Garrard & Co Parachute Regiment Sweetheart Brooch

[Tigerlily]

I have a nice sweetheart brooch by Garrard & Co hallmarked Birmingham 1973,
does anyone have a similar one and can you tell me if it is enamel inside the crown?
Thanks
Allison

[Peter Brydon]

Allison,

Very nice badge.

I cant help about the enamel but the advert in the picture appeared in the Kings Regiment magazine "The White Horse and Fleur De Lys" in September 1963. This suggests that Garrards badges were gold and enamel.

P.B.

[Tigerlily]

Thanks for posting that Peter, very interesting to see that advert.
I'm sure it is enamel inside the crown, I can't think what else it could be
It is a really nice badge and very fine in detail.

Allison

[Tigerlily]

Hi Peter and Andy(Magpie)

I approached Garrards to find out how much it would have cost retail in 1973 but unfortunately all their records from that far back have been destroyed.

Shame I would have loved to have known how much the old man stumped up for it

Allison

[Cribyn]

Hello Allison

I doubt if there would have been much variation in prices in those days - and certainly no premium for 'special forces' items as there is today - so I suspect the prices shown in Peter's article would be about the right price for your gold and enamel brooch, about £14.00 - £15.00.

Regards
Roger

[Tigerlily]

This Is Money has an historical calculator using official UK inflation which puts one of those brooches bought in 1963 at about £286. The same price of about £15 in 1974 would have it in today's money at £162, which sounds about right to me.

I have pegged it at 1974 as I have a feeling he might have bought it around the time of the 30th anniversary of Operation Market Garden when we went to Arnhem.

Unfortunately I was just a toddler and all I can remember is the people were really kind but the ice cream was weird There are photo's but I am not posting them!

Allison

[Mike B]

Lovely item and would have been expensive

Memories of 1972 ... when I started work in 1972 I was on £7.50 per week ... £2.50 went on train fair to the apprentice school, £2.50 on stoppages for safety gear etc - which left £2.50 to live on - those were the days before a swift change of direction.

Reading what I just wrote brings to mind the Monty Python sketch ...
'You think you had it tough, there were 150 of us living in a shoe box in t' middle of t' road ...'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdlkunflRs


Mike

[Tigerlily]

Thanks Mike love a bit of Monty P

Must have been terrible trudging out for your £7.50 in 1972 and there was I still in my cradle...

Alli

[Chutist33]

Hello Tigerlily, My Pegasus magazine of April 1964 has the Garrard & co advert showing both a Pegasus - in gold and blue enamel; and Parachute Regiment in 9ct gold and white gold parachute but no mention of enamel. No price given, but blurb says 'a token of lasting value'. On opposite page is an advert for a brand new Vauxhall Viva car for £436. Para jump bounty was £1 for first three jumps and 10/- for next four iirc!! Best wishes Jim K

[Tigerlily]

Wow thanks Jim and thanks for info about the bounty, very interesting!

Alli