Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Results Are In! Vintage Jewelry Survey

Vintage Jewelry Survey - Results Published June, 2008

What do other people who buy vintage jewelry collect? What kinds of designers do people enjoy? How many pieces do they own? Are their interests similar to yours? Here are the most popular answers given by our newsletter subscribers. 


Q. What is your primary reason for buying vintage jewelry?
A. I enjoy collecting it.

Q. What types of costume jewelry do you enjoy buying?

A. Rhinestone, designer signed and "Whatever I like."

Q. 3. Where do you like to buy your jewelry?
A. Antique malls and shops.

Q. Have you bought any vintage costume jewelry in the last year?
A. Yes.

Q. How many pieces do you currently have in your collection?
A. More than 100.

Q. What sources do you use for learning about vintage jewelry?
A. Mostly internet, then books.

Q. How many vintage costume jewelry resource books and guides do you own?
A. 1-5.

Q. Do you have a favorite vintage jewelry designer?
A. No, I like many different designers.

Q. If you had to pick a few, who would be your favorites?

RESULTS (each list of designers is ordered from most to least votes within each category)

Very Popular (Chosen by more than 20 people): Miriam Haskell, Weiss, Trifari

Popular (Chosen by 10-19 people): Coro, Eisenberg, D&E (Juliana)


Moderately Popular (Chosen by 5-9 people): Sherman, Kenneth Jay Lane (KJL), Florenza, Har, Sarah Coventry, Hobe, Kramer, Boucher, Various Mexican Sterling Designers

Less Popular (Chosen by 2-4 people): Mazer / Jomaz, Lisner, Joan Rivers, Joseff of Hollywood, Hollycraft, Demario, David Andersen, JJ, Chanel, Art, Heidi Daus, Matisse, Ciner, Vendome, Schreiner, Nolan Miller, Cini, Pennino, Kirk's Folley, Van Dell, Monet, Whiting & Davis, Panetta, Alice Caviness, WIlliam Kerr

Special Mention (Chosen by 1 person): Bogoff, Hattie Carnegie, Schiaparelli, BSK, Barklay, VRBA, Staret, Sandor, Sweet Romance, Lunch at the Ritz, Piddley Links, Miracle, Sphinx, Butler & Wilson, Selro, Christian Dior, Avon, Jensen, DeRosa, Laguana

So why do all these people like to buy vintage jewelry? What do they do with it? Some answers may surprise you!

The answers in no particular order are:
- to restore
- to wear
- to study
- for re-enactment purposes
- to frame for art display and keepsake
- to re-sell
- for gifting
- to appreciate
- to remind of a loved one
- to brighten up the day
- to capture art and beauty of the past
- to play with

Do you have an interesting collection? Tell us about it!

30 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:25 AM

    Interesting survey, especially liked the selection of favorite designers. I found some of the results surprising.

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  2. Anonymous1:03 PM

    I collect brooches. I find them at my favorite thrift stores. My favorites are an unsigned, probably West German circle of large reverse-mounted, unfoiled dark-topaz crystals in a black japanned closed mount with a simple filigreed edge - and a stunning, intricately formed floral, sterling art nouveau piece by the Parenti Sisters of Europe and Boston.

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  3. Nirmik said... Your Blog Is very good. How much time it's take.

    Thank you for the compliment! It is very appreciated. I'm not sure what you are asking though. How much time did the blog take to make or the individual entries? :-)

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  4. Sguyot said... "Interesting survey..."

    I found some interesting as well. Some of the designers that were chosen by only one person surprised me. I would have thought that Bogoff, Hattie Carnegie, Schiaparelli,VRBA, Staret, Sandor, Sweet Romance, Lunch at the Ritz, Selro, Christian Dior, Jensen and DeRosa would have had more votes.

    I just spent a bit more time around your site. GREAT resource info! I imagine you are on JC and/or JR?

    For anyone else reading this, here is a link: http://www.guyotbrothers.com/jewelry-history/jewelry-hall-of-fame/20th-century-jewelry.htm

    If you ever want to use any images I have for articles, just let me know.

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  5. anonymous said... I collect brooches. "I find ..."

    We don't have a whole lot to choose from here in thrift stores where I live but the flea market usually has something I like. Your West German piece sounds really striking. I really like the intricate features of the West German pieces. I've had a really nice necklace set done in filigree with turquoise stones. I took it to a show and almost everyone commented on it until someone had to have it. I also like this style of West German jewelry:
    http://www.vintagecostumejewelry.com/wepinkne-4.htm

    I haven't seen ant Parenti Sisters pieces for a while so I did a search and came up with some really nice ones.

    The two brooches here are Parenti Sisters: http://www.eldreds.com/pictures/27mar06/17992.jpg

    And look at this moonstone piece! http://www.skinnerinc.com//full//133/626133.jpg

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  6. Hi, just found your vintage jewelry blog and I'm sorry I missed the survey. I have been collecting Sherman jewelry and lots of other beautiful vintage pieces for about 4 or 5 years now and find items online, at flea markets and at yard sales. I'm happy to have found a place where we can share our love of these sometimes overlooked and under appreciated works of art. Thank you. Deb

    PS: I have started a blog of my own about collecting vintage jewelry devoted mostly to my Sherman collection if you would like to check it out or link up

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  7. Anonymous12:19 AM

    Victoria style vintage jewelry is my favorite. Especially brooches set with gemstones

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  8. Anonymous4:56 AM

    hi friend,
    first i like to say...very interesting post. How much time you take for this exciting survay... thanks

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  9. Wow - that's a blast from the past! Another I liked was Monet. Actually still being made, but older pieces are really nice. I love vintage jewelry and old-looking things, flats, tacky earrings and skinny jeans... And I try to steer away from slutty clothes and I typically wouldn't wear goth stuff or a preppy look.

    Handmade Jewelry

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  10. Rare and vintage jewelry and furniture from the estate of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Pickfair, their legendary Beverly Hills mansion, will be auctioned off Nov.22-23. The cool thing is you can bid online at www.auctionnetwork.com/pickfair. Here's some lovely costume jewelry: http://www.auctionnetwork.com/UpcomingItem.asp?EventId=29041&ShowId=282
    You don't actually have to be at the auction. Thought i'd pass along to you fellow Mary Pickford lovers!

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  11. Anonymous4:38 PM

    When I lived in Greenwich Village by NYU, used to hit the vintage shops all the time. Nice stuff here, and good survery.

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  12. Anonymous10:46 PM

    Your Blog is very nice. I have a collection of Parenti sister jewelry. I have collected around 26 pieces. I'm always looking for their jewelry.

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  13. Anonymous7:05 AM

    Hi Jo Ann
    I have a large collection of costume jewellery that I inherited from my mother and grandmother. There are some Sherman, Coro, Dofi, Vendome and one particular brooch/pendant which is marked only "Coventry". This pin is a beautiful hand painted? porcelain oval shape. I have no idea what this collection would be valued at and i am considering selling it. Could you please advise me where I can take this without be thoroughly ripped off. Thanks for your time.
    Darlene

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  14. Hmm different post, thanks to share your knowledge and your though with us, your post really appreciate, I hope your didn’t mixed any thing in your survey.

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  15. Anonymous11:14 AM

    Good information. I appreciate your research since I sell jewelry made from vintage pieces and found objects.
    Mehrasax www.navare.etsy.com

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  16. Hi, Jo-Ann,
    This is indeed a great article. I think I participated in the survey in one of the groups I am a member of (JR?). It is great information for sure.

    I like to collect Modernist Jewelry and some Revival pieces too. It is more of the look than the maker and obviously quality plays an important part. And charms! I love old vintage Sterling charms, Puffy hearts, Victorian charms, movable charms. There are some really fun ones and so detailed too.

    Found you searching Google, it is a great blog! Congrats!

    I have a website so if you would like to trade links, just let me know.

    Happy Holidays!

    Vera Battemarco

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  17. great post! I sell jewelry online. A lot of my pieces are repurposed from beads, cameos, etc., that have been sitting in warehouses for almost 30 years! It is fascinating on what designers can do and make from left overs. Also I love how they reuse. I feel like it is environmentally responsible/consious. Check the site out at www.vanillawaferbrown.com

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  18. Your blog has such a promising start. Just wondering if you are going to be writing more , I am so interested in vintage jewellery.

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  19. does anyone know how to begin looking for antique jewelry from India? Primarily South India?
    THank you. Any help is appreciated.

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  20. The selection of the designers was meticulous I should say. I would love the images though for articles. Good work here.

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  21. Finding vintage jewelry is always fun. You can't never guess where you can find it, but if you find a nice one, that would be a treasure.

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  22. Cool post :)

    I actually do have a vintage collection (for sale), but it's not very old. It's from the 70's and 80's.

    I wonder if vintage is even the name for items from that era.

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  23. I recently found a crystal necklace and a matching photograph of a lady wearing it at an estate sale. Does anyone know anything about this type of necklace. Thanks, Anna

    http://anna-gastronomy101.blogspot.com/2010/05/amazing-estate-sale-find-antique.html

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  24. Nice survey! I also collect and resell vintage jewelry and other accessories. I have made some great necklaces from vintage dress clips and brooches. www.thisbluebird.com

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  25. Seriously? I find a great blog like this and its no longer current? Such a shame.

    www.vintage-cove.com

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  26. Amazing survey! Learned a lot from the survey. Vintage jewellery is the wonderful ornament for unofficial to official outfit, also is a magnificent method to state your individuality. Vintage jewellery is definitely my style statement.

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  27. The survey is very interesting and useful. I saw this article this morning and it touched me. Such simple things we can do to cultivate grace in our lives. If only we could always remember.

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  28. I just wanted to comment your blog and say that I really enjoyed reading your blog post here.
    It was very informative!!!!
    Keep it up and I’ll be back to read more soon mate.

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  29. Opposing views are a great way to write such an interesting informative article. Your word choices and dictation have made this such an enjoyable article to read, producing quite a thought process along the way.

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  30. Thanks for posting this. i am also finding online antique jewelry buyer and i want to sell a lot and i hope you could visit my site.

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