Humans have hung necklaces around their necks and rings around their wrists since the beginning of history. Throughout the last hundred years or so, fashion and technology have combined to make some with the most beautiful costume diamond jewelry known to humankind.
Costume jewellery made over the last hundred many years is nearly as gorgeous and spectacular as genuine diamond jewelry created of precious metals like platinum, gold, and silver, and precious gemstones like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Costume jewellery has evolved through the many years, as may be seen by reviewing the background of this fashion tradition.
The 1920s and 1930s saw an era of Art Deco jewellery, featuring jet black stones, white platinum and silver metal, and symmetrical and geometric shapes. This period in costume jewelry is characterized by pendant necklaces, bangle bracelets, jeweled accessories like cigarette holders and pillboxes, and long, dangling earrings.
Plastic was king of costume diamond jewelry from about 1935 until well into the early 1950s. Indeed, plastic Bakelite bangle bracelets and Bakelite bead necklaces are sought following right now as collectible jewellery due to the fact of its vivid colors and timeless modern design sensibilities. This era saw plastics formed into fanciful shapes, like sunbursts, bows, daisies, horses, and ballerinas, often with twinkling rhinestones set into patterns on bracelets, earrings, and necklaces.
Costume jewellery created between about 1945 and 1960 was tailored and sophisticated. Refinements inside the jewelry in the 1940s and 1950s meant smaller pieces. Themed pieces became famous, like animal pins with Poodles and Scottish terriers. Christmas tree pins also enjoyed wonderful popularity, as did other themed jewelry for holidays like Easter, Halloween, and Valentine's Day.
Sparkle has usually been well-known on costume jewellery, with rhinestones and their descendants, cubic zirconium, often found embedded in rings and earrings. Nowadays, these kitschy pieces are highly sought following by collectors.
Mid-priced wristwatches are a fantastic example of a costume jewelry item which is very collectible and growing far more valuable with every single season. Look for chunky men's watches with brands like Bulova, Omega, Seiko, and Elgin.
The best place to discover these vintage jewelry pieces is on the secondhand market. On the web classified and auction websites like craigslist, eBay, and overstock provide many fun costume diamond jewelry pieces. A recent eBay search turned up 2,554 costume jewelry items for sale! Estate sales are also an excellent source of secondhand costume jewellery, as are antique floors and private sellers.
