Vintage Costume Jewelry By Top Designers For Discerning Collectors

If you happen to be wandering the historic streets of Montreal, Quebec, or more precisely, find yourself wondering what to do in nearby Westmount, then I highly recommend a trip to an exclusive, appointment only, showroom that offers a glimpse of some of the best vintage costume jewelry by top designers like Chanel.

Just in case your jewelry journeys don’t include a trip to Canada, I suggest traveling by Internet and browsing an online showroom of two remarkable ladies, Sandy and Sheryl (from Absoluxe), whose passion it is to scour the globe for the most exquisite collectable vintage brooches, pins, bangle bracelets, cuffs, and even necklaces like the magnificent 1970’s vintage item by Chanel called the Green Gripiox Pearl Necklace and Pendant.

It’s breathtaking to enter a room where there’s a woman wearing Chanel; not the perfume which is possible to get a whiff of near most cosmetic’s counters, but a woman wearing a finely tailored suite like the ones Jacqueline Kennedy wore (and not on a runway), or to encounter a lady who’s chosen to accent even a simple white blouse with a gem-studded cuff by the ex Louis Vuitton and Hermes designer: Isabel Canovas. But that is exactly what will surround you, either on an online tour or in person, at Absoluxe, a little place I stumbled upon by accident. What an accident! Let me show you what’s available in bangle bracelets, cuffs and other little glamorous retro treats.

In 1980 Isabel Canovas was still creating the eccentric masterpieces like the Cranberry Cabochon Cuff , and although they’re no longer available anywhere other tan vintage shops (or in collector’s treasure troves), you can find that piece and others in the collections put together by Sandy and Sheryl.

Or how about a 1950’s Sherman Swarovski Hinged Cuff? Yes, it’s in the secret showroom, and if you have about $3,000, it can be part of your collection or the perfect accessory that takes away a breath or two when you enter a room. But there’s an even better bit of costume jewelry bling that just oozes good taste and that’s the 1960’s Chanel Amethyst Gripoix Cluster Cuff that could be in a museum or on your wrist. Rescue it from a life under glass and bring it back to the world of the living with just $6,500. In case you don’t know, the piece is comprised of amethyst gripoix stones, accented with rhinestones and set in a delicate filigree gold-tone setting. Although it makes a bold statement, the delicacy of the craftsmanship is obvious in the tiniest of details in the filigree scrollwork, the three focal amethysts that are round offset with grape-like amethysts – 3 on either side, for a total of 9 gemstones in rich lavender-purple.

The bangle that is a must have for any true Chanel collector is the classic 1980’s Leather and Gold Icon Button bracelet. With emblems and the interior Chanel stamp, there’s no confusing this piece of vintage jewelry with an imitation. Considering what it is, it’s reasonably priced at just $2,550. 

Although I could go on all day about the possible items to choose from, or just look at with awe, I’ll leave you with a final fabulous item that’s also from the  80’s, when charm bracelets were a la mode (as they are once again since fashion cycles seem to overlap every 20 or 25 years). The Chanel Icon charm bracelet includes the bracelet and 5 or 6 charms, which include the classic emblems of the day: a delicate golden angel, a bottle of Coco Chanel perfume (not really with perfume just the charm), the classic Camelia quilted bag and a few others. If you want to make it your own, it’s possible for just $2,400. 

I have to force my hands to stop writing because they want to run on and on and tell you all about the other vintage costume jewelry pieces that are simply to die for, from other designers like Coppola E Toppo, and pieces like the Jet Black Collier, which is a multi-strand necklace in black jet that sparkles like black diamonds….but that will have to be another story. Until then, I leave you with a video about the secret behind Coco Chanel – her perfumes, her pearls and her fabulous purses. Enjoy!