Costume Jewelry Deluxe

When looking for vintage costume jewelry, it can be tiring and cumbersome for the collector to know which pieces are going to bring in a big profit and which one’s are not. Unlike expensive fine gold and diamond jewelry, costume jewelry was made for much cheaper, using base metals and semi-precious stones. Although it was made wholesale, you should never mistake it for the cheap pieces you find in department stores today.

When it comes down to it, collecting profitable pieces means finding the ones that are worth a lot yet still avoiding those that may look nice, but won’t get you anything. Wholesale costume jewelry that is in great demand will always get you a great deal of cash. Eisenberg and Miriam Haskell are two of the names you should definitely look out for, as they are usually hot ticket items. However, some designs are collectible while others aren’t. Remember that while the most popular designs are usually the most profitable, this is not always the case.

It can be hard for many vintage collectors because most of the jewelry is “unsigned” meaning the name brand is not engraved on it. This makes it difficult to know which pieces are worth more, but a veteran collector knows that an unsigned piece with a distinctive design can be very lucrative. There are ways to tell manufacturers apart simply by their designs.

The materials that went into making the piece also makes up a large part of its price. Pay close attention to the stones or gems and how well it is put together. This can be a determining factor in your success as a vintage costume jewelry collector.

At the end of the day, it is the quality or condition of the piece that determines its final price. However, even pieces that have undergone substantial deterioration may still bring in a good bit of money. If you use these tips, you can make a good profit as a vintage cheap costume jewelry collector.

Costume jewelry or “fashion jewelry” originated in the 1930s and is nowadays a legitimate highly sought after item among collectors. Throughout its long existence, this cheaper and more fashionable type of jewelry has gone through many changes and has morphed within many different eras. Each era of costume jewelry has its own look.

Art Deco period (1920s-1930s)
Following World War I, The Art Deco period focused more on bold colors and geometric shapes. Thanks to the economic pressures of the time, costume jewelry looked for a fresh and clean-cut look. The materials used in this era were mainly plastic and glass, and stones such as coral and jade were becoming more and more popular as costume jewelry became more outrageous. (bakelite lobster brooch) (lalique pendant) In the 1930s clips and brooches featuring heads were sold by Cartier, therefore spawning a wave of lesser imitations made from plastics and cheaper metals. The Great Depression brought an end to this era.

Retro period (1935-1950)
During the Retro period, World War II began in America and Europe and women began working to lend their support. The female attire changed into tight fitting skirts and jackets, so their jewelry became just the opposite. It was much more bold and bright, and more capricious. Hollywood’s leading stars favored anything that was big and exciting such as flowers, bows and sunburst designs. Cocktail rings, oversized bracelets, watches and rings were very popular. Synthetic rubies and sapphires were being used more along with bakelite, moonstones and militarily influences pieces.

Art Modern (1945-1960)
Following World War II, costume jewelry became more conventional and unassuming. The loud and booming styles of the Retro period went out of style and the adapted styles of the 50s and 60s came into play. Extravagant pieces were a big part of this era, huge bracelets and Christmas jewelry were a big part as well.

Nowadays, costume jewelry pieces are looked at more as collector’s items. They are in high demand with collectors and can be high-dollar items on the secondary market. Usually, you can get more for them if they are “signed,” which means they have the maker’s stamp engraved.

You may be wondering what costume jewelry is. You may have, at one time, heard about it from your friends or heard people talking about it on television and now you want to understand what the talk is all about. What is costume jewelry?

Well, costume jewelry is not what you may think, and this is the part that confuses people sometimes. It is not jewelry worn with costumes such as, say, Halloween costumes or Costume Party costumes. It is actually jewelry worn with certain fashions. A better name for it would be “fashion jewelry” or “outfit jewelry.”

Costume jewelry originated in the 1930s and was made to be cheap and disposable to be worn with a specific outfit. Back then, the word costume meant the same as the word outfit, and we have since retained the name “costume jewelry.”

It is made of less expensive materials such as glass, base metal, plastic, and fake stone, unlike jewelry you would find at a jewelry store, which are made of things like silver, gold, and precious gems.

To get a better idea of what cheap costume jewelry looks like, you can go to a local department store in your area. In the jewelry department, you’ll usually find a few walls of jewelry that are very cheap and usually very colorful. This is wholesale costume jewelry. You can see that certain pieces can go well with outfits.

Keep in mind, however, that to find true costume jewelry, you need to find jewelry that was made between the eras of 1920 to 1960. This is called vintage costume jewelry and is a very sought after item for collectors.