Costume jewelry

Costume Jewelry in the 1940's
Coming out of the Depression and into the economy of a world at war, women found themselves called to work outside the home in large numbers...more than ever before.

Costume Jewelry Glossary
This Costume Jewelry Glossary is designed to assist visitors to this site and other costume jewelry sites in understanding terms used in the descriptions.

Costume Jewelry Resources
Backwoods Beadery - Our Emporium offers a varied selection of handmade designer jewelry, made from silver, semi-precious stone and natural beads such as amber and pearl.

Costume Jewelry Identification and Price Guide
(Confident Collector)
by Harrice Simons Miller ...

Costume jewelry is a wonderful choice among people who loves to make a statement. Beautiful costume jewelry can greatly enhance anyone's outfit. Costume jewelry are artistic, dramatic, and full of vitality.

Costume Jewelry (3rd Ed)
Harrice Simons Miller
Costume Jewelry (Collector's Guide)
Judith Miller ...

Costume Jewelry: Jewelry made from faux stones and non-precious materials.
Crown: The pin on the outside of a used to set the time and date. Also called the winding stem in merchanical watches because it winds the mainspring.

Costume Jewelry - Jewelry made from non fine or non precious materials.
Couture - very highly fashionable jewelry and clothing that has been created by leading fashion and jewelry designers. Also referred to as Haute Couture.

Costume Jewelry
Popularized in the1940s, costume jewelry are items that do not contain genuine precious gemstones and were usually not made from precious metals.
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Costume jewelry is jewelery made from less costly materials such as plastics or wood and also inexpensive metals such as aluminum and copper.

Costume jewelry is often produced with non-precious metals, usually gold or silver plated, and with or without synthetic or glass stones. Costume jewelry could be antique, period, or contemporary.

Costume Jewelry - Glamorous And Fashionable At A Low Cost
Jewelry Techniques
Jewelry Making - A Candystore For Jewelry Designers And Crafters ...

Costume jewelry
A term ordinarily used to describe jewelry comprised of imitation stones and base metal, however some older costume jewelry contains inexpensive gemstones and gold plated sterling
Cultured Pearl ...

COSTUME JEWELRY Any jewelry made from materials other than the noble metals (gold, silver & platinum). Costume jewelry can also be very expensive, especially when associated with a designers name.

Costume Jewelry: Jewelry made from less expensive materials than gemstones and gold or silver. Some costume jewelry was made in sterling and some had a gold wash over sterling.

KARU
A costume jewelry company formed in 1940, Kaufman (the comedian Andy Kaufman's parents) and Ruderman, Inc, New York, NY. The Karu pin above is paste (glass stones) and enamel on gold-plated metal.
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Collecting costume jewelry has quickly become one of the fastest-growing hobbies within the past decade. The beauty of costume jewelry is that it can be enjoyed at any time.

A Guide To Costume Jewelry
The Difference Between Fresh Water And Salt Water Pearls
Gemstone Treatments ...

Jelly Belly Costume Jewelry - Learn more about the type of 1940s sterling c...
Pot Metal Costume Jewelry - Learn what pot metal refers to in costume jewel...
Jewelry Making - Glossary
Tammy Powley
Jewelry Making Guide ...

Vogue was a costume jewelry compnay that was founded in 1936 by Harold Shapiro (father of the founder of the Les Bernard company), Jack Gilbert, and George Grant. Their jewelry was sold through I. Magnin and other stores.

Selini was a costume jewelry company whose mark appears from the 1930s to the 1950s. Selini jewelry is usually intricate, well-designed, and often decorated with colored rhinestones and enamel. Very little is known about the company
SERPENTINE ...

Marvella is a costume jewelry brand that was founded by Sol E. Weinreich, who began business in January, 1906 in New York, New York. They were bought by Trifari in 1982. It is now owned by the Monet Group, Inc.

BSK is a costume jewelry company that made mid-range pieces. This New York company was in business from around 1950 until the 1970's (?). BSK stands for the initals of the owners: B for Benny Steinberg, S for Hy Slovitt, and K for Kaslo.

AliceAlice is a costume jewelry mark used by the Alice Jewelry Company of Providence, Rhode Island. The Alice mark was first used around May, 1950. Alice pieces are relatively rare. They are NOT made by Alice Caviness.

AliceA costume jewelry mark used by the Alice Jewelry Company of Providence, Rhode Island. AlloyCombination of 2 or more metals. AlmandineA type of violet-tinged variety of garnet that ranges in color from deep red to reddish-brown.

Faux (n) Imitation of the real thing, such as paste gemstones or costume jewelry.
Ferronière (n) A headdress featuring a thin metal band adorned with a single large gemstone.

Costume Jewelry: - her favorite fashion accessories were mainly costume jewelry fashioned and sold by Butler and Wilson in London. The large snake brooch which she wore, the pair of heart shaped earrings with starburst clips was bought from him.

Today Miriam Haskell vintage costume jewelry, particularly that from the golden period of the 1940s and 50s, is much sought after by collectors of vintage costume jewellery and can command high prices, ...

Endless supply of imitation pearl and costume Jewelry Pearls are storming the market. Pearls are available in many hues, lengths and styles and wear them with your little black dress for many distinct looks.

Most often used in costume jewelry. A Cubic Zirconium is not as hard as a diamond (7.5 to 8.5 on the Mohs scale vs. 10 for a diamond) and will show wear on the facet edges with routine wear. CZ is about 75% heavier than diamond.

Genuine: Used to describe or designate a true precious stone, as opposed to a synthetic or “fake' version of the stone in costume jewelry.

Antique, Modern, and Costume jewelry listings include detailed descriptions and up-to-date prices.
-- providing collectors with the most valuable information right at their fingertips.

The Weiss company made high-quality costume jewelry from 1942 until the 1970's. The company was founded in New York City by Albert Weiss, a former employee of the Coro Company (the largest costume jewelry manufacturer).

In costume jewelry, a term for crystal stones that have a highly iridescent surface. The effect is achieved by vapor blasting the facets of the lower part of the crystals with an invisible, micro thin metal sheet.

Fashion jewelry is another name for costume jewelry.
Feather
A feather is an internal flaw (also called an inclusion) in a gemstone that can start at the surface of the stone and extend deep inside.

It might not be critical for small pieces of costume jewelry, but if you buy a $4,000.

Good Will stores and other second hand stores are a great place to find costume jewelry and antique jewelry. I've been known to take old necklaces apart and use the pieces to make new, one-of-a-kind creations. I'm sure you've done this too.

Overlay: Generic term used to describe any variety of costume jewelry that involves a base metal.
Oxidation: The breakdown of a metal over time as a result of exposure to oxygen and other natural elements.

Chromium
Chromium is a hard metal that is typically used as a coating of costume jewelry.
Chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl is a relatively rare mineral that varies in color from gray, green, yellow, or brown and is used as a gemstone.

Fashion Jewelry
Fashion jewelry is another name for costume jewelry.
Engraving
Engraving is a method of surface decoration in which a design is etched into the surface with a sharp tool.

It is commonly seen in costume jewelry. A foilbacked rhinestone whose foil has been damaged, (often from water creeping in), does not sparkle anymore and is said to be a "dead" stone, lowering the value of the piece.

Brass: An alloy which produces a yellow color, it is made up of roughly half copper and half zinc. It can be used in costume jewelry.
Bridal set: An engagement and wedding ring that come in a set and usually match or compliment each other.

Avon jewelry includes figurals, perfume-holding pins, watches, and standard items of costume jewelry. The quality of these pieces ranges from cheaply-made to very good; they were produced in large quantities. Many people collect Avon items.

Jewelry is made of specific metals such as gold, platinum, silver, copper, brass, gun-metal and some inorganic materials like wood, plastic, glass, shells, corals, (for costume jewelry) etc.

Today the principal sources of glass beads are Venice, Japan, and the Goblonz region of Czechoslovakia; some are of good quality and are used for costume jewelry, but vast quantities serve merely as tourist souvenirs.

White Metal Alloys with heavy tin or lead content, such as pewter. Also called Britannia metal or tin plate. One of the most commonly used metals in costume jewelry.
Buy Your Rosary and PrayerBeads ...

jewelry (n) a personal adornment, such as a bracelet or necklace, made from precious and semi precious materials, locally-available or culturally significant materials, and base metals or plastics in the case of costume jewelry.

Pyrite is used commercially for the production of sulfur dioxide, for use in such applications as the paper industry, and in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, though such applications are declining in importance. It is also used for costume jewelry.

Most often, and more abundant, are gold color ornaments which have been gilded, rather than silver-color gilt. Most fashion or costume jewelry is rhodium plated rather than silver gilt.

such as, dyed shell, and lab creations such as "Gilson Coral" (although not a true synthetic, the composition, appearance and properties are quite close). Less convincing simulants, such as glass and plastic, abound in inexpensive costume jewelry. ...

Costume jewelry designers make copies of fine jewels, period pieces and master designer's jewels for the masses with no intent to deceive. Revivalist Jewelry: Revisiting jewelry styles from eras or styles gone by.

gems must clearly identify the stones as man made, and explain the difference. Although they can be attractive in appearance, jewelry made from synthetic and simulated gems is considered by many as simply a higher class form of costume jewelry.

See also: Jewel, Jewelry, Stone, Color, Gold