| It could well be a costly mistake confusing vintage | | | | pricing variables are held constant, signed pieces from |
| costume jewelry with the cheap necklaces and | | | | the small companies tend to be worth more money. |
| bracelets you see in most retail outlets today. The | | | | Does anything actually help stimulate demand for a |
| fashionable but inexpensive jewelry became | | | | piece? |
| emblematic of the free-willing 1920's, but amazingly | | | | The originality of the design ultimately affects |
| retained its popularity even during the Great | | | | demand more than any other variable and plays a |
| Depression years and beyond. As interest increased | | | | large role in determining value. While it is easier to |
| in the United States, more and more American | | | | locate and collect the signed vintage pieces, avid |
| companies began to design and produce some of the | | | | collectors know that the unsigned pieces tend to be |
| most coveted collectible vintage costume necklaces, | | | | the most undervalued- creating the most profit |
| bracelets, rings, and other jewelry. | | | | potential for a would-be collector. One sure way to |
| But how does one actually classify or identify | | | | locate valuable unsigned jewelry is to know the |
| costume jewelry and what makes some pieces | | | | typical design traits of specific manufacturers. |
| valuable? | | | | The grade of materials and production techniques of |
| Costume jewelry is always mass-produced using | | | | costume jewelry pieces tend to equate to higher |
| cheaper materials like semi-precious stones. | | | | value when other factors remain unchanged. On |
| Essentially, it became the more affordable jewelry | | | | vintage jewelry, the type and quality of the |
| alternative to the finer pieces made from gold, silver | | | | gemstones is of particular importance to the final |
| and precious gemstones like sapphires and emeralds. | | | | price determination. Of course no precious stones are |
| Some costume designs have become so popular that | | | | used in the production of costume jewelry but some |
| they now are worth many times more than their | | | | companies were known for their high quality |
| original sale price. To make money while collecting the | | | | gemstones. Because of their exceptional stone quality |
| jewelry, all you need to know is what affects value | | | | and construction, count on jewelry designs to retain |
| so you can identify the most profitable pieces. | | | | their high value when they are produced by: |
| Assessing value of any given piece always boils down | | | | - Bogoff |
| to five variables: | | | | - Weiss |
| - Originality of Design | | | | - Eisenberg |
| - Quality of Materials/Craftsmanship | | | | Finding signed Eisenberg jewelry pieces can be |
| - Rarity | | | | difficult, because they are some of the most popular |
| - Supply | | | | and prized vintage pieces in the collectible market |
| - Final Condition | | | | today. However, other manufacturers who still have |
| Pricing is directly influenced by the supply and it varies | | | | pieces with great potential to buy low and sell high |
| greatly between designs and designers. Vintage | | | | include Kramer, Danecraft, and Trifari. |
| jewelry was produced by dozens of manufacturers | | | | Still, even though a vintage necklace, ring, or bracelet |
| who all created batches of varying sizes. When | | | | may be in less than perfect condition, collectors will |
| considering the purchase of costume pieces made by | | | | pay good money for a piece they know is a good |
| the larger players like Trifari and Coro, it is important | | | | investment. As with any antique, vintage costume |
| to note that these designers produced large volumes | | | | jewelry will have some signs of wear, but still retain |
| of jewelry making the demand for a given piece less. | | | | its value for years to come. But, the important part |
| However, Barclays, DeMario, and many of the smaller | | | | is to know that when a piece of vintage costume |
| companies had limited facilities making their smaller | | | | jewelry captures your eye, it could also make you |
| batches of jewelry more desirable. And when other | | | | into a life long enthusiast. |