the Brooch and the Pin

[Laura Chase]

Lady Day, I love these!

And timorous me, I think your bird is very unique, when is it from?

I will post some of my collection, brooches are one of my favorite things too.

 

[Laura Chase]

Here are some of my favorites:

 

[I'mSuzyParker]

Wow beautiful pins ladies... the peacock one is gorgeous, and Laura, your cameos are fabulous

 

[Laura Chase]

Thank you, I'm very fond of cameos!

I was wondering, what's the difference between a brooch and a pin?

 

[Lola Getz]

tinytot, how I LOVE that butterfly pin! Those are all fantastic.

Lady Day, add me to the list of fans of your bird pins. They're great!

I have several pins & brooches. I have reptiles, frogs, a peacock and two vintage owls (one is enamel) that I recently found for an embarassingly low price that I had to have. I wear them on coats all the time, on my handbag, at my waist, etc...
I have an enormous flower pin that has pink and cocoa brown stones in it that came from my grandmother's jewelry collection. Everyone in my family thought it was hideous except me--I think it's glorious! The other thing I have of hers is a pin/watch. She too was allergic to metals. This pin is a gold bow and has an enamel inset of a flower inside a metal flower shape hanging off it. On the reverse is a watch. It still works perfectly.

 

[justaktty]

Add me to the list of..."what IS the difference tween a pin and a brooch?"

I've checked around on google a bit, and can't seem to find a clear answer. I hope someone here, perhaps an owner of one of these fabulous pieces, knows the answer.

Justaktty

 

[Lily Powers]

I collect (and wear frequently) dress clips, but some of the clips are pairs attached to a backing with a pin so the entire unit can be worn as a brooch. They're called duettes and when not being worn as a brooch, the clips can be worn separately. These are from the mid/late 1930's. The brooch or the clip alone are also fun to add on a beret or cloche.

 

[miss_elise]

in my mind a brooch has a clasp kind of thingy, whilst a pin is just that...the kind with the pin and holder thingy....

pin

brooch

but probably not accurate or the correct definitions

 

[4and1]

Since we're showing our pins/brooches I will share this one. It seems to me to be a bit too much with the feathers, but I like it. Opinions would be appreciated.

By the way, I always considered pins to be simpler, smaller pieces while brooches tend to be larger and more complex. Just my opinion.

 

[millbrookmusic]

Do any gentlemen here wear brooches as well?
I've not seen many if any that do.

The picture above makes my brooch seem to be more more important than it is. It's probably the cheapest brooch I own. But really, do men wear them these days? If so, what kinds and how do you wear them? I usually wear them on my chest but occasionally I'll put one on the lapel of a large coat.

 

[Warbaby]

Count me among the gentlemen who aren't afraid to wear brooches and pins (and BTW, for me the difference between the two is a matter of size - pins are tiny, brooches are larger and more flamboyant). I wear them on hats and on the lapels or pockets of jackets. Here are a few of my favorites:

This one is from the early days of motorcycling. Silver-gilt and enamel (the enamel looks white in this photo but it's actually pale green. I usually wear it on my beret.

This brooch would prolly be considered too flashy and effeminate by most men, but I've been around too long to care about stuff like that.

This is one of my favorites - sterling silver, prolly from the 20s.

Here's one that I made from WWII sterling pilot's wings. I cut out the center and set it with a moonstone. I wear this on my custom-made black A2 jacket.

Here's another favorite - a tiny enamel pin from Zeppelin Day at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair.

 

[Heather]

What should one look for when searching for vintage brooches and pins? Is there a way to tell if its genuinely vintage? [huh]

 

[Lily Powers]

What should one look for when searching for vintage brooches and pins? Is there a way to tell if its genuinely vintage? [huh]

Sometimes you can tell by the wear of a vintage piece - some clear stones are a little cloudy or yellow, the backing is "foiled". Many have a patent number on the back which can help you date it.

This website, Illusion Jewels, has a terrific archive for researching vintage jewelry - lots of photos, history, dates and details as to what specific jewelry makers created that was unique to their designs: http://www.illusionjewels.com/

 

[Heather]

Sometimes you can tell by the wear of a vintage piece - some clear stones are a little cloudy or yellow, the backing is "foiled". Many have a patent number on the back which can help you date it.

This website, Illusion Jewels, has a terrific archive for researching vintage jewelry - lots of photos, history, dates and details as to what specific jewelry makers created that was unique to their designs: http://www.illusionjewels.com/

Thank you very much!

 

[Heather]

That site is fantastic Lily! Thanks again! What do you mean by foiled? Is there a way to tell just by looking?

 

[Cricket]

Here's another favorite - a tiny enamel pin from Zeppelin Day at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair.

I adore this one!
I have a small collection of pins and brooches. I like to find any with birds or other animals. I am starting to like flowers as well.
I like to match an eye catching pin to jazz up a simple sweater or other item of clothing. But I do like the pins that have a story behind them. I am sure that most have a hidden story behind them but it is really something else to see pins like the Zeppelin Day one.
I am on a mission to find some pins from old national parks. I saw one in a magazine, but I have not been able to personally find such pins.
The search is on!

 

[Heather]

I just got this one. It was love at first sight!

P.S. It's Trifari

 

[Michaelshane]

Here's some old ones.

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[Michaelshane]

This was my grandmother's, White gold,W/Diamond

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[Heather]

Thanks to this thread I've become obsessed with collecting vintage costume jewelry!! Seriously, I'm on ebay every day and the next step is to my local antique stores. I found the patent on this one today...it's by Coro from 1954 and designed by Katz. Anyone else see movement in the piece? It does have some flaking on the back but it can't be seen from the front and one of the rhinestones is dull (as you can probably see) but I don't think its very noticeable when wearing it. Plus it looks good with my pearl earrings and necklace. I also obtained this one, which i think is my favorite so far, it's by Trifari and I believe it to be from the 50's. Its been awhile since I've visited this thread so I think I'm going to go back and check out the ones people have posted and probably drool!! lol