VINTAGE JEWELLERY RESEARCH

Once you start collecting vintage jewellery, you start to come across certain manufacturer's names again and again.

My particular area of interest is Mens Vintage Jewellery & Accessories. These are the names I come across often:

• Swank
• Krementz
• Hickok
• Baer & Wilde
• Anson
• Dolan & Bullock

There are many more, but these are the main ones I come across regularly.

Vintage Jewellery Manufacturers

Finding out more about the jewellery manufacturers from the past can be a daunting task. Some are still producing jewellery today, so they might have websites with a page about company history.

Other manufacturers may have gone out of business long ago, so it is difficult to find out more information. For instance, in the past, wars have destroyed manufacturing houses and the companies were unable to rebuild their business from scratch. Sadly, sometimes bankruptcy forces a manufacturer to close its doors.

Why Research Your Vintage Jewellery?

Curiosity remains the biggest driver in vintage jewellery research.

Knowing a little information about where your vintage piece has come from helps to fill a void. Was your item of vintage jewellery from Europe? Or America? Or somewhere else?

Sometimes knowing about the manufacturer can help to date a piece. Knowing when a manufacturer commenced making jewellery, or when they commenced a particular product line, can be very helpful.

Where To Find Out More Information

There are books about vintage jewellery manufacturers. These can be very informative and helpful.

There is always the "old chestnut" Google. A wealth of information can always be located with a Google Search.

But if you want to have some of the hard work done for you, start with the Vintage Cove Jewellery Research Centre.

As I have been researching my own vintage jewellery items, I have been collating the information into this valuable resource tool. You are welcome to benefit from my hours of research, in the hope that we don't all have to reinvent the wheel every time.

So check out the Vintage Cove Jewellery Research Centre and enjoy!

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Related posts: Gold Markings

 
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LEARN CRAFTS ONLINE

Have you ever wanted to learn a craft? A hobby? A past-time? Something to help fill your creative void?

I was searching recently for just that, and came across something great and want to share it. I was looking for something about crafts that I could learn online. But I didn't really know what I was looking for.

My find is Astarte's Mega-Zine.

Astarte is an online magazine for lovers of art and craft, covering topics such as:

• mixed media
• papercraft
• textiles
• polymer clay
• jewelry making
• and much more

The articles in the magazine are written by Arts Industry Experts. These are easy-to-read articles that are sure to leave you inspired. This is a magazine of quality and excellence, filled with great content.

Astarte's Mega-Zine is an online magazine that you download and save to your hard disk. You can read it on the screen or print it out to read at your leisure.

The magazine is great value at only $9.95(US) per issue. You can pay by PayPal, and you get the issue immediately.

Issues are available by individual issue (pick and choose) or by annual subscription.

So if you want to learn crafts online, check out the Astarte's MegaZine page and see what you think.
 
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GOLD MARKINGS

A reader recently asked about the marking "1/20 12K G.F." on a piece of jewellery. It occurred to me that others may be interested in the answer.

What does 12K mean?

Solid, pure gold is 24 Karat. Any rating less than 24K means there is another type of metal mixed into it. Pure gold is a very soft metal. Mixing with other metals helps to strengthen it. Just remember, when talking about gold purity, 24K is the pure form of gold.

The lower the number of karats, the stronger it will be. So 10K gold is stronger than 14K gold, and 14K gold is stronger than 18K gold.

For example:

• 24K has no additional metals, making it 100% pure gold.
• 18K is 18 parts gold, and 6 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 75% gold.
• 12K is 12 parts gold, and 12 parts of one or more additional metals, making it 50% gold.

The mixing of other metals with the gold is how gold variations came into existance, such as rose gold and white gold.

10 Karat is the minimum number of karats that can be marketed as Gold in the US. If you come across an item that is 8 karat, it will most like be of European origin. This may, in fact, help you to date a piece if you know when your ancestors migrated from Europe.

What does G.F. mean?

G.F. refers to the term Gold Filled. An item that is labelled gold-filled means that it has a layer of gold over the top of another non-precious base metal.

Gold-filled has been a long-accepted practice of producing quality jewellery that is much more hard-wearing, and cheaper, than equivalent articles of fine jewellery. The outer layer is gold, so it has the appearance of fine jewellery, but it has the additional strength of the base metal.

What does 1/20 12K G.F. mean?

A marking that says 1/20 12K G.F. means that the gold layer is 12K gold, and that the gold makes up at least 1/20th of the item's weight. Gold-filled is typically a thicker layer of gold than in gold-plated jewellery, meaning it will last better than gold-plated jewellery.

Assuming the same number of karats and the same mix of alloy metals, gold-filled jewellery has the same appearance as non-filled jewellery because the outer layer is exactly the same.

Gold Jewellery Online

When shopping for gold jewellery online, always look for a photograph of the gold markings. Sometimes they are hard to photograph. Sellers should always try to show a photograph of the gold markings as a form of proof to potential buyers.

Gold markings can be a little confusing at first, but once you start to learn a little about them they become less of a mystery.
 
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MODEL TRAIN HELP

I like to share sites as I come across them. Model Train Help is an instantly downloadable e-book worth $79.95(US), but currently on sale at $39.97(US), and includes free bonuses.

Model Train Help includes hundreds of model railroad tips, model railroading secrets, and clever tips to save you time, money and frustration with your model train layout.

If you are into model trains, this would be a valuable resource whether you are a beginner or already started. Grab your copy of Model Train Help today while it is still on sale at $39.97(US), including free bonuses!

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HOW TO BUY ON EBAY - PART 3 : MORE ABOUT SELLERS

This is the third part in this series. If you haven't already done so, take a look at :
- How To Buy On eBay: Part 1 - Do Your Research
- How To Buy On eBay: Part 2 - Check The Seller

In this post, we will look at some different aspects of the seller. Here are some additional things to look out for.

• Seller's About Me Page
  Another thing you can check is the seller's About Me page or other Custom pages. Obviously, they are going to say good things about themselves, but keep an eye out for what they're not saying. Do they offer customer service? Do they have a return policy? Do they appear to be interested in what they're selling? Or is it just a job?
   
• The Listing Description
  Every seller has their own style. Some say here's an item, the end. And leave it up to you to work out more about it. Others put in some effort to tell you all about the item. I prefer a seller who tells me all about the item, including any flaws, so I know exactly what I am buying.
   
• Photographs
  Most sellers are not professional photographers. But if they have taken a blurry photo and can't be bothered trying again, then I can't be bothered considering buying it. Look for clear photos, and multiple photos. And beware the seller who uses eBay stock photos. These are photos sellers can use instead of taking their own. I don't know about you, but I want to see the actual item I am buying.
   
• The Vibe
  Avoid sellers who spend more time and effort on the rules and regulations that they impose on the buyer, than telling you about the item itself.

A final word - Just trust your gut feeling about a Seller. If you are really not sure, then don't buy. There are plenty of other Sellers.

There are a lot of good sellers on eBay. Most are buyers themselves, and so they treat their buyers how they would like to be treated. The majority of eBay sellers just want a smooth transaction and a happy customer.

Hopefully these tips will help ease any fears you might have about buying online. Armed with some information, you should be in a position to make an informed purchase.

Now that you have all this information, what's stopping you? There are a lot of good sellers on eBay. And there are a lot of good bargains. Enjoy your shopping experience.

Do you have an eBay experience you'd like to share? Good or bad? Leave a COMMENT to this post.

Recommended reading:
Paypal Made Simple
Scams and Scoundrels: Protect yourself from the darkside of eBay and PayPal
PayPal For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)

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HOW TO BUY ON EBAY - PART 2 : CHECK THE SELLER

Welcome to Part Two in this series.

If you haven't already done so, take a look at How To Buy On Ebay: Part 1 - Do Your Research

So you have decided to shop on eBay. In this post, we will look at the seller, rather than the item itself.

You will have already decided on an item to buy, and to buy that item on eBay. But what else do you need to look for?

• Check the Seller's Feedback Number
  On the item page, the seller's details appear on the right. The seller's feedback number is the figure in brackets next to their name. This number represents the total number of positive feedbacks the seller has ever received for that ID, minus the number of any negative feedbacks. Neutral feedback does not increase or decrease this figure.
   
• More on the Seller's Feedback Number
  If the seller's number is very high (in the tens of thousands), this could mean that they have been around for a very long time, or it means they sell a massive amount of items. One thing to look out for here is that a seller who sells many items per day. They might not have much time left over for customer service if you encounter a problem.
   
• Seller's Feedback Percentage
  Below the seller ID is a "% Positive Feedback". You are looking for 100% here. This represents the number of positive feedbacks divided by the total number of feedbacks, for the past twelve months. 100% means that everyone who left feedback was happy with their transaction. 99.x% is also okay - because sometimes things go wrong. And sometimes you get buyers who feel they have to say something bad no matter what. I would only look at a buyer who has less than 99%, if I really want that item at that price. And then I would try to justify that their feedback rating is okay.
   
• Recent Feedback Ratings
  These numbers show you for the past month, 6 months and 12 months, how the seller is doing. From this you can tell if the seller has time to treat you with care. For example, if their 1 month figure is 100 then they are selling on average 3 items per day, and your purchase should receive the care it deserves. Use your own judgement on what is a reasonable level.
   
• Feedback Comments
  Have a read of the comments people have left for this eBayer. Check that you are looking at the "Feedback as a Seller" tab. Reading what others have had to say is your best recommendation.
   
• Negative Feedback
  Most people stick to the "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" rule that Grandma taught us. So when someone leaves negative feedback, I take it seriously. Back at the top in the Recent Feedback Ratings box, if there is a number on the negative line, click on it. The comments listed lower on the page will change to be only the negative comments. Take it with a grain of salt. Some people think it is their duty to leave negatives all the time. Click on that buyer's feedback number and you are taken to their feedback page. Click on the "Feedback Left For Others" tab. Do they leave a lot of negatives? If they are a Serial Neg-er, I don't pay too much attention to their comment on the Seller I was looking at. Most sellers are horrified to receive a negative feedback and, even if they had done nothing wrong, they tend to go all out to make up for it in future sales.
   
• Detailed Seller Ratings
  Unless your seller has a very low number in the brackets, make sure they have more than four stars in each category. Sellers are ranked by buyers after the transaction is complete. If a seller has a very low number of sales, any low ranking will be amplified. But a seller with many sales should have at least four stars in every category. If a particular category is ranked low, is that category important to you?

My next post in this series will give you some more tips on what to look for in a seller.

See also:
How To Buy On EBAY Pt.3 - More About Sellers

Do you have an eBay experience you'd like to share? Good or bad? Leave a COMMENT to this post.

Some interesting reading on this topic -
How to buy on ebay
Buy and Shopping Sately On-line
How To Buy Intelligently on eBay

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HOW TO BUY ON EBAY - PART 1 : DO YOUR RESEARCH

Ebay is full of vultures waiting to take your money. A friend paid $10,000 on eBay and got nothing in return. We've all heard the stories.

I use eBay a lot, and I love it. But I often come across people who rarely or never use eBay, and they always have a horror story of a friend of a friend who got stung. When you ask for more details, they don't have any because they don't actually know who got stung, or what they bought, or what was done about it. All they know is they won't go near it because it's bad.

I think its a shame that people fear the unknown so much, especially when this unknown could save them so much money.

Buying on eBay doesn't have to be a bad experience.

And looking good doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Remember the days when everything you bought was from an actual shop, with an actual sales assistant, and an actual price tag that covered the shop's rent, overheads, wages, and other on-costs. Luckily there are other options today. Don't get me wrong, you can still hit the shops. And there is a certain buzz you get from retail therapy. But it is no longer the only option available to you.

On auction sites, such as eBay, you can buy practically anything for a fraction of the cost in retail stores.

But how do you go about getting a good deal?

• Know Your Retail Market
  Check the real-live retail stores for the item you're interested in. Many stores have online catalogues, so you don't have to trek around a number of stores. Make note of the price. I usually write down the highest and lowest prices that I came across.
   
• Know Your eBay Market
  Perform an eBay search on your item and see what comes up. You might be surprised to see how many search results came up. Once you have checked the items for sale, have a look at the sold items. Select "completed listings" (you will need to be signed-in to eBay for this) to see if items actually sell at those prices. Anything that sold will have the price listed in green. If it didn't sell, it will be listed in red. Often you will get a completely different picture of prices when you look at the sold items. Again, make a note of the highest and lowest prices.
   
• Compare and Decide
  Look at your store prices and your eBay prices. Weigh up your options. Is face-to-face shopping important to you? Are you prepared to wait for the item to arrive in the mail? Decide whether you are going to shop online, or go out for the afternoon.

If you decided to go out, see you when you get back!

If you decided to shop on eBay, my next post in this series will give you some tips on what to look for in a seller.

See also:
How To Buy On EBAY Pt.2 - Check The Seller
How To Buy On EBAY Pt.3 - More About Sellers

Do you have an eBay experience you'd like to share? Good or bad? Leave a COMMENT to this post.

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A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION FOR WINTER

As winter fast approaches (in Australia), I thought it was time for some magazines to read by the fireplace. The mornings are getting colder. The evenings are getting dark so much earlier.

I love to spend my early morning Sundays, my "me" time, sitting beside the fireplace with a hot cuppa and good magazine. The quiet and serenity when I'm the only one awake. The gentle crackle and hum of the small morning flames licking their way around a piece of wood.

I've just had a look through Amazon and chosen Smart Money and Old House Journal.

With Smart Money I should be able to put my new-found financial expertise to good use and have a squillion dollars to spend on any (or every) Old House manor that takes my fancy.

A good plan? Oh, we can all dream. And at the very least, its a fun escape from reality.

Oh damn! I just noticed the two magazines I have chosen can only be delivered to US addresses. We outsiders aren't worthy of financial knowledge or houses we can't afford? I'll take another look to see what I can get. Okay so now I've settled on a book on Antiques.

If you're in the US and want a magazine subscription, check out these subscriptions.

Or if you're from anywhere, check out the Books on Antiques

What are you reading at the moment? I'm always looking for a recommendation from someone who has read or reading something. And it means so much more knowing that it comes from someone with similar interests to me. Tell me what you have found.

If you'd like to share a favourite book or magazine with others, please add a comment.

Click here to leave a comment. And thank you for taking the time.

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GENEALOGY TO GO - SEARCH YOUR FAMILY TREE

           

Click on the pictures for more information.

"Family Tree Maker 2010 Essentials" is a software package to help you create your family tree. Discover your story, preserve your legacy. Step-by-step instructions and tips that will help you easily build and grow your family tree. Family Tree Maker 2010 is the #1 selling family history software.

The other three are Paperback Books:
- The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: A complete resource to using the Web to trace your family history
- The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall
- Genealogy Online For Dummies

Genealogy is a passion and joy, discovering people from your past, finding out more about them, how they lived, where they lived. It is one of those things that pulls you in and you're hooked.

If you already have a passion for vintage jewellery and collectables, try genealogy too!

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BOOKS ABOUT COLLECTING

affiliate links ($US) - click on picture for more information

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VINTAGE JAPANESE DAMASCENE

Damascene, or Japanese Damascene, is a centuries-old art first brought to Japan about 2,000 years ago, reputedly form Damascus. Usually with steel as the base metal, items are produced through a lengthy process. A design is drawn and then transferred onto the metal surface with a fine chisel.
The outlines are cut and undercut before gold or silver threads are hammered into the tiny grooves. The item is then corroded with acid, cleaned with soda water, washed in salt water and baked over a fire. This process is repeated eight or nine times a day for at least five days.
Washed and baked until all the rust in the steel has been conducted out. The clean surface is then dipped into thick red-clay mud and baked again. This is repeated from 50 to 100 times. Then the surface is coated with powdered charcoal and oil, baked, and repeated from 10 to 20 times. Once cleaned of black powder, it is rubbed to a polish. The last step is to add any necessary carvings, monograms or handwritten names of the purchasers, if desired.
To retain the original polish, the article should be rubbed once a month with a soft cloth dipped in olive oil.
Here are some examples of stunning damascene pieces -

If you are lucky enough to own some damascene, take another look at it and marvel at the amount of work that has gone into it. Keep it clean and polished - a respectful status it deserves. And wear it with pride.
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Happy New Year!

It just occurred to me... As we head toward 2010, our vintage jewellery collections are about to get another decade older - and more precious.

Wipe the dust off your precious pieces and show them off.

 

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