AJ Raefields Blog

Repeat Customer 25% Money Back on ONE order in each of our stores 

We specialize in vintage jewelry, vintage plastic jewelry, new costume jewelry, inexpensive fashion jewelry, and mens jewelry. 

 NOTE - Our Vintage Watch Crystal store not only sells vintage watch crystals, but is an authorized Speidel watch band dealer and specializes in new and vintage replacement watch bands. 

WHY 25% MONEY BACK?
This recession buster offer will work best with eBay’s current offerings. We are already offering FREE 1st Class USA & Canada Shipping and 1st Class International shipment on ANY order at $3.49. eBay’s system does not allow for store coupon codes, so we have taken it upon ourselves to come up with an offer to give you an additional incentive to shop. As a REPEAT BUYER you are entitled to 1 order (per store, so if you want to place one order in each store, you can use the offer 6 times!) on which we will give you 25% of the money back when we process and ship the order. 

How does it work?
Simple just put the words “25% Money Back” in the payment note of your order when you make payment via, eBay checkout, pay pal google checkout, or our store checkout. As soon as we process the order (which is next business day M-Fr after cleared payment is received 99% of the time) we will issue a refund of 25% of your order (before any shipping). VIOLA Money back!!!

www.247jewelryshop.com 

www.bffjewelryshop.com 

www.raefielddesigns.com 

www.bakelitejohnnys.com 

www.ajraefields.com 

www.vintagewatchcrystal.com 

I found this piece of vintage costume jewelry on my weekend exploits. I am not familar with its marking. Has anyone ever heard of “1890 Art Metal”?  I assume this copper brooch is a reproduction of an earlier stamping. Any one familiar with the company and able to date the piece? I am sure it’s not an original 1890’s item because of the findings on the piece, but I am also not convinced it is entirely contemporary. My GUESS would be it is 1970s and fits in with Tut’s visit to the states and the prolific use of Art Nouveau type stampings in some jewels of the late 1970s.

Thoughts and comments always appreciated

(Click to open larger version in seperate window)

Kim’s Craftsmen has been making costume jewelry since the 1950s. They are most famous for their Copper work. Their designers did some wonderful work with stampings and glass cabochons, making quite a selection of items for collectors to concentrate on. Kim did series of rings in different colors with different stampings. The family has had quite a bit of leftover stock from the 1960s, but the rings are dwindling. The last time I visited I collected up a large box of them (being worried this may be my last chance). I took some quick photos here of my latest haul. JC & JR Collectors please take a sneak peak and let me know if you are interested in any before we start the long process of photoing each for individual sale. I have numbered the photos and items really quick, just to make it easy. Please email us, info@ajraefields.com with item numbers if you have interest. The rings in the 1st shot we will auction individually, but the rest are available now. The ones which are X’d out are already promised. 18 Photos in all.. Don’t miss them. Double click on the photo to open a larger version in a seperate window. Vintage Costume Jewelry

As seen in the Spring 2009 fashion issue of Vogue, snake jewelry is an easy way to make a statement! From lucite to metal, any variation of this trend will be a great addition to your fashion jewelry collection!

Here are some of the ballerina pieces I have now or have had in the past.

Unusual Shriner Ballerina Pin. Look at her closely, she is not very pretty. Very large nose.

Napier Sterling Ballerina Earrings and Necklace Set

Whimsical BIG Ballerina Brooch (Now on eBay)

I imagine this is a hard one to find. She is PLASTIC. I am sure most of these were tossed (She is currently on eBay)

Plastic Ballerina Pin

1950-70s Ballerina Scarf Clip

Chunky Big Coro Ballerina Charm

Awesome HUGE 6″ Ballerina Necklace 1960s

1940-50s Mother of Pearl Inlay Ballerina Pin

Enamel Ballerina Pins

1930-40s Pot Metal Ballerina Pin

Velvet Ballerina (You see these in this area in Maroon also)

She looks not quite right

Marcasite Ballerina Earrings

Be sure and visit all our stores for vintage costume jewelry

www.247jewelryshop.com www.bffjewelryshop.com 

www.raefielddesigns.com www.bakelitejohnnys.com 

www.ajraefields.com  www.vintagewatchcrystal.com 

I have been saving up my Florenza likes all winter! Here they are.. Maybe well off the mark.. Attribution is not one of my strongest talents! Here goes..

 Candiate Number one.. The setting has a Florenza Look to me.. BUT The stones.. I am not so sure about.. I may be reaching.. Click for larger images

Candidate #2 - Royal Crest Heart Club! These need some TLC, the one is the center actaully has a very creatively added abalone heart replacement, very obviously not original. There have also been alot of other weird replacements in this set.. I am thinking the screw backs might not be right for Florenza..

Vintage Costume Jewelry

We have come to the conclusion that the Pave bird brooch in our previous post is a Period Copy of the Boucher piece.. Boucher would be unlikely to use a poor plating which would craze like that AND Boucher would be unlikely to use an inexpensive Pave setting for a piece like that. Thanks to everyone for their opinions! So.. PERIOD COPY.. A nice one!

Is there a proper term for this unusual type clamp pin? Anyone seen one before?

Click for larger image

Pin mechanism:

Vintage Sterling Silver Jewelry

Boucher Experts.. Opinions PLEASE..

Did Boucher make the Gryphon in an unsigned plain rhinestone version, or did they all have enamel detailing? What do you think. There is a faint place on back of head where PERHAPS.. The item was stamped BEFORE it was plated.. I really could not get a photo of it. I think for all intents and purposes this piece is unmarked. Would you describe the plating as being “crazed” on the back. It is the best word I can think of for it. It does look crazed, but seems intact and not likely to incur further damage in the near future.

Is it a Boucher? Or is it a period copy?

Lastly.. Gryphon OR Griffin?

You can double click to see larger images. It is just gorgeous! If anyone wants to see close ups of any other areas of the peice, let me know, I can do them..

We will auction it under the Raefielddesigns id sometime soon..

www.raefieldjewelrydesigns.com

WOW! What a find! What does everyone think of this BEAUTY? IN such steller condition! A few nicks, but all the plating is there and the enameling is GORGEOUS! I (with my limited knowledge) assume it is 1940s pot metal piece. OF COURSE it looks Coro to me, but maybe I am just no so educated in this area.. What does everyone think? I cannot find any marks, but the construction is certainly unique.. I tired to get as many angles as I could (double click will get you larger version).. Let me know if you want to see more detail on it.. I tried top get every angle I could think of. A assume this is an Pansy design…