Vintage Jewelry That Screams “Wanna Play Mermaids?”
She sells secondhand seashells on her eBay storefront
I’m assuming the answer is yes, you do want to play mermaids. Shall we dive in?
Lately, any time I’ve stared in the mirror and wondered if my outfit needed a bit of oomph, I’ve reached for this necklace. The thick circles of silver seem to up the ante of any look, regardless of occasion. And I’ve felt — particularly paired here with this Beetlecore iridescent blue fabric — that this necklace was born of the sea.
What gives it that oceanic feeling?
I credit its organic round shape with imperfectly hammered details that lend a natural warmth. The way each circle reminds me of a coin thrown into a fountain with a wish. And that slightly aged silver tone, like it’s weathered years of dips in salty water.
The necklace could have been carved, I mused, by centuries of rocking waves, smoothing irregular metal into something soft and round. Like the tide kneading the shore: caressing broken bottles into plump gems of sea glass; grains of sand into shimmering slippery pearls; jagged rocks into buttery pebbles. Jewelry too is opulence coaxed out of a gritty natural form.
In this letter, 60+ pieces of secondhand jewelry I imagine washing ashore on a rocky coast. Pieces you might wear while watching Aquamarine (2006) and listening to Aquamarine (2024) and doing your best Australian “Cleo!” punctuated with an exaggerated R at the end.
Some recurring themes and motifs of this lot…
Swirly, whimsical silver
Starfish (including some Elsa Peretti at ideal prices)
Pearlescent sheens
Nautical bits and bobs
Articulated fish
Shells galore
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Sally’s seashore shell shanty:
* I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links but at no cost to you, of course :)
925 Sterling Silver Mexico Vintage Sea Shell Pendant, $80 / shop on eBay
Silver Spiral Shell Pendant Necklace Vintage, $45 / shop on eBay
Vtg 925 Sterling Silver Seashell Dainty Ring Sz 6.5, $20 / shop on eBay
925 Sterling Silver Vintage Mexico Seashell Oxidized Pendant, $200 / shop on eBay
Seashell Pendant Vintage 14k Gold Circa 1980s, $135 / shop on Etsy
Vintage Sterling Silver Shell Ring 925 size 6.75, $32 / shop on eBay
VTG Sterling Silver - BEAU Oyster Sea Shell Bracelet Charm - 1.5g, bidding ends tonight! / shop on eBay
Vintage Brown Shell Pendant Gold tone 15” chain, $17 / shop on eBay
Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Fanned Seashell Ring Size 6.5, $42 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver Natural Seashell Ring Size 6.75, $60 / shop on eBay
Vintage 80s Oyster Shell Puffy Charm, $15 / shop on Etsy
Ocean swirls and silver waves:
Taxco Mexico 925 Sterling Silver Circle Swirl Earrings, $85 / shop on eBay
VTG Sterling Silver Swirl Stick Handmade Earrings, $10 / shop on eBay
Vintage Taxco Sterling Silver Hinged Collar Necklace, $160 / shop on eBay
925 Sterling Silver Hammered Infinity Swirl Pendant, $50 / shop on Etsy
VINTAGE 925 STERLING SILVER CHAIN NECKLACE WITH STERLING ROUND PENDANT, $40 / shop on eBay
Vintage 90s structured 3 layer collar necklace, $13 / shop on Etsy
Vintage Sterling Silver Large Swirls & Circles Cuff Bracelet, $120 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver Circle Collar Necklace, $125 / shop on eBay
No fish were harmed in the making of this jewelry:
Vintage Taxco Mexico sterling silver fish skeleton pendant necklace, $135 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver and Mexican Jade Fish Pendant, $135 / shop on eBay
Abstract Jellyfish Brooch Sterling Silver Taxco Mexico 925, $150 / shop on eBay
Vintage Mexico Sterling Silver Fish Pendant on chain, $175 / shop on eBay
Vintage Articulated Silver Fish Pendant, $65 / shop on eBay
EBJ Signed Vintage Sea Horse Pierced Dimensional Earrings, $20 / shop on eBay
Vintage Mexico 925 Sterling Silver Fish Pendant With Turquoise & Copper Inlays, $20 / shop on eBay
Vintage Fish Charm Pendant, $11 / shop on Etsy
Vintage Mexico Sterling Silver Inlaid Sodalite Articulated Skeleton Fish Pendant, $95 / shop on eBay
Vintage Green Jade Jadeite Carved Fish Pendant, $69 / shop on eBay
Vintage Mexican Sterling Silver Fishbone Dangling Pendant, $36 / shop on eBay
925 Sterling Silver Vintage Mexico Real Azurite Modernist Pendant, $63 / shop on eBay
Taxco Sterling Silver Fish Bone Pierced Earrings, $48 / shop on eBay
Lustrous pearly gems:
925 Sterling Silver Vintage Abalone Shell & Blue Topaz Pendant, $90 / shop on eBay
Set of 7 Bangle Bracelets Shell Inlay Mother Of Pearl Abalone, $56 / shop on Etsy
Vintage Sterling Silver Mesh Pearl Choker Necklace, $55 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver 925 Abalone Sea Shell Ring Size 8, $75 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver 925 Abalone Modernist Circle Pendant, $73 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver 925 Abalone Ring Size 8, $30 / shop on eBay
Stunning Abalone Shell Pendant with Silver Cap, $30 / shop on eBay
Fell overboard off a passing ship to be discovered by a curious mermaid scouring the ocean floor for treasure:
Sterling Silver Vintage Cutlery Charm, $22 / shop on Etsy
14K Yellow Gold Lighthouse Charm Pendant Vintage, $70 / shop on eBay
VTG 14kt Yellow Gold Plated 1 Inch Lighthouse Charm, $39 / shop on eBay
Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Rowing Boat Charm Pendant, $27 / shop on eBay
VTG Sterling Silver Sailboat Charm Pendant, $17 / shop on eBay
14K GOLD VINTAGE SAILBOAT CHARM, $152 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver Envelope Locket Pendant, $70 / shop on eBay
14K Yellow Gold Lucky Dice Pendant, $270 / shop on eBay
Sterling Silver Ship Propeller Pendant Necklace, $35 / shop on eBay
A day at the coral market:
925 Sterling Silver Vintage Real Coral Modernist Pendant, $140 / shop on eBay
Vintage Signed Vietta CR Taxco 925 Sterling Silver Coral Ring Size 5.5, $35 / shop on eBay
14K Yellow Gold Sand Dollar Charm, $93 / shop on Etsy
Sterling Silver Red Coral And White Shell Pendant, $50 / shop on eBay
925 Sterling Silver Matching Pendant and Ring Size 6.5, $130 / shop on eBay
Light Green Sea Glass Pendant Sterling 925 Silver, $20 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Silver Spiny Oyster Gaspeite Mexico Pendant Necklace, $125 / shop on eBay
Starfish! To whisper compliments in your ears:
Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti Silver Starfish Pendant Necklace, $149 / shop on eBay
TIFFANY & CO. ELSA PERETTI STERLING SILVER STARFISH EARRINGS GENERIC 925 BACKS, $259 / shop on eBay
TIFFANY & Co Starfish Elsa Peretti Necklace Pendant, $150 / shop on eBay
Sterling Silver Multi-stone Starfish Pendant, $23 / shop on Etsy
VTG Starfish 925 Silver Sculptural Pendant on 925 Silver 18" Chain, $40 / shop on eBay
Sterling Silver Mexico Starfish Large Pendant, $26 / shop on eBay
Vintage Mexico Sterling Silver 925 Starfish Pendant, $27 / shop on eBay
Vintage Sterling Spiral Sea Star Fish Brooch, $38 / shop on eBay
Sterling Silver Multi-Stone Inlay Starfish Brooch, $30 / shop on eBay
VTG Taxco Mexico Sterling Silver Star Drop Pendant, $22 / shop on eBay
And if you’re still craving more,
included some stunning seafaring pieces in her summer necklace edit. If you’re lucky there might be a few left that haven’t been snapped up!
Sooo which piece will you be wearing to a secret grotto gathering under the moonlight?
Find me on IG here, peruse my shelves here, or get in touch with me at mackinley@yeehawt.com if you’d like to work together. You can also reply to this email to keep the convo going! Chat soon xo
ICYMI:
More on Beetlecore 🪲
Where I got my silver coin collar <3
What your Toteducken says about you…
This was SO GOOD. I'll never be over the seashell craze.
Gorgeous selection, Mac!💕