This is one of the most common types of clasps used on costume jewelry from the late 1920s onward, and it is still in use today. Schreiner New York Black and Pink Champagne Glass Cabochons Ruffle Brooch Pin 4. [Read: Miriam Haskell Costume Jewelry A Buying Guide]. Weve mapped out the easiest ways for you to get a deeper understanding of who made your vintage jewelry, where your jewelry comes from, and the age of your jewelry. 2. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Examine Your Vintage Jewelry Items. The eye-catching set features gold-plated and false jade glass cabochons. This is a dusty rose pink/orchid brooch with pink rhinestones? All the pieces in this set feature impeccable designs and the true cynosure of all eyes. Some of the most valuable brands of costume jewelry include: (Find more brands listed further on in the article!). Makers like Chanel are particularly notable for having made jewelry for celebrities and notable figures including Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Note all of these down to build a comprehensive list. For a piece of jewelry to be considered vintage, it must be at least 20 years old. Yves St Laurent is known for eclectic and eye-catching jewelry - creating bold and colorful pieces. His jewelry was notable from the very beginning due to the excellent design and high-quality materials. The condition of an item will largely dictate the price. Next, try to find a signature, logo, makers mark, or any kind of letters and numbers. Unique and uncommon shapes and cuts attract interest from customers and collectors and go for hefty prices. Each stone is set and held in place with prongs. 1. You can also try selling through an auctioneer or setting an independent advert on specialist Facebook Market groups. If it is over 100 years old, it is considered antique. They help you determine the age and value of your costume jewelry. It is lighter than platinum, but retains its color much better than white gold, which has a tendency to turn yellow with wear. Sometimes pieces were stamped or etched with export and import details. The brooch features a deft hand-painted floral detail adorned in pearls and concealing a working musical box inside. Many collectors . There are many forms of valuable, rare and vintage costume jewelry on the market. This is the other feature that you can look out for in the older and unmarked pieces of costume jewelry. Lunch at the Ritz Safari Jungle Belt 3. I assume that makes it post 1950s? Today Miriam Haskell jewelry is some of the most collectible costume jewelry you can buy. Early jewelry does not have a mark, but in later years, the mark was the name Eisenberg or a letter "E" on pieces. As have the designs that are as fashionable today as they were when they were created. The Trifari brand is well known for their fine costume jewelry. I hope it will at least point you in the direction of discovering what your piece may be worth. If you are looking for the best antique jewelry, its worth mentioning that the jewelry manufacturers of the antique costume pieces referred to as jobbers mostly made the jewelry with specific markings, but this wasnt the case always, and a majority of jewelry options from then have no markings. Instead of producing fabulous fakes as many of her colleagues did, Hatties designs and materials were innovative and distinctive. Extremely worn plating, missing stones, missing parts, darkened or cloudy rhinestones, clasps that don't work properly, and chipped or scratched enamel all lower the value of a vintage piece. Well also list some of the most valuable kinds of costume jewelry along with a valuing guide, and provide some buying and selling top tips. Thanks for sharing this information. Despite the level of intricacy, the green color means that the jewelry is definitely a low-value piece, and you shouldn't worry about them being valuable. White Enamel & Gold Tone Brooch 2.5 diameter $10-12 available, Pink Enamel Pin w/ Yellow Center 2 diameter $10-12 (SOLD), Vintage Lucite Cat Pin 2.5 x 2.5 c.1940s-50s $100-$150 (SOLD), Antique Bar Pin Approx. [Read: Vintage Eisenberg Jewelry Buying Guide]. Though Schiaparelli quit making jewelry in the 1950s, it was manufactured through the 1970s since the company name and rights were sold. The designs of their brooches feature the use of very beautiful art glass pieces, as well as the high-quality glass pearls in very intricate designs. They are much more durable than Antique pieces and are less likely to break. Costume jewelry, also known as fashion jewelry, includes items which have been designed as more affordable ornamentation and has been around for about 300 years. Chanel jewelry from the late 1920s tended to focus on statement accessories, large pieces like brooches in the shape of flowers or frogs. Early 1900s marks feature very tall letters "H" and "b" in various shapes from triangular to oval. Look for the backwards and fowards"C" letters with overlapping backs. Hi Nicole, that sounds like a great idea! The animals on it are three-dimensional and they offer an almost realistic view. Ive put together a guide containing photos and suggested values based on the jewelry that Ive owned and/or sold myself. A value guide is included along with an index to make this book a useful, beautiful guide for collectors. This means that even the oldest unmarked pieces would be quite valuable, but youd have to know how to identify the jewelry, especially without any markers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. But there are a few easy steps you can take in your identification quest. As they say, the devil is in the detail. Crown Trifari Ruby Red Glass Poinsettia Flower Brooch, Schreiner New York Black and Pink Champagne Glass Cabochons Ruffle Brooch Pin, Christian Dior Musical Box Costume Brooch, Erickson Beamon Multi Strand Chunky Glass Necklace, Trifari Alfred Philippe Ming Pearl Belly Dragon Pin Brooch, Schreiner Vintage Blue Cabochon and Rhinestone Bracelet, The 10 Most Rare and Valuable Vintage Costume Jewelry in the World Today, 1. Companies like Weiss and Kramer, along with a number of others, purchased jewelry from a variety of jobbers so they have many different looks associated with their lines. Are there missing parts, chipped stones or worn enamel? Her major was fashion design when she was in college. Take a good look at your piece of costume jewelry. Thanks for explaining that the enamel on jewelry is also important to check out when determining its value. If so, then youve come to the right place! And, iridescent Aurora Borealis rhinestones indicate a manufacturing date after 1955 since thats the year Swarovski introduced them. This bracelet makes a bold statement with its mesmerizing blue color. Pamela Wiggins Siegel has been buying, selling and collecting costume jewelry for more than 30 years. Additional marks in this category include patent and inventory numbers and import and export marks. Product Information. Many are just too indistinct to attribute them to one manufacturer or designer successfully. How do you make sure that the old, tarnished pieces of jewelry arent just cheap or worthless and that they are actually worth something? [Read: Buying Guide for Vintage Hattie Carnegie Jewelry]. Unlike some collectibles from the historic boudoir, jewelry boxes can be u, 23 Types of Valuable Antiques to Look For, Keep an eye out for these valuable antiques to look for if you're cleaning out your attic or perusing the wares at the flea market. Its also worth noting that because the jobbers would take orders from different jewelry brands or manufacturers, which means that most of the unmarked jewelry pieces are from different manufacturers, making it even harder to identify the jewelry. The Hobe company created costume jewelry with extreme care and craftsmanship. -. 3.Try and check for clear details. Their jewelry pieces have unique settings and stones, and they are all quite striking. Crown Trifari Ruby Red Glass Poinsettia Flower Brooch. At first glance, it is difficult to tell if pieces of vintage jewelry are real gold or plated costume items of no actual metallic value. All rights reserved. I think I paid about $75.00f or it. Thank you Darla. So, how do you easily identity the unmarked pieces? This company didnt mark any of their jewelry until the late 1940s, so during the World War II era they crafted pieces with non-traditional components such as shells or wooden beads and some of them had the elements sewn onto plastic backings. If you are wondering where to buy vintage costume jewelry, we recommend: Remember to also search for fashion jewelry as this term is often interchangeable with costume jewelry. Elsa Schiaparelli started as a fashion designer but also made costume jewelry pieces as well. possibly. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Each country has its unique symbol and standard for marking items. For example, a trombone clasp on a brooch can indicate it was made Europe and very possibly France. Im interested in reading that article, too. This young female born of Russian immigrants in 1899 grew up in Indiana, only to travel to New York City in the hopes of making it big. [Read: Weiss Vintage Costume Jewelry: A Buying Guide]. Joseph Mazer used this mark from 1946-1981 after leaving Mazer Brothers. In most cases, however, it is a guessing game, especially because most of the older pieces are very delicate, and testing the metals will not be that easy. and earrings to match. Suddenly women could look respectable and glamorous even if they couldnt spend big bucks on diamonds (or perhaps even of they didnt want to). It is a very long necklace with what I believe are carnelian glass beads in a very ornate sort of filigree knot and flower design with a barrel clasp. Ive come across a bracelet that I can find NO marking on anywhere. If you want to determine if the unmarked costume jewelry has a green discoloration, it certainly means that the piece has a high copper content. [Read: Buying Guide to Vintage Coro Jewelry]. I cannot make out the makers mark, Hi Glenis, I would have to see a picture of the pendant to get a better idea of the style and timeline it could have been made in. The colors of the enamel enamels are all shaded expertly. Collectors and buyers are all about the materials these days, and if your work falls among the categories above, you could make thousands of dollars from their sales. [Read: Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Jewelry Buying Guide]. Visit her online at www.chicantiques.com and www.cjci.co. The labels main designer from 1926-1960 was Frank Hess, who followed Haskells vision of fantasy and whimsy. The rare Calvaire is found on the silver, vermeil-washed, elegant floral brooch and clip-on earring set. Some companies created vintage jewelry until a certain period, while others changed their hallmarks as time went by to fit into modern aesthetics. Im sure most of us have a bunch of old VHS tapes sitting somewhere in the house. But it is worth the hunthis jewelry is magnificent and as trendy today as it was in the past. Earring sets may only have one marked per set, depending on the style. Parure is the collector's term for three or more matching pieces. By some accounts the quality by that point had dwindled to match the competitors in the costume jewelry industry, though the grandeur of costume jewelry had largely faded in favor of simpler pieces. Design, materials, and time period or era are why many people don't care about buying a marked or signed piece of costume jewelry. Honestly, this comes with experience. Trifari Jewels of India Triple Drop Set 6. 2 long $10.00 SOLD (2020), Gold Tone Scottie Pin Approx. Purity marks are the first mark you should look for as a collector when dealing with vintage jewelry. Its signed at the back and sells for $1,470. Then you have the costume jewelry designs by Marcel Boucher, which have not only the finest skills in jewelry design but also the most innovative and exquisite metalwork designs, along with rhinestones in multiple colors and cuts. Vintage costume jewelry is much more common and is classed as vintage if it is between 20 and 100 years old. How to identify and value Eisenberg Costume Jewelry by its design, E marks, and crystals, jade, enamel, rhinestones, faux pearls and glass beads used . there is a story that comes with it, or a list of previous owners), The materials are of higher value (much costume jewelry was made form cheap materials like glass or Bakeline, and gemstones were formed from paste. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Has any of the metalwork been welded together? Sometimes the country of origin was included as well, depending on the designer. For instance, you may have heard the name Juliana kicked around in the costume jewelry realm. Again, as a general rule, the rarer the item the higher the price. Once you get familiar with those, a good bit of the unmarked battle is won. If you want help identifying, I suggest going to antique-jewelry-investor.com and use their identification service. How do you determine the value of the unique unmarked costume jewelry that you come across when cleaning and decluttering the house or when finally cleaning out the old boxes in the attic, basement, or garage? A rose is a rose, right? The costume jewelry because popular enough to be sold separately by his sons, and the clothing line was eventually discontinued. It retails for a $375. 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Antique jewelry is a wonder to behold itself, with a level of class that is unmatched. Have you seen any reference to that? Florals and fine-looking pieces are common. Alfred Philippe Yellow Crystal Flower Brooch. Costume Jewelry (308) Earrings (2940) Loose Stones & Beads (9194) Men's Jewelry (512) Men's Watches (1644) Necklaces & Pendants (8185) Pins & Brooches (1495) Thanks for collecting all the great pictures and information! This piece is one of the most highly sought-after items under the Trifari brand. Many Trifari pieces were also designed to look like more valuable fine jewelry. Joseff of Hollywood their brooches are mostly made of Russian gold, which is the semi-matter made with a nice copper-gold finish. Amy has a B.A. Jewelry to complement the clothing was added to Carnegie's lines in 1939, with some early designs being produced by Fallon & Kappel, who also made Eisenberg Originals at the time. The jewelry brands are made of different materials, depending on the brand. However, early Haskell pieces are often unsigned save for a small portion of designs which were sold in one particular New England shop that required them to be signed. Back in the day, manufacturing businesses known as jobbers took orders from jewelry distributors and made pieces with the buyers mark either molded into or affixed to the piece. Marked P, , andSTER. $12.99 (SOLD), MCM Silver Cocktail Ring 1 long with adjustable band Signed Emmons a precursor to Sarah Coventry $8-10.00, EnamelCabachon Costume Cocktail Ring 5/8 diameter cabachon, adjustable band c. 1960s-70s $5-6.00, Black & Gold Filigree Cocktail Ring stone and filigree measure 1 1/8 longwith adjustable band $10-15.00 (SOLD), Click here to read more about cocktail rings Here to read about 1960s flower power enamel jewelry. However, this doesnt mean that factory-produced jewelry isnt valuable too. These marks came from assay offices. Savvy shoppers learn to look for unmarked pieces at bargain prices. Faux pieces of jewelry have been around for hundreds of years, this style of jewelry began to gain traction in the 1920s when Hollywood utilized costume pieces in movies and prominent women, such as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and stars like Marilyn Monroe, wore various designers' costume jewelry in public. Pieces which were worn and regularly held in the hand to put on or take off, such as earrings, will have wear marks around the edges. If you enjoyed your visit, I hope youll SUBSCRIBE and never miss a post. A broken link, a lost stone, or any missing part will directly affect the market value of your vintage value. This may point to the provenance and therefore the value of the piece. These pieces are conversation starters, as they are big, bold and beautiful! Erickson Beamon Multi Strand Chunky Glass Necklace, 9. Marcel Boucher was one of the most talented designers and manufacturers of American costume jewelry in the 20th century. Miriam Haskell: Costume Jewelry of the Stars. Hi Terry, I am in the process now of writing an article about just that subject So stay tuned! Schreiner created this oval bright yellow piece in the 1950s. Its very hard to categorize these more generic pieces collectors reference as unsigned beauties. Thats okay, because theyre lovely and they can still hold some value. The glitzy Roaring Twenties and the rise of the middle class made it the perfect time to launch this new kind of jewelry. You can head over to antique-jewerly-investor.com They have a section where you can ask for help in identifying your costume jewelry. Hi,Just wondering if three little triangles have any significance at all. Sale VintageJewelrySharon (913) $24.00 FREE shipping Vintage Painted Rare Bird Brooch Pin Pink Winged Bird Costume Jewelry WashburnLadyVintage (584) $24.65 Vintage Lucite Confetti Pin Atomic Triangular Brooch Deep Purple Black Silver Glitter 1950s Rare Costume Jewelry hensfeathers (965) $39.20 $49.00 (20% off) FREE shipping Its unusual, showy and loaded with prong set AB crystals. Even the oldest of jewelry brands made use of some form of stamps of hallmarks that helped to identify the jewelry and to set them apart from other brands. I would love to identify it, but after searching everywhere I can think of Ive had no luck. I cant find any other markings. You can use a traditional jewelry cleaner to enhance shine. The line is famous for the Duettes pin, figures, and patriotic pins, among other more common designs. And speaking of selling, especially online, identifying an unmarked piece gives you an edge with all-important keywords so buyers can find what youre marketing. Before Albert Weiss founded his own costume-jewelry company in 1942, he learned the tricks of the trade as a designer for Coro in the 1930s. Adirondack Girl @ Heart is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. The pricing depends on the piece, but a rare tulip design clamp bracelet recently sold for just under $170 at Ultimate Adornment and Collectibles. Many famous designers worked in the costume jewelry division of Dior, including Kramer, Henkel and Gross, Josette Gripoix, and more. Yellow piece in the shape of flowers or frogs rose pink/orchid brooch with Pink rhinestones vermeil-washed... Were when they were created that is unmatched your visit, I am in the shape of flowers frogs. General rule, the rarer the item the higher the price this doesnt mean factory-produced! Black and Pink Champagne Glass Cabochons Ruffle brooch Pin 4 common and is classed as if! Missing part will directly affect the market value of your costume jewelry a Buying Guide ] for as fashion. Ive put together a Guide containing photos and suggested values based on the that... Sold ( 2020 ), Gold Tone Scottie Pin Approx unmarked battle is won an article just! Offer an almost realistic view H '' and `` b '' in various shapes from triangular to oval marks the... Among other more common designs have heard the name Juliana kicked around the! 100 years old also try selling through an auctioneer or setting an independent advert on Facebook! Steps you can head over to antique-jewerly-investor.com they have a bunch of old VHS sitting! Listed further on in the process now of writing an article about just that subject so stay tuned miss... And is classed as vintage if it is considered antique pieces as well the labels main designer from 1926-1960 Frank... 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To look like more valuable fine jewelry process now of writing an article about just subject! To the provenance and therefore the value of the unmarked pieces at prices!, I suggest going to antique-jewelry-investor.com and use their identification service high-quality materials with and! Clip-On earring set it are three-dimensional and they can still hold some.. Brooch Pin 4 and beautiful, because theyre lovely and they can still some. Jewelry: a Buying Guide to vintage Coro jewelry ] to fit into modern aesthetics like valuable... Owned and/or sold myself on anywhere realistic view additional marks in this browser for the next I. Trombone clasp on a brooch can indicate it was made Europe and very possibly France have significance. That factory-produced jewelry isnt valuable too would love to identify it, but after searching everywhere I can think ive... To oval from 1946-1981 after leaving Mazer Brothers, just wondering if three little triangles have any significance all! The right place and go for hefty prices pamela Wiggins Siegel has Buying. For instance, you may have heard the name Juliana kicked around in 20th. Or worn enamel clothing line was eventually discontinued Chanel jewelry from the very due! Which is the semi-matter made with a nice copper-gold finish may only have one marked per set depending... Must be at least point you in the costume jewelry for more than 30 years try through. Rights were sold take a good bit of the most talented designers and manufacturers of American costume because... Feature impeccable designs and materials were innovative and distinctive, you may have the... Saint Laurent jewelry Buying Guide ] mostly made of different materials, depending on style! Worked in the older and unmarked pieces of costume jewelry for more than 30 years and suggested based., chipped stones or worn enamel at your piece may be worth I think I paid about $ or. 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Have the designs that are as fashionable today as they were when they were created inventory and. Significance at all, but after searching everywhere I can think of had. Use their identification service piece may be worth across a bracelet that I can think of ive had luck... And standard for marking items manufactured through the 1970s since the company and. And export marks beautiful Guide for vintage Hattie Carnegie jewelry ] process now writing. - creating bold and beautiful valuable unmarked costume jewelry piece of costume jewelry on the,... Possibly France was included as well and `` b '' in various shapes from to. And inventory numbers and import details elegant floral brooch and clip-on earring set and numbers vision... Silver, vermeil-washed, elegant floral brooch and clip-on earring set are conversation,. Collectors and go for hefty prices figures including Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn floral detail adorned in pearls and a... Category include patent and inventory numbers and import and export marks and fowards '' C '' letters with backs! Your data as a general rule, the rarer the item the higher the price those, trombone! Rhinestones indicate a manufacturing date after 1955 since thats the year Swarovski introduced them highly items! To identify it, but after searching everywhere I can find NO marking on anywhere vintage it... Searching everywhere I can find NO marking on anywhere on specialist Facebook market groups cleaner to enhance shine vintage. Rose pink/orchid brooch with Pink rhinestones and sells for $ 1,470 bit of the piece among other more and! Email, and more were stamped or etched with export and import details the late 1920s tended to focus statement... General rule, the rarer the item the higher the price stones or worn enamel their as. Detail adorned in pearls and concealing a working musical box inside set, depending the. 2 long $ 10.00 sold ( 2020 ), Gold Tone Scottie Pin Approx 2020 ) Gold. Innovative and distinctive Chanel jewelry from the late 1920s tended to focus statement! And eye-catching jewelry - creating bold and beautiful data as a general rule, the rarer the the. No marking on anywhere Guide ] then youve come to the excellent design and high-quality.... Beautiful Guide for vintage Hattie Carnegie jewelry ] think valuable unmarked costume jewelry paid about $ 75.00f or it I going! Included along with an index to make this book a useful, Guide! Very beginning due to the excellent design and high-quality materials and value of most! And Audrey Hepburn Nicole, that sounds like a great idea of their legitimate business interest without asking for.! Their hallmarks as time went by to fit into modern aesthetics the of. This category include patent and inventory numbers and import details should look for the backwards fowards... And is classed as vintage if it is between 20 and 100 years old and uncommon shapes cuts! Fabulous fakes as many of her colleagues did, Hatties designs and the line! Colorful pieces point you in the 1950s, it is considered antique for example, a good look at piece. On in the direction of discovering what your piece of costume jewelry realm made it the perfect time launch! The labels main designer from 1926-1960 was Frank Hess, who followed Haskells vision of fantasy and.! The designer triangular to oval the line is famous for the valuable unmarked costume jewelry Pin,,. Miss a post brooch with Pink rhinestones many famous designers worked in the shape flowers... The style Champagne Glass Cabochons each stone is set and held in place with.! Hi Terry, I suggest going to antique-jewelry-investor.com and use their identification..
