VINTAGE
COSTUME JEWELRY
FEATURING
ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Welcome
Welcome to edition five of my blog. I hope you are enjoying the information as much as I have in putting it together for you. The bonus for me has been all the new friends and contacts I have gained. And I want to say a big thank you to those of you who are passing the word on about the blog. I understand that some of you have referenced my blog on your social media and in your online stores. I use Facebook and Pinterest, but there are so many other social outlets. I can not tell you how much I appreciate all your support.
FEATURE JEWELRY DESIGNER
ELIZABETH TAYLOR
(1932-2011)
Raise your hand if you remember Elizabeth Taylor. Okay, you can put your hand down now. Of course you remember Elizabeth Taylor. Those of us who aren’t so young any more, myself included, remember her as one of the most beautiful and talented actresses in
Hollywood. And isn’t she the woman who owned some gigantic diamond? As you read on, you'll find that she owned more than one big diamond.
Biographical Information
Elizabeth Taylor was a British-American actress, a businesswoman
and a humanitarian. She was born in
London, England, in 1932 and died of congestive heart failure in 2011 in Los
Angeles, California, at the age of 79. She
was known for her beauty, her jet set life, her charitable endeavors and her
many marriages. She was married eight times to seven husbands
and had four children. The media loved her, and she became one of the most photographed women in the world.Biographical Information
Elizabeth Taylor began as a child actress in the early 1940s and
was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. Here are some of her movies you may recognize.
Lassie Come Home (1943)
National Velvet (1944)
Little Women (1949)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
Cleopatra (1963)
She continued her career successfully into the 1960s and remained a well-known public figure for the rest of her life. The American Film Institute named her the seventh greatest female screen legends in 1999.
During her sixty-two-year career, she
received a massive number of the film industry’s top awards and honors including two Oscars. Click Here to see
the extensive list of nominations and awards.
“Taylor's acting career began to
decline in the late 1960s, although she continued starring in films until the
mid-1970s, after which she focused on supporting the career of her sixth
husband, Senator John Warner. In the
1980s, she acted in her first substantial stage roles and in several television
films and series, and became the first celebrity to launch a perfume brand.
Taylor was also one of the first celebrities to take part in HIV/AIDS activism.
She co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985 and
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991. From the early 1990s until her
death, she dedicated her time to philanthropy. She received several accolades
for it, including the Presidential Citizens Medal.”Taylor's personal life was subject to constant media attention throughout her life. She was married eight times to seven men, endured serious illnesses, and led a jet set lifestyle, including collecting one of the most expensive private collections of jewelry. “Taylor collected jewelry throughout her life and owned several notable pieces, such as:
the 33.19-carat (6.638 g) Krupp Diamond,
the 69.42-carat (13.884 g) Taylor-Burton Diamond,
and the 50-carat (10 g) La Peregrina Pearl, formerly owned by Mary I of England--
All three were gifts from husband Richard Burton. She also published a book about her collection, My Love Affair with Jewelry, in 2002.
Available on Amazon
Taylor helped to popularize the work of fashion designers Valentino Garavani and Halston. She received a Lifetime of Glamour Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 1997. After her death, her jewelry and fashion collections were auctioned by Christie's to benefit her AIDS foundation, ETAF. The jewelry sold for a record-breaking sum of $156.8 million and the clothes and accessories for another $5.5 million.
ELIZABETH TAYLOR FOR AVON JEWELRY
(1993-1996)
(1993-1996)
Below is a list of the jewelry which Elizabeth Taylor made for Avon from 1993 to1996. Many of these pieces are very affordable and can be found in the secondary market. I recently purchased a few pieces to put in my store Each one is well made and quite beautiful. I also purchased two copies of a booklet that someone made on the collections. It's full of good information and has photographs of the pieces. I plan to keep one book for my reference library, but I will be glad to share the second one with whomever contacts me first. If you enjoy collecting vintage jewelry, you might enjoy collecting these pieces. The following list can be used as a checklist so you can tell if you have all of the pieces in each set.
1993
The Egyptian Style Collection
Cuff Bracelet
Earrings
Ring
The Shah Jehan Pendant Necklace
Pendant Necklace
The Elephant Walk Collection
Brooch/Pin
Earrings
The Eternal Flame Collection
Necklace
Earrings
The Sea Shimmer Collection
Brooch/Pin
Earrings
The Signature Gold Coast Collection
1994
The Hearts in Tandem Pin
Brooch/Pin
The Heart of Hollywood Collection
Brooch/Pin
Earrings
The Zebra Stripe Collection
Bangle Bracelet
Earrings
The Guilded Age Collection
Earrings
Ring
The Passion Flower Collection
Brooch/Pin
Earrings
The Katherina Cross Collection
Large Cross Pendant Necklace
Small Cross Pendant Necklace
Earrings
The Brilliance Collection
Ring
Earrings
Watch
Small Hoops
The Forever Violet Collection
Necklace
Earrings
The Treasured Vine Collection
Necklace
Cuff Bracelet
Earrings
The Evening Star Collection
1995
The Love Blooms Collection
Bangle Bracelet
Earrings
Ring
The Sparkle Kiss Collection
Ring
Earrings
Large Hoops
The Taylored Style Collection
Necklace
Earrings
The Sea Coral Collection
Brooch/Pin
Earrings
The Pave Crystal Rose Collection
1996
The Radiance Collection
Ring
Pendant Necklace
Earrings
The Midnight Romance Collection
Necklace
Ring
Watch
Earrings
ART CREATIONS BY CJ
TURNING JEWELRY INTO
ART
Recently, I chatted with several store owners who were
looking for ways to get rid of excess jewelry.
One person is trading it, one person is selling it by the pound, and one
is donating it to a charity. Then, there
are those of you who are turning your jewelry into art like
CJ Borden of Art Creations by CJ on Etsy. Here are some examples of her amazing work.
CJ Borden of Art Creations by CJ on Etsy. Here are some examples of her amazing work.
CJ Bordon got the idea to open her business after she received
rave reviews from visitors and friends who saw a cactus piece she made and hung
in her home. She opened her Etsy store
in 2009 and has been creating her stunning designs ever since. CJ painstakingly coordinates the components
that make up her jewelry art so the pieces complement each other. She says it takes several days to weeks to
create a single piece, especially a custom order. From what I’ve seen, it’s definitely worth
the wait. The testimonials on her
website will attest to this. Several of her customers have said they were blown
away when they received their orders from her. Please take the time to visit CJ's stores. You just might find that perfect Mother's Day gift there!
email: cj@cjborden.com
SPECIAL OFFER - 50%
Bracelet Helper
Available at SCLadyDiJewelry
Give yourself an extra hand, no more fumbling around. This bracelet helper eliminates the frustrations and difficulties associated with fastening even the most difficult of bracelets. The clip secures one end of your bracelet allowing your free hand to wrap the bracelet around your wrist and instantly secure the clasp. An absolute must for anyone who owns a bracelet. Works like an extra hand. ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR ARTHRITIS SUFFERERS. The bracelet helper measures approximately 5-1/2 to 6 inches long and features a beautiful hand-carved bone handle. Great gift idea too (comes in gift box). Aids in fastening and unfastening almost any clasp instantly on a bracelet or a necklace too. Ideal for back zippers and French cuffs. Get your bracelet helper today.
3 TIPS TO DETERMINING VALUE
OF COSTUME JEWELRY
by Erik Hoyer, EJ's Auction & Consignment, Glendale, AZ
Look for a jewelry mark. Most high-quality costume jewelry will have the company name or stamp. Trifari, Wiess, Coco Chanel and Monet are a few of the higher end costume jewelry makers. Granted, identifying the marks can be difficult to find without a jeweler's loop.
Do you see green? Check if it has a green residue or the finish is delaminating. If so, its value is probably low.
Look for clear detail. Inspect the back of the jewelry and look carefully at the design details. If it's sloppy or running together, it most likely is cheap. But if it's clean and it has clear detail to it, then the quality may be higher.
If you're unsure, your best bet is to take your jewelry to a reputable expert who can assess its value and suggest options for selling it.
REMINDERS
Mother's Day is May 8. Don't forget to get your present from one of the many great shops on Etsy.
Remember to REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE your packing materials. And since I'm on the topic, please stop and think about the impression your package will make when it is received. Personally, I have received orders in diaper boxes, cereal boxes and dog biscuit boxes. As for packing material, I have received disposable diapers (unused ones of course), garbage bags, plastic grocery bags, etc. Was I impressed? Not one bit! I take extreme pride in my packaging and you should too. I especially enjoy those packages I receive where the person went the extra mile to surprise me. I have gotten lovely handwritten thank you notes on real stationery, bookmarks with special messages, magnetics to use, etc. My husband told me about a word that is often used in New Orleans where he lived for 15 years before Hurricane Katrina hit. It is Lagniappe which is defined as "a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; a bonus." I try to do a 'lagniappe" with every order, big or small. It has been fun and my customers have told me how much they enjoy it. You should give it a try. And put those diaper, cereal and dog biscuit boxes as well as the diapers and bags in the garbage can please.
Speaking of packaging, isn't this the cutest little box you've ever seen?
Speaking of packaging, isn't this the cutest little box you've ever seen?
Butterfly Box
Available from Lucky Graphics on Etsy
The Classified Ads in this blog really work fast! Some of ads here last week have already received responses to them. I received my response within 24 hours and was able to hook my customer up with someone who had a replacement piece for one that she lost. My customer was so happy. Thank you MICJWL for the lead. I know one of the other ads got a response too.
You can find the Classifed Ads in the right-hand column of this blog. Be sure to check them each week. If you want to place one, all you need do is contact me and toge
ther we'll write the ad.
AND IN THE END
We agree, "Big girls need BIG diamonds."
What a beautiful piece on Ms. Taylor! I know that at least one of her pieces was designed by Lee Brevard, one of my absolute favorite designers!
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