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TYPES OF BERYL The beryl species has a great mix of gemstones which are all viewed as precious gems. They include the following: EMERALD - The colour of emerald varies  according to its source and location in the world.The most prized colour is a strong slightly blueish - green.Colombian emeralds are pure green with a slight hint of blue.They are dichroic which means that the colour will vary depending on the position from which you look at it. Brazilian emeralds are slightly lighter in colour and contain more yellow than Columbian stones. They sometimes..

TYPES OF TOURMALINE INDICOLITE - Indicolite covers all shades of blue tourmaline from blue- green turquoise colours to the strong blue of a sapphire. A lot of blue tourmaline is dark and inky. This is not popular with buyers so as a result much of blue tourmaine is heated to lighten it. RUBELITE - Rubelite is one of the most valuable and desired in the toumaline family. The translation of rubelite is "red" and real rubelite shoud be a hot pink to red colour with a blue to violet tone. There should be no yellow or brown tones. The value of rubelite has increased ..

WHAT IS TOURMALINE? Tourmaline was first introduced to the Western world when the Dutch beganto import tourmalines from Sri Lanka.It appeals to jewellery designers due to it's versatility and different colours which include pastels, intense neons,and unique bi - and tri-colours.The demand for the most sought after coloursmeans that the price for these colours has almost tripled in recent years. STRUCTURE OF TOURMALINE Members of the tourmaline family have the same crystal structure, however, depending on what impurities they contain, different colours ..

TYPES OF CHALCEDONY BLUE CHALCEDONY - This is a very attractive  stone with different hues ranging from lilac to periwinkle blue to lavender. The great increase in the popularity of blue chalcedony over  recent years has pushed its price up and good quality strong blue material can be  moderately expensive. CARNELIAN - Carnelian has been a popular stone for many years. The colours range from a pure and strong intense orange-red, to softer orange-browns and reds. Top quality material is semi - transparent with a strong colour that appears to glow. The col..

  About Beryl Gemstones One of the most glamorous gems in the beryl species is emerald. In addition to emerald the species also includes aquamarine, morganite and helidor.They are all precious gems and are very popular with jewellery designers.The main feature that determines value of these gems is the intensity of the colour Sources of Beryl Emerald - Best sources are found in Columbia, Zambia and Brazil. It is also found in Australia, India, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, and United States. Aquamarine - Brazil, Afghanistan, and Mozambique produce the best sky..

  What is Labradorite? Labradorite is part of the feldspar  mineral group. The feldspar group has two different varieties, the orthoclase (alkali) ​feldspars, which include amazonite, orthoclase and moonstone, and the plagioclase feldspars. The plagioclase feldspars include labradorite and aventurine feldspar. Labradorite is a colourful and interesting stone which has a range of colours and optical effects. It is popular with jewellery designers and buyers. It is named after  the source of the material - Labrador&nbs..

  Moonstone has been highly prized for many years  especially by royalty. Currently, its popularity is probably highest in Scandinavia and the Germany, where it is preferred over alexandrite and pearl as the birthstone for  June. It's typical phenomenal effect called adularescence, is named after a mining site at Mount. Adular in Switzerland. (Moonstone is also sometimes termed  “adularia”). Adularescence is created by the diffraction of light as it hits thin, alternating layers of albite and orthoclase inside  the gem. Oftenmoonstones are cabbed with qui..

OPAL - QUALITIES OF OPALS AND SOURCES The different colours that can be seen on an opal stem from the diffraction of light from very small silica spheres within the gemstone. This is the reason the colours change when opal is looked at from different directions.Larger and more ordered silica spheres within the stone  result in a greater range and intensity of colour. This colour play and interference of light is called iridescence. This is diferent from the opalescence seen within moonstones. Most gemstones are facted or cut to calibrated shapes and sizes., however o..

PRECIOUS WHITE OPAL White opal has a light base and can have strong colour play. Many white opals can appear rather pale and they need a closed back bezel setting to maximise their iridescence. PRECIOUS BLACK OPAL Black opal has a dark background which can be dark blue, dark grey, dark green or grey-black . The darker the background the greater the value of the stone. Black opals                                                   &nb..

RAINBOW MOONSTONE PROPERTIES The scientific name for rainbow moonstone is labradorite, and depsite the name it is different from true moonstone, which is called orthoclase. They are related however, and look similar. Both types appear to give off an internal glow, and their benefits are very similar. Left : Rainbow moonstone cabochon showing colours  Top - Rainbow moonstone necklaces from Modern Vintage Style Moonstone Collection How is Rainbow Moonstone Formed? The particular colour an..

AVAILABILITY AND SOURCING OF GEMSTONES Due to the ongoing exploitation of deposits, the development of new mining technologies and the discovery of new sources, the availability of a wide range of gemstones has increased. Diamonds were once only sourced in India, however they are now sourced in quantity from Brazil , Borneo , and various African Countries, well as Russia, Australia, and Canada. With the increased choice of gemstones, jewellers need to know much more about the sources and colours of gemstones. The popularity of gemstones are generally led by qualit..

WHAT IS FELDSPAR? Feldspar is the most common rock forming mineral at the earth's surface. The different stones in the feldspar species provide jewellery makers with some of the most visually appealing stones. It provides a great choice of natural colours, comes in large sizes and is good value for money. It also has some beautiful optical effects. The feldspars are often described as having "schiller" which is an opalescence or adularescence. These terms all refer to the effect that appears to sit just below or above the surface of the stone when it is placed or ..

MOONSTONE - DIFFERENT TYPES AND COLOURS OF MOONSTONE  Moonstone is the opalescent variety of orthoclase. Traditionally thought to be a good luck stone and linked to romantic passion, it was often offered as a gift between lovers. Moonstone can be transparent with a stong blue hue on the surface, or it can be milky with the appearance of inner light . It can have a striking cats eye or star effect.The hue is the result of the light reflecting off alternating layers of albite and orthoclase feldspar. The thin albite layers produce the desirable blue tone and the thick o..

Different types of Brooches and  Pins, Rhinestone Crystal, Floral, Faux Gemstone Brooches A wide variety of different types of brooches can be found when looking for vintage brooches to collect or wear. Here are some of the key designer names and styles to look out for. VIntage  rhinestone brooches from Modern Vintage Style Modern Vintage Style has a variety of rhinestone, flower, pearl and old gold and silver brooches for sale  Trifari Animal Jelly Belly Pins Early on, the manufacturers of vintage jewellery understood the brooches powers..

ROSE QUARTZ GEMSTONE PROPERTIES Rose quartz can be a beautiful gemstone and is often used in jewellery.  The colours can range from pale pink to a deep peachy pink colour. Most rose quartz is quite included or cloudy and has a transulcent appearance. Clear "gemmy"material is limited and can be more expensive, especially the deeper colours. The lower grade material is more brittle and can be full of cracks and flaws.It is a good idea to be careful when buying cheaper material as cracks can open up when it is being set in jewellery or when being worn. Despite its bitterness, a ..

CABOCHON CUT GEMSTONES In countries such as Great Britain and America,faceted stones are seen as the most desirable type of gem, and less value is attached to cabochons. In Germany however, a strong tradition of producing well-cut cabochons mean that buyers really appreciate the qualities of light, colour and texture.      Left to Right, Labradorite, Blue John, and Amethyst and Peridot Gemstone Cabochons from Modern Vintage Style The choice of material in the form of cabochons is much wider and cheaper, and it lendsitself to greater flexibil..

WHAT IS MARCASITE Marcasite  originates from a natural mineral called 'pyrite'. Iron pyrite has a metallic finish and bright sheen. Its innate hardness  allows it to stand up well to scratches and dings over the years, and therefore, vintage marcasite pieces can be found in good condition many years after their creation. Pyrite is found in various parts of the world, but only a small element of it is suitable for the cutting processes necessary to create marcasite jewellery. Marcasite is both elegant and popular and it has been used in many types of jewellery as far back as&n..

  ENAMEL USE IN JEWELLERY DESIGN Enamelling is an old technique in which powdered clear glass, or powdered colour glass that has been mixed with pigments, is applied to a metal object and then fired .The powder then melts, flows, and hardens to a durable, smooth vitreous coating which is in essence a layer of pure pigment on a surface. In jewellery this technique is used to make everything from flower petals on a vintage necklace, to a portrait on a old locket necklace,  to the wings on an Art Nouveau dragonfly brooch.     ..

SCANDINAVIAN MODERNISM Although the 1950's was the decade of design glitz , it had the opposite effect in Scandinavia where a new design esthetic emerged which had a great impact on all areas of design including jewellery. Silver was the preferred metal of choice as Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark had centuries old tradition of silversmithing, and silver was malleable and easy to work with. This allowed designers to mould jewellery into strong angles and abstract shapes. There were political aspects involved too, as silver was cheaper than other metals. This more democrat..

BERNARD INSTONE - EARLY LIFE Bernard Instone was born  in 1891 at "Neston Villa" in Kings Norton, Birmingham. In 1903 at the age of 12 he received a scholarship to attend the Central School of Art. His talent shone through and he received two further scholarships to continue his training. He studied  jewellery and practical silversmithing at the Birmingham School of Jewellery in Vittoria Street from 1904 until 1912 where he excelled. While at the school he studied under the famous Arts and Crafts jeweller Arthur Gaskin. After leaving Art School Instone began working at the stud..

A Scottish silver jewellery designer whose work is much prized today is Norman Grant. He was born in Forres, Scotland in 1943 and at the age of 18 started training at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen. Initially he studied graphic design before later moving into silversmithing . Having lived near the coast much of his jewellery designs reflected the natural shapes and details seen in the environment. Flower motifs, trees, seaweed, fish, wave and cloud motifs featured in his work, as well as microscopic plant cell structures. In the late sixties Norman Grant began to produce pieces of jewelle..

ARTS AND CRAFTS JEWELLERS A lot of the ideals of the Art Nouveau design movement were also shared by Arts and Crafts movement jewellers in Northern Europe,  Britain, and the United States. Both movements had deep roots in mid-19th century Britain. Two leading British cultural figures, the philosopher and designer William Morris and the art critic John Ruskin wrote about the dissatisfaction of many craftsmen and artists with industrialisation and the low quality goods it produced. Morris and Ruskin romanticised the medieval handicraft organisations believing that these groups ..

DANISH DESIGNER NIELS ERIK FROM  - EARLY YEARS Danish jeweller and silversmith Niels Erik From ( N.E. From) was born in 1908 and opened his first workshop in 1931 when he was still only twenty-three .  Over the next forty years  Niels Erik went on to become one one of the greats of Danish design, and  created many works including floral-inspired designs often set with semi-precious gemstones. These pieces took inspiration from the Skønvirke style. This was a Scandinavian development that formed part of Denmark’s Art Nouveau and Arts and C..

What is Suffragette Jewellery? As the 19th century drew to an end, women began actively looking for better rights, in particular to have their voices heard in government,and The Suffragettes were a group of women campaigning and protesting for the right to vote . This was born out of the Suffragist Movement which started in the 1860s. Many women proudly wore jewellery expressing their support for the suffragette movement, which campaigned for votes for women and womens rights. Suffragette jewellery pieces were instantly recognisable because they were decorated with green, white, and..

Daniel Swarovski and Creation of Swarovski Crystals Towards the end of 19th century, Austrian jeweller Daniel Swarovski created a foil backing that made his high-quality faceted crystals almost indistinguishable from real diamonds. Demand was so great for the crystals  that in 1892 he patented a mechanical cutter so his “faceted stones” could be mass-produced.     Rhinestones named after the Rhine River The family business was first located in the Gablonz area of Bohemia, however, in 1895 Swarovski moved it to Austria close to the Rhine River—his fau..

Scandinavian Jewellery, Pendants, Rings, and Bracelets influenced by Early Nordic Traditions Although Scandinavia has produced distinctive jewellery since Viking times, the area’s jewellery industry didn’t come into its own until the late part of the 19th century. Before this time, jewellery from the three Scandinavian countries—Sweden Norway, and Denmark was mainly influenced by early Nordic traditions. Embellished pendants,rings and bracelets featured complex knotted designs and symbolic signs and animals . These pieces emphasized their metal materials, in ..

What is a "Parure"? The term "parure" refers to set of jewellery, and to be a true parure the set must consist of three matching items.  A set with only a necklace, plus earrings, a brooch or a bracelet is not generally considered a parure, but is called a demi-parure. Complete Suites of Jewellery The word "parure" comes from the Old French verb for “to adorn,” . Originally a parure referred to a complete wardrobe or suite of jewellery, generally designed to be worn all at once. The idea has its origins in the flamboyance of the Rococo and Baroque&nb..

  What is Gold Vermeil? We use a lot of gold vermeil in our jewellery collections as it allows up to provide precious gemstone earrings, necklaces and bracelets with a quality finish at affordable prices. But what is gold vermeil?  Above : Gold vermeil and aquamarine Necklace from Modern Vintage Style gemstone necklaces collection Vermeil is an alternative for the common term silver-gilt, or silver plated with gold. Vermeil pieces have the apperance of  gold but are cheaper and..

Weiss Costume Jewellery  The Weiss costume jewellery company was founded by Albert Weiss in 1942.Before this  Albert gained valuable experience  as a designer for the company Coro during the 1930's. Weiss produced  some of the most beautiful, if somewhat underrated rhinestone costume jewellery of the post World War 2 period. Figural an Floral Earrings and Brooches Weiss were know for their stunning  floral and figural earrings and brooches, although the firm also made various styles of necklaces and bracelets .Although Weiss would never reach th..

Art Deco Style In the middle of the 1920s, the Art Nouveau style  gave way to Art Deco, which was very popular throughout the 1930's. Similar to  Art Nouveau, Art Deco had a strong design roots in France, and  the name is thought to have originated  from L’Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Moderne in Paris. France in 1925. Though the phrase was not generally ascribed to the style until 1968, when an English art historian named Bevis Hillier wrote his definitive "Art Deco of the 1920s and 1930s." Art Deco style vintage jewe..

Definition of Jewellery Terms D - F What is Damascene, Double Clip, and Enamel etc? Here is a short guide to common jewellery terms (D to F) Damascene :  The process of applying silver or gold onto iron or steel to produce intricate patterns. Damascene jewellery often comes from Japan or Spain. Diadem: An ornamented band, often set with gemstones worn around the brow. More recent examples were made in the Art Nouveau style.   Diamante: A diamond substitute made from rock crystal, ac..

  Here are some of our current favourite vintage pieces at Modern Vintage Style in our vintage gems gallery..including jewellery from Dior , Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent.    YSL cabochon bracelet                 Norman Grant tree pendant            Aquamarine earrings  Grosse vintage earrings             Stunning YSL multi colour necklace       Freshwater pearl necklace All of..

Gemstone Guide Agate : Part of the chalcedony quartz group of minerals, most common light gray-blue to beige colour or red to brown layers of colour, however also available dyed green, moss, dark reds, orange and mixed colors, hardness 6.5 - 7, It is the alternative birthstone for May and September Amber : An organic fossil resin from amber pine sap, commonly yellow to red brown in color, hardness 2 - 2.5. Amethyst : Part of the quartz group of minerals, usually light to dark violet in translucent colours, with a hardness 7. I is the  modern,tradition,  a..

What is Mizpah Jewellery? Mizpah jewellery was popular during the Victorian era from the mid- to late-1800s and was generally given to a loved one during a period of long separation such as military service or travel. It was generally given as a "forget-me-not," and symbolised a bond of love between two people. Example of Mizpah Jewellery. Mizpah brooch with  bow detail availanle at Modern Vintage Style The word Mizpah—comes from the Old Testament (Genesis 31:49, "And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent from one another") an..

TYPES OF EARRING FITTINGS AND CLOSURES:  There are various types of ear fittings around and you will see a lot of the common terms used in the descriptions of the gemstone and vintage style earrings on our website.Here we have a short explanation of the different types of ear fittings and closures availabe.   Continuous Hoop: Used for hoop earrings.  The earring post slides into the end of the hoop. The hoop is hollow, which allows for a seamless appearance. Clip On Earrings: For non pierced ears these have a hinged metal pie..

EARRING TYPES:  Here we have a explanation of some of the commons terms used when describing different types of earrings. You will see these terms come up  in the description of our gemstone earrings and vintage earrings.   Ball  : Earrings that are ball-shaped.  Sizes and composition may vary. Bar:  These are stationary, rectangular earrings that may or may not drop below the end of the earlobes (i.e. they not move like dangle earrings).  Length will vary. Button: S..

Definition of Jewellery Terms A - C What is Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Aurora Borealis etc? Here we have a short guide to common jewellery terms: A jour :  An opening in a gemstone setting that allows light to pass through the stone form both sides Aguette: This is a gemstone often a diamond, cut in a rectagular narow shape. Small diamonds cut in this way are frequently used as accents Ajoure: Design with holes punched, drilled or cut into a piece of metal rather than wires which have been bent or formed into the design as is done with&..

How to Date a Brooch by its Clasp or Fastening If you enjoy collecting brooches and pins and are wondering how old is this brooch, pin, necklace or bracelet then sometimes it will be fairly easy to determine age as the jewellery will often be marked with stampings that relate to certain time periods over the years. If however the jewellery is unmarked then there are other ways to determine age. Looking at the clasp can often give a very good indication of when the piece was made. Brooches in particular can be fairly easy to date as the type of clasp used generally indicates the era in wh..

How to Spot a Fake Pearl Buying vintage pearl jewellery is a great way to find beautiful and original pieces of jewellery. However, as the desire for vintage jewellery has increased, so has the amount of fake jewellery on the market.  With regard to pearls, the number of different types of pearls that exist mean that working out whether a pearl is real, cultured, or a fake can be extremely tricky, even for the experts. Although it is difficult to be totally conclusive on determining  whether your vintage pearl earrings or vintage pearl necklace is the ..

What is Diamante Crystal? In the world of jewellery the phrase diamante  generally refers to glittering stones that resemble diamonds. Originally these gems were made from rock crystal however since the 19th century these gems were usually made from crystal or glass..The word diamante is also used to describe rhinestone or sequin embellishments added to accessories and clothing. Diamante Use in Costume Jewellery Although diamante jewellery is not made with genuine gemstones, the term diamante does not indicate cheap or poorly made cost..

Aurora Borealis Crystals  Aurora Borealis crystals are one of the most attractive crystals featuring in many  sparkling1950's vintage necklaces, brooches, bracelets, and earrings . An example of an aurora borealis crystal necklace can be seen in the photo below: Swarovski and Aurora Borealis Crystal  AB is the abbreviation for this special finish which was applied to rhinestones and beads in the early 1950's to make them appear more radiant. The finish was given the  name Aurora Borealis, taken from the phe..

We use lots of different gemstone to make our gemstone earrings, and necklaces at Modern Vintage Style, however one of our particular favourites , and one that never goes out of style is aquamarine. The different colour varieties of aquamarine from green to light blue to stronger blue shades enable us to make different styles  of aquamarine necklaces, pendants, bracelets and earrings. Its also a colour that goes well with different types of outfits so aquamarine jewellery is generally very wearable. Below is some of our favourIte ..

  Moonstone Superstitions    Moonstones are in a particular class by themselves when it comes to lots of superstitious theories. Moonstone often used in jewellery is the opalescent form of the mineral feldspar has been associated with good luck for courting couples, a guard against epileptic fits, a catalyst for really bountiful crops when hung in farmers fruit orchards, and even as a predictor of the future. To  facilitate this useful future predicting ability, you would just require to hold a sma..

Sara Coventry Jewellery Company The company was founded in 1949 by Charles Stuart, who decided to name his costume jewellery firm after his granddaughter, Sarah Coventry. He did not follow the Trifari, Coro or Haskell way of using a strong in-house designer to provide the designs. Instead, Stuart bought designs from freelancers. He enlisted the help of companies such as Elster and DeLizza , whose  brand was called Juliana to create its costrume necklaces, chokers, brooches, earrings, and bracelets which wer..

Vintage Costume Earrings - 
Information on typical vintage designs, key designers, and what to look for when buying vintage earrings

  If you are a fan of vintage then now is a great time to look for quality pieces as the market is buoyant, and with a little bit of background research you can  find some great vintage necklaces, earrings, bracelets, or vintage brooches to add to your collection. There are pieces  to suit every style  and taste, and  you can find a wide variety of choice in terms of  value and significance. With so many buying options available, it’s a great idea to know what to look for when buying vintage , and, if possible, understand a bit of the history behind ..

  Oscar de la Renta, was born in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic in 1932. He became a well known fashion designer whose work helped define standards of  stylish dressing among U.S. first ladies, socialites  and red-carpet celebrities during a career that spanned over 50 years. Oscar De La Renta  couture blue resin necklace from the vintage jewellery collection at Modern Vintage Style   Early Years At 18 years old De La Renta left the Dominican Republic and began to study painting at the S..

Amethyst FAQ 1. Why is it important to keep Amethyst jewellery at room temperature?  Temperatures that are either too hot or too cold can alter the color of Amethyst. When the gemstone is in temperatures that are too hot, it may turn a yellow shade and when it is situated in temperatures that are too cold, it may turn to a  smoky grey colour    2. What is the difference between natural Amethyst and lab-formed Amethyst?  Manmade or lab-created Amethyst looks identical to natural ocurring&..