76 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {home & design} PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ONYSKO / GLEIM THE JEWELER offers complimentary evaluations and redesign consultations. When asked about the allure that makes vintage pieces so sought-after, Stephen has a ready answer. “Vintage jewelry collectors want to purchase and wear a piece of history,” he says. “They love a good story and the more you can tell them about a piece’s provenance, stylistic context and material qualities, the more they appreciate it. These pieces were made to last, often painstakingly fabricated by master goldsmiths using heritage techniques passed down through the generations.” Stephen says that there is a special appeal to acquiring this type of jewelry. “Collecting vintage and estate jewelry is like embarking on a treasure hunt. Each piece is a time capsule waiting to be opened and understood.” Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry began as an estate jewelry firm in 1980 and is also family-owned and -run. They have two locations, a boutique in Menlo Park and a private salon in Redwood City. Stephen explains why vintage and antique jewelry make up the cornerstone of the business. “My father fell in love with estate jewelry early in his career, recognizing the superior quality and unique character these pieces offer—qualities that can be rare in the contemporary fine jewelry landscape,” Stephen says. His company obtains vintage jewelry from individuals, estates and a “global network of suppliers, international trade shows and private clientele.” Like Gleim, Stephen Silver Before collecting estate jewelry, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the defining characteristics of different styles. While every era has its devotees—from Georgian and Edwardian to midcentury modern—the most popular periods include Victorian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Here is a cheat sheet, with information from Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry. Victorian jewelry is known for its rich ornamentation and romantic symbolism, often featuring lockets, charms, signet rings, garnets, crosses and mourning jewelry, crafted in yellow or rose gold. Despite the era’s cultural conservatism, these 19th-century pieces were often whimsical and deeply personal. Art Nouveau jewelry, from the early part of the 20th century, introduced flowing forms, whiplash swirls, elongated proportions and organic patterns. Chic jewelry makers like Lalique often used colored gemstones, pearls and enamel to bring designs to life. Art Deco emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, using geometric forms, Egyptian revival motifs and Jazz Age opulence. Great houses like Cartier crafted bold pieces in platinum, often pairing diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds with exotic materials like onyx. This era is known for wide, gem-paved bracelets and opera-length necklaces. beautiful baubles Gleim the Jeweler: gleimjewelers.com Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry: shsilver.com heirloom eras
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==