I feel it has been too long since I have written, the summer is flying by.

Well, I finally received my verification on the milk glass brooch and earring set…and it is confirmed a Juliana/Delizza & Elster set.  I was very excited to hear the news!  You can see the confirmation in album #33- images 78-79.

It really is a beautiful vintage demi-parure.  I have posted the set for sale under “jewelry sets” for a great price of $64!

As I mentioned before, when I look for jewelry I try to find the most interesting pieces even though they may not be signed.  Some of the most beautiful vintage jewelry was not stamped with the makers mark.  They only had temporary store tags, which most are long gone now.  If you want to figure out the name brand, you  need to do some research.  Most makers have common attributes to help you figure this out.

I have picked up on some of the makers attributes, but since I am new at this most are found by chance.  I was recently surprised by a brooch and earring set I purchased.

When I looked on the internet, I found a couple of stores that were selling the same brooch under the Juliana name.  This is a highly collectible brand, but all are unmarked.  I wanted to confirm if this set really was Juliana.  As luck would have it, there is a site that is totally dedicated to the Juliana brand.

http://www.julianajewelry.net/

On the site they verify the  jewelry through Frank DeLizza, one of the owners of DeLizza & Ester jewelry (producers of the Juliana brand).  In addition, they provide you with images of known Juliana pieces and the common characteristics of the pieces.  It is really fun to look around the site; they provide tons of information.

I have just submitted the photos for verification.  I will let you know if it is Juliana.

I have really enjoyed learning about the jewelry I have purchased and collected.  When I go to an estate sale I tend to have an idea of the ‘designer’ names and the quality I want, but for the most part I pick up pieces that catch my eye.  While at the sale I talk with the estate sellers and pick up as much first hand information I can get. Then the excitement continues as I get home and do the research.  I have used multiple resources to look up the information on the jewelry purchased.  The most common resource is the internet.  There are multiple collectors and dealers that have posted information.  You really need to delve into the information and look at multiple sources to make sure what you are reading is correct.  One of the websites that I have found incredibly helpful is www.morninggloryjewelry.com. On the right side of the page they post “Jewelry Articles” with jewelry information and great images of both the front and back of the jewelry.  The other main resource I use are books.  One of my favorite books is Collecting Costume Jewelry 101 by Julia Carroll.  I really like that the book is organized by designer name and that she has great summaries and photos of the jewelry companies.  The only downside to the book is that the photographs are mostly of the front of the jewelry, not the backside.  Finally, my most recent resource has been an antique class.  The teacher is a certified appraiser.  He would teach about an antique/vintage era or subject for the first hour and then allow you to bring in one to two items to get appraised for the second hour.  This was very helpful when I couldn’t quite get the hands-on information from the internet or books.  I would also learn from the other students in the class and the antique or vintage items they would bring in.  All of these resources have been of help to me and I feel my brain expanding.  If you have any jewelry questions, please feel free to ask and I will help as best I can.

I have loved jewelry since I was young.

At the age of thirteen, I started working in a consignment resale shop.  One of my main duties was to organize and display the jewelry cases.  For seven years I admired and purchased a lot of vintage jewelry.  I didn’t really pay attention to the designer names, but noticed the quality and workmanship.  Even today, some of the pieces I purchased back then are still great pieces.  Good jewelry never really goes out of style.

When I decided to follow the path to selling vintage jewelry, it came quite naturally, except that it is a little hard to part with it.  What I enjoy is what collectors and jewelry lovers also see and appreciate the jewelry too.

I am learning new things every day and I am excited to share my love for jewelry with you.