There are pieces that feel like they belong to a memory rather than a decade.
 
This petite gold-toned motorcar brooch—measuring 5 cm x 3 cm—is one such discovery. Designed in the 1980s by a European costume jewellery house that quietly closed its doors toward the end of the decade, it lay untouched for decades, preserved exactly as it was meant to be: playful, imaginative, and exquisitely detailed.
 
Rediscovered years later by a London-based jeweller while cataloguing old workshop stock, this collection of whimsical miniatures has since found its way into major theatre, television, and film costume houses, prized for their narrative charm and period authenticity. Pieces like this were never mass-produced for the high street—they were designed to tell stories.
 
The motorcar itself feels almost Edwardian in spirit: spoked wheels, a raised canopy, a suggestion of leisurely afternoons and unhurried journeys. It evokes a woman who collects moments rather than trends—someone who might wear silk blouses even on quiet days, who keeps handwritten notes tucked into books, who understands that elegance often whispers rather than announces itself.
 
She pins this brooch not for attention, but for herself.
Perhaps on the lapel of a camel coat, catching winter light.
Perhaps on a crisp white shirt, worn with tailored trousers.
Perhaps on a scarf, a cardigan, or even a structured evening jacket—where it becomes an intimate detail noticed only by those who look closely.
 
Despite its whimsy, the piece never feels frivolous. The gold-toned finish is warm and refined; the sculptural detailing is deliberate and balanced. This is nostalgia executed with taste.
 
Provenance matters here.
Deadstock from a closed manufacturer.
Rediscovered in London.
Preserved for decades.
Now released slowly, one piece at a time.
There are no reproductions. No second chances. Just a small number of survivors from a forgotten atelier—each carrying with it a sense of quiet romance and thoughtful design.
This is a brooch for the woman who believes jewellery should feel personal, almost secret.
 
A piece to be worn, lived with, and eventually remembered.
A small object.
A long story.
And unmistakably rare.
 
- c.1980s; 
- Triple Gold Plated gilt metal; anti-tarnish
- In excellent vintage condition. No defect or damage or damage. Please see close up video for quality assurance.
- Measures: 5 cm x 3 cm
- Sourced from London, England.