Cameo Brooches

Talk about classic jewelry style? Talk about cameos brooches!

Cameo brooches have been around since before Napoleon and beyond. The cameo is a work of beauty, a delicate carving, and cameo brooches and pendents have been favored by people from all walks of life.

A true cameo brooch is carved from a fairly soft stone (precious or semi precious in finer pieces) or from shell. Most cameo brooches are two colors. This is the result of carving a stone or shell that has a two-layered "substrate". In most cameos, a stone is chosen that will leave a lighter color (often white) sitting above the darker bottom layer. The carved figure – often a woman's portrait, but also can be a man's or an object, such as flowers – is pronounced in the lighter color.

The type of carving used to make a cameo is called a "relief" carving. Relief carving means the carving comes up to sit above the bottom layer, but the two are still one piece.

Cameo brooches continue to be favorites today. Today's buyers can choose from brand new pieces and vintage styles, or anything that falls between the two categories.

Higher end pieces can be found online from fine jewelry makers, or by shopping for vintage cameo brooches and pendents in the desired style, such as a vintage English cameo brooch. True one-piece cameos can carry some expense, however, so many people opt for a mid-grade cameo brooch or a costume cameo replicated from other materials.

Gerry's is a costume company that made mid-quality costume jewelry in the 1970's and 80's. Considered 'vintage' to many now, a nice Gerry's cameo goldtone brooch is a good midline alternative. Gerry's crafted more than women's portraits, including some very pretty floral pieces.

As 'imitations' go, cameo brooches crafted from glass offer quality and interest. A good example is an Islamic cameo brooch made from Islamic glass. Glass cameos sometimes offer a bit of shine, whereas cameos are often a bit dulled from the carving process.

Cameo brooches are classic pin styles that will never go out of vogue. These exquisitely delicate beauties, these miniature works of art, are a site to behold. A cameo brooch is a piece to collect and cherish. Shopping for cameo brooches online is an interesting adventure. Finding the many figures and pictures depicted on cameo brooches shows the wide variation this one form of carving and jewelry making can take. A cameo brooch is one of those pieces – like a gold ring, diamond earrings, or a string of pearls – that should be in every jewelry collection.