| Less well known than the more available Coro or | | | | of years gone by. |
| Trifari, Weiss costume jewelry is a good choice for | | | | Several marks, or "signatures" were used on Weiss |
| the beginning collector. | | | | jewelry. WEISS, printed in caps, dates from 1942. |
| Spanning a large range of designs and materials, from | | | | Other marks from the 1940s and 1950s include |
| rhinestones to enamel to plastic, Weiss was in | | | | "Albert Weiss" in script, WEISS in script, "Weissco" |
| operation from 1942 to 1971, making them truly | | | | and "Weiss" in caps with the copyright symbol |
| vintage pieces. Albert Weiss contracted with | | | | ©, denoting pieces made after 1955. |
| designers and manufacturers to produce designs with | | | | Some Weiss pieces may be unmarked, which would |
| the Weiss name. | | | | reduce the value. Some were sold to department |
| Be aware, however, that some new Weiss jewelry | | | | stores, which marketed them in boxes with the store |
| copies can be found. Typically the newer pieces will | | | | name. |
| have pasted in rather than prong-set rhinestones, the | | | | Weiss produced many types of sets of jewelry. Pin |
| rhinestones are small and new-looking, and the plating | | | | and earring sets, necklace and bracelet sets, |
| on smooth-backed pieces is of poor quality. If you're | | | | three-piece sets of pin, earrings and bracelet, |
| interested in Weiss jewelry being sold on line, be sure | | | | matching necklace and earrings, any sets, if complete, |
| to ask the seller whether the piece is vintage or a | | | | increase the value beyond that of the individual |
| reproduction. Do a search to look at both vintage and | | | | pieces. If you're lucky enough to find the original box, |
| reproduction Weiss pieces, and become educated | | | | the you've got a real treasure. |
| about the differences. | | | | Some vintage Weiss brooches had smooth reflective |
| Weiss was known for floral, fruit and figural designs, | | | | metal backs. They should be totally smooth. |
| and also geometric, Art Deco necklaces, bracelets, | | | | Reproduction pieces may have smooth backs, but |
| pins and earrings. The workmanship and quality are | | | | the quality will not be as good as on the vintage |
| uniformly very high. In the mid 1950s Weiss made | | | | pieces. |
| creative use of Swarovski aurora borealis rhinestones. | | | | As always, when considering the purchase of vintage |
| A classic Weiss design features smoky quartz | | | | jewelry, you should be sure that the piece is in good |
| rhinestones with pave loops or icing. Smoky quartz | | | | condition. If you are buying for yourself, and not for |
| was also referred to as the "Black Diamond Look", | | | | investment, you can be more flexible with condition, |
| and was created to imitate German smoky quartz | | | | but the better the condition, of course the higher the |
| stones. | | | | value. Is the piece is signed? Is it well designed? And, |
| Weiss butterfly pins are especially collectible, and | | | | do you like it? If you're buying for investment |
| some have wings mounted on tiny springs that make | | | | purposes, your personal taste isn't as important, but |
| them flutter. Another popular Weiss collectible is | | | | if you're buying for yourself, buy what you like so |
| Christmas tree pins, and can be a great investment | | | | you'll be encouraged to wear it often. |
| for the beginning collector. Christmas ornament pins | | | | Weiss costume jewelry has been undervalued by |
| currently sell for much less than the tree pins. | | | | collectors, but that seems to be changing as prices |
| Weiss jewelry used high quality Austrian rhinestones | | | | have been going up. If you're lucky enough to find a |
| and were made in classic, timeless designs, made to | | | | piece of vintage Weiss jewelry, and it's in good |
| fit with a modern wardrobe as well as the fashions | | | | condition, you'll have a high quality collectible. |