Author: tambourinejewelry

Remembering Ramon Villegas

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Mr. Ramon Villegas, an antique jeweler and historian was the person I could go to to give accurate information on old Filipino jewelry. He would not only date them but gave interesting tidbits as well. Several years ago, while making promotional materials for my online business, I asked if I could quote his book.  While this was originally written by my friend, Rachelle Medina, he obliged and even gave a suggested edited quote which I still use to this day: “When the Philippines became a Spanish colony, devotional jewelry came to replace native amulets and talismans. To the converted Filipinos, it was not only a way to express their new Christian faith but also to adorn themselves, even as they followed strict austerity measures imposed by the Spanish crown on all subjects. Filipinos wore cross and scapular pendants and rosaries. The latter were made of tamborin beads, referring to the filigree technique, which utilized fine wires and granules worked within a tambour or frame. In the beginning, the rosario necklaces had beads arranged in decades, interspersed with larger …

So You Think You Bought New Jewelry?

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Some Filipinos have an aversion to wearing old jewelry especially if they don’t know who wore it before.  I heard that some believe that if the person who previously owned the jewelry had violent tendencies, then the next person who wears it will be like that too.  How strange. It’s funny though.  Oh, if they only knew where some of the “new” jewelry they buy in retail shops come from. We, Filipinos love to buy jewelry.  Not only it is a good investment but when times are hard, it can easily be converted to cash.  Some do this by going to pawnshops.  Just look around in the Philippines, there’s always a pawnshop near you. But what happens if you can’t redeem what you pawned due to lack of cash?  Well, the pawnshop includes it in their items for auction or locally referred to as “subasta”. The pawnshops put them in lots according to their value.  These lots are then auctioned off to jewelry dealers or volume buyers.  When I say “volume buyers”, I mean jewelry …

Healing From Mourning

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Losing a loved one is never easy but losing someone during the holidays somehow magnifies the sadness.  The recent holidays were difficult as my father-in-law passed away.  My husband looked up to him and my children adored him. During the mass before the inurnment, the priest said that a person can die three times.  The first one is when he stops breathing, the second one is when he is laid to rest and the third time is when we forget the deceased. I lost my Dad when I was still in college.  It was heartbreaking to see my Mom hold on to my Dad’s old shirt just so she can remember how he smelled like.  Over the years, I have forgotten how his voice sounded like. I look around my home and realized that save for a few pictures, I don’t have anything my Dad owned.  Good thing my Mom recently gave me his abacus which he was oddly trying to learn at that time.  🙂 It is easy to forget because healing from mourning …

A Feature on Manila Bulletin Newspaper and The Happy Lab Blog!

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Last Saturday night, I got a text message from a friend telling me that I was featured in Manila Bulletin newspaper’s Friday lifestyle section.  Note to self, buy newspaper.  It was an ALMOST full page article! Then this morning, another feature on The Happy Blog!  Happy news on a rainy day! Sharing the links below: http://www.thehappylab.com.ph/latest-post/heirloom-pieces-tambourine-jewelry/ and http://www.mb.com.ph/a-piece-of-history/

Vintage Reliquary or Relikaryo Pendant

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You probably have seen them around.  Those unusual looking vintage pendants that have something inside them- some are flat while some are bulky with glass-encased designs in the middle.  They are called reliquaries or locally known as “relikaryo”.  In simplest terms, these are containers for holy relics made popular during the medieval times. Reliquaries were made to hold sacred items such as the bones or hair of a saint or a religious figure.  Yep, you read that right.  It may also contain a piece of material that the saint used or touched such as a piece of clothing.  Older versions of reliquaries kept the relic hidden but later on, glass was added on the pendants to show what was inside. Similarly, the “relikaryo” pendants that usually accompanied the old traditional Filipino tamborin necklaces were originally hidden inside the garment.  Later on, these necklaces were worn in full display. These relikaryo pendants are ornate and meticulously handcrafted.  The quality of the antique ones are especially breathtaking.  They are usually oval-shaped.  Older versions of the relikaryo contained …

What is the value of an antique jewelry?

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One of the challenges in selling antique jewelry is making the prospective buyer understand why a certain piece could fetch a high price. Bear in mind that it’s not like fine modern jewelry where majority of the price is factored in the gold or silver content along with the weight of the item.  While gold is definitely more expensive than silver and brass, craftmanship plays a big role.  Some things just can’t be duplicated anymore.  If you hear someone say “antiquity”, it’s not just because it’s old but they are mostly referring to the fine craftmanship that is so hard to find nowadays. One time, I asked a jewelry shop if they can make vintage-inspired gold-plated silver pendants for me.  I was surprised at the prices they quoted.  When I asked if it would make a big difference in the cost if I change the material to gold-plated brass, they said it wouldn’t bring down the price much.  Bulk of the cost is labor.  Not only does it take a longer time to make but …

The Creepiness Factor

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Hello!  Sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.  With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be apt to talk about the perceived creepiness surrounding antique jewelry. Whenever someone finds out that I sell antique jewelry, the inevitable question pops up, “Aren’t you scared? You don’t know who wore it before.” I guess that’s the reason why I initially targeted foreign buyers.  Foreigners generally embrace the rich history behind each piece.  Some of them don’t even want it cleaned and like it as is. A lot of us, Filipinos on the other hand are a little wary of wearing something really old especially if we don’t know who wore it.  I guess some of us are still very superstitious.  I suspect that it one of the reasons why some local buyers like to have the antique jewelry pieces cleaned to look like new.   Or maybe that is just how they remember their grandmother’s jewelry to look like. It’s so funny I had my first bazaar early this month and the most common question I …

Another reason not to buy poorly made reproduction jewelry

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I saw this lanzadera or navette-shaped ring and thought it was lovely.  It was clearly not an antique- although it was masquerading as one and since it was cheap, I thought I’d buy it for myself.  Big mistake. A day after wearing it, a cubic zirconia stone fell out.  I had it fixed and kept on wearing it for a couple of weeks.  Yesterday, the replacement stone fell out again.  Oh boy, I got what I paid for.  ;p Just for comparison, check out the workmanship on the vintage silver lansadera ring on the right.

Finally, my very own antique star pendant!

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An avid antique collector recently commented that since I sell vintage jewelry, I must have a to-die-for old jewelry collection.  I laughed at the comment.  The truth is, I don’t have any old jewelry- not unless you count my Php400 ($10) brass tamborin necklace which I bought more than 10 years ago in Balikbayan Handicrafts (a tourist/Filipiniana store).  While I love vintage jewelry, business comes first.  A business-savvy mentor advised me not to get attached to my stocks. But it’s hard not to get attached.  I acquire items that I like so in case it doesn’t sell, then I wouldn’t mind keeping them personally.  In fact, I do have a favorite item in my online shop- an antique gold star with diamante (small rough cut diamonds). It’s so beautifully made.  Looks dainty yet sturdy and has a bit of weight to it.  I told myself that if it doesn’t get sold within a certain period then it’s meant for me. That waiting period has long passed.  I get nervous whenever someone “favorites” that item- thinking …