Sarah Coventry Vintage Jewelry from the 1960s and 70s

Sarah Coventry Jewelry at Vintage Jewelry Lane

Sarah Coventry jewelry is well known and very popular with collectors of vintage jewelry.   Each piece is well made and has come to be known by the name that the designers gave to it.   This piece, for instance is called "Touch of Elegance."  I think the name fits beautifully.

The jewelry was originally sold by the party plan in the 1960s and 70s.  But don't let that fool you into thinking this is not good quality jewelry. It has stood the test of time and many pieces are in the same condition as when it was made.

One of the specialties of my website is Sarah Coventry jewelry.  You can see the full range at Vintage Jewelry Lane. 

I've put together a video on my YouTube channel showcasing some of the Sarah Coventry piece from the 1960s and 70s.  The video has music.   Grab a cup of coffee and Enjoy!

Today's Featured Vintage Jewelry Designer - Emmons

Today's featured vintage jewelry designer is Emmons. Most collectors of vintage jewelry know the name Sarah Coventry, but many do not know that the Sarah Coventry line was only one line developed by Charles H. Stuart.

In 1949 Mr. Stuart founded the Emmons Jewelry Company, to honor his wife Caroline (Emmons) Stuart. Like Sarah Coventry jewelry, the Emmons line was also sold at home parties. The prices of the Emmons pieces were higher than the Sarah Coventry pieces. (Sarah was founded in honor of his daughter.)

The company was located in New York City and did business until 1981, at which time it closed its doors for the last time. The early representatives for the company were all men, but by the 1950s women were mainly showing the lines to prospective customers with the home party plan.

The Emmons designs were very well made, good looking and, while more expensive than Sarah Coventry designs, still easy on the pocket book. Often a design was made in matching pieces - brooches, earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. Full parures are much harder to find now than single pieces. The pieces in the line were all marked with a design name.

The Emmons line made great use of pearls in their designs as well as a wide range of silvertone and goldtone pieces with interesting design techniques. Here are a few examples:

The early design mark in 1949 was EmJ, and the later one after 1955 was Emmons. Here are some examples of the markings:

Emmons pieces were plentiful at the time, but are harder to find now than the Sarah Coventry pieces. It is considered a medium range design name. Emmons jewelry seems to me to have a higher value than the Sarah Coventry pieces do. There is no need to purchase pieces with damage. Choose those that you like, and choose pieces in good condition.

Vintage Jewelry as Wedding Reception Gifts - Creative use of Vintage Jewelry

I woke up this morning to some a large sale of many items from my websites. Of course, I sell things from my sites all the time, but the special thing about this sale was the note that the buyer included to me with her order.

Judith from Texas stated that the jewelry was going to be used at an upcoming wedding as wedding reception gifts and favors for women who would be attending the wedding and their daughters. She plans to use the opportunity as a teaching moment about the value, construction and durability of vintage jewelry.

Wedding Cake Photo courtesy of sonjasbrides.com

Her ideas are just fabulous. She told me that she intends to have the items placed on to the place cards at the ladies’ seats. The precious ones, (two stunning Matisse and Renoir Copper and Enamel sets and a few other "special sets") will be in little wicker baskets with bows on top that match the colors of the wedding.

Judith has done this for Baby Showers and Bridal Showers too! When she did this, she had shoes and rice for the Bridal Shower and had little tiny doll shoes with rice in them, with tissue and the jewelry piece sitting inside.

She said that she has also used wonderful vintage jewelry pieces for boy tea parties and Red Hat Society luncheons for the retirement home where her mother lived. Her imagination seems to have no bounds and she has given me all sorts of ideas for my website pages.

What unique and wonderful ideas! And how well the bridal idea goes along with the old saying (but with a twist) "Something old, something new..." I often get customers who email me and ask if I have 10 or 12 or more of a single piece that they can use as wedding favors for their bridesmaids. Since I sell unique vintage jewelry and most often don't have duplicates, I have to deny their request.

But Judith made the purchase of these items so special. Each recipient at the upcoming wedding will have a piece chosen especially for them and no one else at the wedding will have the same gift. How special is that?

Today's purchase showed a fondness for Damascene jewelry, Sarah Coventry named pieces and Siam Sterling Nielloware among other categories. Do you have a wedding coming up? Please consider taking a page from this thoughtful customer's wedding planner and consider vintage jewelry for your guests or wedding party. They will love you for it! Visit Vintage Jewelry Lane today to start making selections for your guest list.

If your taste in bridal gifts tends to run more to the clear rhinestone and crystal or pearl style of jewelry, you can also find unique gifts for your guests or wedding party on my new Vintage Bridal Jewelry Page at Vintage Jewelry Lane. (Judith's message to me was so inspiring that I added a new page to my website!

Do you have an interesting story about your creative use of vintage jewelry, or a special idea for your purchase? Please share with me. You may be featured in my next chapter of the creative uses of vintage jewelry.

The knot - a symbol of permanence.

One of the new fashion trends for jewelry in 2009 is the use of knots in jewelry. In ancient heraldic symbology, the knot stands for longevity, commitment and permanence.

Knots have long been used in jewelry of all types. Pictured here is a wonderful Sarah Coventry vintage ring. The design is aptly called "Lover's Knot." The ring features a creamy faux pearl in a goldtone knotted setting. Priced at only $11.99, it would make a wonderful Valentine's gift for the love in your life.

Vintage Jewelry Lane has this item for sale. You can see more pictures and details here.