When you’re passionate about jewellery, Christmas takes on a particularly scintillating aspect, especially if you go in to collect Christmas-themed jewellery. Does this really exist? And how!
The tree can be as simple as its designer makes it or become as bling-ful as anything you’ve ever seen
Jewellery themes are many and varied, with each theme being particular to itself – some people concentrate on collecting jewellery originating from specific periods in time – Art Nouveau, 1920s, Wartime, Victorian – the list is endless.
Others are even more specific and keep only wood jewellery, sentimental jewellery, jelly belly, floral, ethnic, thus going across periods in time, scouring sources for anything within their area of preference. The list of possibilities are endless within this minor decorative art form.
Christmas-inspired jewellery is a highly collectable branch. The vintage fine costume category is especially rich and varied in this genre, with a whole gamut of options to choose from.
The fashion of wearing something significantly Christmassy on one’s person took off in earnest during Queen Victoria’s reign. She will be remembered as one of the western world’s best trendsetters, and one of the habits she adopted earnestly was that of celebrating festivities through her clothes and choice of accessories.
She was copied widely, and wearing a miniature Christmas wreath on one’s corsage was not a rare thing in this epoch. Slowly the idea that women could show signs of celebration on their own dress took off.
As has happened with most quirky fads, the collecting craze eventually exploded in the US some time in the 1950s.
In people’s minds, Christmas jewellery became associated with feelings of merriment, of homeliness and fun, with standard subjects that were turned into pretty imagery such as the snowman, the wreath, the reindeer and Santa Claus.
Quite naturally, collectors in the US started referring to Christmas jewellery as ‘holiday jewellery’.
The first Christmas jewellery design to become really popularised by the masses was the Christmas tree. Having said that, however, Christmas tree pins are now collected by jewellery connoisseurs the world over. Why the Christmas tree should become more popular than the wreath or the snowman is perhaps due to the fact that as a stylised design it lends itself to varied possibilities of embellishment.
It is a simple design in itself, easy to draw and to remember, and doodling it in with all sorts of accessories is somewhat fun.
It can be as simple as its designer makes it or become as bling-ful as anything you’ve ever seen.
Most jewellery designers and jewellery producers have created a Christmas tree pin for their collections at some point in time, ranging from Stanley Hagler and Lea Stein, to Swarovski and Avon.
Swarovski, for instance, have since 1990, produced a whole series of Christmas trees, and the assortment and design variations are quite impressive. Other brand names to look out for when seeking collectible vintage Christmas tree pins are Swoboda, Clarke, Bauer, Eisenberg, Shultz, VBRA and Attruia.
Rhinestones, lucite, bakelite, wood, crystals, enamel, aurora borealis, millefiore beads, plus a variety of metals have all been used produce some of the most ingenuously created Christmas tree pins.
Then, of course, there are Christmas bears, stars, bells, snowflakes, angels, poinsiettas, Santa and reindeer. Anyone who cannot decide which to pick out and which to leave out might decide to have a charm bracelet created, entirely made of Christmas-themed charms.
Then there are jewellery items which are intrinsically Christmas-themed but which could very well be included in a Christmas jewellery collection. Take snowflake charms, pins, brooches or pendants.
Consider also red- and green-coloured beaded or enamelled jewellery.
But the most obvious choice remains the Christmas tree pin. If you’re tempted to choose one for yourself, be aware that the collection of such pins is a never-ending one.
There are lovely instant mini collections to be purchased on eBay if you’re in a big rush to start out in this direction.
If you’d rather go for the branded names, be prepared to spend a small fortune on the rarer ones. Do not be tempted to believe that just because some jewellery within this genre is considered costume jewellery, it should be selling cheap.
Costume jewellery that is vintage and highly collectible can fetch soaring prices. You just have to know what to look out for.
And remember, if you invest in an item of Christmas jewellery, the chances are you will only be wearing it once a year.