Fine Jewelry Iconic DuetsFineJewelry Vintage Wedding Checklist Part Three

Icons of the past:  Jackie Onassis Kennedy Loved Emeralds. 

Today we look at the iconic styles of vintage celebrities and their love for all things bling , aka, their jewelry choices.  Part of a three part wedding checklist series, we have to refocus on the jewelry. It's not only important for engagement, but for bridesmaids, the bride to be, and even after the wedding as a way to show how much you care.  Women and jewelry, well, they go together like peanut butter and jelly.  Not to mention, Fine Gold Jewelry was worn by the most famous celebrities, so if you could pick, which celebrity are you?  

The Emerald Queen : Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Emeralds, stand for the birthstone of the month of May, (sign of Taurus) as worn by Jackie Kennedy Onassis, above, her famous Diamond and Emerald engagement ring made heads turn. It was hard to catch a glimpse of the ring, as this former first lady always wore dainty gloves!   Funny fact is, Jackie O was a Leo, not a Taurus and born in July. Perhaps she (or John) just loved the pairing of diamonds and emeralds.....  Sadly, she passed in May, the birthstone month of the iconic ring. 

Emeralds are a wonderful way to continue to say "I love you" to your bride.  In lore, this stone opens the heart chakra and the ancients believed it opened and nurtured the heart. 

Emerald Diamond Ring at Duets Fine Jewelry Etsy Shop, $850

Iconic: Princess Diana and her Sapphire Ring.  Raw Sapphire by PNG Arts.

The Sapphire Princess Duo  : Diana / Kate 

This ring was made iconic by Princess Diana, then again in history when Kate Middleton wore it (and wears it to this day.)  Sapphires are usually thought of as blue, and have been made fashionable over time; but they can appear in most every color gray, black, colorless or even an orangey-pink (or pinkish orange, depending on your opinion.) It's the birthstone of September, and the sign of Virgo. Ironically Diana was born in July and Kate in January.  

Get the Look!

Sapphire Statement Earrings, Duets Fine Jewelry on Etsy, click for pricing.

Sapphire and Diamond Ring by DuetsFineJewelry, on sale currently $891

Paired with or without the earrings, the ring is astonishing! I have always been a huge fan of sapphire, perhaps it's just so classy. When paired with diamonds there's nothing better! The earrings are also good for Bridesmaids or weddings, and are set in white gold.  In lore, the sapphire is highly prized, to bring good fortune and serves as a mental stabilizer. Nothing like that to keep a wife harmoniously happy.

Who doesn't love Diamonds?  They ARE a girls best friend...

After All, Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend: Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, iconic legendary sultry sweetheart is still alive in our hearts when we think of diamonds. Gwen Stefani recently did a great Marilyn Monroe impression; but she's been impersonated by the best of them over the years by Madonna and some of the best icons along the way. 

Diamonds, are also the birthstone for April, (ironically Marilyn was born in June) and in lore known for balance, abundance and brings clarity to the wearer.  Diamond deposits were formed over 900 million years ago but weren't mined (found) until 4th century BC, where they were used as a form to "repel evil." Diamonds also come in other colors, such as black.  Vintage estate rings contain diamonds sometimes called "mining diamonds" which contain diamonds that are imperfectly cut, not as clear and not as brilliant due to the ways of cutting back in the late 1800's early 1900's but can be prizable possessions among antique jewelry collectors.  Once unheard of, today diamonds are fashionable in many other colors, browns, yellows, and even black!

Get the Look!

What a gorgeous idea! Above:  Monogrammed Diamond Bracelet on Etsy and below, a stunning ring at Duets Fine Jewelry

Duets Fine Jewelry on Etsy : Half Eternity Band. Stunning.

Buy Loose Diamonds!

You can buy your own diamond and have it set in a ring! Many colors at Duets Fine Jewelry on Etsy

It's now a fad to buy your own loose diamond, and have a local artisan set it in a ring for you. This way you can create your own setting and draw your own ring based on a pattern. If this is the case, Duets Fine Jewelry on Etsy above, has loose diamonds in many shapes and sizes.  If you don't see something , just ask!  Thanks to them for working with me for this article!

In Summary: 

So if this article has told you anything, it should be that you don't have to be born in the birth month of your favorite stone. Perhaps something draws a wearer to the particular ring, rock, or gemstone.  The Wedding Checklist is not complete without follow up after the wedding, continue to dress like a diva to make your husband happy, and husbands must continue to treat the wife like a cherished object!

Thanks for reading.

Links you May Enjoy / Sources: 

Duets Fine Jewelry on Etsy  (Links Above in Article)

Wedding Checklist Part One
Wedding Checklist Part Two
Wedding Checklist Part Three 

KariBeth Vintage Archival Home Decor Items

Photo: Karibeth This etched floral decanter,  $30, would look great holding colored liquid (food coloring) for a statement piece in the home.

KariBeth is a jewelry designer from Nashville who uses upcycled and recycled parts in her work.  Her jewelry (such as compass necklaces and knife necklaces) has made a name for itself being sold direct in brick and mortar boutiques from New York to Tennessee and online sites as well. Her work has been featured in places such as Anthropologie and Roses and Rustics.   She also has a keen eye for good design relics for the home.

KariBeth's collection of vintage relics for the home are rare and astounding. 

 Her store online, Karibeth.com, contains a great page with vintage archival items.   These are curated items for your home and you will find things used for different purposes here. For instance, an etched decanter (above) could be filled with colored liquid, or the stopper removed to house fresh wildflowers.  The lovely metal double sided swan basket (below) can be used to hold an air plant or even house your remote controls for television and car keys.

Photo: Karibeth.com  This swan looks so art nouveau and would look great holding remotes, keys, or an air plant.

Unusual Decor: Brass Peacock with Rhinestone Eyes karibeth.com

See more of KariBeth's designs for the home here: https://karibeth.com/collections/vintage-archival-1

Please be sure to check out her jewelry as well!

Editor Pick: This Knife Necklace

KariBeth necklace includes a 2.5" vintage penknife found in travels.

Openslate Collectibles Jewelry Toys Antiques

Bakelite Dangle Brooch from Etsy Openslate   $75 here

Openslate Collectibles & More!

Openslate is curated and owned by Nancy of Southeast Texas.  In this store you will find vintage toys, collectibles, antique jewelry, modern and mid century modern, in addition to other antiques. Nancy runs Openslate on both Etsy, and RubyLane. Above,  a USA bakelite brooch from the 1940's in pristine condition makes a great gift for a collector of jewelry or vintage plastics.  

Whiting and Davis vintage cross adorned with jewels, $75 here.

Above, a gorgeous 4" x 3" Whiting and Davis vintage cross features vintage crystals.  Nancy says, "I carry a large array of vintage items including dolls, dollhouse furniture, costume jewelry, estate jewelry, fashion accessories, home decor items and much more."    The store stocks a large selection of costume jewelry, we couldn't help but notice the toys for girls and boys!

Dollhouse Rolltop Desk , $24 here.

We adore this rolltop dollhouse item, from the 1970's, The tiny details make it worthy of any dollhouse. Leave in it's original form or use some chalk paint, and paint it to match your doll house! It even has tiny compartments for doll house sized letters! Pull open a door with the tiny knobs! How cute is this?  A slew of dollhouse items are the shop including a miniature lamp and kitchen set!

Amazing Spiderman Colorforms Toy, , $32 here.

Original colorforms still unused, and stuck to the original parts. Colorforms , yes, it's true I had these when I was a child. Nothing like taking the plastic removable stick ons and making cool scenes with them. You peel them off the board, and stick them on the backdrop. 

ColorForms:  You can remove them and reposition as needed. 

Made of a plastic-vinyl they somehow just stick to the cardboard backing and removing them doesn't leave any residue. They were quite amazing. Finding a set in unused condition with all parts is rare considering how much they were played with .  


Shop Now: 

• See more toys and items at Openslate on Etsy.
• You can also find her on RubyLane

DinnerWear Jewelry Dinnerware Pendants Upcycled

DinnerWear Jewelry made this Pansy Pendant from Old China $48

Vintage Repurposed!

DinnerWear Jewelry on Etsy has a unique appreciation for old china or dinnerware.  See here how something broken, cracked or otherwise headed for the landfill is spared and made into something grand.  Behold the wearable art masterpieces from Mary Ann Wood.  From bracelets to necklaces you never know what you may find here.

Blue Willow Anyone? From plate to bracelet, you can have it all.

Some would call her a mixed media artist as she has a love for repurposing and reusing that which may of otherwise perished. She explains, "I have always loved working with old found objects and have collected china every since I was a little girl, so when I started DinnerWear Jewelry, it was a natural fit. " Designs come out of her studio in Franklin, Massachusetts.

You can immortalize something of your families to pass down generation to generation!

The best part of this shop is the fact you can send in an old saucer, or plate and have her make a custom design for you.  This way, the plate is passed down in jewelry form. As china may often get broken, a necklace hand-me-down seems so much easier.

Immortalizing old china forever, DinnerWear Jewelry loves custom orders.

Also in this shop you will find lovely creations (non dinnerware) made from old cameos and the like, but our favorite is certainly the dinnerware, immortalized in time forever!  Of course we can't get enough of the china though.......

Editor's Pick:

Lily of the Valley Necklace Repurposed by DinnerWear Jewelry

The Lily of the Valley is one of my favorite flowers, it is sweet smelling yet has an air of mystery as it is poisonous. No worries here, this succulent flower is captured in it's immortalized china form and offset into a sweet heart necklace. What does this pendant say to you? Perhaps the beauty of a Bride-to-be, your best friend, or your daughter.  Or, perhaps this is the perfect necklace for your Mother-in-law! For behind every good piece of china, there is certainly a story!

Find out more here: DinnerWearJewelry


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Thriftwood Vintage Decor Clothing BoHo Finds

 Brass Box to Hold Rings and Things from Thirftwood Vintage on Etsy

Thiftwood Vintage Etsy shop offers home decor, collectibles, antiques and vintage clothing.  Unique, hippie and one of a kind items are found here.  Shop owner Emily has an eye for the vibrant and the different.  Above, an adorable brass trinket box makes for cute storage of jewelry, priced at $16.  Below, a very that 70's era pillow shows someone's handmade craftiness of years gone by.  For $19 this is sure to please.

This pillow is vibrant and sure must have been a lot of work!  Find it here.

The shop is owned and curated by Emily from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. This is a small beautiful village near the coast which has been dubbed the Seafood Capital of the state.   Emily describes herself as a treasure hunter, who loved to go antiquing with her mom as a young girl.  Below, a 90's style Galaxy dress is still wearable and glam today, priced at only $24 would make a great gift for yourself or someone else.

Glam Vintage Dress $24 at Thriftwood Vintage Size 6 Nab it up here.

Emily explains, "Carefully curated with all things vintage, thrifted and kitschy and deliciously boho, Thriftwood is the place to go when looking for a weirdly cool pair of earrings, a statement piece....., or flowing frock to wear on Friday's date night........."     We would have to agree you can find just about anything here, spoil yourself and look around!  Prices are great in our book and you can find and ship that great gift idea for under $30!

Vintage Colorblock Dress screams Saved By the Bell! Nab it here for $20

Source:  Thriftwood Vintage on Etsy 

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Antiquities Antique Sterling Jewelry CLLEWISLLC

Sterling Purse Jewelry Antique by CLLEWISLLC

Antiquities and Antique Jewelry 

Rare jewelry and antique pieces can be had at CLLEWIS, LLC located in Frenchtown, New Jersey and dealing to USA and abroad clientele. Shipping rates are inexpensive and pieces are plentiful. 

Ran by shop owner Colton Liebros, s the shop features rare and unusual pieces that you don't often see.  Jewelry collectors can find something here within this shop, as well as lots of sterling and rarities with over 2000 items in stock and counting.  

Native American 1910's Bracelet at CLLEWISLLC

Wearable Artifacts

Early Navajo and Southwestern jewelry in pristine condition make for wearable art statements.   We found the one above for $89.99, ad well as a 1910's Southwestern beaded bracelet for $69.99. 

1930's Art Nouveau Engraved Teardrop Charm - Jeweler's Finding  here

Jewelry Makers  & Lovers 

Makers can relish in their findings section and pick up rare and antique pieces, cabochons, stones or pendants and create their own works of art. 

Editor's Pick :  Belt Ring, $39.99 Southwestern find it here.

Although we're a huge fan of the sterling jewelry, and ultimately our editor's pick is a size nine belt ring with, the shop bosts over 445 books in stock, vintage and interesting works of paper definately worth a look see!

Books, search them here. 

Find out more: CLLEWISLLC

Lost and Forged Flatware Repurposed

Flatware Repurposed Watch $79 makes for functional and usable item.  Find here.

Lost & Forged

Simply amazing creations are coming out of the Etsy shop LostandForged. The shop owner Douglas Heifetz from Silver Spring Maryland has found a way to use old forgotten flatware, repurposing them into functional items. Here you will find special momentos from jewelry to decor. High quality "forged" craftsmanship is used and care taken to preserve the integrity of every piece. 

Cuff Bracelet from Lost and Forged a gorgeous fork to wear forever!  $28

The shop also offers to help preserve your family heirlooms, indicating that you can send them your silverware to have them create an unforgettable piece for you. This is a way to preserve family traditions and something you can pass on.  From fork bracelets, to spoon rings, pendants, necklaces, Judaica items and accessories, you can work on a custom piece with them.  Imagine that, sending in your great grandmother's spoon to create something functionally wearable like this: 

Spoon Ring created from International Silver Century Royal Rose pattern $35.00

Judaica Bracelet with Hebrew Bible Verse and Eilat Stone

Creativity comes into play with this Rare Eilat Stone (King Solomon's Mines) is embedded in an antique spoon and makes for gorgeous bracelet with inscription of Ecclesiastes 1:9 .   It has been made from a silver Wallace Silversmiths Violet pattern spoon. The Eilat stone is the national stone of Israel and also called the King Solomon Stone, as it is said his mines were loaded with them. It was originally named for the location of the stone in Eilat , Israel (though now have been found in other countries.)  Metaphysical sites claim this stone induces love, healing and calmness. What a great piece!

See more at: 

Lost and Forged on Etsy

Like their Facebook Page: 

Lost and Forged

Retro Roadshow Jewelry Antiques Collectibles

 Rose / Starfish brooch, circa 1910 full of garnets reg price $75

RetroRoadshow started their Etsy shop in April 2014.  Joshua Snyder  is curator of this upscale  jewelry and vintage boutique from Ravenna, Ohio that features a lot of Czech, Danish and deco styled pieces you just don't see very often.  I had the chance to find out more!

You never know what you will find at Etsy shop RetroRoadshow!

Q: Why and when did you start selling vintage? 

  

We started out of necessity. While in school we would go to estate sales and garage sales for the added income. After falling in love with anything Czech, we decided to take a trip to Prague in search of rare and unusual costume jewelry. We found several items and have maintained the hobby ever since.


White Gold Cufflinks, hard to find these days, find them here.

Q. What your favorite vintage items are or what you collect?  

 We will sell anything, although I have an affinity for cuff links. Anything vintage and rare is what we love to find, and treasure.

Q: Anything currently in your shop with a great story? 

The Chinese silver and enamel bracelet is from the early 1800s and it is amazing and authentic antique history. 

                    This mystery piece is a Chinese dragon Boat, but is it for your hair or tie?
 

Q: What item will you hate to see go and why?

I love the Danish enamel necklaces. I find them exquisite. 

You will find all sorts of vintage necklaces from 1910-1970 , this one Czech Bohemian Filigree

Q: What else do you want people to know ? 

We love to help people find what they are looking for. Nothing satisfies us more than an ongoing friendship. 

Check out RetroRoadshow on Etsy now and drop them a line via CONVO to tell them what you are looking for!

 

Ancient Beads Antique Jewelry Has Stories to Tell Lord of the Beads

My favorite, a necklace for royalty and comprised of ancient rare materials $450

Ancient Beads Make Lovely Necklaces

All of us love beaded necklaces and jewelry, but imagine owning something ancient, with a story to tell. The Etsy shop Lord of the Beads uses ancient beads and fashions them into stunning jewelry. Above, you have my favorite, a necklace made of Egyptian agate,and  Faience beads-- a mark of the ancient royals.

The seller says, "The material used to make these beads was a highly sought out commodity of the ancient world, used for scepters and jewelry and even to add to the opulence of the tiles in the royal chambers as was found in King Djosers tomb at Saqqara. A truly dignified piece, worthy of royalty!"  This necklace can be yours for $450.

Antique Necklace is $1200 includes beads from King Solomon's mines.

The necklace above is made with rare and genuine ancient Egyptian agates, ---rare Sulemani type.  If you are wondering what they are, most of these beads are the excavated from “The Lost Mines of King Solomen”.

BARGAIN!  $250 gets you this gorgeous and colorful necklace made of Roman Glass Beads!

All the creations are stunning and lovely. I have always been enthralled with ancient artifacts and instead of sitting them out of the way and looking at them you can wear a one of a kind creation and make heads spin. 

As for the beads themselves, one must wonder what kind of mojo may come when wearing beads like this. It's no secret that for years people have believed in the healing power of rocks and natural gemstones.  Ancient Beads are made of stone, rocks and glass so go figure!

Although at first I was a skeptic, I had a cat wearing an amethyst necklace who had diabetes live to the ripe old age of 22.  Therefore I wonder what powers may lie unearthed in such wonderful beads.  What stories would they tell had they the power to speak?

Lord of the Beads is run by Raed Aidi, who found their first bead/stone in 1993 and has been creating every since.  From Dubai, youa re sure to find the world's riches with tales to tell.

FIND OUT MORE:  Lord of the Beads on Etsy.

Antique Engagement Ring The Vintage Wedding Checklist Part One

Apples of Gold Engagement Ring, this one here. 

Vintage weddings are hip, trendy, and in style.  This three part checklist will give you a start to finish step by step process on how to have the perfect vintage experience from start to finish.  Your checklist is simple yet the engagement rings are the most important. This is going to be something symbolizing the love that you carry, on your finger for the rest of your life!   Simply put, here is your checklist:

1. Antique Engagement Ring
2. Proposal in a Vintage Setting.
3. Finding the best Vintage Wedding Dress
4. Costumes and or era clothing for the wedding party.
5. Venue with an "Old Feel"
6. Retro invitations.
7. Catering that's Delicious on vintage china!
8. Decorations, from vintage banners to a retro cake!
9. Wedding music set in the era.
10. The Perfect Vintage Wedding Ring.

Let's start at the beginning.


1. HOW TO BUY THE RIGHT ANTIQUE ENGAGEMENT RING

For your retro wedding, it’s probably crossed your mind to buy an antique engagement ring. Such a thought is dismissed fairly quickly when you’ve seen some the amazingly high price tags displayed in jewelry stores or online. Also many men believe that antique engagement rings are in a class of jewelry that is fit for only the rich and famous.  While this might be true in a lot of cases, you can still purchase a very good quality antique engagement ring without any serious risk of becoming bankrupt. Choosing the right antique engagement ring is just a matter of knowing some of the basics in shopping for antique jewellery.

The following is our shoppers guide for choosing the best antique engagement ring suited to your loved significant other.

• Is The Style Suited? One of the first areas you need to address as you browse jewellery stores is to work out what antique engagement ring style is going to suit best to the tastes or preferences of your loved one. Ask yourself is this going to be something that she’ll adore for the rest of her life? 
• What about quality? Look at the design and craftsmanship of the ring rather than just focusing on the size of the gem. Consider the main aspects of the stones such as the colour, cut, clarity and then carat size. A lot of women find the actual design more important than the sizing of the stone or diamond. Also having a smaller diamond of higher quality is going to be better in some cases as it’s harder to pick up any obvious flaws. You’ll also find a lot of antique engagement rings have very decorative surrounding design it that creates an illusion of a larger size stone or diamond. 
• Focus On Time Periods You can also make some very appropriate choices in antique engagement rings if you focus on the right time period. For example if you know that your loved one is really into gemstones and not diamonds then you focus your search within the Art Deco era. This era consists predominantly of stones that are rubies or emeralds and also include sapphires and amethysts. You also can potentially find some amazing and stunning designs with the Victorian and Edwardian eras. It’s quite remarkable the level of detail and attention that has gone into the designing of rings in these eras. 

Final Steps – Checking The Authenticity 

 After using the above guidelines, chances are you will find what you consider the most suitable antique engagement ring for your loved one. However as a final step, you still must ask the jewellery store for a report or certificate of authenticity that has been done by a gemologist. This will verify if the engagement is as old as the jeweler claims.


As another added precaution you should also get the ring appraised and seek insurance from a 3rd party. This is extra way of getting verification of the quality level of both the stones and metal. Taking these necessary final steps is going to be reassuring for you and will go a long way in giving her the perfect antique engagement ring she’s always been dreaming of.   Get more information here.

 Looks like a romantic setting for a proposal , at least it did circa 1920, this from EphmeraObscura

2. THE PERFECT PROPOSAL

When you think of earlier days, romance was simplistic yet beautiful. A kiss under the moonlight, a walk in the park, sitting on the park bench holding hands, or walking together after getting the best ice cream sundae at the local pop shop.  Perhaps your soon to be hubby needs to find the perfect place to utter the words , "Will you marry me?" , even if it is in a retro car at the top of point lookout, after smooching and listening to some 50's be-bop music.

Edwardian anyone? Great for a vintage wedding. Pic: BeigeVintageCo

3. FINDING THE BEST WEDDING DRESS

Fit and fabric is very important. If you are going vintage, expect to have some minor imperfections from the previous life. You can life with a few minor tears or small rips in the fabric but the big worry is the OVERALL condition of the fabric. Make sure it's not fitting you like a glove because , if it dry rotten you will find yourself making a quick turn and your dress is blown out of the side, leaving your wedding party staring in horror.... How will you know? Make sure to test a small section of the fabric where no one will see, stretch it and pull it with your hand, is it ripping that easy, if so, as much as you'd like the dress, you may not have found the right one.

Lace is extremely fragile, and that's not the main concern, it's the fabric underneath and the seams that you must worry about, and the fabric that holds the zipper in tact.  There are plenty of vintage dresses made within the past century that will look simply lovely.!

Continue Reading: 

Vintage Wedding Checklist Part Two
Vintage Wedding Checkist Part Three 

This page last updated 12.2.18 and checked for good links. If you find a dead one please let us know!

Estate Diamond Jewelry Victorian

2.00ct Platinum and Diamond Engagement Ring - GIA CERTIFIED - Old European Cut Diamond -$28,500.00

There's nothing more romantic than vintage estate jewelry, and now you can view the most upscale and perfect vintage diamond engagement rings and diamond jewelry at EstateDiamondJewelry on Etsy.

Hand Engravings make this unique.

Many peope do not realize that back in the early days rings were really made with detailing, care, and not so much mass produced.  Often a ring would be designed for that special person. Finding these old antique and vintage rings is hard, and you must make sure you are buying through a reputable dealer.

Now you know where to look! Having a gorgeous certified ring from another era may prove joyful for days to come.  when you know that your ring is unique, and chances are, you won't see this ring on anyone else, but you.   There's a wide range of prices.

Edwardian Cocktail Engagement Ring - Estate Diamond Jewelry - Vintage and Antique Engagement Ring - Filigree Setting, Circa 1910 $898.00

You can see the styling of this antique Edwardian rings that tells a tale of a different time and era It's unique and that's what estate jewelry is all about!

Connect to see these gorgeous rings, earrings, and all sorts of jewelry:

On Etsy
On Facebook
EstateDiamondJewelry.com