Christmas jewellery fun
by Theresa Nolet

Brooches in the shape of Rudolph’s nose that blink on and off, little bell shaped earrings that have computer generated musical renditions of jingle bells softly playing – whether you love them or hate them, it could be that these will be the sought after collectibles of tomorrow. Christmas jewellery – what exactly does it all mean?

Well, first and foremost it is fun and colorful, and also a great way to exhibit your enthusiasm for the holiday season. You can be the first one to break out the Rudolph blinking brooch or you can wear a beautiful vintage rhinestone tree by Trifari.

But whatever you wear at this time of the year it is usually not subtle!

I do not know who first created a brooch in the image of a Christmas tree but I do know that jewellers have crafted them from gold and diamonds sold in high-end stores like Birk’s Jewellers to ones fashioned from pot metal and rhinestones sold in Woolworth’s five and dime. We of course are talking today about the costume jewellery items.

Christmas jewellery is not limited to trees. You can also find bells, pine cones, wreaths, reindeer and Santa Claus, as well as many religious Christmas themed pieces featuring angels, stars and even tiny manger scenes.

In the last decade more unique items connected with the holiday season have surfaced like teddy bears and kittens in stockings and jewellery that is related to movies and books.

So now that you have come down out of the attic clutching the Christmas pin you remember Grandma wearing, we come to the question that is always of interest – what is it worth? Well it is not uncommon to find a designer signed costume rhinestone Christmas brooch valued in the hundreds of dollars.

Not to despair however if you haven’t inherited any Christmas jewellery and desire to start collecting. This is an area of prolific production and there are lots to be had in the $20 to $100 range.

One final note, if you’ve seen one of those Christmas tree wall pictures made out of pieces of rhinestone jewellery that have been cut up and glued onto a black velvet background, please hold off on the wire cutters. I beg of you, don’t snip the back off of a single piece until you are sure that you will not be cutting up one of those $300 dollar brooches we are talking about, just to create a pretty, but largely monetarily worthless item!

Theresa Nolet owns Jardin Estate Jewelry and Antiques in Okanagan Falls, BC.
For more info on what vintage jewellery is worth visit www.jardinantiques.com.