Vintage Costume Jewellery – 10 top facts

I have talked on here a lot about jewellery but not much specifically about costume jewellery. What is it and why is it different from normal vintage jewellery. Here are my ten top facts ( in no particular order)

1. What is costume Jewellery and how does it differ from other vintage jewellery?

Costume jewellery is made of non-precious materials – that is it is not made of Gold, silver, platinum or precious gemstones. It is made to be worn rather than to be stored in a bank vault as an investment.

2. What is costume Jewellery made of?

Non -precious metals, Plastics, Wood, Glass, non precious stones such as agate or shell

3. How old is costume Jewellery?

Whist Coco Chanel is attributed with being the first designer to bring costume jewellery into her collections you can find costume jewellery going right back to the ancients with glass and ceramic beads. The Victorians even invented new materials such as Pinchbeck for costume Jewellery.

4. Where can I find vintage costume jewellery?

Vintage costume Jewellery is relatively abundant and can be found at all antique fairs, collectors markets, car boot sales, auctions, eBay and any even Charity shops. The problem is to learn how to tell what is good vintage costume jewellery from nearly new poor copies made recently.

5. What vintage costume Jewellery should I buy?

You can either spend a lot of time learning about costume jewellery before you start or buy a few pieces that you really like in your favourite colours and in very good condition. I would always check the condition of a piece and now buy damaged costume jewellery unless I was going to use the pieces to make something new.

6. Whos Who in vintage costume Jewellery

As I have mentioned Coco Chanel was the first designer name in costume jewellery. Look out for some less well know names which can be found more easily and at a cheaper price. There is real quality to be had from Coro / Corocraft  and Tiffari . Personally if I was starting to collect now I would look at Spinx and if you like the celtic look Miracle jewellery is still reasonably priced.

7. What about a themed collection of vintage costume Jewellery?

How about a collection of vintage costume brooches? Perhaps insect or bug pins. Vintage glass necklaces are very popular at the moment as are vintage plastic bangles. If you can wear clip-on earrings a great collection can be had quite cheaply as many ladies prefer to wear earrings for pierced ears.

8. How do I care for my vintage costume Jewellery?

The biggest piece of advice I can offer is to keep it dry. Most costume jewellery will suffer if it gets damp, metals will tarnish, paint will flake, stones will come loose. If it needs a clean do it very carefully, brush with a soft dry brush and a lint free cloth to start with. Still not clean then use an almost dry soft brush with a tiny dab of jewellery cleaner and pat dry quickly. Remember perfume, hairspray and makeup will spoil your vintage costume jewellery.

9. Can I see some vintage costume jewellery?

Here are two nice pieces:

10 How can I find out more about vintage costume Jewellery?

I will be bringing you more about vintage costume jewellery here but in the mean time pop into you local library or book shop.  Here are a couple of books to start with:

Judith Miller Costume Jewellery  pub Dorling Kindersley

Julia C Carroll Costume Jewellery 101 pubCollector books

 

Happy Hunting