you are entitled to 1 order (per store, so if you want to place one order in each store, you can use the offer 6 times!) on which we will give you 25% of the money back when we process and ship the order. 

 

An order is any and all items paid for in one payment. This offer is valid between now and August 30, 2009. Each customer entitled to ONLY one order in each of our stores (NOTE an order CAN include multiple items, be sure and wait to pay AFTER you are done shopping, so you are sure to get all your items in one shopping cart if a special invoice is needed just email us) 

 

How does it work?
Simple just put the words "25% Money Back" in the payment note of your order when you make payment via, eBay checkout, pay pal google checkout, or our store checkout. As soon as we process the order (which is next business day M-Fr after cleared payment is received 99% of the time) we will issue a refund of 25% of your order (before any shipping). VIOLA Money back!!!

This is the best way to give you an additional discount. Remember FREE SHIPPING and best offer's are still in effect and can be used in addition to the 25% money back offer. 

 

We are sorry but the 25% money back offer is not valid for wholesale orders or against specially negotiated pricing NOT done through the eBay best offer system. 

 

Regards, 

Tracy Janik 

OWNER 

www.247jewelryshop.com 

www.bffjewelryshop.com 

www.raefielddesigns.com 

www.bakelitejohnnys.com 

www.ajraefields.com 

www.vintagewatchcrystal.com 

 

 

  

1890 Art Metal Copper SHE-Pharaoh Brooch

I found this piece of vintage costume jewelry on my weekend exploits. I am not familar with its marking. Has anyone ever heard of “1890 Art Metal”?  I assume this copper brooch is a reproduction of an earlier stamping. Any one familiar with the company and able to date the piece? I am sure it's not an original 1890's item because of the findings on the piece, but I am also not convinced it is entirely contemporary. My GUESS would be it is 1970s and fits in with Tut's visit to the states and the prolific use of Art Nouveau type stampings in some jewels of the late 1970s.

Thoughts and comments always appreciated

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