Camphor glass jewelry is a particular favorite of mine. It’s unusual and elegant. I almost never go a whole day wearing one of my camphor glass necklaces with somebody asking me about it.
Art Deco 14K Gold, Diamond Camphor Glass Pendant Necklace.
First of all, what is camphor glass? Lang Antiques Antique Jewelry University has the answer, as they so often do:
“Camphor glass is clear glass that has been treated with hydrofluoric acid vapors to give it a frosted whitish appearance. This effect resembles gum camphor, hence the name. Camphor glass was used throughout the decorative arts to make bottles, glass objects, lamp shades and more. In jewelry the glass was often cast with a star pattern on the reverse to give it a radiant appearance. Camphor glass was made to imitate the carved rock crystal quartz that was popular from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1930’s.”
The best part about camphor glass jewelry is that it’s not too hard to find affordable(ish) pieces. Prices vary depending on the materials involved, the quality and complexity of the piece, and the presence or absence of gemstone embellishments. I’ve fallen head over heels for camphor glass pendants around $80 (at the fabulous Legendary Beast). Ebay and Etsy are also good places to look for these more affordable pieces.
I’ve collected a number of samples to show you, at varying price points. As with any online shopping, please don’t forget to make sure that the pretties you’re admiring are the right size before you pull the trigger. My jewelry sizing cheat sheet can help.
Aspirational (>$200):
Large Art Deco sterling & marcasite camphor glass pendant necklace
for sale at The More the Merrier: Vintage Jewelry on Ruby Lane. ($115)
Sun ray camphor glass pendant/necklace with diamond filigree for sale on Ebay ($165).
Art Deco Sterling Silver Camphor Glass Necklace for sale at Adore on Ruby Lane. ($155)
Vintage Camphor Glass Pendant on 15″ Sterling Chain for sale at Style and Grace on Ruby Lane. ($75)
Art Deco rhodium filigree and camphor glass necklace sold on ebay. ($113.59)
All images and info in this post are thanks to the seller of each individual item. Special thanks to The More the Merrier: Vintage Jewelry, Adore, and Style and Grace for sharing their images.
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I purchased a pair of camphor glass cufflinks with a small diamond and set in platinum. Marked plat. How do you know you are getting the real thing?
That is a great question. The hallmark is a good sign, but if you want to be absolutely sure, your local jewelry store or an appraiser would be able to test both the metal and the diamond for you.
Congrats on your purchase! I bet they’re fantastic.
xoxo,
Becky
Yep, completely agree with it. Better ask a local jeweler. He knows best how to check it. Silver or gold is easier to check if it’s real, but camphor glass, not really. (as much as I know)
How do you clean a camphor glass necklace with white gold mounting and chain? It has a diamond in the center
A a bowl of warm water with a drop of dish soap and a soft cloth should do the trick. You can use a silver polishing cloth if you have one, or an old washcloth or something along those lines. It’s always a good idea to be careful when cleaning jewelry, especially antiques, but that’s a very gentle approach.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who
was conducting a little research on this. And
he in fact bought me lunch simply because I discovered it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this issue here on your web page.
What a great article! Thank you for sharing this-I love learning about jewelry and am grateful to have found this. 🙂
Thanks so much, Dawn! I’m glad you enjoyed it.