One of the best moments for costume jewelry collectors is going to a garage sale and finding an old jewelry box crammed with tangled pins, brooches and necklaces. It’s like the discovery of a King Tut’s Tomb of jewelry! Costume jewelry never loses its appeal for relatively inexpensive ways to dress up an outfit or add sparkle to a day. Collectors today have favorite designers and manufacturers, which can be identified through clasps, maker’s marks and materials. The jewelry has been around for centuries, with some pieces dating to the 17th century. It was in the 1920s that modern costume jewelry became popular when French fashion designers began including it in their collections. Some costume jewelry is made to look like expensive jewelry but is made with less expensive metal, imitation pearls, and rhinestones or cut glass “gems.” Others have unique designs in materials including celluloid, plastic, Bakelite, Lucite and rubber.
Remember, never throw away your mother’s, grandma’s or aunt’s jewelry without carefully examining every piece or having an expert evaluate it. You don’t want to lose a potential treasure!
Here are some costume jewelry collectors look for:
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