Vintage Glass Jewels

These vintage glass stones were manufactured in West Germany from the 1950’s – 1970’s for the costume jewelry trade. They were meant to resemble gemstones, so they have quirky color names like “saphyr” and “topas”. These are transparent colored cabochons with a gold foil coating on the back side that adds a bright, reflective quality to the color.

Glass cabs are not drilled like beads, so they do not have holes. Their flat backs make them perfect for gluing or mounting in bezels. Since they come in standard calibrated sizes, they fit well with most vintage and contemporary stone settings.

These affordable old jewels show a bit more wear than my other cabochons styes. They’re beautiful and usable, with minor imperfections that are typical for glass of this age such as small nicks, “fleabites” in the foil, or foil oxidization on the back. Many are in excellent condition, but you should expect a vintage “shabby chic” look as shown in the photos.