Today's Featured Designer - BSK

One of the most fascinating area of collecting vintage jewelry is recognizing the look of the various designers who produced the lovely pieces that we like to collect and wear. Today's featured designer is BSK.

BSK is a designer about whom very little information seems to be available. The company was founded in New York in 1948 and did business until the mid 1980s. (I've seen one reference book listing the 1970s as the end of production, but most researchers seem to agree that they closed their doors in the mid 1980s. )The letters BSK stand for the first initials of the three owners: Benny Steinberg, Slovitt and Kaslo.

Their designs vary from simple silvertone and goldtone pieces to some particularly stunning designs with rhinestones. Overall, their designs are of average style, although very good quality. The jewelry sold well in the 1950s, when the demand for affordable jewelry boomed after the war time period. The BSK line was reasonably priced and was sold in department stores such as Woolworths.

It was normal during this period for mothers and teachers to receive BSK designs as gifts because of the competitive price point. One particularly interesting series that the company did was called My Fair Lady, and this is featured in many vintage jewelry reference books at better than average book values. Consider this a real find if you come across one of these highly collectible pieces!

The design characteristics of BSK pieces are the use of colorful enamel designs, with the base metal often dipped in the enamel. They made some whimsical designs. Their rhinestone pieces often used Aurora Borealis Rhinestones, in combination with enamel. Many of their designs featured a feaf style of overlay.

BSK designs had very little variation in their markings. Most pieces were signed just with the letters BSK in block lettering, either directly on the metal, or on a metal cartouche added to the design. The collectible My Fair Lady designs were marked BSK © My Fair Lady .

My Fair Lady photo courtesy of Ruby Lane seller The Vintage Princess

Here are some pictures of BSK designs which show both the simplicity and elegance characteristic of their designs.

BSK jewelry is not particularly expensive to buy and is still relatively easy to find. Don't buy pieces with flaws, since they will not warrant repair costs to fix them. If possible buy sets instead of single pieces. BSK is prized by some collections of vintage jewelry for the lovely combination of enameling and rhinestones, so the pieces should slowly rise in value.

Damascene Jewelry - Collectible Style of Vintage Jewelry

Damascene is a process in which non precious metals are decorated with 18-24K gold in decorative patterns. During the procedure, artisans cover the surface of an object with fine grooves, using sharp cutting tools. Figures are then drawn on the scored surfaces. Next gold wires are pressed into these grooves with a steel punch and hammer.

Figures are then drawn on the scored surfaces. The whole item is then blued to produce a black background by a total oxidation of the surfaces which are not damasked. A delicate and light process of chipping gives a lovely sheen to the object. Finally, the piece is mounted to give the final object.

Damascene jewelry is one of the specialites of my main website Vintage Jewelry Lane. I have a very large range of it, at competitive prices. There are several styles of damascene jewelry, most notably Tourist damascene, Amita damascene, and Reed and Barton Damascene. Each type has quite a different look to it.

I've written a reference article with lots of information on damascene jewelry, and photos to explain each style. You can find the damascene article here.

Here are some photos of pieces that I currently have for sale. You can click the pics to get more details. Prices range from $15.99 to $49.99 for the pieces featured here. Other styles start at $11.99. I have many more styles on my sites - Vintage Jewelry Lane.

My favorite style of damascene jewelry is the Reed and Barton style, but all of the styles are collectible in their own right.

Today's Bling - Joan Rivers Aurora Borealis Rhinestone Bracelet

Today's jewelry bling isn't vintage but I love it just the same. The piece is a stunning aurora borealis rhinestone bracelet by Joan Rivers. This bracelet comes from her Classics Collection and has never been worn.

It features a filigree bronzetone setting with wonderful pink diamond shaped rhinestones and stunning aurora borealis rhinestones in a wide stretch style. It is just stunning. The sparkle and fire of the rhinestones has to be seen to be believed.

The size of the bracelet is 1 1/8" wide and it is strung on two stretch elastics to fit most wrist sizes. The bracelet is marked Joan Rivers China on the inside. It comes in a velvet pouch and original Joan Rivers gift box. (Slightest of wear to the box.) It is in very fine condition.

While not considered vintage items, Joan Rivers jewelry is very collectible. The colors of the stones in this bracelet, coupled with the metal finish, make it a perfect piece for fall. It reminds me of leaves when they are changing colors.

For more pictures details, you can view the stunning Aurora Borealis Joan Rivers bracelet on Vintage Jewelry Lane. Price is $49.99. What a wonderful Christmas present this would make for someone special in your life.

Just in Time for the Holiday Season - a New Line of Christmas Jewelry From Gerry's Jewelry

This year is a blur to me. It has flown by so quickly and here we are in autumn again with Christmas just around the corner. Every year, as I get older, the years seem to go by more quickly!

I've just purchased a new collection of Christmas jewelry from the designer Gerry's. This company was founded in the 1950s by Geraldine Giles and closed its doors in 2001. The company was founded in New York, but moved later to Folcroft, Pennsylvania.

Their designs were often small metal figural pins, and especially Christmas pins, which were decorated with enamel and rhinestones. Gerry's jewelry has always been collected by those who collect vintage Christmas jewelry, but the pieces may now start to rise in value, since the company is no longer in business.

Here are a few choices. You can view more of these Christmas jewelry pieces at my Vintage jewelry Lane and Vintage Jewelry Mall sites and at my Finishing Touch Vintage Jewelry store on Ruby Lane. Prices range from $8.99 to about $18, so they will make cute and inexpensive Christmas gifts.

Some of the pins that I have in my stores are from unsold dealer stock and have never been worn, so they would make great stocking stuffers. Other's are some older Gerry's vintage Christmas pins, including some book pieces. Here are a few choices from the collection:

You can click the pictures for more details and photos or follow the links above to view the whole collection. Beat the rush by starting your Christmas shopping early. You will get the best choices and avoid the rush in December!

Vintage Jewelry Resource Book With A Twist - Madeleine Albright's Pins

Yesterday's blog discussed the fabulous exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design for Madeleine Albright's wonderful collection of brooches and pins. As mentioned in the blog post, Ms. Albright also has a new book out called Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box which also gives a look at the 200 brooches as well as outlining the stories behind them.

I am always interested in new books which deal with vintage jewelry, so I was particularly interested in this book, since so many of her brooches are vintage.

The book is a fascinating story and discussion about how one woman's personal jewelry collection was used to make diplomatic history. The book explores the use of the brooch as a means of personal expression, and in the case of Ms. Albright, as a diplomatic expression. It features galleries of stunning photographs of the jewelry and gives new insight into the personality of Secretary Albright, who was secretary of state during the Clinton administration.

I found this exerpt from the book particularly charming:

Before long, and without intending it, I found that jewelry had become part of my personal diplomatic arsenal. Former president George H. W. Bush had been known for saying "Read my lips." I began urging colleagues and reporters to "Read my pins."

Madeleine Albright is currently hosting a series of book signing events and discussions of her book around the country. She will be at Barnes and Noble book store in Bethseda, MD this Saturday, October 3 to discuss and sign the book. The Cambridge, MA Harvard Book store is also hosting a unique luncheon with Ms. Albright on Friday, October 2 (tickets only - $90), discussion and book signing. (A complimentary copy of the book is included with your ticket.)

Be sure to check your local media outlets for more events like this. Her exhibition at MAD in NY will be going on until January 31, 2010, so I expect there to be many more book signings and events like the luncheon.

Read my pins features more than 200 photographs as well as lively stories about jewelry, global politics, and the career of one of the world's most respected and fascinating public servants and diplomats. It is available at leading book retailers and many online book websites, including Amazon.com.