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