Costume jewelry was popular with French fashion designer Coco Chanel and her Italian contemporary art Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1920s and 1930s style but reached its peak in the 1950s. So far, people have always thought that wearing eye-catching jewelry during the day was vulgar, but it was not only acceptable in the 1950s women’s fashion but also encouraged. Costume designers created tailor-made costumes to best showcase costume jewelry, including cutting tops into three-quarters of the “bangle length” to showcase Lucite bracelets and more. The open neckline makes the bib necklace the focal point on the stage, while the striking jacket lapel is the perfect buckle for the shiny brooch.
1950s Costume jewelry style
Jewelry is still as important as the shoes, handbags, and gloves paired with clothing. Tailor-made costume jewelry, a 1950s style, featuring elegant or classic pieces, made of gold or silver metals, usually without gems. Gold (more popular than silver) bracelets, earrings, and pendant bracelets are an important part of the wardrobe. Earrings and brooches are variants of the same shape: spray with spikes, snowflakes, circles, and floral and leaf patterns. Emphasizing texture, the metal replicates the finishes made of linen, embroidery, and wicker, such as Florence and satin.
To some extent, thanks to Hollywood, jewelry imitations of precious jewels are very popular. These fabulous fakes mean that modest women can afford Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamond is a girl’s best friend” and Audrey Hepburn’s breakfast on Tiffany jewelry s work.
The big brooch that highlights the corset, the water drop bib necklace that fills the breastplate, the huge necklace, wide bracelets, and hair accessories are all indispensable. Stones cut into strange shapes emphasize the smooth lines of the design, usually combined with artificial pearls. Cutting into rectangular bread gives the illusion of spinning, looping, and falling sweeping or trick flow motion. The all-diamond appearance that prevailed in the late 1940s was replaced by colors in jewelry in the mid-1950s.
By the late 1940s, this kind of suit consisting of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and brooches, or two or three of them, became popular again, reflecting that women prefer accessories.
The simple pearl is still the highest. After all, June Cleaver wears “Leave It to Beaver” every day. Rely on pearls to complete business or cocktail party outfits and dress up almost everything else. In the past ten years, in addition to pearl threads, bead necklaces are also very popular. The beads are mottled, spotted, with stripes and spots, just like the tweed fabric worn during the day. Beads and artificial pearls are now made in a variety of colors.
Due to the high demand for rhinestone jewelry, stone manufacturers in Austria and Czechoslovakia have developed new gem colors and used what Julia Carroll calls special glass gems (that is, “with special colors, Texture or composition of glass gems”). In the past ten years, clothing and jewelry designers have used these gems to produce great results.
For example, in Elsa Schiaparelli’s works from the 1940s to the late 1950s, large unpolished stones with strange shapes appeared. Textured iridescent lava; colored gemstones are faceted to form an octagonal star design. (These stones are called tourmaline; the facets are tooth-shaped. The pink/green combination is called watermelon.)
In the same era, Schreiner produced works focused on amazing artistic glass gems and cleverly combined colors. One of the most important innovations is the first appearance of the Northern Lights, which was perfected by Swarovski in Austria in 1955, giving the multi-faceted glass beads and rhinestones a rainbow appearance.
Color is one of the most important elements in jewelry in the 1950s. Innovative combinations include artificial emeralds and sapphires, turquoise and blue, fuchsia and olive, purple and purple, and orange and yellow. Introduced new shades, such as Schiaparelli’s shocking pink.
Another trend is to use several shades of the same color in the same block, such as brown-topaz, light brown, lemon, and caramel. The new palette of jewelry also complements the new pastel colors introduced in fashion: lavender, blue, lavender, peridot, yellow, and gray. Then Balenciaga and Dior avoided color and restored the white trend of the 1930s.
Search for the real valuable costume jewelry
If you just want to find the “right” sparkling gadgets for your loved ones this holiday season, then looking for old-fashioned costume jewelry may make good financial sense.
With any luck, you might unearth a valuable piece of something in a flea market, garage sale, or real estate sale, because the previous owner did not know its actual value.
Smart shopping at a trusted distributor, retailer, or auction house may also produce exquisite items from the past, which is likely to bring value in return to its owner.
“Before buying costume jewelry, please consider whether it has beauty, originality, and workmanship, whether it is stone, metal or sterling silver,” said Norman Crider, a leading vintage costume jewelry dealer in the United States in New York. Trump Tower opened a store. Find a reputable distributor you trust. Always buy the best examples under the best conditions. Avoid damaging or repairing parts. Finding a “sleeper” deal is not as easy as it used to be.
How do you narrow the scope of the collection?
As you narrow your focus, there are some proven suggestions to keep in mind. The first is to buy things you like. If you like one and the price is reasonable, don’t hesitate to add it to your collection. Collecting costume jewelry is more out of pride and self-expression in owning it, rather than worrying about whether it will appreciate. Remember to buy the best you can afford. If you like the best costume jewelry and can meet your budget, then buy it. Just remember to do some research on the copy beforehand and then buy it from a reputable dealer. If your pockets are not that deep, you can still have a really interesting series around a more affordable theme. Even children can collect jewelry for a few dollars here.
Are there any conditions to worry about?
Because costume jewelry has been regarded as rubbish jewelry for a long time, many jewelries has not been properly kept and maintained. If you find that they have severe scratches, worn enamel, missing parts, pearls, etc., unless they are very rare items, it is best not to buy them. If you are a craftsman and you are missing a rhinestone or bead, you can repair it yourself. In fact, there are many reference materials on the Internet to help you complete minor repairs. However, jewelry with a lot of dark or yellowed stones is more difficult to refurbish, so think twice before buying them. To be honest, many people only buy things that are well preserved because they know they will never have time to deal with a lot of repair projects.
Taking the UK as an example, some vintage jewelry markets of the UK deserve to be recommended:
1.Grays Antique Market
Grays is one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of fine antiques, jewelry, Asian art, and vintage fashion. Grays is distributed on two floors of two buildings, Grays and Mews. There are more than 200 professional dealers here. The antiques sold range from ancient handicrafts to 20th-century art. Wait.
2. Greenwich Market
The historic Greenwich Market is the best place in London to buy antiques, handicrafts, jewelry, and accessories from independent designers. Some stalls to pay attention to include:
– Laura Lees Morgan makes exquisite bracelets that can be personalized
– PickaTwig, for simple gold and silver rings and earrings
– Roccabella (Roccabella), used to preserve 24-carat gold and silver gems, leaves and shells
– DeMEC, used for colorful environmentally friendly jewelry made of plant ivory and pearls
3. Old Spitalfields Market
If you are looking for something weird, head to Old Spitalfields Market. Just on the road of Brick Lane, this market is full of art and is the home of local manufacturers and retailers who purchase products responsibly. Some famous shops and stalls include:
– Nabilondon features unique gold and silver jewelry, decorated with the London skyline, Harry Potter motifs, and other unusual designs.
– Alex Vintage, classic and colorful Egyptian jewelry.
– Miranda Melina, handicrafts made from recycled materials.
– Ju, used for woven and beaded moral bracelets made of plant ivory.
– Works made of natural elements, inspired by natural elements using silver, feathers, and gems.
4. Camden Market
Camden Market is famous for its fashionable shops and vibrant street style. This is also a good place to shop for jewelry, especially if you like other and unusual designs. Some jewelry shops worth seeing in Camden Market include:
– Tribu, for tribal-style designs and body piercing jewelry
– Black Ram SP, simple silver ring for handmade
-Vera Black, used for bohemian jewelry, decorated with feathers, beads and medieval headdresses
– Rosario Alvarez, for handmade Millifiori brooches and pendants.
– Crafty Kaya, unique jewelry made of glass and real flowers.
- Covent Garden Market
Covent Garden is known for its luxurious fashion and beauty boutiques, but also has three markets-Apple Market, East Colonnade Market and Jubilee Market, each stall selling handmade art and decorations made by independent designers. Despite being crowded, buskers and food stalls make shopping here a pleasant experience. Famous jewelers include:
-Steampunk glass, unique pendant featuring real flowers and galaxy designs.
–Pack, for eye-catching necklaces, brooches, and pendants made of amber.
-Heather’s collection of antiques and new designer costume jewelry.
–Very cute, suitable for retro-style items with lace and charms.
- Alpheus Antique Market
If you like antique jewelry, you will be happy for hours hunting for treasures in the antique shops that make up the Alfies antique market. If you are lucky, you can find some truly unusual and unique works here. After shopping around, head to the rooftop cafe for brunch. It is better to explore here than to find a specific dealer, but some of them offer a lot of jewelry options, including:
-Parisian jewelry in Art Deco style and vintage diamond ring
-Dream Retro for works from the 1930s to the 1960s
– Gareth Brooks, jewelry during the business period, including Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles
– Ting Hughes, buying a Victorian locket and silver wire
–Unicorn of vintage plastic costume jewelry
- Bermondsey Antique Market
It moved in the 1950s and is now known as the New Caledonia Market or Bermondsey Square Antique Market. Because of the obscure medieval laws called open market, it was once known as a place where stolen goods could legally change hands, so it was notorious. Between sunrise and sunset, regardless of its origin. The law was repealed in 1995 and the Bermondsey antique market is now more complete.
- Alexandra Palace Antiques & Collectors Fair
Independent antique exhibitions are already a dying breed in London, so it’s great that the Alexandria Palace antiques and collectors exhibition still exists. This is the largest antique fair in London, with more than 200 booths, held several times a year. On the way into the exhibition, you can not only enjoy the superb view of London, but also the exquisite antiques and cultural relics, which will dazzle you. The price is competitive, there is always room for bargaining here. You will find antiques, jewelry, designs, and furniture from all eras. This is a real enjoyment.
- Portobello Road
Portobello Road is one of the most famous antique markets in London, and it has certainly become synonymous with Notting Hill. The outlook has become uncertain in recent years, and many antique centers and shops on Portobello Road have been eliminated by high rents. Nevertheless, if you visit on Saturday (the main market trading day), you can still experience some of its traditional antique charms. Visitors receive corresponding British antiques here.
- Deptford Market
Deptford Market is a huge cry for any fan of the ambitious junk market. Head to Douglas Way at the end of Deptford High Street and you will find Deptford’s BRIC and junk market, which is open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. You will find the best antiques on Saturdays, but you may have to research deeply to find good things. Deptford is attractive, cultural bald and bargainers will be here
- Vintage mode
Horsup’s corner in Gray’s complex is part of a collective of sellers called Vintage mode, where there is a large collection of 20th-century costume jewelry; cabinets filled with the 1920s and 1930s decorations Artistic trinkets, objects made of film, bakelite, and Czech glass, and a large number of gilded ornaments from the 1980s. This is enough to make the magpie hysterical.
If you cannot find the satisfied vintage costume jewelry in the markets, or you want to sell the vintage costume jewelry, some other ways and examples are introduced for you:
1.Yard and garage sales
Many buyers look for costume jewelry in the yard and garage. Yard sales conducted citywide on designated dates can bring many buyers into a community and have the added benefit of being widely publicized. Some communities require participants to pay a nominal fee; others allow residents to sell goods for free.
2. Sell costume jewelry online
Costume jewelry can be sold online on auction sites. Auction sites help provide authenticity and assurance to buyers. Sellers can also build their own website storefronts and use tools provided by web hosting companies to sell them to consumers. Some antique jewelry buyers will advertise online, and sending digital photos of jewelry can sometimes bring business.
3.Craft Fair
Because people interested in design or art often participate in handicraft fairs, sophisticated costume jewelry may have a wide range of appeal. In addition, visiting craft fairs and talking to craftsmen about their materials may bring sales. Some artists use their own recycled jewelry to rework existing or vintage products and may be interested in buying old pieces.
4. Auctions, antique dealers and wholesalers
You can sell period jewelry to antique dealers or wholesalers at auction. Trade magazines, antique catalogs, and websites that specialize in the sale and advertising of antique products can usually connect buyers and sellers. Local auction houses can provide detailed information about auction items. Antique shops can purchase items directly or provide contact information about wholesalers and distributors.
Example: Gildings Auction House
Our comprehensive auction calendar at Gildings covers all budgets for buying or selling jewelry at auction. We hold bi-weekly antiques and collectors auctions, featuring antiques, antiques, and costume jewelry, with higher value and exquisite jewelry pieces as part of our art and antique auctions. All auctions can be found in our salesroom at Market Harborough, Leicestershire, easily connected by road and rail.
8.Retro boutiques and salons
Boutiques that sell vintage clothing and accessories often want to buy clothing and jewelry from sellers. They can pay directly or allow high-priced goods to be shipped. Hair salons and spas sometimes provide small spaces for artists or sellers, but they charge a certain fee or a certain percentage of sales.
Example: Gingermegs Vintage
Located in the jewelry district of Birmingham, Aladdin’s Cave is a quaint boutique specializing in items from the 1920s to the 1950s. This shop has a niche collection of rare decorative artworks, as well as veritable jewelry from the 1950s, so if you want retro Hollywood charm, you might want to visit Gingermegs Vintage.
9. Online or print classified ads
Online, small newspapers, national publications, and advertisements in local or national magazines can all generate sales. Collectibles, antiques, and jewelry publications often sell advertising space.
After viewing the above comprehensive vintage costume jewelry buying or selling guide, you will realize the value of real vintage costume jewelry.
