How to Collect Costume Jewelry
It was in the 1920s in the United States when seemingly unusual materials began to be used to make what has become known as costume jewelry. Designers were using materials such as plastics and chrome to create the jewelry, but the pieces were finely crafted and beautiful in their own right. Costume jewelry is sought after by many collectors, and phony vintage pieces have flooded the market as a result. A collector’s best defense against buying fakes is to learn about the jewelry designers, styles and materials used. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Familiarize yourself with costume jewelry designers and their style. Popular companies that still make some of the most sought after pieces include Chanel and Trifari. Designer Coco Chanel opened an accessories boutique in Paris and became known for her layers of faux pearls and chains. Past Trifari designers include Alfred Philippe, who had been a Cartier jewelry designer.
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Decide on a focus for your collection. You might choose to collect costume jewelry made by a certain designer or company. You may also decide to collect a specific type of jewelry, such as vintage Bakelite. Focused collections tend to be more valuable.
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Know how to identify fakes. For example, vintage Bakelite costume jewelry was created from cast resin that was made in a way that didn't produce the seams seen when items are created in a mold. Any attached pin backs or clips should be screwed on or attached to the Bakelite with rivets rather than glued.
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Find out what the costume jewelry you’re interested in collecting looks like. Genuine older pieces will likely show wear on attached metal parts. Vintage rhinestones often look darker than new ones.
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Steer clear of costume jewelry that needs significant refurbishing. Repairs can significantly reduce a piece’s value. Mending the jewelry also can be difficult, and repairs may even exceed its value.
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Research the value of the pieces you want to collect. Costume jewelry values fluctuate with demand, condition and other factors. If you use a price guide to establish values, make sure it’s up-to-date. Additionally, examine the guide’s introduction to find out how the authors established the prices. The most informative guides determine average prices based on several sources.
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Tips & Warnings
Costume jewelry manufactured in the United States between 1942 and 1947 were usually made of silver. Metal that would have been used to make such pieces was used to aid World War II efforts.
