Vintage Costume Jewelry

Vintage Costume Jewelry, including Antique Costume Jewelry and Estate Costume Jewelry, is the biggest area of Vintage Jewelry collecting. There are many very well known designer and manufacturer names. Some pieces are marked or “signed” with the manufacturer’s name. These signed pieces are generally much more valuable than unsigned items, because it authenticates the item. However, they is an abundance of unsigned pieces that are just as beautiful and desirable. Some items are not signed, but are identifiable from the design elements.

Collecting Vintage Costume Jewelry can be such a fun hobby! Beautiful items can be easily obtained at very affordable prices and you can wear and enjoy items from your collection everyday. The downside is that unlike many other vintage collectibles, vintage jewelry is not well documented and most items don’t have any markings – so unless you stick strictly with signed pieces, it is almost impossible to know for sure what you have.

If you are collecting to have a hobby with “investment” potential, you will definitely want to stick to the higher end signed pieces. However if you are collecting because you just happen to love the look and thought of having and wearing Vintage Costume Jewelry, my advice is to buy what you love.

I think the best place to purchase Vintage Costume Jewelry is on eBay – the selection is unreal and the prices are always good. But don’t buy items you don’t love just because they are cheap and if there is a piece that you love, think twice before you pass it up because you think it is too expensive. Years later I still remember pieces that I didn’t win and of course the ones I REALLY wanted I have never seen again.