Antique Costume Jewelry

Contemporary and Antique Costume Jewelry

Executive Summary By Amy Everet

Rather than purchasing complete jewelry sets, one chunky piece like a cocktail ring always works wonders with an elegant dress on a formal occasion. Over time, popular jewelry items and especially cocktail rings have been customized to ensure they can be purchased by people with variable purchasing power.

Such highly popular costume jewelry is available in many different varieties. The concept of cocktail rings and jewelry is no longer restricted to the elite. The popularity of cocktail rings for proposing to your beloved as well as for engagement rings has also risen sharply over the last couple of years.

For cheaper versions, nickel and copper rings are also available in the market. The artificial stones embedded in these rings are available in many different colors and therefore they go well with a variety of outfits.

Knowing Your Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Executive Summary By Sharon Lemell

To wear and enjoy a beautiful piece of antique and vintage jewelry with a history behind can be a wonderful, exhilarating experience. Many jewelry styles do tend to overlap so always check the entire piece for clues. Is the piece signed, hallmarked? A lot of old jewelry such as Victorian Jewelry was not marked. The "C" clasp is another indication that the piece is old. Compare new pieces to old pieces.


Does the jewelry have a brass spring ring clasp from the 1930s or a shiny gold plate clasp? Those small differences could answer your questions and drastically influence the value of a piece. Many clasps on old jewelry such as pins broke in time so replacement ones were soldered onto the back. All better Jewelry is soldered at some place but if the piece has raised pads soldered to the back of the Brooch where the clasp is attached then it is a replacement clasp.

Many costume pieces from the nineteenth century and into the Art Deco period were made of gold and/or silver over base metals such as gold over brass, silver over brass, silver over copper, gold over copper, etc. There are several tests in determining Authentic Antique and Vintage Bakelite Jewelry using Formula 409, Hot Water, Simichrome Polish and a Q-Tip. On Vintage Bakelite brooches, the clasp would be embedded into the piece.