by Rosanna Carlucci

Like a kitten with a ball of string, she lies across her leopard skin rug with a glass of champagne and a big red box. As she opens the box she gazes lovingly at the bracelets, necklaces and brooches that glisten within its velvet walls.  She gently pulls out each piece one by one, remembering each kiss, dance and heartache. The deep blue pear shaped earrings from Luca; a gift on their first year anniversary. The pale green cuff bracelet from David, she remembers his smile and the way his arms felt around her waist. When she gets to her favourite Sherman piece, the red clustered brooch shaped like the sun, she stops. Her heart skips a beat and the memories wash over her and flood her eyes with tears. As she sits up to pin the brooch to her sweater she can see him standing there, waiting for her, her Johnny. If only she had listened, if only she had met him that Valentines Day on the pier. The brooch means everything to her, the way it sparkles in the light, the way the deep red colour seems to pull her in and wrap itself around her heart.  She can still hear Johnny’s last words to her, “You’re my whole world darling, your smile’s like the sun and you warm my heart every time I see you…”

As the tears fall she quickly closes her jewellery box and decides that she has had enough old memories, and it is time to make new ones…

Valentines day is a touchy subject; you either love it or hate it. But whether we like it or not, jewellery and Valentines day seem to go hand in hand. And nothing could be more romantic than a beautiful piece of vintage Sherman jewellery to celebrate the holiday of love. 

Gustave Sherman is a Canadian costume jewellery designer that founded his business in 1947 in Montreal. His beautiful creations are best known for his use of “the highest quality glitzy rhinestones”.  His pieces range from necklaces, brooches and bracelets created in the most unique settings using the most mouth watering Swarovski crystals in a variety of colours.  His pieces are highly collectible among vintage costume jewellery collectors and are highly valued due to their amazing quality.

Today, celebrating his gorgeous work, collectors Sandra Caldwell and Evelyn Yallen have come out with a book that catalogues come of Sherman’s greatest achievements.  Sherman Jewellery, The Masterpiece Collection is available through www.intotemptation.com and is a great gift for the avid Sherman collector or the vintage jewellery enthusiast. It gives a brief history of Sherman and offers a glimpse at some of Sherman’s more rare and collectable pieces.

If your hinting at a beautiful piece of Sherman for Valentines Day make sure to point your loved one to Ebay for one of the greatest selections of vintage Sherman available today.