Fabulous Art Deco style Sapphire Diamond ring!

Hi Everyone!

I thought I'd share with you a one of the rings I found last week when I went out on the hunt for treasure!
It's a stunning Art Deco style vintage sapphire and diamond ring that will be sure to get your heart racing 💓  Crafted in 18ct white gold it has approximately 2.75 carat of mid blue sapphires accented by four old cut diamonds......
Take a look below 😀


Full details on the website :  Here

Taking a break!

I have just added an announcement to the website to say we are taking a summer break 8th ~ 24th June!
It feels long overdue as we haven't stopped since last September.  I'm planning to have a complete switch off from all online activity so that I can really recharge my batteries and also catch up on some tedious admin....I'm scarily behind on all my accounting so I hope to get totally up to date!
I'm looking forward to breaking up the bookwork with some days out, afternoon tea, national trust gardens....that sort of thing..... sitting out enjoying our garden and maybe have a couple of days away on the coast...who knows?  The world will be my oyster :-)
Enjoy the summer everyone!

Carol x

P.S The website will remain open so you can still place an order which will be shipped on 25th JUNE.  All email enquiries will be replied to from the same date.

Rose pictured The Pilgrim by David Austin Roses.  Announcement bar app hektorcommerce.com

Dig for victory

 

We all love a bit of nostalgia and for me the Era that resonates the most is the 1940s.

Don’t get me wrong! I adore the 1920s and 1930s for the cool Art Deco designs of jewellery, clothes, architecture etc, but the decade that warms my heart is the shabby, homely, handcrafted, fighting spirit of WW2 1939-1945.

I think it is because it was still present in the homes of my grandparents when I was growing up.
The ‘waste not, want not’ thriftiness evident in the kitchen drawer where neatly tied pieces of string and carefully folded paper bags nestled with ancient pairs of scissors, short stubs of pencils and other bits and bobs that always come in handy.

Big flowery aprons, handknits, home bakes and beds of rhubarb in the garden were all carried forward from the 1940s into the ration years of the 1950s and were still going strong in the 1960s when I was a child.

At the weekend we visited Newark Air museum and there we stumbled upon this wonderful Dig for Victory garden complete with a fully furnished Anderson shelter.  The delight was in the fine detail from the little handcrafted aeroplane toys, the abandoned pipe and headline on the newspaper, to the picture of Winnie inside the shelter.  

Whoever curated this evocative little patch of Britain, either lived through those terrifying years or loves the cosy, hearth and home, careworn warmth of all the treasured items and values that survived it, as much as I do.

Four of a kind!

Featured above are four beautiful vintage rings currently in the website shop.

Each one would be classed as a cluster but they all have a different appeal and their own unique look!

The first on the left is an Art Deco design oval sapphire and diamond ring.  The cabochon sapphire is surrounded by lots of small diamonds set closely together called ‘pavé setting'
It is easy to wear as it doesn’t have claws to catch on clothes and as sapphires are next in hardness to diamonds the combination is a good choice for daily wear.  You can see more detail here : Vintage Sapphire and diamond cluster ring.

Next in line is a beautiful traditional design diamond cluster ring.  Sometimes called daisy rings or halo rings.  This one has a lovely millegrain setting with one carat of brilliant cut diamonds all collet set.  Millegrain is a form of engraving which is executed by hand, each little line or detail is painstakingly applied by an engraver and it really adds to the  beauty of a piece of jewellery.  Again this ring has no claws to catch on clothes so it’s great to wear! May need your sunglasses though! Check it out here : Vintage diamond cluster ring

The third ring is a ruby and diamond cluster and is another easy to wear ring with a no claw collet setting.  Rubies, like sapphires are next in line to diamond for hardness and the collet setting is very secure.  The spacing of the brilliant cut diamonds is more flower petal like and each stone is bordered by diamond cut hand engraving which gives a pretty effect.  This sweet ring would be a unique dress ring and perfect as anniversary gift.  All the detail is here : Vintage diamond and ruby cluster ring

Last but not least is the Antique Edwardian diamond cluster ring.  This sweet ring has a lighter more dainty look on the hand, but with no less appeal as it is more truly like a daisy or flower.
Like the others it has a practical collet setting but this time with old cut diamonds which have a more unique character than the perfect brilliant cut.   A very sweet ring that would be a delightful engagement ring or a special birthday gift.  To read more click here : Antique diamond daisy ring

If you have any questions about the four featured rings please feel free to contact me by email via the website page CONTACT US.
To see our full collection of Antique and Vintage rings and unique jewellery visit the website : Vintage Jewel Box

Who doesn’t love millegrain!

Coming to the Vintage Jewel Box website over the weekend is this beautiful diamond cluster ring. I’m a sucker for cluster rings but even more so when they have millegrain settings like this beauty.

It is packed with 1.00 carat of sparking white diamonds and spreads 1.3cms across the setting so it certainly grabs your attention!

Why not add it to your wishlist 😉 

Make your own wishlist

On the website you can now create your own fantasy Vintage Jewel Box collection with our new wishlist feature!

Each product page has an 'add to wishlist' button so you can add up to 100 items to your virtual jewel box 😄

When you add an item you get a pop up window and you can access your list from the main menu tab 'My Wishlist'  You can share the link via email...... so useful if you want to prompt a certain someone into action!
Later, I hope to add the option for you to add items direct from the collection pages as well.

Its lovely to be able to make a collection on a website that you can come back to time and time again and it is something we all love doing...... I know my Pinterest boards are teeming with beautiful things!

Carol x

Image from Bonhams.  Wishlist from swym.it

Reviving the old blog!

It’s been almost three years since I posted on the blog!

Poor neglected old thing...... where does all the time go? 

Anyway, this week I have revamped the look so it fits in with the design of the website which has had a mini makeover this year.  I have also linked it on the website so it is easy to track back and forth.

I think as it became so easy to share via your phone to FB, IG Twitter etc etc blogging started to seem a little wearisome and slightly old fashioned.... However, sometimes you want to say more or share something you wouldn’t necessarily post up with just a bare sentence, so I’m going to give it another go! 

Carol x

Trying out Video!

Today I ventured into unchartered territory!
I decided it could be helpful for buyers to see a 360° video of the item they are interested in.  When buying online you need as much information as possible and to add a moving image gives a bit more detail and insight.  I have seen some short Video clips on other websites and occasionally on Ebay so armed with my camera, lightbox, turntable and a tripod I set to work and managed to do a video of a Deco ring I have just bought for stock.
I'm not very familiar with the settings for filming clips on the camera so it is still a work in progress!  I need to look for a tutorial about the best camera settings and file sizes etc keeping in mind quality and clarity are all important when looking at items of jewellery.  I looked at Vimeo but when the video had loaded the quality was reduced so I had the brainwave of trying to put it on a post on the blog so I could link to it here for the time being :-)

Here is the first attempt!

Very much a work in progress.........If anyone has any advice or can recommend a helpful link please feel free to comment :-)

Carol x.

Have a Gatsby New Year!

 

See the New Year in with some Art Deco style!  

Just for fun here is my selection of Art Deco or Deco inspired items that will carry you through the whole of 2014's celebrations.....The fabulous Art Deco clock from Sheryl's Art Deco Emporium will keep you on time and you will be the envy of everyone in the gorgeous Flapper style dress by Jigsaw and silver shoes by Faith, great for any party or wedding.  Accessorise with an heirloom piece like the crystal necklace or marcasite earrings from my website Vintage Jewel Box......add a slick of Dior 'Rouge Dior' lipstick in Zinnia, one of several fabulous shades, grab your clutch, throw on the fur wrap and you are ready to party! 

Happy New Year to Everyone!!!  Carol x

Here is the stockist list :

1. Fur wrap Coast   

2. Earrings Topshop
3. Original deco necklace Vintage Jewel Box
4. Deco style clutch Coast
5. Deco silver earrings Vintage Jewel Box
6. Shoes Faith at Debenhams
7. Drinks Pail Kitchen craft at Wayfair.co.uk
8. Original Deco clock Sheryls Deco Emporium
9. Mirror necklace Topshop
10. Lipstick 'Rouge Dior' by Dior
11. Mixology cocktail shaker Wayfair
12. Flapper style dress Jigsaw

Mind the gap!

I always find the gap between Christmas and New Year a bit odd! 
Fortunately, working for myself means not having to go into the office, shop or wherever before even the turkey leftovers have been finished!
I was going to take a few days off from the computer but the emails pile up so alarmingly I have switched on each day to keep up to date...  Good job I did as I even had questions on Christmas day about something on Etsy...
I decided to change the banner on the Etsy shop as it didn't look quite right and then I strayed onto my long forgotten blog and ended up doing a re-vamp on it as well.
More to do, but so far, so good :-)

March vintage on the website!

A selection of the latest vintage stock added to the website :-)



www.vintagejewelbox.co.uk

Happy New Year.....SALE now on!

Probably like many people I always feel a bit tentative in the first couple of weeks of a new year wondering what the next twelve months will hold?
2012 was such a big year for the UK with the Jubilee celebrations and the amazing Olympics that this year may seem a bit flat to start with as there isn't anything big on the horizon.  I really enjoyed it and I think it gave us all a new pride in Britain and being British and made us feel much more connected as a nation which was wonderful, but maybe this year we will be able to focus inwardly more without the distraction.  I think a lot of spare time was used getting involved and keeping up with events....I know I was finding myself standing in the ktichen motionless glued to the TV with an hour or more just drifting by following the rowing or something I have never been into before!
My inward focus for this year is simply to try to be more organised and use my time productively.... I know I neeed to concentrate more on my website etc and try to be more structured about my working day!!!   Easier said than done :-)

Firstly for the New Year I have a SALE on in the Etsy shop and new items added to the SALE page on the website....If you have a few spare moments take a look.

I wish everyone a very happy, healthy and properous New Year!  Lets hope 2013 turns out to be a really good year for us all.  

Carol x

Vintage shoes!

 

When I'm on Etsy and supposed to be listing my stock I often get distracted and go browsing :-) The other day I spotted some gorgeous red leather vintage shoes so I searched for more....
There are some wonderful ones for sale and I want them all!!! I have made them into a treasury so I can get a shoe fix anytime I need one and so can you :-)

Here is the link :

Scarf styling the Liberty way!

This is a delightful video from Liberty which shows a pretty and unique way to wear a scarf in your hair.  I really like this particular idea as it uses a scarf that is a common vintage size and shape and would suit any hairstyle.

I love scarves!

I love scarves, especially vintage silk ones.........They are so useful when the weather is a bit iffy, you know...... brilliant sunshine one minute, dark rumbling black rain clouds the next.....
I have used my scarf to drape over my shoulders, the front of my chest or back of my neck to protect it from getting sunburnt when I have forgotten to apply sunscreen....I often feel the benefit of it round my neck, tucked into my cardi or coat when things have turned chilly and drafty......I have used it properly as a headscarf 1950's style when it has suddenly rained and both of my umbrellas are in the car which is a mile away and yes, I know I may have looked like Princess Anne but at the time I didn't care :-)
I would like to use it to tie up my hair but although my hair is long it just hasn't got the umphh and va va voom in it to give it that fashionable mussed up style that looks great with a pretty scarf holding it all together.....Don't need a scarf for any of the above? Then just tie it to your handbag or thread it through the belt loops of your jeans.......

Feel inspired???.......Here are the latest additions to the website :-)

 

Finished!

Well....I finally finished the little aran cardigan I was knitting a couple of weeks ago.  Thankfully it was during the wintery cold wet weather so I know it has been worn :-)
I'm quite pleased with how it turmed out, the pattern worked out well and both sides matched which is a bonus! The worst bit for me is the sewing....Generally I quite like sewing but for some strange reason I really loathe sewing up knitted garments.......I think that the knitting bug has gone away now for a little while so no more projects for now!

Bank Holiday Sale!

BANK HOLIDAY SALE now on!
Click on the link to go to my Etsy shop where everything has just been discounted.....
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintagejewelbox

All the website stock now has 10% off too :-) Take a look if you have had your eye on something........
www.vintagejewelbox.co.uk.
PLEASE NOTE : With the website the 10% discount will be refunded to your account via Paypal once you have completed checkout and your order is confirmed. Unfortunately it isn't possible for me to apply it directly to the prices on the site.


BOTH SALES end 11pm GMT Tuesday 8th May.
FREE shipping in the UK.....Overseas buyers please note the discount applies to the item price only, not the shipping costs.

Any questions feel free to ask :-)

Vintage Liberty silk scarves on trend for this season!

Over Easter I have added some lovely vintage Liberty of London pure silk scarves to the website..........
Liberty scarves are always nice quality silk and the variety of designs never ceases to amaze me as I am always seeing one I haven't had before!  They range from the traditional floral and paisley designs associated with Liberty textiles to fabulous pictorial, commemorative and geometric prints.
Buying a vintage Liberty scarf represents very good value for money.........New they retail for around £100 and upwards, the ones I sell on the site range from £26 to approx £65 depending on size and condition.

I always handwash and press my scarves before selling them and will point out any obvious flaws and grade them either 'GOOD' 'VERY GOOD' OR 'EXCELLENT' All are wearable as I won't buy anything I wouldn't use myself so any flaws are very minor :-)

The brightly coloured one above is a perfect example of how vintage can blend with the current fashion trends....This seasons bold florals in bright colours make this scarf completely on trend and it is much easier to wear for most of us than say a dress in a similar print.

I haven't managed to do justice to the scarf above with my photography as the delicate soft pink, blue and lavender colourway and design have lost there impact somewhat....It is much prettier in reality than my pictures show and again links with the other trend for this season 'Pastels'  It would look lovely casually tied at the neck with a soft pink or blue mac!

Tootally vintage!

My Tootal scarf stock on the website has got very low, mostly due to the weather in the last couple of months.  It is hard to handwash things and get them dried on the line in winter as the days are so short and if the sun appears isn't very warm or long lasting.
Last week, I finally managed to get round to washing some of the scarves I have waiting in the wings and thought the day was going to be a good one, but as soon as it was time to put them on the washing line, the sun had gone in for the day :-(

I persevered with them all day but to get them really dry had to resort to the airer in the utility room to finish them off!
Anyway, they are now ironed and looking 'Tootally vintage' I love to see them all clean and pressed, in a nice little stack...... Now,  I must get cracking and get them listed on the site!

A little knitting project!

I used to knit......A lot!
Over the last few years I have scarcely picked up the needles except to knit for my two nephews when they were babies and who are now 13 and 15....shows how long ago I am talking about :-)

Then my friend Jenny (who I stand with at the Nec) became a grandmother in 2010 and I when Alice was born I made her a sweet little cardi in a vintage pink.  I really enjoyed doing it as I found it gave me some clear headspace away from various worries and although I love what I do most of the time, it can become all consuming so it was nice that it wasn't anything to do with work.  I took the needles out again last summer when my other friends daughter had her second baby and was thrilled with how delighted she was with the little cardi and bootees I had knitted.

Things in my personal life have been quite difficult since then, so I decided it was time for another knitting project as a bit of therapy to help clear my head for a hour or so a day :-)
Aran knitting was always my favourite of all as it grows fast and keeps me concentrating enough not to get bored.  I don't mind a bit of stocking stitch but my mind wanders all over the place and I get that I look forward to casting off!
I have chosen a traditional aran pattern for a little boy and have got on quite well as I have finished the back now.

 

Initially though all was not well,  I had to take it back to the ribbing twice as I went completely wrong!!!
I was just being blase because years ago I could rattle off an aran in no time, but I was really out of practice after years of being in the knitting desert and needed to get back into the right mode.  Needless to say once I sat down for long enough and quietly concentrated for the first couple of inches it was like riding a bike.......you don't actually lose the skill, you just go a bit wobbly at first :-)

I am now on the sleeves and for the first time ever I am knitting two sleeves on one pair of needles.  A friend of my Mums used to knit for a shop years ago and I remember seeing her doing both sleeves at once but never tried it.  Well........ it's brilliant!

I have nearly finished them and it will be great that when I cast off, two of them are done :-)
I am now thinking I may attempt the two fronts on one needle!

I'll keep you posted :-)