24 Gifts of Christmas: Vintage Jewelry

Vintage jewelry is always a hit ... and at Vintages we have a fantastic selection of both vintage costume jewelry and fine estate jewelry. Brooches are back. Necklaces and bracelets are chic. Rings are always in style. We have period pieces from as long ago as the Georgian era, modern designs in silver and gold, and glitz from the fifties. We also have a nice selection of jewelry for men. See our entire online collection or cruise into the shop for even more to choose from. 

REMEMBER: For items purchased in Vintages we can wrap your gift for you and arrange for shipping as well. We have gift certificates and Christmas cards, too.

24 Gifts of Christmas: Olive Rose's Fabric Dolls

We have several of Olive Rose's one-of-a-kind creations at Vintages. These are handmade using fabric and a variety of found or recycled objects. No two of them will be the same so its like owning a piece of folk art. Great gift for doll or folk art collectors.

This Big Red Santa wears a red suit and hat with hand-stitched trim and dark pants. His vintage quilt bag is stuffed with greenery, a Christmas card and a vintage cookie cutter. (Santa is $119.) Maybelle is an angel ... literally. She has nifty wings decorated with old paper, sheet music and stamps. Her sheer polka dot dress is fluffed up with tulle petticoats and lace bloomers. She holds a heart in her hands.  Sweet! (Maybelle is $105.)

REMEMBER: For items purchased in Vintages we can wrap your gift for you and arrange for shipping as well. We have gift certificates and Christmas cards, too.

24 Gifts of Christmas: Whimsical Cat & Dog Plaques

V. Originals creates these whimsical plaques featuring cats and dogs. Each piece is hand-worked, hand-painted and individually detailed…with love. A great gift for the animal lover in your life. We have a nice selection of these folk art treasures, both online and in the shop, at $27.95 each.

REMEMBER: For items purchased in Vintages we can wrap your gift for you and arrange for shipping as well. We have gift certificates and Christmas cards, too.

24 Gifts of Christmas: Vintage Christmas Tree Pins

Give them as stocking stuffers or adorn the bow on a wrapped gift with one of these beauties. Anyway you present them, these little trees and ornaments make a great gift. Every year we search for Holiday jewelry and stash it away until November.  These are classic, never go out of style and add that Holiday touch to any outfit. This year we have a nice selection of Christmas tree pins and other Holiday jewelry both online and in the shop.

REMEMBER: For items purchased in Vintages we can wrap your gift for you and arrange for shipping as well. We have gift certificates and Christmas cards, too.

24 Gifts of Christmas: Solder Craft Kits

These creative art soldering kits are great for anyone who loves to craft or make jewelry. Use the kit to create pendants, charms and jewelry. The kit comes complete with a soldering iron specific to this type of soldering, a coil spring iron stand, acid free flux, lead-free silver solder, copper foil tape, two holding clamps, assorted jump rings, four sets of glass and instructions on soldering basics and safety information. The kit sells for $55.95 and is available in the online as well as in the shop.

We also have an instructional DVD and a great book on soldering to get you going on a new level. Replacement supplies, glass slides and findings are also available.

REMEMBER: For items purchased in Vintages we can wrap your gift for you and arrange for shipping as well. We have gift certificates and Christmas cards, too.

24 Gifts of Christmas: Brush Trees

These wonderful vintage-style brush trees are fully decorated with colorful glass ball ornaments ready to adorn your table, mantel or nativity scene. They are timeless and festive. We have these in three sizes: 4" $18.95; 6" $21.95; 8" $24.95.

You'll find a large selection of tabletop trees at Vintages. Any of these will make a wonderful home decoration or hostess gift.

REMEMBER: For items purchased in Vintages we can wrap your gift for you and arrange for shipping as well. We have gift certificates and Christmas cards, too.

Turquoise, Zircon & Blue Topaz: December's Birthstones

December is another month where the traditional and modern birthstones differ. Basically, the December birthstones are all blue -- turquoise, zircon and blue topaz. 

Turquoise is one of the oldest jewelry gemstones, with examples having been found in the tomb of Queen Zer, an Egyptian queen, who died thousands of years ago. The name turquoise is derived from a French word meaning Turkish stone. The Turks, however, were just the middleman in the merchant trade for beautiful blue stones from Persia. The Persian turquoise is superbly clear, generally devoid of the matrix normally seen in turquoise from other places. In fact, today the highest grade of turquoise is referred to as Persian turquoise, regardless of where it comes from.

Different varieties of turquoise showing colors and matrix types. (Courtesy of Durango Silver Co.

There are many varieties of turquoise, with each mine around the world having distinctive characteristics. This is a chart showing many varieties from American turquoise mines.

The Victorians used Persian turquoise in many of their jewelry, set in both silver and gold (or gold-filled) settings.

This Victorian barpin is set with two Persian turquoise stones ($95.00)

American Southwestern jewelry has included turquoise for over a century. Both the Native American and Mexican silversmiths have made items with turquoise and continue to do so today.

This is a large Native American brooch/pendant with a concentric cluster design known as petit-point. ($495.00)

This piece is known as a row bracelet and was done in designs that incorporated from one to five or more rows of round or square turquoise cabochons ($225.00)

Beautiful row bracelet with delicate needlepoint turquoise stones. ($295.00)

Another Native American silver & turquoise bracelet with feathers, leaves and vines in the motif ($225.00)

Petit-point earrings ($165.00)

We have a large variety of Southwestern silver & turquoise rings (from $45.00 each)

Gorgeous necklace & bracelet set with greenish-blue turquoise stones. Early 1900s and probably from the Mid-East ($395.00 set)

Zircon is a wonderful blue gemstone that is not seen a lot today. The blue in the zircon is generally produced by heat-treating clear stones. Blue topaz has somewhat replaced it as the alternate December birthstone. Blue topaz is also the result of heat-treatment of clear topaz stones, but it occurs both naturally and artificially. Either stone is beautiful and create wonderful pieces of jewelry.

Huge light blue topaz solitaire cocktail ring in a very modern design. ($165.00) 

Lovely heart-shaped blue topaz stone set in yellow gold with diamond accents. This comes in a necklace and earring set ($295.00 set)

Ring with blue topaz stone set in yellow gold with diamond accents  ($295.00)