| Collecting vintage costume jewelry for profit is a | | | | hundreds! When hunting for vintage investment |
| great way to enjoy wearing high quality pieces in | | | | opportunities, remember that there are three |
| the present while acquiring pieces that only | | | | main things that help determine the value of |
| appreciate in value making them the ideal | | | | vintage costume pieces: Quality of Materials, |
| investment: practical and profitable! Originating in | | | | Craftsmanship, and Rarity. Despite dozens of |
| Europe at the end of the 19th century, the styles | | | | companies producing thousands of pieces annually, |
| and market came to be dominated by American | | | | they produced jewelry in varying quantities. On |
| manufacturers like Trifari and Eisenberg from the | | | | the one hand, you had large players such as |
| 1920's onward. These luxurious knock-offs | | | | Florenza and Coventry launched several thousand |
| feature exceptional design complemented by high | | | | pieces for each new line. However, on the flip side |
| quality materials and craftsmanship. Almost all | | | | of things were manufacturers like Barclays, |
| costume jewelry was priced under $10 prior to | | | | McClelland, and Coventry who only produced |
| World War II. The Great Depression and poor | | | | much smaller volumes creating a smaller supply |
| sales caused some of the jewelry manufacturers | | | | and also making pieces from them both rarer and |
| to go out of business. Still, a large number | | | | more valuable in the eyes of true collectors. |
| managed to hang on and made it through to the | | | | Perhaps the largest single factor determining value |
| glory days of the 1950's and 1960's. Sales were | | | | of costume pieces is the quality of the stones. It |
| boosted to all-time high's in the 50's and 60's | | | | is certainly true that none of the stones would be |
| thanks to television and a boom in advertising. | | | | considered precious it is still true there were |
| Today, high quality costume pieces are more | | | | companies that used high quality stones and |
| popular than ever and make a great addition to | | | | gemstones to make their jewelry, such as: |
| the jewelry box because the right pieces will | | | | Hollycraft Bogoff Eisenberg Eisenberg costume |
| appreciate in value-after all, they aren't make any | | | | pieces are renowned for having superior quality |
| more of it! While cheap to buy when first | | | | stones so it is hard to find something by this |
| released, vintage fashion jewelry manufactured | | | | company that is not already high-priced. However, |
| between 1920-1970 are the treasures in a | | | | if you search in the flea markets and even on |
| growing market of collectors but shrinking | | | | many vintage jewelry websites, many pieces are |
| demand. A large part of this explosion in both | | | | drastically under-valued-especially the unsigned |
| growth and value is not expected to shrink until | | | | ones! Keep your eyes out for signed pieces made |
| the Internet has 4 billion surfers or more-in about | | | | by these manufacturers because they are very |
| 5 years. But with a continually shrinking inventory, | | | | likely to appreciate in value in coming months and |
| vintage pieces by prized manufacturers will | | | | years: Eisenberg Trifari Kramer Money Danecraft |
| continue to appreciate in value for the foreseeable | | | | Sandi Kapiszka is a jewelry expert specializing in |
| future. There are many pieces being sold in flea | | | | vintage costume jewelry. |
| markets for a few bucks while being worth | | | | |