So, you want to Learn About Collecting Vintage Costume Jewelry, and you’re not sure where to start. Well, you come to the right place.
When collecting vintage, antique costume jewelry, cosmetic jewelry or as some people just call it junk jewelry the question is, why should I collect it anyway? Besides the looks, there are never-ending styles, colors, and popularity. Well, that wouldn’t be a good enough reason to collect costume jewelry, or WOULD IT?
DID YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE UNKNOWINGLY MIX THEIR “REAL” JEWELRY IN WITH THEIR VINTAGE and, just plain forget?
Learn About Collecting Vintage Costume Jewelry could be a lucrative business when you learn what to look for.
Before the 20th century, women wore jewelry made of precious and semi-precious stones and metals. They did IT as an expression to flaunt their wealth and their social standing in the community. Today it’s not so much a social symbol for the wealthy as it is an extension of you, they say, your personality.
** Did you know a Real Diamond would only be set in an expensive high quality setting such as white gold, platinum or yellow gold?
In the early part of the 20th century, things did change. Industrialization brought experimentation to new forms of jewelry, new materials. The sole purpose was making beautiful styles availability for the ordinary person rather than just the rich and famous. Much of this costume jewelry was made of a hard plastic resin and other known material such as Bakelite, which was invented around 1907.
The ordinary, general public now had access to this fine inexpensive high end looking glitter.
Wikipedia’s article explains costume jewelry just perfectly, along with these other websites. The links at the bottom will also explain how to go about Identifying and cataloging your little beauties. Some will tell you how to even identify the famous artists that designed these colorful beauties.
THE LEAST YOU SHOULD KNOW series is about collecting cosmetic jewelry or collecting…anything.
When going to an estate auction, garage sales or any place people are setting up to liquidate their leftover items, you’ll always find tables with a mixed gaudy looking cosmetic jewelry. It’s everywhere you look, and some all mixed together in a big lump. You find people meticulously sorting through the pile.(but you never know!)
ON FAKE COSTUME JEWELRY, ONE READER MENTIONED
I SAY IT OVER & OVER, IF THE PIECE OF JEWELRY ‘TALKS’ TO ME, THEN I’M MORE LIKELY GOING BUY IT AND KEEP IT REGARDLESS OF ‘WHAT’ IT’S MADE OF OR WHO MADE IT.
SO IN THE END, DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
Why should you collect cosmetic jewelry? A ring was found at garage sale worth ½ million dollars, and one lucky customer is cashing in on a major find at this High-End Auction House in England.
Their auction advertisement states: We will auction off a sparkly cocktail ring that in the 1980s a woman bought at a car boot sale. The starting bid is £250,000 (roughly $325,000). The owner revealed, “I thought for decades it was costume jewelry and wore it without a care in the world.”
In my series THE LEAST YOU SHOULD KNOW, I try to explain simple things to look for in Collecting Costume Jewelry
So this is why you should start collecting Costume Jewelry, whether you’re buying, selling or just, want to keep it scenario. It’s the most popular item to sell for an entrepreneur at Flea markets, farmer’s markets, garage sales, and any free-lance markets. Who do you think is the busiest of all the vendors at these places? …. Jewelry Vendors.
THE LEAST YOU HAVE TO KNOW about collecting cosmetic jewelry. Get to know the difference between real gold and fake, polished tin for silver. “DO YOUR RESEARCH.”
Always Remember . . . . “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER”.
You tube video on fake jewelry.
So learning simple tell-tale signs is a must and these simple tools, I never leave home without.
1- Flashlight
2- Pocket
3- Magnet Jewelry Loupe (Did you know GOLD AND SILVER are NOT MAGNETIC?)
Here is a #1 asked question… What is the proper way to clean my jewelry? A proper way of cleaning your diamonds, precious stones or even cosmetic jewelry, best to use a noninvasive Ultrasonic Cleaner, that will do the trick and there cheap to purchase.
TIP . . . Because of a diamond’s large price tag, a real one will only be set in high-quality jewelry. For example, a real diamond will be set in materials such as white gold, platinum, yellow gold, pave or side-stone setting and halo setting rings. Precious stones are NEVER glued in and are always secured with 4 or 5 clasped.
TIP , , , Very few people look hard at a mess old vintage Jewelry; and like I said, some can’t be bothered in most cases. But in and among that mess could just be gold, could even be real gems. This hand full of whatever in most cases go for a very reasonable amount of money at auctions. Old jewelry boxes full of whatever and you end up buying the lot for mere pitons. (small amounts of money)
If a diamond is already placed in a ring, look at the type of setting and mount that’s used.
Because of a diamond’s large price tag, a real one will only be set in high quality jewelry. For example, a real diamond will be set in materials such as white gold, platinum, yellow gold, pave or side-stone setting and halo setting rings. Precious stones are NEVER glued in and are always secured with 4 or 5 clasped.
Tip . . . Magnet Test Neither gold nor silver are magnetic so if you hold a piece of jewelry to a magnet and it sticks, then it is fake. However, this shouldn’t be the ultimate test to confirm that a piece is real or fake. Some counterfeited pieces are made from materials that aren’t magnetic either.
These are general rules of the trade, comparing real stones to fake. Check out a reputable Gemologist in your area.
Here area few links to knowledgeable Costume Jewelry websites. Knowing the difference between stones and materials used for making expensive to cosmetic jewelry, that would be an asset.
I:\Diamond 4 C’s, Precious Stones, Gemstones, Gems Jewelry.mht
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costume_jewelry
Youtube video 12 Tips on How to Spot Fake Jewelry
Youtube video on fake jewelery ……….. https://youtu.be/7oMdfyOxig8
Remember, “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER”. And, Happy Collecting Costume Jewelry.
And, Happy Collecting Costume Jewelry.
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