Decoding the ‘Store p150 Love Diamante’ Vintage Hair Clip – A Collector’s Guide

You come across a vintage hair clip stamped "store p150 love diamante" at a flea market in Portobello Road or tucked into an old dressing table at a country house sale. That little piece of British accessory history rewards a careful eye. The code is a clue, the materials tell a story, and the heart-shaped rhinestone design links directly to the romanticism of mid‑century fashion. Understanding what this clip is, how it was made, and how to wear it today turns a pretty trinket into a genuine conversation piece.

Decoding the 'Store p150' Label

The "store" prefix on these clips is not a brand name but a manufacturer's or retailer's internal code, common among British costume jewellery makers from the 1950s through the 1970s. Many small factories in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and London's Hatton Garden used such codes to track styles across different department store orders. The "p" almost certainly stands for "price" or "pattern" – a practice seen on countless clips from the era, where the number following the letter indicated either the wholesale cost in shillings or the style number in a catalogue. P150, then, likely refers to a specific design (the love diamante motif) at a particular price point, possibly 1 shilling and 6 pence or 1 pound and 50 pence in decimalised later years. Collectors have noted that similar codes appear on clips sold through stores like Woolworths, John Lewis, and local independent haberdashers, meaning the p150 love clip was neither an exclusive piece nor a cheap throwaway – it occupied that sweet spot of accessible quality that defined British high‑street fashion.

The Love Motif in British Hair Accessories

Hearts have been a perennial favourite in hair jewellery, but the "love" designation on this clip signals a specific post‑war sensibility. After the austerity of the 1940s, the 1950s and 1960s saw a surge in playful, sentimental motifs – hearts, flowers, bows – that celebrated femininity and optimism. The love diamante clip is a direct descendant of that mood. Its heart shape is typically symmetrical, sometimes with a slight arrow or scroll detail, and the rhinestones are set in a silver‑ or gold‑tone metal base. Unlike the elaborate, hand‑painted enamel hearts of earlier Art Deco pieces, this clip is mass‑produced but still carefully finished. The edges are rolled or crimped to hold the stones, a technique that required skilled hand labour even in a factory setting. If you examine a genuine p150 love clip, you will notice that the stones are not glued but pressure‑set – a hallmark of mid‑century quality that helps distinguish it from later reproductions.

Diamante: A Touch of Sparkle

"Diamante" is the French word for diamond, but in the context of vintage accessories it refers to colourless or lightly tinted glass rhinestones that imitate the sparkle of real diamonds. British manufacturers sourced these stones from Czechoslovakia and later from local glassworks. The p150 love clip typically uses clear stones with a high lead content, giving them a brilliant refraction that catches candlelight or a sunny afternoon. Some variants exist with pastel‑coloured stones – pale pink, aqua, or lavender – though the classic "love diamante" is clear. The setting is usually a closed‑back metal mount, meaning the stones are fully encased, which protects them from snagging hair and reduces the risk of losing a stone. This practical design choice made the clip suitable for everyday wear, not just special occasions.

How to Date Your p150 Love Clip

Without a dated receipt or original packaging, you can narrow down the decade by examining three details:

• Metal colour and finish: 1950s clips often have a warm gilt finish that wears to a soft brass tone. 1960s pieces favour a cooler silver‑tone or rhodium plating. The p150 love clip appears in both, so look for the patina – a genuine gilt clip will show darkening around the edges.
• Rhinestone cut: Early stones are often round with a simple foil backing. By the late 1960s, manufacturers used more complex cuts (like navette or marquise) and brighter foils. The love clip typically uses round stones, suggesting a 1950s–early 1960s date.
• Stamped code: The font and depth of the stamp can be revealing. Crisp, deep lettering points to a factory stamp, while shallow, uneven marks sometimes indicate a later re‑stamp or a different production run. Compare your clip's stamp with known examples from online collector forums or museum collections.

If you are lucky enough to find the clip still attached to its original card, the card itself may have a price sticker or a retailer's name – that is a gold‑dust clue. Otherwise, treat the p150 love diamante as a versatile piece that fits comfortably in the 1955–1965 window.

Styling a Vintage Diamante Clip Today

The beauty of the love diamante clip lies in its restraint. A single heart with sparkle is statement enough, so the modern wardrobe should let it breathe. Try it as a side‑swept accent in a low chignon or pinned into a half‑up style with the heart sitting just above the ear. For a more daring look, cluster two or three clips along a centre part – the p150’s modest size (typically about 3 cm across) makes it ideal for grouping without overwhelming the hair. It works equally well on short hair, where it can replace a barrette on a side section, or on long hair as a subtle anchor for a scarf or ribbon.

Colour‑wise, the clear diamante complements every hair colour, but it especially pops against darker shades or grey hair. If your clip has a gilt base, pair it with warm‑toned accessories – tortoiseshell combs, amber beads, or a camel coat. Silver‑toned versions look crisp with black, white, or pastel outfits. For a truly vintage‑inspired ensemble, wear your love clip with a 1950s tea dress or a simple cashmere twinset – the kind of outfit that would have been perfectly ordinary in 1962 but feels delightfully intentional today.

Caring for Your Vintage Treasure

Diamante clips are surprisingly resilient, but they do need a little respect. Here is a short care routine that will keep the p150 love clip sparkling for another sixty years:

• Clean gently: Use a soft, dry cloth (microfibre is ideal) to wipe away dust and hairspray residue. Never use water, jewellery cleaner, or alcohol – they can loosen the foil backing and cloud the stones.
• Store flat: Clips with pressure‑set stones should not be tossed into a drawer where they can knock against other pieces. A small fabric‑lined box or a velvet pouch works perfectly. If you store multiple clips together, separate them with acid‑free tissue paper.
• Check the spring: The p150 clip uses a simple spring mechanism. If it feels stiff, apply a tiny drop of sewing machine oil to the hinge (not the stones) and work it gently. Avoid over‑oiling – less is more.
• Avoid heat and moisture: Take the clip off before showering, swimming, or exercising. Heat can expand the metal and loosen stones, while moisture can dull the foil.

For a deeper dive into the craft behind these pieces, our article on Stars, Colours, and Craft: The Art of Vintage British Hair Accessories explores the manufacturing techniques that gave the p150 its enduring appeal. And if you are curious about how colour choices evolved through the seasons, Spring Blooms in Your Hair: Vintage Hair Clip Colours and Styles offers a useful companion read.

One final practical note: when you examine a p150 love diamante clip, always flip it over. The back may carry a tiny maker's stamp – a letter, a symbol, or an additional number – that can link it to a specific workshop. That small detail, often overlooked, is the key to understanding not just where your clip came from, but the hands that made it. And that is the real treasure.