Costume Jewelry That Sparkles So It Must Be Expensive

[ChrisMiss]

I''m always on the lookout for costume jewelry, earrings, broaches, etc. for my mother.  I''ve been looking at costume jewelry for a few years now and visited several thrift stores while on the hunt.  I''ve noticed that some stores don''t know or care if the jewelry is valuable and price everything the same price of around $1.00.  Other stores don''t know if the jewelry is valuable but it sparkles like some of the desireable costume jewelry from the 50''s & 60''s so they price it more.  It may be a cheap knockoff manufactured just last year but it looks like the vintage stuff so it''s priced higher.  It may have several stones missing that have probably been glued in instead of the use of prongs but by golly it sparkles so it must be expensive!

[alexandra]

The thrift stores where I am do a very poor job of pricing their costume jewelry, so I never even look at it.  Instead, I look for costume stuff in antique marts and flea markets.  It does help to know the different well-known manufacturers (Trifari, Monet, Sarah Coventry, etc.).  I have also seen a lot of stuff that looks to be new and overpriced.

I do buy cheap baubles for the dress-up bag I keep in our hall closet -- it''s used whenever we have kids visit.  I buy lots of stuff that will work with a pirate''s chest theme.  That way little boys are willing to play with the stuff too.

I like to find older stuff like belt and shoe buckles that can be made into quirky pieces.  I once bought and old lined flannel jacket and there was a ring in the pocket.  I brought it to a jeweler I use because I wasn''t sure what I should do with it.  I would have felt really bad if it was a good piece and someone lost it that way inadvertently.  Luckily, it was gold vermeil, and the saphires were low quality.  I returned it to the store (I got it at the Salvation Army), so they could sell it.  However, I let them know what it was so that wouldn''t try to sell it for more than it was worth.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Ah! Something just clicked for me based on what you said, Alexandra. I''d just picked up a couple pairs of clip earrings for a friend from an antique mall, and I now realize the "Sarah Cov" stamped on back is Sarah Coventry... I''m admittedly not terribly savvy about the vintage brands; I usually just choose based on what I or my gift recipients would like-- color, quality, etc.

Is there a particular maker I should be on the alert for? Would love any tips you could share, or books you could recommend.

Thanks muchly,
Jenn

www.thriftshopromantic.com

[alexandra]

Jenn, this is going to be a bit long!

I am not an expert on costume jewelry, but I do love baubles.  The brands I mentioned -- Sarah Coventry, Trifari and Monet are probably the "biggies" in costume.  However, high-end designers often did (and do) aslo make high quality costume.  Dior comes to mind.  Also, high-end department stores used to produce stuff too -- I''m thinking Lord and Taylor, etc.  Modern designers make decent stuff too -- and some are now considered vintage (stuff like Dianne Von Furstenburg, etc.).

My grandmother had a lovely gold-tone and crystal costume choker which I got after she died.  A friend''s mom, a veteran thrifter who also had a second hand shop, found a pair of matching earings.  I loved the set and wore it constantly (alas, it lost a stone which I have yet to be able to replace, and I did pass it on to my sister because she liked the piece so much, but I digress!).  One day, I was back were I had grown up and at the home of a highschool chum''s dad.  He was a retired jewelry designer/maker -- worked in the diamond district, real high end stuff.  Believe it or not, the costume piece I was wearing was a knock-off of a very pricey piece he had designed in my Grandmother''s hey-day.

The main hallmark I look for (unless I am buying for the "dress up bag" I keep for visiting kids), is real stone or crystal (I don''t like plastic, but "paste" pearls can be acceptable), and good workmanship.  Last weekend, I picked up a piece for two bucks -- it wasn''t "costume," it was one of those oblong stone pendants with a silver bale on top.  While I was perusing the costume stuff, I noticed it on a simple rope. Upon closer inspection, I saw .925 stamped on the bale -- that means it''s sterling.  And I knew it was an actual stone I was looking at.  I got rid of the old rope, and it''s not on a silk blue cord.  Not bad for two bucks!

Knowing more about "real" jewelry sometimes help you determine if a costume piece you''re looking at passes muster or not.  It is also a matter of taste and personal preference (i.e. buy only what you love!). Monet, Trifari and Sarah Coventry may not be made of "precious" materials, but the workmanship and look were designed to mimic it -- that, IMO, is the mark of a good costume piece.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Well, Alexandra- You proved to me what I rather felt in my heart about costume jewlery-- and any good thrift item, in fact: If it''s well-made and you love it, it''s worth having. :-)

PS- I have some of those wonderful crystal choker necklaces of my grandmother''s as well. They''re totally timeless.

Have a good one,
Jenn

[alexandra]

Jenn,

I have a few lovely Aurora Borealis pieces -- these are crystal cut beats, which I don''t know if you are familliar with or not.  If you are not, do a search on this type of bead/jewelry (it''s also the name for a body of stars, hence the name of the sparkling beads).  I whole-heartedly support and suggest keeping an eye out for these peices.  When you get a good deal on an AB piece (and there''s a decent amount out there), you are making a nice costume investment.

I do not restring these pieces, and the few I have do have darkened wires/clasps. I''m a bit of a purist.  I will fix something if it''s broken -- I use a lot of ribbon to replace chains, etc.  But I don''t try to make anything vintage look new -- it sorta defeats the purpose!

I was wearing a few Aurora Borealis pieces to a summer party and a guest came up to me wanting to know what it was -- it''s something people see but don''t know what it is. I told her what it was.  I met this lady again months later, and she had started collecting it.  Once she knew what it was, she knew what to look for. 

It is one of those things that once you find a few pieces, you begin to hanker for more!

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[kittyglitter]

Chris--I have seen this same thing!

Alexandra and Jenn--have you guys ever come across an AB bracelet?  I have a necklace as well, but don't recall ever seeing a bracelet!

[Magpie18]

I collect costume & sterling jewelry too.  I agree the TS have problems with pricing.  The Kmart clearance item gets priced the same amount as the 1970s ivory necklace.

I just wish there was more jewelry in the TS.  Too often I see empty cases.

AB pieces are nice but I like the earlier Retro Modern style.  Big bold vermeil pins with few but large glass stones -- bows, floral sprays & starbursts.

Buy what you like.  Buy quality construction. But try not to pass up the unsigned stuff.  They are usually the better deal if you have good judgement.   

I carry a loupe but I try not to bring it out while shopping --- people think you are reseller if you have that.

[mccoysnina]

I've had so-so luck with thrift shop jewelry.  I have found pieces of sterling silver for next to nothing and costume jewelry prices as if it were the real thing.  Once in a bag of marked down jewelry I spied what I thought was a turquoise and silver necklace miced in with other junk marked $.50.  It came home with me and sure enough it was the real thing.  I gave the neighbors kids the junk for dress up and kept the necklace. Not bad for $.50.
A friend of mine shops thrifts and yard sales and picks up real pearl necklaces for very little.  When no one is looking, she rubs them against her teeth.  If they are rough, they are real. 
One thing I don't understand about our local thrift is how they display their jewelry sometimes.  I understand them wanting to keep anything valuable under glass, what I don't understand is why they don't always open the boxes.  You find yourself looking at boxes with price tags and no idea of what is in them or if it is worth you  time to flag someone down and get them to give you a look.
But since I hardly every pay more than a dollar or two, I figure if I like it for that price, it is worth it.
Jeannie

[DianneK]

I just recently picked up a lovely sterling silver necklace from Goodwill and not bad for just $ 5.00.But it is stamped .925,which i know is sterling silver,but the stones i am not quite sure what they are.The look like diamonds,and look a lot better quality than CZ's.But i am not sure what the stones are.Have you ever seen a commercial for the Journey pendants?Sometimes they have the circle and heart necklaces?Well mine is in a heart form.
It says these stones are FAS.Could liis mean the stones are nothing more than just glass?

[SeSo_Says_So]

I just recently picked up a lovely sterling silver necklace from Goodwill and not bad for just $ 5.00.But it is stamped .925,which i know is sterling silver,but the stones i am not quite sure what they are.The look like diamonds,and look a lot better quality than CZ's.But i am not sure what the stones are.Have you ever seen a commercial for the Journey pendants?Sometimes they have the circle and heart necklaces?Well mine is in a heart form.
It says these stones are FAS.Could liis mean the stones are nothing more than just glass?

Dianne, I did a search on eBay and found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/BEAUTIFUL-VINTAGE-GOLD-OVER-STERLING-PENDANT-NECKLACE_W0QQitemZ260258869131QQihZ016QQcategoryZ52607QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

This link may give you an idea of what the stones are.

Your necklace sounds beautiful, and I think you got a real bargain! Good eye, dahling! xoxoxo

[DianneK]

SeSo the necklace in the picture doesn't even resemble the one i got from goodwill.This chain is very petite and the stones are set very close together.If i didn't have misplaced my digital camera,i would snap a picture of it and post it.
Not bad for $5.00.

[valleythriftshopper]

Fas is an Italian silver manufacturer's trademark.

[SeSo_Says_So]

Thanks VTS.  That's what I was hoping my eBay link would shed some light upon.  Do you know anything else about the manufacturer--if it's vintage, where it might have been purchased, etc?

Dianne, your necklace sounds so much prettier than the one in the pic on eBay. I hope you find your camera soon.xo

[valleythriftshopper]

It could be either, there is vintage & modern jewelry with this mark.  There is another Canadian company that uses that mark - Fifth Avenue Collection.  You can see it here

http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarksf.html

They also have a website, in either case the stones are probably rhinestones, but good quality rhinestones are still very pretty!