Jewelry Trend for 2015 and Beyond: The Brooch

Everybody's talking about it...the BROOCH! It's the "it" accessory for fall 2015 and I'm positive it will carry over much farther into 2016 and beyond.

Check out these recent runway looks:

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From left to right: Fausto Puglisi, Edun, Balenciaga, Prada and Luisa Beccaria. Photos: Imaxtree

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Dolce & Gabbana F/W15

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Now, if this trend conjures up images for you of cute little circular conservative pops of sparkle, typically worn high on the shoulder, let me be the one to tell you, a brooch can be so much more! Once you spend some time really studying all the different aesthetic styles of this versatile piece of adornment and how it can be used in so many different ways, you may just be hooked for life! 

Take some of the pieces from our collection for example. Like this piece by Mazer with big glass "fruit salad" stones, clear faceted crystals, and some swirling metal elements that give it a highly feminine look. The glass stones allow the color of your garment to show through. Can we suggest pairing it with a tailored blazer, mildly distressed jeans and a pair of pumps?

Say, with something like this: 

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Here's another example that would work great with this look. This is another vintage designer piece, this time by the well known company Boucher. Such nice depth in this piece and a great combination of fantastic design and a bit of sparkle. Not too girly but highly attractive!

Or, you could also go with something like this for yet a slightly different look with a bit of sentimentality. This piece is a traditional Norwegian silver Solje brooch. Typically given as wedding gifts, the gold colored metal "spoons" are thought to reflect evil away from the wearer. Some sources say they are possibly also a reflection of how many children a couple will have.

If you like dangles, here is a statement piece with a girandole like structure.

This piece is just amazing. Take a look at the side view. The emerald glass stones are raised off the heavy brass backing with large metal prongs.

Or how about something exceptionally interesting like this vintage frog brooch with little starfish for feet and peackock eye art glass eyes? Cute, isn't he? 

And here's a fun piece! This flower is in the Brutalist style. Likely a Canadian made piece, it is a rare example of jewelry made in this style that actually resembles a form. In this case, a flower. 

Want to add some femininity without going overboard? Here's a glass flower pin that is both a brooch and a pendant! And it's made by Trifari. A company known for quality and design. 

So pretty with your summer pastels!

Or maybe you prefer something a little more quaint like this sweet petit point pin.

If size and detail are important to you, you might consider something like this bold but feminine brass floral brooch with a twisted metal border. 

Here's how I chose to wear this one for a day out shopping on the Ave. 

If sparkle is your thing, you could choose to wear something like this 60's piece that resembles a leaf.

Or perhaps something outstanding like this unsigned 1960's glam designer piece from the Juliana line by DeLizza and Elster?

Of course you could always channel your inner mid-century modern style with something like this groovy wood and silver cat pin. 

And one more...just for fun! A great 1940's vintage piece by Coro. A magnificently designed piece with charm and sophistication. Just think of the personality it would add to that blazer and jean combo! Perfection!

The brooch. So many different shapes, styles, and finishes! And vintage is the way to go if quality and design are important to you. Whether designer signed or not, you're sure to find something that speaks to you. 

Which style do you like? Do you currently wear brooches? If not, do you think you might in the future given their current popularity? Tell us in the comments below!

Our next blog post will cover different ways to wear the brooch. Subscribe to this blog or join our newsletter for updates!

UPDATE: See our newest post on Totally Modern ways to Wear a Brooch.

Vintage Sherman Jewelry Gallery: Identification via Example

Vintage Sherman Jewelry Information and Gallery: Identification via Example

2023 UPDATE! Click here to see our updated Sherman Jewelry Gallery!

**2023 UPDATE: Click here for our newest article on Sherman Jewelry History!**

So, you think you have a Sherman piece and you want information to confirm or deny that. Or perhaps you're a collector and you know the jewelry well and you just want some eye candy. Or maybe you're just interested in what makes Sherman jewelry so special anyway? (scroll down for pictures)

This post hopes to give you either the answers to your questions, the eye candy you desire, or the information you're looking for. It's a big one so sit back and enjoy this gallery of past pieces from Vintage Jewelry Girl and my analysis of what makes Sherman jewelry what it is.

First, I am not a Sherman expert. However, I have been selling vintage jewelry in Canada since 1998 and consider my "Sherman eye" fairly refined. Your comments are welcome and encouraged!

Sherman Jewelry

Sherman was a Canadian (Montreal) company that produced costume jewelry of exceptional quality most commonly in Austrian crystal, either of the rhinestone or bead variety. According to Illusion Jewels, it was in existence from 1947-1981 and bore at least 3 signatures. SHERMAN in all caps, Sherman in script, and Sherman with STERLING in all caps underneath it. The company logo, “made to last a lifetime,” was evident in the heavily gold-plated, rhodium-plated, and japanned settings with the highest quality crystals which were sometimes ordered according to Gustave Sherman's exacting specifications. Because of this, pieces are recognizable by the brilliance of the stones as well as the components commonly used in the jewelry. Sherman pieces were expensive in their day and remain so through the collectible market. Sherman jewelry ceased to exist in 1981 and Gustave Sherman passed away in 1984. Please see Collector's Weekly for more information.

The following is a gallery of vintage Sherman jewelry I have had throughout the years. I hope you enjoy the show of the beauty that is Sherman! Click each image to make it bigger. It's worth it!

Sherman Gallery

People collect jewelry for many different reasons. Here is one of mine. This is my Grandma's jewelry box complete with vintage Sherman brooch and earring set and necklace. This started my love for shiny things and the connection to my grandma started my love for vintage items which are connected to people and times gone by.

This set is in a highly collectible color called Siam red which brings some of the highest prices in Sherman jewelry. It's actually a darker and deeper red than the image shows.

This piece is a prime example showing the thin navette stones which Sherman so often used and cluster element at the top, also seen repeatedly in Sherman designs.

Here, you can see the back of the cluster which shows that the stones are open-set. This type of backing is also seen on pieces by Schreiner. 

This next piece is a flower design which is common to Sherman jewelry. This piece, however, has some unusual grey striped stones which I haven't ever seen in any jewelry before ever!

The next two photos show a light pink Sherman brooch and earring set along with the signature on the brooch. This would be considered a less desirable piece because of the less interesting design, however the crystals are still of the utmost quality.

 Next is a Sherman necklace in yellow. Even simple designs like this can cost upwards of $100 due to quality of materials and collectability of the brand name.

You can see by the image of the back, the heavy gold plating and the components used, including extender chain which makes the necklace adjustable. 

This piece, which has unusually brilliant crystals compared to other jewelry of this style, would be another lower valued item, however, still coveted due to its brilliance and quality. The center stone only looks dark due to my lack of photography skills.

The same comments about the last item can be made about these super sparkly clear crystal Sherman earrings.

Sherman yellow screwback earrings with "keystone" crystals.

An example of higher end Sherman earrings. Brilliant, big, and gorgeous!

Here you can see the heavy rhodium plating on the earrings.

Sherman brilliant topaz brooch with aurora borealis stones and little floret earrings. Little florets are common to Sherman jewelry designs. 

Sherman clear crystal necklace in super brilliant aurora borealis crystals.

Back of the necklace. Notice the elements on the end. These "rhinestones interspersed with loop elements" in addition to the "J" hook clasp are common to Sherman designs and serves to make the piece adjustable.

Here, you can see the same elements in another Sherman necklace.

The SHERMAN in all caps signature, on the earrings shown above, can be seen here.

And this is the script signature on the necklace with a close-up of the adjustable chain element.

Sherman brilliant clear bracelet with fold-over clasp and safety chain.

The crystals are amazing!

An example of a wider Sherman clear crystal bracelet utilizing many thin navette stones.

Beaded Sherman Jewelry

Beaded jewelry is something Sherman commonly made. Here is an exquisite example of a multi-strand bracelet with faux pearls and red crystals.

Signature on the bracelet.

This is what I believe was the matching necklace, although unsigned.

I had these earrings along with the bracelet. I'm not completely certain they were a match but they looked incredible together.

Signature on the back of the earrings.

Unsigned Sherman Jewelry

Which brings us to the discussion of the unsigned. There is plenty of reliable evidence that points to the existence of unsigned Sherman jewelry. If the piece didn't have a place for the signature to be added, one might be added by paper tag, making the worn vintage piece appear unsigned. Here are some examples to illustrate that point.

The academic consensus (as well as my own) holds that many Sherman pieces were unsigned, including smaller crystal necklaces like the one shown below. Elements that lead me to make the attribution to this as a Sherman piece are: 1. Brilliance of stones that are unmistakable to a trained eye in person, 2. Use of the same adjustable rhinestone and loop element seen in many pieces above, 3. Heavy rhodium plating and exquisite quality as shown in all three photos.

Another example is this brilliant green crystal set which bore a signature on the earrings only. Beaded necklaces are commonly unsigned because they only had a paper hang tag which was later removed.

I find this piece unusual because of the diamond-shaped element at the closure.

Here is another example of the same type of thing. The silver coated crystal earrings are signed but the necklace is not.

This next image shows the "J" hook clasp with a single crystal navette element decorating it which is common to Sherman jewelry. Also notice the three navette crystal element which connects the three strands.

Here is another unsigned piece that I believe is Sherman. First, the crystals are unlike any I have seen on other unsigned beaded necklaces (see other photos). Second. The piece is adjustable and has the crystal navette decorative element on the clasp. What do you think?

Also, these earrings appear to be unsigned Sherman. The crystals are incredibly brilliant, there is the use of thin navette stones, and the tall slender sprigs are signature of Sherman jewelry. Opinions?

Here is an old blog post with some other pieces I've had a long with a bit of additional information and some explanation regarding color. 

This ends today's lesson. 

I hope it was helpful and inspires some conversation on the topic!