| This identification and value guide covers the basics | | | | 3. Dating jewelry by reviewing vintage |
| of dating jewelry from 1935-1980. It's full of hundreds | | | | advertisements |
| of photographs and drawings, plus patent information | | | | Vintage advertisements are a wonderful way to date |
| and designer profiles. | | | | vintage costume jewelry, and it's fun to read through |
| Six methods for dating costume jewelry are explored | | | | them. This book contains over 160 advertisements |
| in detail, with illustrations and examples, to help | | | | for dozens of makers, spanning the years 1943-1982. |
| collectors answer the question, "How old is this | | | | These beautifully illustrated ads not only show of the |
| piece?" | | | | jewelry, but also show how it was worn. Vintage ads |
| 1. Dating jewelry from the maker's dates of | | | | can be found in books, old magazines and catalogs, |
| operation and the maker's signature | | | | and can also be purchased individually on line. If you're |
| Knowing when a manufacturer or designer produced | | | | lucky enough to find your jewelry in a vintage |
| their jewelry places the piece within a specific date | | | | advertisement, you'll know for sure when it was |
| range. A manufacturer and marks chart in an | | | | made, or at least when it was sold. You can also look |
| appendix at the back of the book provides dates of | | | | for pieces that are similar to or coordinate with |
| operation for most collectible costume jewelry. | | | | yours. |
| The copyright symbol, ©, was used after 1955, | | | | 4. Dating jewelry by the style or design of the piece |
| when Trifari won a lawsuit against a company that | | | | Less efficient than the first three methods, using the |
| had pirated one of Trifari's designs. After 1955 most | | | | style or design to try to date jewelry is described in |
| manufacturers ceased their prior practice of | | | | general guidelines. The use of rhinestones, the various |
| patenting designs and instead began copyrighting | | | | types of metal or plastic are used, the type of |
| them. | | | | hardware and construction, and the theme of the |
| Jewelry makers sometimes changed the design of | | | | piece can sometimes be used to get an approximate |
| their signature, or used a completely new signature. | | | | age. There is a great deal of detail in this chapter, |
| For example, "KTF" is an early Trifari signature from | | | | with lots of tips and illustrations. |
| 1935 to 1938, when it was discontinued - but in 1954 | | | | 5. Dating jewelry using books and the internet |
| "KTF" was used again, this time with a crown over | | | | If you haven't started a collection of books about |
| the "T". Variations in the signatures can be valuable | | | | vintage jewelry, you will no doubt start one very |
| tools for dating costume jewelry. | | | | soon. There are hundreds of books out there, and an |
| Sometimes makers added the year of manufacture | | | | online search will bring up many tempting titles. The |
| or inventory numbers to their pieces. During World | | | | internet provides a virtually endless supply of |
| War II some makers used sterling silver since other | | | | information, and it's updated almost constantly. The |
| metals were needed for the war effort. Pieces made | | | | author recommends that accuracy of information the |
| between 1943 and 1948 are signed with the maker's | | | | internet be carefully checked for accuracy. Vintage |
| mark and "sterling". | | | | ads can often be found for sale on the internet. |
| 2. Dating jewelry using patent information | | | | 6. Dating jewelry by provenance |
| Utility patents were issued for the mechanics and | | | | "Provenance" means the origin or source. Dating |
| practical aspects of jewelry. Design patents were | | | | jewelry by provenance can be done by talking to |
| used to protect the designer's creation of the piece | | | | people who actually bought and wore the jewelry |
| of jewelry. Both contain detailed illustrations, and each | | | | back in the day. |
| type of patent is numbered and dated. The | | | | Most of this book is taken up by detailed charts and |
| extensive appendix to the book has a Designers | | | | illustrations of costume jewelry the most prolific |
| Chart that lists well-known jewelry makers and the | | | | makers - Coro, Boucher, Hattie Carnegie, Eisenberg, |
| designers who created jewelry for them. If you can | | | | Hobe, Lisner, Weiss, and many many others. The |
| find a patent number or date on your piece of | | | | manufacturer and Marks Chart show describe the |
| jewelry, you may be able to date it using the chart. | | | | many signatures found on vintage costume jewelry. |