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I usually go to Portobello Rd. market to add to my collection of vintagey pins and have found some interesting ones on past visits. I'm headed to London again in a little over 2 weeks. Does anyone have recommendations for other spots I could hit? Not looking for expensive things with with precious or semi-precious stones, just interesting inexpensive stuff.
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Inexpensive "vintage" costume jewelry in London
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Vintage clothing stores usually sell costume jewellery and tend to be a bit more affordeable than jewellers - for example, 'Steinberg and Tolkein' on the Kings Road has an interesting and mostly affordeable selection. Down the same street there is the Antiquarius Antiques Centre, which (amongst the jaw-droppingly expensive fine jewellery) also has a lot of small stalls selling costume jewellery and accessories, like bags and compacts. (Sloane Square tube for both).
In Greys Antique Market (Bond St tube) there is a fair amount of costume jewellery too, though a couple of points of caution - some of this can be quite pricy and the market has limited opening hours (ie not open at the weekend).
One favourite of mine is 'Judith Michael and Daughter' on Regents Park Road - the selection is small, but interesting. (Chalk Farm tube).
Also try Camden Passage (Angel Tube). Alfies Antique market (Edgware Rd tube) also has a fair selection.
In general, pretty much anywhere in London will be pricier than sourcing jewellery from internet stores/Ebay etc.
On our last trip, we visited Camden Passage. I got a lovely sterling silver chain and locket with scroll work on it for the equivalent of about $20. I could have bought lots of other cool stuff too if DH hadn't stopped me!!
another vote for Camden passage.
I didn't buy jewelry but a victorian blouse.
Excellent tips - thanks all!
I found some interesting pins in a charity shop just north (first stoplight, I think) of the S. Kensington tube stop. There's a post office on the left side at that light so turn right & on that street there are a few charity shops. Worth a look.
Camden Passage at Angel. The best day to go is Wednesday, if you can.
If you want to know more about costume jewellery, you should read British antique expert Judith Miller's "Costume Jewelry" from Dorling Kindersly.
Thin
Thanks for that book tip, Thin.
Besides the markets - definitely be on the look out for charity shops. Virtually all of them have some costume jewelry.
This long TimeOut article lists some of the best geographically http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/features/2503.html
Oh - well -- the grammar is wrong - but the link is good
covent gardens had market stalls with costume jewellery
The Covent Garden Market is on Monday mornings
If you're getting to Portobello Rd via Notting Hill tube then have a look at the vintage clothes exchange. It's in that road that leads to the market and has the Sun in Spleandour pub in it (Pembridge Rd I think it is - but don't hold me to that).
That has a load of tom (Tomfoolery = jewelery) in it, most of it costume stuff.
There's a great shop called The Button Queen near Bond Street station. Many many funky and antique buttons, which may be up your alley.
http://www.thebuttonqueen.co.uk/