It was really exciting for a bunch of jewelry enthusiasts to look through all of your entries and read your stories. All of your pieces were amazing, and while it was incredibly difficult, we had to pick a winner.
The winning entry was sent in by Lyndsay Maver, who sent us a picture of a charm bracelet handed down to her by her mother, with a very entertaining story attached to it.
Lyndsay wrote, “This is my mom's charm bracelet. It is extra special because during her junior year of high school, she went to the jersey shore after prom, and lost the beloved bracelet on the beach. Horrified, she could not tell her mother. But a year later, when she was walking that same beach, she found it right there in the sand. It found its way back to her and now it has found its way to me.”
Congratulations Lyndsay, happy shopping!
In addition, since we were so impressed by all of your entries, we decided to pick two runners up, each of which will win a pair of our antique flower earrings.
Our first runner up was sent in by Megan Hilson, who shared with us her grandmother’s stunning wedding ring from the 1940s.
Megan wrote, “For my wedding, my mother gave me her mother's wedding ring, as both a gift and to wear as my "something old." My grandmother was married in the 1940's, after my grandfather returned from WWII. She passed away when I was eleven years old.
I had always coveted my grandmother's ring, captivated by its elegance and unique setting. I remember sneaking into my mother's jewelry box when I was younger, slipping it on my wedding finger, dreaming about finding my true love just as my grandmother had when she met my grandfather. When my mother gifted it to me for my wedding, I was beyond touched that she would entrust me with this irreplaceable family hierloom. As a young girl, I wanted my grandmother's ring for its beauty; now, I treasure it as an enduring reminder of my grandmother and the love that she shared with my grandfather. I wear it often and think of her. Of course, there are vintage jewels with larger gemstones, that are worth "more." But, to me, my grandmother's ring is truly priceless.”
Our other runner up was another charm bracelet, this one sent in by Jaynee Budovsky. Hers came with stories about several of her charms, as well as an excellent picture of her mother, her style inspiration, winning a beauty contest in the 1960s.
Jaynee wrote, “My favorite piece of vintage jewelry is my sterling charm bracelet. I purchased the bracelet (circa 1950's) and then slowly added the sterling charms. Each charm has a special significance to me and date from 1890 to the 1960's. Here are some examples of the charms:
-Love token dated 1890 with my initials, JEB.
-Statue of Liberty and New York State in blue (my favorite color) because I was born in NYC.
-A gondola which reminds me of our trip to Venice (very romantic!)
-The state of Florida, because my family lives there and my younger son attends university there.
-A crown (I've been told that I am somewhat of a "princess".)
-A megaphone – I wanted to be a cheerleader in high school and never made it.
-A mailbox because for two years my husband and I wrote letters to each other (we were in a long distance relationship) until we got married.
I could go on and on. Each charm is very special.
The reason why I decided to acquire a charm bracelet is because of my mother. I call her my glamour girl. She won a beauty contest in the mid 1960's on the SS Oceanic. She was Miss Phone-y U.S.A. She wore a gold lame two-piece bathing suit. Very risque. I loved her style then and now. She is still a force to be reckoned with. Always fashionable, always up to the minute and always in vogue. She owned a beautiful, chunky gold charm bracelet and my father would buy her charms for birthdays, anniversaries and the birth of her three children. I loved that bracelet.”
Thanks again for all of your entries, and check back for more contests in the future!
