Authentic Costume Jewelry

You have just joined the Ebay family and decided to sell jewelry.  You research the various categories and you find "Costume Jewelry".  Upon inspection of various listings you see that many of the pieces are not gold or have diamonds, so you assume that you will be able to jump right in and start selling "Costume Jewelry pieces".  You notice listings with bidding in for hundreds of dollars for brooches, necklaces, bracelets with multi color rhinestones and clip on earrings. You get excited thinking in just a few short days, you will be on your way to making alot of money on Ebay.  So you get up and hurry to your local Walmart to start buying all kinds of jewelry.  STOP!!!STOP!!!STOOOOP!

If you listed jewelry from Walmart and wonder why no one is bidding on your items, especially after you state in your title or description, something like this:

" You are bidding on my Grandmothers jewelry" or 20pc Jewelry Lot`Grandmothers Jewelry or "this brooch has been in my family for years" or "Grandmother Jane's Necklace" etc etc

*** AUTHENTIC VINTAGE JEWELS, you will not find them in your local Walmart!

The reason for this is due to the fact that when you list items in the Jewelry&Watches Vintage/Antique section and you just purchased it from your local Walrmart, its NOT considered Antique Jewelry.  I am sure I know the method to the madness and will list the common misconceptions, the reasons you THINK it qualifies:

1. The earrings may be clip on earrings.
2. It may be a brooch
3. Its not made of gold or silver
4. There are no precious or semi precious stones

Although I am not doubting that the "Grandmother Jane" named in these listings doesnt exist and I am not doubting that the jewelry listed is not hers.  I have alot of doubts about the individual "Selling" the jewelry.  When you utilize key words such as "Grandmothers Jewelry"; you are attmepting to decieve the buyer into believing the jewelry is antique even though you may never say those exact words.  Phrases such as these, "Been in my family for Years" or "Grandmother Jane had this piece for years" or "This was part of Grandmother Janes collection and she passed away recently and we are getting rid of all her jewelry". There are many things that can help the unsuspecting buyer determine Authenticity for Collectable Costume Jewelry:

1.  One of the determining factors I use is the clasp of the individual piece or the backing:  In the 1930s jewelry was often produced using pot metal or white metal and there is a very big difference when it comes to clasps. C Claps, Tube Hinges, and Pin stems with EXTENDED pin stems tells me alot about the piece.  Also the types of metals:

A. Rhodium, Pot Metal, Pewter, White Metal Nickel Silver are various types of materials used.

POT METAL OPEN BACK BROOCH; RHINESTONE HAS OPEN FOIL BACKING

2.  Is the piece signed or unsigned. Make sure you pay very close attention to the backing of a piece. If they do not have it pictured; ask. What is it made of?  Silver/Gold? Why is this important?  During WWII Sterling was used and needed for the war effort and many pieces were made of pot metal or white metal. Sterling Silver pieces by some of the jewelry manufactures were done in Mexico. These pieces are signed with makers initial as well as the word "Sterling"

SIGNED PIECES

BACK OF SIGNED EISENBERG BROOCH

3. Know your history. My major was English and History and I use that to my advantage when researching a piece.  Dont be fooled into believing a Seller who states this piece is "Antique". Ask WHAT charecteristics allows the piece to be termed as such.  Research to become knowledgeable. Do not take the word of an individual based on there feedback being in the thousands. The information needed for determination to buy a piece is free so research and ask questions, after all it's your money.

4. Make sure deficiencies are annotated by the seller:

A little history;

In early part of the 20th Century, the word "Costume" was used in reference to a persons outfit or garment . So any jewelry worn was refered to as "Costume Jewelry".  Some consider Costume Jewelry as fake jewelry because of the inexpensive materials used such as glass, rhinestones and man made materials.  When I hear Costume Jewelry as fake jewelry, I often feel the necessity to explain that many people would rather own a Costume Jewelry piece than a fine jewelry piece.   Costume Jewelry is more than just an adornment; it's an investment.  Owning pieces by names such as:

• Miriam Haskell
• Pennino
• Hobe
• Eisenberg
• Lisner
• CastleCliff
• Sarah Coventry
• Crown Trifari
• Iskin
• Hollycraft
• Doddz
• Ora
• Original by Robert
• Weiss
• Schiaparelli
• Kramer

Value has gone into the thousands for lots sold on Ebay.  Many buyers assume that signed pieces are the only ones with value.  However that is very untrue. Some of the best pieces I have came across were unsigned. 

Learn all you can by staying knowledgeable. A unknowledgeable buyer has the possibiltiy to become an unhappy buyer   Because if you buy a expensive piece of Vintage/Antique Jewelry and the next time your at your local Walmart and you walk pass the revolving jewelry display and see your brooch. I wont say I told you so...Hope this helps and check out my "About Me Page"