Category Archive: Vintage

A set of beautiful rings created by English jeweler Gillian Packard

1960s leading English jeweler Gillian Packard
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1938, Gillian Packard was the main young English jeweler who gained fame in the 60s. She was the chairman of the British branch of the World Council for Applied Arts, the position she was elected to in 1969. The scope of her duties included the care of the welfare of other masters of applied art. And this increased the number of her trips even more, because she needed to attend meetings in different parts of the world. She also largely ensured the participation of Great Britain in all major exhibitions abroad.
Creatively in her work, she was an artist who synthesized the experience of decorative art in her miniature masterpieces.
Oddly enough, it is not often possible to see jewelers themselves wear any decorations. And Gillian Packard was no exception. In everyday life she wore only an engagement and wedding ring, and in the evening she sometimes added earrings from her collection. But never any other jewelry.
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Stunning Celtic cross. Watermelon Glass cabochons, 1970. Miracle costume jewellery Celtic spirit

Miracle costume jewellery Celtic spirit

Ornaments, labeled “MIRACLE”, first appeared in 1946. Created by the company Hill & Co, Miracle began producing costume jewelry in Birmingham – the heart of the jewelry industry in England.
For more than 70 years, Miracle Jewelry LTD has made excellent jewelry in the traditions of the Celts, Ireland, Scotland, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, English Baroque, Middle Ages and other styles. In many respects it became possible due to the meticulousness of the designers working on Miracle – all ornaments have a historical basis.
I really love jewelry from the company Miracle, as it has a unique charm and energy! Noteworthy, in “Miracle” jewelry often used natural stones or imitation of their special invention. In particular, smalt of a unique composition and different colors, perfectly imitating natural stones.
Until now, the company Miracle produced limited collections of jewelry, which quality is still on top. Sold mainly in the UK and Ireland, Miracle has its own unique style. It is always jewelry with meaning, and it is impossible not to admire the design of this brand. Very original high-quality jewelry!
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The Sun in your hands. An Indian boy holding a vase with a large disc. Golden tone metal brooch. Length 5 cm. 1960s. £ 20 JJ (the price from the catalog). Jewelarama vintage jewelry Difffraction Jewels

Jewelarama vintage jewelry Difffraction Jewels
Located in Barrington, New Jersey, the jewelry making company Jewelarama was in fact, a branch of a large manufacturer of optics, Edmund Scientific Co.. First they released the series called “Difffraction Jewels” in 1960. Noteworthy, their decorations became innovative and unique in design. The centerpiece of every piece was in particular, a round polished metal disc that reflected light. And according to other sources, this series was called “Refraction Jewels”. In the creation of Jewelerama jewelry masters used silver and gold tone metal, and in the center of every piece was polished metal disk.
Costume jewelry lovers still enjoy their brooches and earrings in the form of musical instruments, flowers and animals. Rare on traditional markets, including etsy and ebay websites, Jewelerama – featured in many catalogs of vintage costume jewelry.
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Romantic oval floral painted brooch, metal, acrylic, goldplate. 1960s Whiting and Davis vintage costume jewelry

Whiting and Davis vintage costume jewelry
Founded in Massachusetts in 1876, the Whiting and Davis Company became known for its fine evening bags, wiped out of gold and silver threads. In 1907, the company began to produce a line of costume jewelry made of silver and gold and silver-plated metals. Costume jewelery includes necklaces, bracelets and earrings, many of which demonstrate the influence of the style of Art Deco and Art Nouveau. Inspired by Egyptian jewelry designs, as well as the Victorian era motifs, Whiting and Davis produced stunning large bracelets, necklaces and brooches with floral engraving and reliefs. Notable are golden and silver mesh necklaces in the shape of ties, and of course, considered highly valuable among collectors – spiral bracelets in the form snakes.
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Sapphire blue brooch teardrop shaped rhinestones. Catamore Jewelry vintage costume decorations

Catamore Jewelry vintage costume decorations
Founded in 1942 jewelry company Catamore Jewelry Co. Inc. was in fact, a small family business, which produced exquisite decorations till 1981. Christopher and Phillis Catanzaro, its founders, opened their production in Providence, Rhode Island.
Noteworthy, to purchase jewelry of this stunning brand was possible in such stores as Sears, Roebuck & Company, JC Penney Co, Zale Corporation and many others.
In fact, the exact time of appearance of decorations labeled Catamore – unknown, but after 1970 on the label appeared additional mark – John Grant Designs. The Catamore jewelers made most of their jewelry of silver or covered with 12K gold. Also, they used the technology of rolling (Gold Filled). In addition, they decorated their products with semiprecious stones, and in particular, agate, onyx, opals, mother of pearl and fresh water pearls.
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Gold Lion Head Cuff. Ciner vintage costume jewelry

Ciner vintage costume jewelry
Originally, founded in 1892 by Emanuael Ciner company “Ciner” released only expensive jewelry. But in 1931, having decided to expand production, the company turns its attention to costume jewelry. And since 1932, the production of great fashion jewelry of very high quality has begun. The fundamental difference between the Ciner jewelry is that based on the years of experience with jewelry with precious materials, the company does not waive them. So, in the production of jewelry, masters artfully combine precious stones and inexpensive materials: natural pearls, gold plated, rhinestone.
Noteworthy, all the jewelry the company produced manually. Jewelry looks like precious, but decorated with rock crystal, and not with precious stones. Traditionally, in the products there are Swarovski crystals, inserted manually into the gold-plated metal. The company’s early work, as a rule, not labeled, but after 1945, they marked their products “CINER”.
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Rhinestone and Enamel Brooch and Earrings. Louis Kramer exquisite costume jewelry

Louis Kramer exquisite costume jewelry
Founded by designer Louis Kramer and his two brothers Morris and Henry in 1943 in New York, Kramer Jewelery Creations continued production until the late 1970s. Noteworthy, from the very beginning of production, this brand’s jewelry has been a great success among buyers due to original designs and excellent performance. Kramer jewelry was a high class, with scrupulous performance and often very interesting design. In addition, the products had limited circulation and the best materials. Bright stylish ornaments demonstrate the high quality of sparkling Austrian crystals of rock crystal, both transparent and colored. Also, traditional materials of Kramer jewelry – gilded metal with black enamel, artificial pearls, imitation of rubies, emeralds, lapis lazuli, jade, turquoise and pearls.
As a result, in the early 1950s the company produced ornaments for Christian Dior. Accordingly, this says a lot about the quality of jewelry production company. They labeled these products “Kramer for Christian Dior” and “Dior by Kramer”. A distinctive feature of these decorations are large blue or green stones, usually located in the middle of the jewelry work, surrounded by clear transparent rhinestones. Noteworthy, this costume jewelry was more expensive than the rest of the products of Kramer. High price in this case was due to the loud name of Dior in the title of the series.
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