Take your time when exploring vintage jewelry. Give yourself permission to just look. Not every outing needs a purchase. The more you study quality pieces—how they’re made, how they age—the better your eye becomes. Learning is part of the joy. Let your curiosity lead.

In natural turquoise, webbing should appear embedded in the stone, not sitting on top. If the matrix looks too perfect it might be a composite stone or dyed imitation.

(For reference: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s mineralogy collections and GIA turquoise identification guides)

How to Wear Neon Demurely

You don’t.

If you’re not glowing like radioactive chiclet vomit, why even leave the house?

Neon isn’t an accent. It’s a declaration of war. Against subtlety. Against anyone who says, maybe tone it down
#CATSArchive #NotSubtleNotSorry #Neon #vintagejewelry

Low-quality vintage jewelry might feel hefty, but don’t let weight fool you. Unscrupulous makers sometimes added heavy metals like lead to make pieces seem more valuable. True quality comes from craftsmanship and material—not just heft. Always inspect for signs like poor plating or rough finishes

Overwhelmed by vintage jewelry? Let color guide you. Mustard, avocado, orange scream 60s. Pastels like mint and pink? That’s the ‘50s.  Jewel tones ruby, emerald, sapphire mean ‘40s or older. Train your eye to spot color first decades start to jump out

You don’t need a perm to look like it's 1987
Just commit to color & fishnet until your mom won't let you leave the house like that (even though you're 30).

Everything’s a little too bright, a little too shiny, and honestly? That’s the point.

#catsarchive #80s #vintagevibes #lookloud #nobangsneeded

Just a quick batch headed to the Archive today—three items, freshly filed.
Let us know if anything jumps out (figuratively). Always curious what catches your eye.

#CatsArchive #VintageJewelry #Finds #CostumeJewelry

Oz's bite test technically checks out… but now she's sad and we’re out of snacks.
Jewelry nerds, have you ever done the old chomp test?
#turquoise #howlite #vintagejewelry #costumejewelry #catsoftiktok #catsarchive 

https://f.mtr.cool/ytelvfguku

Damascene jewelry isn’t Egyptian, despite what Oz says. Most is crafted in Toledo, Spain which is famous for ornate inlay work, and cats with questionable historical awareness. 

#Damascene #Spain #CostumeJewelry #CatsArchive #VintageBrooch #CliponEarrings

Our head archivist is a cat and she just reclassified 14 brooches as "snack-adjacent."
Morale is high. Accuracy is nonexistent.

#cats #vintagejewelry #oz #smallbizlife #thisisfine #catsarchive

Our philosophy: contrast with subtle tones, then immediately ignore that advice with pure disco defiance.  Make the only thing louder than your aunt’s unsolicited opinions, your rhinestones. 

#RhinestoneStyle #CostumeJewelry #BoldLooks #CatsArchive #BrunchJewelry #JewelryHumor #RetroStyle

It’s called self-esteem. Dare your coworkers to question it. Is it you? Is it aspirational? Is it threatening? Yes. That’s the point.

#VintageJewelry #TigerPendant #StatementPiece #catsarchive  #OfficeGiftIdeas #Unhinged #CostumeJewelryWithTeeth #artisan

Oz has made some choices in life, and now she has a doctor with a rank. Don't worry, she's going to be fine.
Test your Bakelite https://f.mtr.cool/rwwnaykczh
 #VintageJewelry #Bakelite #TestingNotTasting #CatsOfInstagram #Alttag #CatsArchive