Cerrito Jewelry

I have come across only three pieces of jewelry made by a company called CERRITO. 

One was this lovely rose brooch:

Another was this Orchid brooch:

And a third was a gorgeous Dogwood blossom brooch that I gave directly to my mother and didn't take a picture of. (Pity)

According to the Illusion Jewels website, the ©Cerrito signature is for Cerrito Jewelry Limited, Inc out of Johnston, Rhode Island, and they started production in the late 1970s. The above mentioned orchid brooch is also stamped with a year (1982). 

There really is not a whole lot of information out there about Cerrito jewelry. What I have found is that Cerrito still makes jewelry and still exists. (Some business websites list their trademark as "active" while others list it as "inactive.") Although I have not seen any Cerrito jewelry advertised for sale here in the U.S, there was an old New York Times article from April 16, 1989 that discusses a trade organzation founded by "John Cerrito, president of Cerrito Jewelry Ltd." whose purpose was to cultivate foreign business.

Regardless of their current status, the jewelry that I have come across has been well made, and very realistic. The dogwood blossom brooch was so lifelike, I expected it to blow away in the breeze! (You'll have to trust me on this, as again, I didn't get pictures of it.)  The orchid brooch above also looks exactly like a Cymbidium Orchid! 



Photo from Fiftyflowers.com

I just wish that I had more information about the company, their history, and their inspiration!


Websites used as resources for this post:

IllusionJewels

New York Times

Randolph Street Market Finds

This past weekend was the last full Randolph Street Market of the season, and I found some fantastic pieces!

I was able to pick up several fantastic pairs of cufflinks, from some watermelon rivolis to a set of silver toned beer steins, to  fantastic set featuring men in armor sword fighting!  I also found a gorgeous demi parur featureing topaz toned rhinestones and some amazing molded glass leaves!  The mesh thing up in the upper right corner is about 5 feet long! It makes a fantastic mesh scarf that can be tied in many ways for many looks! (It has to be my favorite find!)  There's also some amazing brooches and bracelets. Ooooh, and in the upper left corner is a bee brooch with a genuine piece of amber!

I've been on a buying spree lately, but my listing hasn't been at the same speed.  I'm hoping that within the next few weeks I'll get more things listed in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.

In the meantime, enjoy looking at my finds and let me know if anything appeals to you!

Sold!

It's been a while since I've posted some of the items that have sold recently from my shop.  I don't know if anyone else really likes seeing this, but I think it's kind of fun to see stuff that other people buy!  I have had quite a few sales recently, so I think I'm going to limit today's post to sales for August thus far.

The pictures are linked to the transaction page so you can see additional details if you are curious.  There are more gorgeous items available for purchase in my Etsy shop! (Click Here!)

August 2:

Vintage Rhinestone Swirl Brooch

Lovely brooch features a large central rhinestone with 6 slightly smaller rhinestones surrounding it, then swirling "arms" of rhinestones radiating out. A total of 37 rhinestones forms this lovely piece.

August 3:

DESTASH - Vintage Earring Lot

Destash lot contains 8 pairs of earrings. Some screw back, most are clip earrings. 3 pairs are signed: Coro, Hobe, and Charel.

August 5:

Vintage Huge Domed Rhinestone Earrings

Stunning rhinestone earrings each feature 38 rhinestones. Baguettes, navettes and chatons are are arranged in a domed kite shape for added affect and to capture as much light as possible! Re-inforced in the back with a metal rod, these earrings are statement pieces!

August 10:

Vintage Olive Green Multi Stranded Extra Long Necklace

8 strands of olive green faceted plastic beads fill out this gorgeous vintage necklace from the 1960s. Extra long length means you can double it or even triple loop it if you want. Texturized gold toned caps finish off the strands at the clasp.

DESTASH - Lot of Vintage Brooches 

Destash lot contains 16 brooches. Most are vintage, some could be newer. Most of the brooches are still wearable, however there are some with damage, i.e. missing stones, verdesgris, finish loss, missing pin shafts. Three brooches are signed: Hobe, Giovanni, Made in Austria.

August 11:

Vintage Spiked Gold Ball Necklace and Earring Set - Designer Signed - Trifari - Double Stranded

Fun and funky double stranded necklace and drop earrings feature spikey texturized gold balls and shiney gold beads. Even the clasp is spikey! Designer signed, these are definitely attention getters! Clip on earrings also feature two sizes of spikey gold balls and a smooth gold bead.

Vintage Molded Glass AB Cufflinks and Tie Tac Set - Designer Signed - Swank

Unique cufflink and tie-tac set is reminiscent of chips of ice or little icebergs. Molded class stones are shaped like chunks of ice and shimmer with multiple shades of blues. Even the silver toned settings look like ice with their craggy texturized surface!

August 12:

Vintage Sterling Silver Siamese Bracelet and Earrings

Gorgeous Vintage Bracelet and Earring set features traditional Siamese Niello Enamelling and Silver work. The bracelet features panels held together with rings. Each octagonal panel features one of three different images:

1 - Mekkala(h), the Goddess of Lightning - shown with lightning bolts coming from her hand. A well known figure in Thai culture.

2 -Dancing Angel - depicted with a long curved garland (looks like rope) held behind the back. Were warriors who were magically turned into angels (Ramayana).

3 -Nang Fa, the Fairy of Happiness - looks like she is dropping stardust from her hand to the floor.

The bracelet is just under 7 inches long and is signed STERLING MADE IN SIAM .925.

The earrings are screw back and each feature an image of a traditional Siamese dancer. They are also signed SIAM STERLING. They have a traditional Siamese paisely shape.

Vintage Black Rhinestone Necklace and Earring Set - 1960s or 1970s

Elegant and simple necklace and clip on earring set features jet black rhinestones set into gold toned settings. The necklace has a single large open backed, unfoiled navette rhinestone on a chain of chatons. The earrings feature an open backed, unfoiled navette hanging from a chain of five chatons.

Frosted Glass Rhinestone Necklace - For UpCycle or Repair

Fun and flirty necklace features large frosted glass and aurora borealis rhnestones on a silver figure 8 chain. Hook and ball closure. Silver toned settings. I marked it for UpCycle or Repair because some of a condition issue.

August 13:

Vintage Coro Topaz & Amber leaf Necklace - Designer Signed - 1960s Mad Men Style

Lovely necklace features texturized gold leaves, faux pearls, topaz rhinestones and amber colored rhinestones. This necklace is perfect for adding a classic 60's touch to your outfit without being too costume-y.

August 14:

Vintage Rhinestone Choker Accented with Pear Shape Rhinestones

Stunning choker features 11 large pear shaped rhienstones sandwiched between two strands of rhinestones. Between each pear shaped stone are an additional 2 rhinestones. Hook fastened.

Emerald and Peridot Rhinestone Demi Parure - Brooch and Bracelet set - Vintage 1950s or 1960s

Sumptuous set features large 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch emerald green cushion cut rhinestones accented with tiny peridot chatons. All prong set into gold toned settings, these pieces are an elegant addition to your collection.

The brooch features 9 large emerald green cushions, 4 more smaller cushions (3/8 inch by 1/4 inch), and 32 peridot toned chatons arranged into a diamond shape.

The bracelet features 7 large cushions and four rows of 25 peridot stones. (That's 107 total rhinestones!)

Randolph Street Market

On Saturday, I took one of my oldest friends for her first trip to the Randolph Street Market in Chicago.  We had a blast looking at all of the great antiques, vintage items, jewelry, and quirky things!  We even saw a pair of Laurel and Hardy lamps!  My family has a love of all things Laurel and Hardy, as my brothers are essentially Stan and Oliver re-incarnated. 

You can see so much other great stuff in the background of this photo!  I absolutely adore the market.  They had some amazing food vendors.  The lovely french nuns were there selling their baked goods from the St. Roger Abbey. Both my friend and I purchased incredible chocolate croissants and my friend also picked up a blackberry poundcake.  We also had lunch at a crepe stand at the fair also. (Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of the crepe stand).

Anyway, of course, I purchased a bunch of jewelry while there.  I picked up several sterling silver brooches, some really cool cufflinks and a gorgeously stunning 1940s trembler brooch (top right of the picture).  It's not a huge haul as I did have to pay higher prices due to the venue, however I think I did well. 

What's in Style Right Now? "Vintage Look"

All right, I admit it. Its my dirty secret. I susbscribe to O magazine.

There.  It's out.  Don't judge me.

You're judging me, aren't you?

Anyway, Oprah.com featured this necklace by Lia Sophia as one of its "Great Buys of the Week" last week. 



Necklace by LiaSophia.com Photo from Oprah.com

Here's what they had to say about it. "Love the cameo look but afraid that broaches are too fusty? The central pendant on this necklace is traditional, but it's updated by four whimsical others, plus it's hung on a sleek silver chain."

Oh, and it's $98. 

Why not take your own vintage brooches and make a necklace similar for less money?  There's a neat trick I picked upon pinterest that uses straws! I know, straws!

The original link from pinterest goes back to http://www.tigercatjewelrystore.com/tip&tricks.shtml. They show you how to use a commercial jewelry converter, and how to use a straw. 

String your brooches onto a chain, or link a few together, and you've made something similar.

Or better yet, if you aren't handy / crafty and you want to support small businesses, go to Etsy and do a search for "vintage brooch necklace."  You'll come up with some gorgeous one-of-a-kind necklaces that are just as stylish as the one Oprah featured!

For example:

Vinchique = $48

FishersBeeHive = $35

FiorellaJewelry = $82

BrassBoheme = $65

In my opinion, all of these necklaces are more charming and have more personality than the factory made piece we started out looking at. 

What's in style right now? Vintage...upcycled!

Two of my current favorite pieces

I do collect jewelry, and I sell jewelry.  Sometimes I'll buy a piece intending to sell it so that I can then buy more expensive pieces, but then I end up falling in love with them.  My husband tells me to list everything I buy for the purpose of selling, regardless of if I fall in love with those pieces.  I have two pieces listed in my Etsy store that I am getting the biggest kick out of wearing lately.  I get so many compliments on them that I'm surprised they haven't sold yet!

The first is a vintage milk glass and metal floral brooch that also has a bail on the back to be worn as a pendant.  It is so cute, springy and lovely!  It weighs almost next to nothing and doesn't appear from any one particular decade.  I'd guess it to be in the 1960's but it works with modern styles so easily!  (You can see the listing here.)

The second is also a brooch and pendant combo.  This one has the tiniest cameo set in the middle of an abstract-ish five petal flower and accented with small rhinestones.  It too is so modern looking but with that vintage flavor, I'm not sure why it hasn't sold either!  (You can see the listing here.)

I certainly hope you can see why I love these pieces!  They've got so much personality. Both are unsigned, but both have prong-set stones and lovely detail work.

Why I love Vintage

It's so cool!

The pieces are usually very different from anything you'll find in "mall-world" and they have such personality.  Just like jewelry at the mall, there are different price points in vintage jewelry.  So no matter what your budget you can find pieces you like and can afford. 

Most of the pieces are well made.  As evidence in the fact they've made it this long, many vintage jewelry pieces are simply constructed better than modern pieces.  Let's face it, quality has dropped as companies have lowered standards inorder to raise profits.

Speaking of price point, the other thing with vintage jewelry is that its collectible.  So when you're ready to move up in price-point, you can always re-sell the jewelry you have in order to buy more of what you want.  There are all sorts of collectors out there.

Here's one of my favorite pieces in my collection right now.  This little heart pin I bought recently at a local antique store for $5.00.  It was labeled as purple glass and "antique."  Turns out it is a genuine amethyst, with a gold plated over silver setting, and is worth over $100.  Beyond the fabulous bargain, I wear it because it makes me smile...and that's what good jewelry should do.  It should make you feel pretty and make you smile.  I happen to find that joy in Vintage jewelry.

I have two pieces very similar in appearance to this on sale at my Etsy store. One is a GLP signed brooch, and the other is unsigned, but still gorgeous!