| Women have collected and worn vintage jewellery | | | | possibly be more expensive than an oval shape with |
| for many decades now, a vintage brooch, necklace | | | | a tiny diamond in the centre. |
| or earrings makes a welcome and popular gift and is | | | | Most antique stick pins have a spiral groove around |
| sure to be kept and admired for many years to | | | | the pin which was used to screw on a "keeper" |
| come. But what about the gentlemen? There is | | | | which acted to prevent the stick pin from coming |
| plenty of vintage jewellery around for them too and | | | | loose. This is one indicator in telling if your stick pin is |
| with films like Holmes popularising vintage gents | | | | antique or more modern as modern copies do not |
| clothing like caps and waistcoats the men in your life | | | | tend to have this groove. You can see an example |
| would appreciate a piece of vintage jewellery too. | | | | of this groove in the third photo below of the opal |
| You could give your man a ring, earring or neck chain | | | | stick pin. |
| but here are a few pieces of vintage means | | | | Watch chains |
| jewellery you may not have thought of: | | | | A watch chain is often known as an Albert after |
| Stick pins, Ties pins or Lapel pins - three different | | | | Queen Victorias husband Prince Albert who first |
| name for the same piece of Jewelry more regularly | | | | popularised the wearing of these chains. There are |
| worn by men than women. These little pins seem | | | | two types of Albert watch chains single and double. |
| very quaint and old fashioned these days but they | | | | A single Albert watch chain would have a T bar at |
| are also very collectible - I recently saw a show on | | | | one end and a dog clip at the other. A double Albert |
| television where even small and humble examples | | | | watch chain has a central T bar with two chains |
| were valued at £100. | | | | hanging from it, each chain having a dog clip at each |
| The stick pin is smaller and less showy than a brooch | | | | end. Look out for chains where the links are |
| but can be worn in much the same manner on the | | | | graduated being larger at the centre than at the ends |
| lapel of a jacket or pinned through a tie to both | | | | also look out for the lion hallmark being stamped on |
| decorate it and keep it in place. What differentiates it | | | | each link. |
| from a brooch is the way it is made and held in place. | | | | Your watch chain will usually have a very short chain |
| The stick pin has the decorative element at the top | | | | hanging from the T bar, this will just measure an inch |
| of a long stick rather than having a pin behind it. This | | | | or two. You can attach a fob from this chain to |
| allows the decorative detail to be very small if | | | | complete the Albert. |
| required. These were worn by Victorian and | | | | Fobs |
| Edwardian Gentleman and Ladies however these | | | | As mentioned above, fobs hung from watch chains |
| days they are more seen as Jewelry for Gentlemen. | | | | but they can also be worn on a neck chain or |
| The key to desirability of a stick pin is a combination | | | | attached to a key ring. You can find fobs made of |
| of the materials used ( gold and diamonds being | | | | silver or gold. Some are in the form of sporting |
| more expensive than silver and crystal for example) | | | | medals being engraved to the winner of a cricket, |
| and also the subject of the stick pin. A silver and | | | | swimming or perhaps a music or poetry competition. |
| crystal stick pin in the shape on a monkey would | | | | Desirable fobs are enameled in multi colours. |