✭ Back in the saddle sale ✭

15% off the shop through Sunday!

Critter jewelry

There was a little challenge on Instagram last month to share your "critter" jewelery. Here is mine! Some of these are from my personal collection but most of them are in the shop. It's a little heavy on the snakes, I know, but there is also a swan, a pig, and bunny in there!

If you don't already follow Jean Jean on Instagram, come on OVER!

Scarab rings

I happened upon a bunch of loose, mid-century "scarabs" - carved semi-precious stones and bright glass cabochons, just waiting for a project. I decided to try a super simple ring design and I am very pleased with the results. Look for a selection of these custom rings in the shop later this Spring!

5th Anniversary Sale

 

Happy 5th Birthday to Jean Jean Vintage! I listed my first items in the shop five years ago today. I kept my tiny inventory in an old tool box (above), which doubled as the backdrop for my photos. I walked to the post office with my orders in a little purse. There was no Facebook page, no Twitter account, no Instagram, no electronic labels, no fancy camera . . . just Etsy and my little blog. Some of my very first customers from 2010 are still regular visitors to the shop now, five years later, which is a great joy and honor to me.

I almost closed the business in 2012 (inches away!) but I am glad I didn't because it has turned into something bigger and better in the last year or so. I am very pleased to offer fine jewelry now, especially engagement pieces and custom rings, and I have great things in the works for this year. Things will slow down a bit later this spring with the arrival of our second child (!) but the show will go on, I promise. Thank you for coming along on the ride. Here's to five more years.

Please enjoy 20% off the shop for the next few days (March 12-14) 

and THANK YOU for your enthusiasm and support!

Art Deco diamond cocktail ring

I was so excited to find this one. It is a 14K white gold filigree Art Deco ring set with three Old European Cut diamonds. The diamonds are set in octagonal bezels in a North-South (vertical) stack. Gorgeous die-casting with twenty-two piercings around the setting, including a star-like frame of triangles around the central diamond. Hand sawed and engraved details to accent, with two orange blossoms engraved at either end and feathering on the shoulders. A sparkling engagement ring or a pretty cocktail ring!

Happy Long Weekend

I hope everyone is enjoying a long weekend. Things have been busy around Jean Jean Headquarters lately. Here was a quiet moment from the afternoon yesterday, which was sunny and freezing around these parts!

Valentine's Giveaway ♥

I am hosting a giveaway with Ruby over at mycakies just in time for Valentine's Day! To enter, just leave a comment on her Instagram post telling who you would like to send this sweet package to (your sister? your best friend? your amazing co-worker?) and why. The package includes a vintage 12K GF and sterling silver heart locket, a chocolate treat, and a Valentine's Day card. Giveaway ends 8 PM PST on Wednesday. I will ship the package to you, or directly to your friend, first thing Thursday morning via Priority Mail to get it there in time for Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day!

Lately in the shop

Happy New Year! The shop is off to a great start, with lots of new inventory and some special projects in the works. I will celebrate my 5th Jean Jean Vintage-versary next month so stay tuned for a special birthday sale!

Lately in the shop

A few photos from around the shop lately. If you fancy a bit of holiday shopping this weekend, you will find a super-top-secret coupon code over on My Cakies Blog. Ruby did a sweet write up of Jean Jean Vintage and has a great discount to offer readers. Bon weekend!

❆ HOLIDAY SALE ❆

Jean Jean Vintage is 15% off for the holiday weekend, Black Friday through December 1st! Happy Holiday weekend - I can't wait to send you something special.

Shop: Necklaces ▴ Lockets and pendants ▴ Rings ▴ Bracelets ▴ Earrings ▴ Brooches and pins

Necklaces coming soon . . .

These (and more!) necklaces are coming to the shop very soon. Holiday prep is almost done here at Jean Jean Vintage! There will be lots of new listings in the next few weeks and a big sale (shh!) for Black Friday and the weekend to follow. What is on your Jean Jean wishlist?

New rings

Five très jolies rings just hit the shop. The moss agate is my favorite, the intaglio is the rarest, the tourmaline and amethyst is the sparkliest, the cigar band is the most wearable, and the pale amethyst and seed pearl is the prettiest. All winners.

Custom Victorian glass signet seal rings

I recently acquired several Victorian glass intaglio seals, loose and begging to be set as rings. I've chosen to set them simply in 10K yellow gold. The prongs grip the seal at the beveled side, allowing the intaglio face to remain unhindered (i.e. if you want to actually stamp with your ring, you can!) The seals are deep, giving the rings an impressive profile. Orders placed by the middle of November can be ready in time for Christmas - what a perfect gift! $680 + shipping. Layaway optional.

The signets read, left to right, top to bottom:

Elle est legere (It is lightweight), with an image of a chain

Paix a mon ami (Peace to my friend), with a dove and laurel branch

Je me change qu'en mourant (I will remain steadfast until death), with a leaf SOLD

Le globe est ma patrie (the planet is my nation/country), with a globe

Qui me neglige, me perd (He who neglects me, loses me), with a bird escaping a cage SOLD

May the (wings) of friendship never lose (a feather), with wings and a feather

Repondez s'il vous plait (Reply, if you please)

A's well that ends well . . . , with a thistle

Usque ad cineres (Until ashes), with clasped hands

We part to meet again, with a pair of scissors SOLD 

If you are interested in ordering a custom ring, please contact me.

Victorian Stag Locket

I just listed an incredible locket this afternoon - a ca. 1880s Victorian stag locket with enamel details. The stag was a symbol of harmony and honor ("will fight if needed" kind of thing) to the Victorians and Queen Victoria herself had several items of jewelry with either stag teeth or stag motifs. Her husband, Prince Albert, enjoyed hunting the animal. The blue enamel on the locket forms the horizon behind the stag, which stand majestically on a rocky slope. The details on the animal are wonderful and the locket is in excellent condition. I don't believe it was ever worn, actually.

In this article, you can read about some of the teeth (human and animal!) jewelry that Queen Victoria possessed and see a fascinating stag tooth necklace gifted to her by Prince Albert.

HONEYBEE Czech necklace

This necklace, which is most certainly Czech in origin, makes me very excited. It is so rare to find front-clasp necklace like this. In fact, I was only able to find three other examples around the web this week (two of which come from this shop, which I would argue has the best selection of collectible Czech jewelry on Etsy). What makes this necklace even more interesting is the color choice - bold, nearly neon yellow and black. I've truly never seen anything like it. I hope it goes to a great home.