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