Its Thursday night and I am happily watching the funny shows I spend all week
looking forward to. Before I know whats happening, Jane Seymore is is the mirror
pitching new “Open Heart” necklace from Kay Jewelers. It looks so much like
Picasso’s Double Heart pieces, its not funny. So, here she brilliantly came up
with a name that happens to also be Elsa Peretti’s most iconic collection and it
looks suspiciously similar to a Paloma Picasso. She keeps referring to herself
as an artist. Really? I’m not seeing it.
A few months ago, Van Cleef and
Arpels filed suit against Heide Klum for designing a collection that looks
exactly like the VCA Alhambra design.

I guess everyone would love to be a
jewelry designer. That’s fine, but a real artist knows the value of a unique
design and the frustration of having work stolen. If these celebrities want to
call themselves designers and artists, how about some originality? Lots of
brilliant designers are able to come up with ideas that haven’t come out of
famous design houses, maybe Heide and Jane can take a lesson.

Inspired
and curious, I looking around eBay looking for Kay pieces. I happened to find an
interesting item from Mary Kay. A silver Floating Heart that, also, looks
suspiciously like a Tiffany Floating Heart (plus three dreck pink
crystals).

It’s an interesting gray zone we’re at. Some factory in China
makes Tiffany-esque pieces and they’re banned from ebay (in a shake that brings
many legit sellers with it, by the way), a domestic company blatantly flaunts
knock-offs and it’s celebrity art work.

Please

Ah the holidays are here.

What’s better than the diamond-like twinkle of holiday lights lining houses throughout the neighborhood and, of course, Tiffany’s seasonal displays full of real diamonds, white-gold, sapphire and platinum?

It’s amazing to think that it was this time last year I started this blog and my TiffanyCollector.com website. To celebrate, I’m offering a special 5% off sale for my website’s inventory. Just use the code “newyork” during check-out and the discount is yours! Use it as many times as you like and please tell your friends. I’ll be offering it until January 2nd of ‘08.

Many of you know that I had to start my website to set myself apart from the fakes that started flooding eBay around the holidays last year and, low-and-behold, they’re back again now. This time last week there were roughly 1,400 pieces of Tiffany jewelry on eBay, probably 80% fake. Now there are more than 2,600 and, from the looks of them, about 98% fake. I’m sure that my fellow legitimate sellers will quickly agree that even though we pride ourselves on the authenticity of the pieces we sell, having all those fakes on eBay makes all of us feel uncomfortable.

Since eBay seems happy to leave us all fending for ourselves, I’d like to run through a list of ways buyers can help insulate themselves from the muck covering the floors of eBay’s auction halls.

How can eBay let someone with zero feedback who has been a member for only three days list ten pieces of the SAME Tiffany & Co item? I understand that some people may be wanting to sell a piece of jewelry to get some extra money together for the holidays, but even collectors don’t keep ten of the same piece around and if they did, they probably wouldn’t find themselves suddenly in the position where they need to sell all ten at once which all happen to be in “brand new” condition. Consider this step 1 in spotting spotty sellers. eBay, I’m saying this to you too.

As much as I detest the exorbitant fees that I have to pay PayPal (which have only gotten worse since eBay took them over), I am happy to get that added layer of security on transactions. I hope everyone watches out to avoid sending checks, or worse yet, money orders or western union, to these shady sellers who have started emerging from the dark shadows. This warning isn’t an exaggeration, I’ve had some customers have sent me green cash. Now I pride myself on running my business with untarnished honesty but not all sellers are so honest and, this time of year more than any other, we need to be watching out for sellers who only take money orders or cheks. That’s step 2 in keeping yourself safe, traceable transactions.

Also, if you’re doing business with someone for the first time, take a look at their feedback rating. A good look. If someone has 2000 feedback but it’s all penny items in the last month and they’re now trying to sell high ticket pieces en masse that’s a red flag. I’ve spotted many seller who try to artificially puff up their feedback rating just to create an illusion of honesty and prey on eBay’s inability to notice trends like this AND on people’s good nature. Step 4, don’t just glance at feedback, examine it.

Speaking of what goes under eBay’s radar, there are a lot of misspelled “Tiffffany” items on eBay recently. I believe that this is also an attempt to slip past the screening processes that eBay has on Tiffany & Co. listings. Collectors are not prone to misspelling their collections. One typo could be an accident, ten is probably fraud. Step 5, a Foux-lex isn’t a Rolex and Tiffffany isn’t Tiffany

Watch the rocks. Tiffany only uses superb diamonds in their pieces. VSI’s the name of the game. SI or Included diamonds are not used in authentic Tiffany pieces. It’s ONLY the best for them. And on the quality of metals, Tiffany does not plate or fill. Older pieces may be 14k gold but new pieces do NOT use 14k. It’s the best jewelry and they maintain the BEST quality so watch out for “Tiffany Style” pieces that don’t come anywhere close to meeting Tiffany’s standards. Step 6, if Tiffany wouldn’t have it in their stores, you shouldn’t have it in your Watch List.

Last year, the big fake thing was the “PLEASE RETURN TO TIFFANY” sterling silver collection. This year, it’s onyx beads with a silver toggle. Now if you look at my website, I do have some vintage pieces with silver and onyx beads without toggle. This is all 10-15 year old authentic vintage pieces. Tiffany’s new line does not have silver beads, just a silver toggle. From the look of things, it’s counter fit’s hottest item. Be careful of this new line showing up on eBay, especially in sets. There’s no way that so many of these sets could have been sold and then placed on eBay in such a short time without a GREAT many of them being knock-offs. I have yet to see an authentic set on eBay. Step 7, if it couldn’t possibly be the real thing, it isn’t.

Let me wrap up that slight rant by wishing everybody happy and safe shopping.

On a more personal note, Marc’s finished his LSAT and is taking a well-deserved break. Michael’s continuing to work through his growing list of home-improvement hobbies. He took a tumble off a ladder the other day but is fine. Vito took me shopping to Nordstrom’s today, which I love, and after he recovered from a spell of sticker shock, we got home and had a fine day gardening.

ps..if anyone would like to add to this list of hazards, please comment and share ^_^

I have been meaning to write in my blog for a few days now. As I’m sure many of you know, much of Southern California is being ravaged by fires. Marc and I were riding down Main Street and the trees are breathtaking! The reds and yellows are almost too much to look at. The air, however is gray with soot from the fires. It hurts my eyes and we are 400 miles away! My son, Michael is down there. He is a volunteer EMT and left a few days ago to lend some medical support to the exhausted firefighters. He went to Louisiana when the devastating Katrina hit and I was in hysterics. This time, I am dealing with it much better. We have family and friends in and around San Diego. Catherines family has a vineyard nearby and they are there if Michael gets a chance to see them. My brother Mark and our dear Kerri, who live nearby, are  in Italy for his birthday. When I read that these fires were started by arsonists I am just crushed! Why?? What does this do except ruin lives and our environment? I am heartbroken when I see the news.

I can’t help but wonder what I would take from the house, if we had to flee in a moments notice. After knowing my boys are safe, my pets. The stuff? Pictures, my moms paintings. I have a fireproof safe, but I wonder if it could really withstand the heat of a fire that melts alloy wheels on cars? I never want to find out.

As much as I enjoy writing about the lovely jewelry I collect, I can’t wrap my mind around anything except what is happening in Southern California.

I love making sets. I know a lot of people are searching for a particular piece to complete a set. I was searching for a Paloma Picasso necklace to go with a pair of Picasso hammered sterling silver dome earrings. Well…I finally found it and its wonderful!! Marc has taken some really professional looking photographs so I can share it with you. If anyone is interested, please email me and I will give you all the information. Its truly a work of art.

I first saw these pieces offered as a set in Tiffany stores in the late
1990’s. Though absolutely gorgeous, I missed the train and before I
knew it Tiffany had ceased production of this set and the last ones
quickly moved off the shelves and into private hands. I checked with
friends who collect fine jewelry but it had seemed to vanish. I have not seen these pieces since then and certainly never in a condition or at a price that, although consistent
with the Tiffany inflation prices, seemed worth investing in. After
years of searching I am THRILLED to have been able to put these pieces
back together into a set that is store-shelf worthy quality without the
price-tag that would be expected.

We have been busy pruning the messy oak trees behind our house. The view is spectacular! The leaves on our trees are turning bright orange and red. Its gorgeous. I already have our Halloween decorations out. I love this time of year. Its so nice having everyone home from their travels. Marc is photographing some jewelry that I have been saving for the holidays. We’ll be busy getting a lot of wonderful jewelry on our website. I am so happy to have him home.

Michael and I walked through the beautiful public Rose Garden near his house. Even this late in the season its a riot of color. Its a huge garden and wonderfully planned so you can walk on the grass between huge beds of each variety of rose. Its peaceful and smells delicious. Then I helped Michael take pictures of a pretty BMW hes selling. When people walk by and admire his car, I can’t help but mentioning that its for sale. As my son noted, some things seem to come naturally to me, like selling cars…

In the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of receiving four boxes of treasures. Trading jewelry is fascinating. I get to see what other people collect and then tire of. We are all, I think, refining our personal collections. This is really the foundation of ebay. Its a wonderful way, for people who love jewelry, add a piece to a collection. I have often wondered, why doesn’t Tiffany understand this and have a department devoted to pieces no longer in production?

I was thrilled to get some wonderful, older Picasso pieces. I love the big earrings and rings. I brought some interesting old watches to my jeweler for repairs and he was impressed with a few of them. I’m not a watch collector, but these are fascinating. I have my kitchen table covered in jewelry. Things to be repaired or  photographed and listed and some to be tested or appraised.

I will need to clean up this week as Marc and Vito are due home August 25. I am THRILLED!!! They are finishing up the last few projects and putting tools away. It has been very nice for Vito and Marc to spend this time together and with Vito’s mom, Ana. Marc likes to go out at night and explore. He told me that after almost a year in China and 2 weeks in Russia, he was never asked for identification other then the airport. Last night, on his way to have a snack, two carabineri pulled over and asked for his documentation or maybe identification. He told them he left his wallet at home. They wanted to know where is his home. He told them his family lives around the corner. His Italian isn’t as fluent as his Mandarin and they spoke only a little English, so there was a bit of a communication problem. Mostly, Marc thought it was very funny that he was stopped in the one place he does have a home. I told him to visit the carabineri office in town. Its a large beautiful office with white marble floors, a huge marble bust of Napoleon (I’m not sure why) and 5 or 6 Moto Guzzi motorcycles parked on the marble. These are the most beautifully dressed policemen I have ever seen. Life is so different in Italy.

This was the first day that I really noticed the piles of leaves of the ground. I know some schools are starting already. We are planning to help harvest the grapes in late September. It will be fun to see Ana and my friends who are so kind and make such an effort to talk to me. Here, we tend to drive everywhere and zip around. On the island, I can walk to the town or take a tiny bus that travels around the whole island in about half an hour. We do have a little car, but I find when I drive, with Vito hollering instructions and all the scooters racing about, its too nerve racking. I also love doing our laundry there. I have a clothes line outside the second floor windows. I hang the clothes and visit with anyone working in the vineyard. I love the smell of the burning weeds and garden cuttings. The first time I ever did this, I really felt like an Italian housewife. I always learn so much from Ana. Some of the food, I’ll never be able to make, but other dishes I make for the boys all the time.

There were zucchini blossoms at the produce market this morning and I instantly remembered the first time Ana showed me how to make stuffed zucchini blossoms. She has a tiny kitchen and very old pots. By the time I wake up, she has sauces and meats bubbling away. I am usually in charge of making the strong coffee and shopping for the best pastries in the world. I know, its hard work, but someone has to do it…

Tomorrow I will put some post some beautiful pieces I found on my weekend excursion. I found a very rare set of Stigbert 18k jewelry. I’ve seen Stigbert, but I have never seen any of the gold pieces. Its amazing. These pieces are beyond anything I have ever seen in Scandinavian jewelry, which I happen to love. The simplicity of it reminds me of early Elsa Peretti and Angela Cummings. This set also has cabochon amethyst and chrysophase. Goregous stones.

I am hearing stories everyday, about people getting stuck with counterfeit jewelry. I’m not sure if there is more of it on ebay right now, but there is a lot. I think ebay and Tiffany should be more concerned with getting that stuff off ebay, rather then burden honest sellers with idiotic listing limits

Since one of the geniuses at ebay actually told me that some buyers LIKE counterfeits, maybe they should set up a category for fakes and forgeries. At least that way, the people who got stuck with a counterfeit, could resell it.

As you might have noticed, for 10 days my blog and website were gone. I’m really at a loss for how a big company like Tiffany can feel threatened by such a small, private collector. I love Tiffany and still shop there way too much. Part of being a collector, I find, is that what might fascinate me for a while, becomes something I can sell to make room for my next interest. There are many people who feel this way and we enjoy selling, trading and buying these vintage pieces. Maybe Tiffany should start selling their old stock. Obviously, there is a huge market for it. I think we all have a wish list for items that are no longer made, but would complete a collection.

I don;t want to make anyone mad. Its my love for Tiffany jewelry that I am always searching for rare collections. I am not pretending to be part of Tiffany. I am not selling counterfeit Tiffany and I don’t make Tiffany jewelry in my kitchen. I just love it and I buy it. Wherever I go, thats what I search for. A perfect outing for me is one that includes a place where a little treasure might be hiding. I feel like I am rescuing some of this fantastic old jewelry from obscurity or even a melting pot. I just love this old jewelry. I speaks to me. So, I have no evil motives here.

We created this website as a place where we could find and sell vintage jewelry, at a time when ebay had saddled me with listing limits. After 7 years and 1800 perfect transactions on ebay, I still enjoy selling under my ebay user id:acarlover1. This is this website where I can have direct communication with other collectors. We can buy, sell and trade. We are hurting no one by doing this. We are sharing our common passion and information. With the rampant proliferation of counterfeits, isn’t it better to be well informed? Every day, I hear from people who have already tried calling Tiffany to ask questions. They just want some information and most of the salespeople at Tiffany either don’t have the answer or don’t want to be bothered.

Well, I love learning and researching old Tiffany and I am happy to share with other collectors. I’m also not afraid to ask other collectors when I have a question. If I called Tiffany and asked about a pair of old Angela Cummings earrings, how many of the sales clerks would take the time to discuss this? How many would even know about these old earrings? I am not trying to take anything away from Tiffany. If anything, I feel this love for old Tiffany jewelry creates more fascination and respect for new Tiffany designs.

The best part of having a place to show off my beautiful collection is that I can make room for new pieces. There is some old Tiffany that I have been accumulating for a long time. In the past few days, I sold two Elsa Peretti bracelets and, left with just one, I decided I couldn’t part with it. I put it on and now its my new favorite. Its the right size for me to wear everyday, but not as flashy as some of the large Peretti pieces I love. The gold is warm on my wrist and I am wearing it with my old favorite Tiffany gold Atlas watch. Looks very elegant. I needed cheering up today as I am still very unhappy over ebay’s decision to keep my listing limits in place for 6 months. There are more fakes now on ebay, then ever before. I am seeing people who used to sell old Cartier and Tiffany on ebay, listing homemade bead necklaces, etc.

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Marc, the genius, has my collection on froogle now. I am very impressed with this. I have also heard from some of the friends I’ve made on ebay. Nice of everyone to continue to be so interested in my vintage Tiffany collection. Ebay is giving me the silent treatment . Everyone knows, I can give the silent treatment for years.

Something else wonderful happened this afternoon. Our neighbors missing cat, Jake, who has been gone for over a week…showed up today. Marc is the hero of the neighborhood since he found the missing kitty. The funny thing was that Jakes mom stopped over today just as I found the phone to call her. She was so happy, she was crying. Jake will be an indoor cat from now on. There has been a lot of neighborhood talk about bobcats, so she was terrified that Jake was gone forever. Plus, we’ve had rain and crazy wind storms. The power was out for almost 2 days. It turned into a very happy, sunny day.

We have listed some antique Tiffany silver pieces and Marc is teaching me about indoor photography. I usually take my pictures outside, in the sun. Thats why so many of pieces look like they have clouds on the gold and silver. Now, I can take pictures in the evening or in the rain.

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