PastGems Vintage Jewelry Blog

New Gift Idea Categories at PastGems.com!

I know a lot of us go shopping for gifts with an idea of what we want to spend on certain people.  $25 for that person, $10 for that one -- unlimited (well, almost) for this one -- and so on.  You know what I mean.

So rather than having to plow through all my items (over 1200 now, I think) to find something in your price range, I've set up some new Gift Idea categories for $25 and under, Under $50, Under $100, $100-$499 and Over $500 (there's only one item in that category and you've got to see it to believe it -- it's well over $500.  It's a handcrafted 14K Gold & Turquoise Bolo Tie by the Arizona artist, Elias.  Truly amazing. P.S.: The original price of $8500 is still on the bolo.)  This is a perfect gift for That Guy Who Has Everything.

Not EVERYTHING in the store is in these categories -- its just a sampling, so if you don't find what you're looking for there, continue  browsing elsewhere.  And don't forget our Bargain Basement and Jewelry Grab Bags (which we're running low on) for some true bargains. 

And if you STILL can't find exactly what you're looking for, there's always our Gift Certificates, which you can buy in the amount you choose -- you can either print it out and present it yourself -- or you can email it to the lucky recipient.  Personally, I LOVE getting Gift Certificates -- it's like getting a License to Shop!

Thanks for being a friend of PastGems!  We heart you!

xoxo,
Karen

FREE GIFT with Purchase for PastGems Customers!

Beginning, October 15, we will be including a free gift of a mini handmade ornament with every purchase  from PastGems.com!  These are handmade, many of them knit and just adorable!  Need I say:  "while supplies last."  When they're gone, they're gone, so get in there early so you be sure to get one! Meanwhile, I hope that the Fall weather wherever you are is as gorgeous as it is here in Beautiful Northern California!

xoxo,
Karen

Update Your Wardrobe with Vintage Accessories

I was talking with my friend, a well known Bay Area clothing designer last night.  Her designs sell internationally in very high end stores -- very expensive.  Needless to say, her business has suffered a bit of a decline in the last year as the economic situation has worsened.  She still does okay because the people who can afford her designs still have money and are still buying, but its not as good as it has been.

However, she had an interesting insight.  She says that people are more likely to spend their money on accessories (like wonderful vintage costume jewelry!) to update their wardrobe rather than spending it on whole new outfits.  Of course.  Brilliant!  Just like when the housing market takes a downturn, people tend to stay where they are and remodel their existing houses rather than selling them and moving on.

Its so uplifting to receive a "brand new" trinket and its so much fun to play around with accessories -- you can change the entire look of an outfit or a dress with the way you put together your jewelry -- an entirely different style and color of necklace, a brooch, a bracelet or a sparkly pair of earrings.  And the thing is, accessories such as jewelry can be so much more affordable than buying a new dress or an entirely new outfit.

So if you're feeling the cash crunch, don't despair.  Treat yourself to a new piece of glitz.  At PastGems we are sometimes appalled by the exorbitant prices we see out there for vintage jewelry.  Sure, some true collectibles are worth the inflated prices and might even be considered an investment of sorts.  But some of it is just simply overpriced.  We try to keep our pricing reasonable and affordable to all.  Our little vintage jewelry shop has items in every price range -- starting as low as $5 and running all the way up to $5000!    With lots to choose from in between.  So if you're feeling some deprivation these days, stop by PastGems.com and treat yourself to a new trinket -- it will brighten your day for sure!

Keep your spirits up -- its all gonna get better!
xoxo,
                                           
Karen

October 2008 - What ARE Rhinestones Anyway?

Rhinestones are pieces of faceted glass, usually foil-backed in order to reflect light.  (There are, however, some designers who used colored rhinestones without foil backing in order to allow the light to shine through their designs.) The original rhinestones were pebbles of rock crystal from the Rhine River (Austria's western boundary).  Hence, the name: Rhine Stones. Here are some beautiful vintage clear rhinestone chandelier earrings

Here is a little history for you:
In 1775 a French jeweler named George Frederic Stras had an idea to coat the lower side of glass with metal powder (like the foil we see today.) The resulting quality closely imitated diamonds. They still were not real affordable because the stones were individually handcrafted.

In 1892 Daniel Swarovski, son of a Bohemian gem cutter, applied for a patent on his first invention: a machine that cuts crystal jewelry stones with unprecedented precision.

1895 Swarovski moved to Austria, where his invention could be powered by water, to set up a factory specializing in the production of cut crystal jewelry stones. Success in producing rhinestones economically without compromising the quality of the cut is achieved which meant acceptance in the jewelry industry.  So you’re familiar with the term “Swarovski Crystals” or “Austrian Crystals,” right?  This is where it comes from! Click here to see an example of Austrian Crystal.

In the early 1900s the Swarovski family refined methods to produce stones to a state of flawless brilliance and succeeded in producing grinding wheels for cutting crystal stones to increase production capacity.

In 1955 the Aurora Borealis rhinestone is presented; a coating is applied to crystal stones to produce a rainbow of colors reminiscent of the Northern Lights – hence the name Aurora Borealis.  You might also see these referred to as AB rhinestones or iridized rhinestones.  A note of caution:  Be very, very careful with AB rhinestones, as they scratch easily.  We’ll get more into this when I write a newsletter about cleaning your vintage jewelry (soon!)  This is a beautiful example of AB rhinestones:  Some are not so deeply colored, but more subtle, like this:

And finally, what the heck is Paste?

Paste is glass, used in jewelry to imitate the effect of diamonds.  Sometimes the terms "paste" and "rhinestones" are used interchangeably.  The glass used for paste, however, has a high content of lead oxide added to it. This makes the glass more refractive, meaning that it ‘sparkles’ more. However, the higher lead content also makes the glass softer, so it scratches easily.  Click here to see an old piece of jewelry from the 1930s that might be considered paste.

Paste is generally associated with jewelry made before the 1950s, but that could be inaccurate. It is probably fair to say that 1920s - 1940s jewelry is where you’ll see the most paste being used.  Paste is sometimes mistaken for marcasite, but that’s another newsletter.

Designer of the Month:  Les Bernard

I love Les Bernard's jewelry.  I'm sad though because I only have one piece of his!  This charming little road runner pin:  Les Bernard jewelry is perfect for the newer collector because the company has only been closed a few years (1996), so a lot of the jewelry out there is newer and in very good to excellent condition -- and prices have not yet risen to the levels that they might as time goes on.

Les Bernard jewelry company was founded in 1963 by Bernard Shapiro, who was the son of Harold Shapiro, who founded the Vogue Jewelry Company.  The co-founder was Lester Joy -- hence the name, Les Bernard.  Les Bernard jewelry is usually high quality and very well made.  The pin above is typical of the quality and workmanship found in Les Bernard jewelry.  The company produced many hand-knotted pearl necklaces and sets (unfortunately, while I do occasionally have some wonderful hand knotted faux pearl necklaces, none are from Les Bernard.  And they don't seem to last long -- people snap them right up!)

Thanks again for taking the time to read my newsletter, for being a customer and friend.  Wishing you a glorious beginning of Fall -- and a Happy Halloween!

xoxo,

Karen