| A sparkling piece of vintage rhinestone jewelry is | | | | pieces of vintage rhinestone jewelry are among the |
| lovely to behold and the history behind the piece is | | | | most valuable as collectors seem to crave these |
| often quite interesting. Many people collect this | | | | colorful pieces. Monet began making jewelry in 1937 |
| jewelry and have very fond memories of their | | | | and the company still distributes jewelry today under |
| mothers and grandmothers wearing them. | | | | the names Monet, Trifari and Marvella. This company |
| Whether you are looking for vintage rhinestone | | | | also produced high quality jewelry. Not as many |
| jewelry for yourself, as a gift or to collect, you will | | | | pieces of vintage rhinestone jewelry were made with |
| need to know a little bit about what to look for. | | | | metals like sterling silver but almost all the pieces |
| Rhinestones are a huge part of vintage jewelry and, | | | | made by Sorrento were either sterling or gold plated. |
| at the time, the best stones came from Austria. | | | | Many pieces were made with huge, sparkly |
| These are foil backed, leaded crystal faceted stones. | | | | rhinestones surrounded by intricate and delicate |
| The finer variety of rhinestones are hand faceted, | | | | designs. |
| prong set and polished. A prong setting holds a stone | | | | Vendome is a name to be on the lookout for if you |
| in place by small wires that are attached to a bezel. | | | | are interested in purchasing (or collecting) quality |
| The wires are very carefully bent over the edges of | | | | vintage rhinestone jewelry. It is considered high end |
| the stone. | | | | jewelry that often had movable parts. Vogue was |
| There are literally hundreds of designers and many of | | | | established in the mid 1930s and includes some very |
| their pieces will be marked. Sometimes the markings | | | | innovative pieces. The ones created in the 1930s and |
| are hard to see. You will find some markings on the | | | | 1940s are quite hard to find. |
| clasp pin, some on a raised piece of metal on the | | | | Other companies that produced quality vintage |
| back of the piece, some will be on the bottom of an | | | | rhinestone jewelry include Weiss, Schiaparelli, Sarah |
| earring and some will be on the actual clasp like on a | | | | Coventry, Pell, Ora, Kramer, Hollycraft, Haskell, |
| bracelet or necklace. Some will not be marked at all | | | | Emmons and Carnegie to name just a few. |
| but that does not mean that they are not a beautiful | | | | You will be able to easily find many beautiful pieces |
| piece or even sought after by collectors, as many | | | | on auction sites like Amazon and eBay. Be sure to |
| famous designers did not mark their work. | | | | check the seller's feedback rating before you make |
| Vintage rhinestone jewelry is gaining in popularity. | | | | your purchase so you can buy with confidence. |
| Many celebrities are wearing pieces and appreciating | | | | Check shipping rates as well and the return policy. |
| the craftsmanship that went into the design. Some | | | | You will be surprised how much you will enjoy |
| of the pieces are quite intricate and elegant and | | | | wearing a piece of vintage rhinestone jewelry. The |
| were designed by master artists of their time. | | | | jewelry will compliment many different outfits as |
| D Lisner and Company was founded in New York in | | | | they came in so many different shades, and the |
| the early 1900s and their pieces are high quality made | | | | jewelry may even turn into a conversation piece! |
| with the finest rhinestones. Many red and purple | | | | |