Vintage Jewelry
02.21.06 By Lorraine Newberry
I think my love affair with vintage jewelry started with this great necklace I discovered in my grandmother’s jewelry box when I was a teenager. It was a double of strand of beads in shades of green, probably from the sixties. She spotted me admiring it and said, “Do you like that? Take it, I haven’t worn it in years.” I wore that necklace constantly in high school and still pull it out today from time to time.
A little later I spotted a necklace of wooden beads from the seventies in my mother’s jewelry box and asked if I could have it (yeah, I was a jewelry mooch). She giggled and said, “Well, actually that was your FATHER’S but sure, you can have it.” That’s another one I still wear today.
I’m not terribly concerned with the value of my vintage jewelry collection – when I purchase a piece I intend to wear it, not store it away. I wear a lot of black – I like the way it hides the grubby little fingerprints from my two young children - and I find the vintage jewelry adds a little color and makes a unique focal point for my outfit.
There are so many places to find great vintage jewelry. Antique shops often carry a good selection of vintage jewelry, and I’ve gotten lucky at estate sales and garage sales before. Online auction websites offer beautiful choices as well.
It’s not a bad idea to ask older relatives if they have anything they want to get rid of. Many times they’ve long abandoned the beautiful vintage pieces in their jewelry boxes in favor of modern styles and are more than happy to give them away to someone who will appreciate them. I love to wear a sparkly necklace and imagine it being worn by my grandmother, young and lively, fifty years ago. These are my favorite pieces because they hold a special meaning for me.
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Article Tags: jewelry, necklace, vintage================
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