Estate and vintage jewelry by Sarah Coventry, Bakelite, Ciner, Schiaparelli, Hollycraft, Miriam Haskell, Coro, Trifari, Monet, Weiss, Lucite, Lisner; Taxco and art deco vintage jewelry; Victorian and Edwardian jewelry – that’s what Jewelry & Accessories brings you this week, showing you where to buy both high-end and cheap vintage jewelry online.
With the revival of antique vintage jewelry, many famous costume jewelry designers of yesterday have once again become popular amongst collectors and jewelry aficionados around the world. And with the demand has come the supply, with a million little vintage jewelry shops cropping up not just along city streets but also online.
One of the most famous vintage jewelry names is Sarah Coventry. If you want to know where to buy it, we’ll show you in a moment, but first…
What’s Sarah Coventry Vintage Jewelry All About
In the 1950’s the phenomenon of women’s home business opportunities first came into being and with it Sarah Coventry and Emmons Jewelers. The massive popular of the Sarah Coventry Jewelry home party plans brought this unique and affordable costume jewelry to millions of women for over 20 years.
However in the 70’s, it’s popularity began to wane, until the jewelry home parties came to a complete end in the mid 1980’s. The Sarah Coventry name was purchased by a Canadian jewelry company, who in 2003, attempted to revived the party plan and once again manufacturing the decorative vintage rhinestone jewelry for which the original name had been famous.
Unfortunately, the new Sarah Coventry jewelry manufacture and party plan scheme didn’t succeed, while the original vintage collections remained highly sought after and continues to be sold both by private collectors and dealers who specialize in antique and vintage costume jewelry.
Where to buy Sarah Coventry Vintage Jewelry Online
There’s a website called Amazing Vintage Jewelry, which unfortunately is a low-tech site with poor quality pictures and disturbing red text, but they do have a massive inventory of genuine Sarah Coventry vintage jewelry in excellent condition at some of the most affordable prices online – starting at about $7 for simple rings and going up to around $28 for rhinestone clusters and jewel encrusted vintage pins, brooches and vintage turquoise jewelry pieces in silver and gold-tone designs. If you can put up with the hideous website, you’ll definitely find some worthwhile bargains.
Shopping at Vintage Jewelry Lane
There’s a nicely designed jewelry website called Vintage Jewelry Lane that has some Sarah Coventry pieces, a little more expensive, but much easier to navigate and find what you want than most of the other sites online. They have pieces for just under $10 to about $90 for some intricate designs.
One item that really stands out is the original Sarah Coventry hostess gift set, circa 1960, named the Blue Lagoon, and includes an aurora borealis glass rhinestone pin or brooch and clip earrings. This set is unique and not readily available and therefore costs almost $90. Sarah Coventry is famous for the glass rhinestones, but they are often small bits amongst clusters, not such a burst of vivid blue-lavender-turquoise sparkling color like this set offers. The earrings could be worn as clip on as they are, or altered to have a post or some pierced earring closure, and the brooch may be left as it is and worn on a blouse, coat or winter hat, or converted into a pendant to hang on a chain or choker for a more individual look. The marvelous thing about antique vintage jewelry is its color, unique design and the versatility it offers for such a low price. Create your own fashion statement with a jewelry accessories that almost no one else will have. It’s a fun way convert the past into your own contemporary style.
The most affordable pieces of vintage rhinestone jewelry in the Sarah Coventry collection of Vintage Jewelry Lane are a pair of vintage hoop earrings with amber, pink and blue rhinestones set in gold-tone for just under $11. Remember that each piece we suggest are “one of” and may be sold at any moment, but there are several similar pieces, so you’ll just have to search if this particular item has been sold. Again they are clip on earrings which could be modified to suite pierced ears
There’s also a beautiful vintage bracelet by Sarah Coventry called Golden Autumn, circa late 1960s, made from amber glass bezel-set into a delicate chain. It’s in excellent condition and costs $14.50 This is a “one of” piece and is a signed original. This piece would make a compliment to the hoop earrings since they both have amber glass rhinestones.
Vintage pearl Rings
There’s a pearl ring called the Lover’s Knot, also at Vintage Jewelry Lane that features a large imitation pearl in a gold-tone setting and costs about $12. When it comes to vintage costume jewelry and pieces that would make vintage bridal jewelry, we do recommend Vintage Jewelry Lane for selection, affordability and ease of using the website. This vintage pearl ring design is an adjustable size, and would make a fun cocktail bauble to go with a pair of pearl earrings. There is a wide selection of pearl earrings at Vintage Jewelry Lane, not just in the Sarah Coventry line, but in a variety of others. Often different designers can be mixed to create unique matching sets.
Vintage Jewelry Boxes
If you’re planning on giving a piece of vintage jewelry as a gift, and the original packaging is unavailable, then consider buying vintage jewelry boxes. There are many designs from the Victorian era to art deco creations with rhinestones and engravings or etchings that are one of a kind.
One piece that is affordable and would make a beautiful gift all by itself, or as a jewelry box in which to give a vintage gift, is the box for sale at Vintage Jewelry Lane for under $20. This box is made in Spain and is called the Vintage Damascene Trinket Box. It could hold a pair of earrings, a brooch, or a pendant could be a treasured keepsake for a lady or young girl.
There are more vintage style jewelry boxes in a similar price range at antique and vintage dealers, and they have a lot more character and feeling than a mass-produced box styles that are brand new, more expensive, and probably not so well made.
Sometimes pillboxes and snuff cases make wonderful unique jewelry boxes, and often satin or velvet pouches are a great way to have individual jewelry storage for the pieces you don’t use everyday.
Plastic Vintage Bakelite Jewelry from Vintage Jewelry Lane
Plastic vintage jewelry is an old trend made new, and of all the plastic jewelry designers, Bakelite is one of the most popular and coveted names, often selling for hundreds of dollars a piece. Although Vintage Jewelry Lane doesn’t have an unlimited selection to choose from, what they do have are some unique authentic bakelite jewelry pieces at very affordable prices, from $20 to just over $100. One piece that is classic plastic vintage jewelry in the Bakelite collection is the tea swirl root beer bakelite bracelet with a simichrome polish. It’s priced at about $96.
Bakelite is well known for its funky, bright colors, like this pair of vintage earrings in yellow marbled bakelite which are in fact large hoop earrings with clip on backs. For being authentic pieces they are really cheap jewelry at just $29. There’s only 1 pair available.
There are some other vintage fine jewelry pieces in the Bakelite collection, like the ultra bright orange bakelite bangle bracelet that’s priced at just under $20. Mix and match a few different plastic bangles and create a modern multicolor stackable set of fun costume jewelry that’s affordable yet historic.
In similar vivid colors, there’s a final Bakelite piece we present. It’s a vintage Bakelite cabochon brooch or fur clip shaped like an artists inspired version of a rose or flower, oblong shaped, crafted entirely from the famous “first plastic” ever made from a synthetic component. This piece is slightly scratched on the backside, but is otherwise in good condition and has a price of about $76 through Vintage Jewelry Lane.
Please remember that there is only piece of each item we suggest, so if it tickles your fancy, you’ll want to order quickly. Vintage and antique jewelry pieces come and go, based on the ability to buy from estate sales and collectors and some pieces may stay in the inventory for a while and others may be gone as soon as they are listed. It’s not like buying costume jewellery at a shop where there are hundreds of the same items. Although these vintage pieces may not be “one of a kind” in the entire world, they are almost always “one of” pieces in any particular shop.
Miriam Haskell Vintage Jewelry
Miriam Haskell vintage jewelry is one of the most unique and imaginative jewelry you will ever find, both in elegant classic designs and wild creations that defy the bounds of practical jewelry. And yet, with the amazing craftsmanship and unique high-quality materials used, it is surprising how affordably her jewelry is priced even now that it is a popular collectable item.
For example one vintage necklace by Miriam Haskell, for sale through Vintage Jewelry Lane, is a combination imitation baroque pearl, rhinestones and blue glass set with Russian gold tone chains. This is a piece created circa 1969 and costs $150.
For more information on Miriam Haskell jewelry, suggested pieces and where to purchase a selection of this intricately crafted vintage designer jewelry, please go to the article Cheap Pearl and Vintage Costume Jewelry
Coro Vintage Jewelry
If you’re looking for Coro Craft, Vendome Jewelry or Coro vintage jewelry, with the signature Pegasus logo, chances are you already know that it began to be made in 1900 and ended in 1979. Coro is well known for rhinestone brooches, earrings and delicate jewelry suited to the era, and is now back in fashion.
Vintage Jewelry Lane has a few classic examples of Coro jewelry at very reasonable prices, like this pair of vintage earrings with pave set baguette rhinestones in a gold tome setting, duly stamped as authentic Coro, for just under $20.
For just under $50, there’s also a Coro vintage bracelet with pink aurora borealis rhinestones and enamel accents, mounted in a gold tone setting. This piece is delicate and feminine as most Coro pieces, and a very affordable sparkling fashion jewelry bracelet to match with other pieces of aurora borealis rhinestone earrings or pendants that were popular at that time. There is only one bracelet available through Vintage Jewelry Lane.
Trifari Vintage Jewelry
Trifari vintage jewelry is upscale elegance, by Italian jewelry designer Gustavo Trifari who emigrated to the US and began creating gorgeous pieces in 1910 under the original brand Trifari & Trifari. Over the years Trifarir saw many designer creations such as pieces crafted by the famous Alfred Phillipe. Some of the best jewelry came from that era, circa 1930 and bears the distinctive emblems such as the crown & T, or the letters TKF, or has been engraved with the with word Trifari. Now, once again hugely popular, the vintage Trifari jewelry line includes high-end vintage brooches, earrings, bracelets and even the art decoesque Lucite necklaces. One clear beaded Lucite Trifari necklace with gold tone accenting is available through Vintage Jewelry Lane. It’s a long beaded necklace, about 30 inches in length, and costs about $37.
Vintage Lucite jewelry is a world all its own and it would require another article to delve into that fascinating world, however very briefly, Lucite is a transparent thermoplastic that was developed in the late 1920’s and began to be used commercially in the early 1930’s as an alternative to glass. That is why it is often featured in vintage jewelry mimicking glass beads that previously were popular.
But, returning to the ingenious creations of Alfred Philippe from Trifari jewelry, there’s a vintage rhinestone brooch / pendant / pin that is being sold through Vintage Jewelry Lane, which is not only authenticated, but also comes with the hand drawn design and the patent pending document which is signed by Alfred Philippe himself, dated 1953. This piece of vintage jewelry is a gold tone pin in a swirling design encrusted with baguette cut rhinestones, unbelievably priced at $55!
Vintage Monet Jewelry
Monet jewelry started out as Monocraft in the 20s and evolved into Monet jewelry in the late 30’s. They have famous and coveted vintage pieces of jewelry earrings, bracelets and naturally brooches that were popular in the 20s, 30’s and 40’s. The style is typical of that period, with large swirling metal brooches encrusted with white and colored rhinestones and white pearls, and elaborate art deco glass necklaces. A good place to buy this exclusive vintage jewelry online is once again Vintage Jewelry Lane, who carry a little of all the main classic vintage designers, as well as some vintage inspired jewelry, costume jewelry and a variety of collectible jewelry items for all budgets.
Despite the high quality of Monet craftsmanship it is some of the best cheap vintage jewelry you can buy online, with prices starting at about $13 and going up to just $30 for such masterful pieces like the faux pearl and rhinestone necklace that is a genuine stunner!
Take a look at the kind of jewelry you can have for $30….this Monet necklace with an abundance of transparent rhinestones and a large dangling teardrop imitation pearl in the centre. The funny thing is that this piece apparently was worn so little it comes with the original price tag still attached and cost $48. Beat inflation and pay just $29.99 and wear a little history about your neck.
Match this piece with vintage jewelry rings in pearl or rhinestone designs and have a complete sparkling cocktail set. Perhaps you could also pair it with these vintage earrings that have never been worn and are still on the original earring card, for just $14.
Imagine a complete vintage jewelry set with rhinestones and pearl necklace and earrings for about $44!! It’s difficult to buy cheap costume jewelry for that price.
Weiss Vintage Jewelry
Weiss vintage jewelry is collectible and often much more expensive than some of the other designers of the period. The creations are very elaborate and intricate, lots of brooches, colored rhinestone and very well crafted jewelry in general.
One piece that could be perfect for this seasons’ teal and greenish-blue and turquoise tones that are in fashion, is this vintage Weiss brooch with blue prong-set rhinestones. This Weiss vintage jewelry creation would be a great accent on a winter hat, on a scarf, pinned to a coat or even remade into a pendant or attached to a choker or chain. It costs just under $90.
For more information on Weiss Vintage Jewelry that is affordable and unique, please go to the article entitled Cheap Pearl and Vintage Costume Jewelry.
Vintage Lisner Jewelry
Want a pair of really cheap vintage Lisner earrings? Here’s your chance. There’s a set of pink thermoset cabochon earrings with a gold tone edging and clip on backs for $20 at Vintage Jewelry Lane.
Lisner has a variety of styles, but is most famed for its resin jewelry, primarily leaves from the 60’s. Prices vary greatly, from small items for a few dollars, to the famous leaves in blue or green that can sell for as much as $70 or more.
Victorian Jewelry from Adin Antiques
If you’re looking for genuine antique Victorian jewelry, we have entered the world of collectors, estate sales, auctions and very high prices. For those who are just browsing for some cheap pieces that imitate Victorian styles, this section will be more for inspiration. However, if you are a serious collector and want to know where to find some unique and genuine pieces online, there’s a place called Adin Antique Jewelry that has antique and vintage jewelry for sale, very well catalogued and documented, with a vast majority of the pieces coming from Europe, mostly France, Belgium, Spain and the UK. Many of the items are signed vintage jewelry or have the insignias or emblems that date the pieces or have been evaluated based on several factors that place them in the Victorian era. Adin is a fine vintage jewelry store that allows customers to peruse their extensive catalogues and collections and buy online. They have items from estate sales, vintage jewelry lots they have acquired; most notably genuine Victorian vintage jewelry and handmade vintage jewelry from $26,000 to small pieces for just $80 and $95.
Please note: Victorian jewelry sold online is not always “Victorian” in the true sense of historical dates (namely the period of Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 until 1901), but is often said to be Victorian if it is crafted in the “Victorian style”. However, from what we have investigated in the Adin collections, they adhere to the strict historical dates, categorizing their pieces as genuine Victorian if dated 1901 or earlier, and catalogued as Edwardian jewelry from the period between 1901 to 1910 (or the outer limits of that period which can be extended to about 1918). Although it is based on the United Kingdom’s historical queens and kings, during this period jewelry was also crafted in France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and throughout Europe.
One example of a genuine Victorian piece, which is in the lower price range, is a French stick pin with 3 genuine seed pearls set in solid 18k gold, circa 1880, bearing the French eagle’s head hallmark of the period. This piece is in excellent condition and is selling for just $136. This is ideal as a hat pin, blouse or overcoat decoration, or as a piece to begin a Victorian jewelry collection.
They also have antique and vintage engagement rings, Victorian engagement rings with diamonds, rubies and other gemstones in unique designs of the period, and some are very reasonably priced at just a few hundred dollars such as a late Victorian ring that has seed pearls, a natural emerald and genuine diamonds, dated circa 1900, set in solid 18 yellow and white gold , in a ring size 8¼ for just $323.
On the high end of price ranges there are other serious Victorian jewelry pieces like the masterful creation of renowned master jewelry Eugène Fontenay. This necklace dates to 1870, and is a fringe style with gold beads and florettes characteristic of Fontenay’s demi-parure in the archeological Neo Etruscan style that was all the rage in that epoch due to the excavations of Hellenic and Etruscan sites in the 1800’s. This necklace is solid 18K yellow gold with filigree accents and gold wire motifs.
This piece is authenticated by the French eagle’s head and is in very good condition.
Antique and vintage jewelry marks vary by time period, but a notable one is the French control mark that signified it’s solid 18K gold if stamped with an eagle’s head, which was used in France starting in the late 1830’s. In the case of the above mentioned necklace, exactly such an eagle’s head places the piece in the Victorian era. This fine necklace is a collector’s item and is therefore not surprisingly priced at over $37,000.
Art Deco Vintage Jewelry
Art deco jewelry is exactly what its name implies, very decorative jewelry that is frequently intensely colorful and stylized, often to the point of being gaudy, with abstract or geometric shapes and motifs characteristic of this period – circa 1920. Colorful ruby rings mixed with diamonds and set in platinum were not uncommon as engagement rings. The above vintage jewelry ring from that era is one example of the style.This art deco ring features 1.30 carats of genuine diamonds and 44 natural rubies, set in gold and platinum, and so it’s no wonder this vintage engagement ring costs over $8,000. This is another example of collectible jewelry for those who buy with an eye for investment.
Exploring Vintage Styles
For cocktail rings, unique chandelier earrings, bracelets and pendants and even vintage bead jewelry styles, they may be found in some ethnic collections, like vintage Mexican silver jewelry with turquoise, emeralds or jade.
Vintage turquoise jewelry is also found amongst the Native American styles, also in Tibetan and Chinese jewelry that may be not be merely vintage but ancient. Likewise there some Victorian pieces that feature turquoise and ethnic stones that mimic ethnic creations, since in the mid 1800’s to early 1900’s the exploration of ancient civilizations, and the colonization of distant lands, was a fascination to all, including jewelers who mimicked ethnic styles and the wealthy buyers who were eager to have replicas of the discoveries unearthed by famous archeologists.
In future articles on vintage jewelry, we will also recommend more items like Taxco vintage jewelry and offer suggestions on where to buy both high end pieces for your antique and vintage collections, and naturally, where to get bargains just for fun .
For information on fashion jewelry, vintage jewelry wedding and engagement rings, pearl rings, ruby rings, emerald jewelry, and cheap vintage costume jewellery, please see the various articles that deal with these themes. Jewelry & Accessories makes weekly suggestions for where to buy silver and gold rings, bridal jewelry, cubic zirconia rings, silver bracelets, white gold rings and more. Since retro, vintage and antique styles overlap all these categories, many articles give suggestions for where to buy both genuine vintage and cheap replicas of antique styles in various metals as well as genuine diamonds and faux gemstones.
Related posts:
- Cheap Pearl and Vintage Costume Jewelry
- Where to Buy a Quality Antique or Vintage Pearl Necklace
- Silver, Gold and Vintage Pocket Watch Guide
- A Complete Vintage Jewellery Guide By Era
- 1928 Jewelry Company – Vintage Inspired Chandelier Earrings
