| There is more to collecting jewelry than just focusing | | | | check when they arrive is the jewelry table. Vintage |
| on precious metals and rare gemstones. A very | | | | Bakelite jewelry gets scooped up in a hurry at these |
| popular market in the second hand market has | | | | sales and is often resold on sites like eBay for a nice |
| sprung up and people are willing to spend fair | | | | profit. The irony is that these items were first |
| amounts of cash to add these items to their personal | | | | produced as a less expensive alternative for women |
| collections. Vintage costume jewelry is a hot item. | | | | during the war years of the 1940's. |
| Specifically items made from vintage forms of plastic | | | | Bakelite was a welcome advance in the development |
| have become quite popular. | | | | of plastics. Earlier forms of plastic, such as celluloid |
| One of the most popular forms of old plastic jewelry | | | | were popular, but were also extremely flammable |
| sought after by collectors is Bakelite. Bakelite was a | | | | and less stable than Bakelite. This is not to say that |
| type of plastic used in a great number of household | | | | Bakelite cannot be damaged. On the contrary, if you |
| items ranging from flatware to telephones. It did not | | | | own any old jewelry made of this type of plastic, |
| take long for it to catch on as a wonderful material | | | | you should clean it with care and protect it as much |
| for making jewelry as well. Earrings, bracelets, | | | | as possible to maintain its wonderful finish. |
| necklaces and all sorts of fashionable accessories | | | | Collecting jewelry is a great way to keep in touch |
| were produced to take advantage of the plastic's | | | | with the past and celebrate fashion history. Vintage |
| ability to show off amazing colors and stand up to | | | | pieces of jewelry do not have to be filled with |
| daily use. Now these old relics are back in style and | | | | diamonds or emeralds to be valuable. Costume |
| their sturdiness is paying off. | | | | jewelry that has stood the test of time has earned a |
| Many women who are in their later years already | | | | place in modern collections. Jewelry that has passed |
| have a splendid variety of these now valuable | | | | from one generation to the next can be especially |
| baubles stashed away in jewelry boxes. Most | | | | precious to the lady wearing it. If you enjoy jewelry, |
| probably do not realize how valuable their collections | | | | take a look to the past. You might be surprised at |
| have become over time. Frequent visitors of estate | | | | the beautiful treasures you have been missing. |
| sales know that one of the first places they should | | | | |