Rhinestone brooches

[MagicBrooches]

Hello!

My mother bought a collection of vintage rhinestone brooches at an auction here in Sweden and I sponsored her a bit because I'd like to be able to look at them too, they are very sparkly and interesting and remind me of my grandmother who always wore a brooch. It's hard to make a photo which makes them justice and I know it's good to see the backside also, but I'm a bit eager to hear something about them and it's hard to make good photos (I've tried), also I don't want to mess up the display and put fingerprints on the mirror. First photo is from auction.

I'd like to hear anything anybody has to say about them because I barely know anything. The bright blue centre "stone" is glued in with too much glue and one of the purplish ones misses a stone and the metal under it, the only other faults I have noticed is some parts which are a bit bent. (Can I remove the glue somehow?)

Hope someone likes looking at them and thanks in advance if someone has any information!

 

[amandainvermont]

We have quite a few jewelry experts in the Vintage Fashion Guild and I am not one of them. As you say, showing the reverse side would help a LOT with dating, determining quality, etc. Also, are any of them marked with a name? And the actual size is relevant of course. If these could be photographed near a measuring tape?

 

[MagicBrooches]

OK, I photographed the backsides, no problem, I guess I was tired from trying to make a good photo yesterday! Just ask if you want more photos, I have already taken close-ups if that's useful. Hm, I forgot the measuring tape, will do that. I see no markings on any of them.

I notice now that they could be cleaned a bit too, but I guess they are much more sensitive than gems, especially coatings and foil and things on the backsides I could think. Should they take a bath in dish soap water or should I clean them with a Q-tip and water maybe?

Turning them around reminds me that the second one in the first "row" isn't really a brooch, it has no pin at least.

Thanks!

 

[Linn]

I am fairly sure that your collection is 1950's - 1960's. It's hard to be really specific about each piece unless you photograph them separately and show closer views of both sides especially how the stones are set and the catches. I am more familiar with American costume jewelry from this period than European, if your pieces are European. I think I recognize a few of the pieces as possibly American but you need to provide closer views.

If possible get as close as this:

As far as cleaning them goes, you don't want to get or leave them soaking wet, but if you make sure they are dried thoroughly a quick bath in a mild sudsy solution shouldn't hurt. Do not put any of them away until they are thoroughly dried - and do not close the lid of the container you have them stored in until they are completely dry. Moisture is the enemy of rhinestone jewelry. I have used a product called Jewelry Joose but I think it is discontinued. I have tried something called Jewelry Vive which is similar. You can wipe with a Q-tip using a mild sudsy solution, wipe off with a damp Q-tip and then dry. Be sure the piece is really dry before you put it away. Excess glue can be removed and missing stones can be replaced.

I presented a workshop on jewelry to the VFG in 1010 and this part is about the 1950s and 1960s and may help:

http://forums.vintagefashionguild.org/threads/vintage-jewelry-workshop-part-v.35721/

 

[MagicBrooches]

Thanks a lot for the information and tips! I did find your workshop and it is great, but I haven't read all, I could only hope that you would also answer me However I am so clueless on this so it was great that you could say 50's-60's, I wouldn't dare to guess! I think both me and my mother will look around the many thrift shops here in Eskilstuna for more brooches!

I tried taking photos with an iPad, if I find a better camera it will be much easier (and better light which it seems I lacked first), so I'll see what I can produce!

I have no idea if it's European jewellery. The home which a lot in the auction came from had a lot of quality old and not very old things in a pretty eccentric style, in particular a lot of fine Italian glass, and also quite a few French things, and of course many Swedish. Those are my only clues.

 

[Midge]

What a pretty collection! Definitely look for signatures, they might give you clues. But don't forget either that there are lots and lots of wonderful unsigned pieces out there. I love brooches like these too, and most of mine are unsigned - thrift shop finds and so on. They might be European, they might be American. Your collection looks like 50s-60s to me as well, but like Linn said, to make more than a guess we would need to see close up photos.