| There is virtually no difference between costume | | | | There are usually clues that can help one identify |
| jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume Jewelry dates | | | | what era a piece of jewelry is from. Style, material, |
| back to the 1930s. By the definition of antique that | | | | the type of piece. For example dress clips came in in |
| would also make it antique jewelry. However, most | | | | the 1930s and were out of style by the 1950s. |
| jewelry experts have come to agree that antique | | | | Jewelry reflects styles, designs, colors and stones of |
| jewelry predates the 1930s. | | | | the era. For example from 1910 to 1930 silver was |
| Costume Jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a | | | | the favorite color for metal, so jewelry was found in |
| cheap disposable jewelry meant to be worn with a | | | | platinum, white gold, silver or a base metal colored to |
| specific outfit, but not meant to be handed down | | | | look like silver. By World War II, gold was popular |
| through generations. It was intended to be | | | | again but in short supply, since it was vital to the war |
| fashionable for a short period of time, out date itself, | | | | effort. What gold was available was made into very |
| and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit | | | | thin sheets and usually bonded to silver (called |
| purchase, or with a new fashion style. It became | | | | vermeil) before being turned into jewelry. By the |
| available in large quantities during the 30s. | | | | 1930s rhinestones popularity was ever increasing in |
| Cheap jewelry also existed prior to the 1930s. Paste | | | | Europe. It was not available to the Americans until |
| or glass jewelry as far back as the 1700s. The rich | | | | the 1940s. As a result, many of the pieces from this |
| had their fine jewelry duplicated for a variety of | | | | period tend to feature lots of metal and a single |
| reasons, using paste or glass stones. By the mid | | | | stone or a small cluster of tiny rhinestones. |
| 1800s with the growth of the middle class there | | | | Today is certainly not much different from past |
| were now different levels of jewelry being | | | | times. We still have fine jewelry, semi precious |
| manufactured using fine, semi-precious and base | | | | jewelry, and of course costume jewelry available to |
| materials. Fine jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems | | | | us. Costume jewelry can add the finishing touch and |
| such as emeralds and saphires continued to be made. | | | | show your fashion sense. Costume Jewelry styles of |
| Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin layer of gold | | | | past years are now becoming very fashionable and |
| attached to a base metal, entered the market for | | | | many are being reproduced. Even with costume |
| the middle class. This jewelry was often set with | | | | jewelry there is a difference in quality. Many of the |
| semi-precious gems such as amethyst, coral or | | | | new pieces do not have the vibrance in the stones |
| pearls, and was much more affordable. And then | | | | or the weight of the older pieces. |
| there was jewelry that most anyone could afford, | | | | Antique and vintage costume jewelry are both fun to |
| consisting of glass stones and base metals made to | | | | collect and fun to wear. No longer is costume jewelry |
| look like gold. All three types were intended to be | | | | simply "collectable." It is "in style, and" "fashionable," |
| passed down to future generations. | | | | and a terrific conversation starter. Dress to impress! |