"Vintage jewelry" and "vintage costume jewelry" are consistently ranked among the top searches on Ebay.

Don't buy from a fuzzy picture. No matter how much you squint your eyes, widen your eyes or tilt your head, it's still gonna be a fuzzy picture. Most folks who try to sell on Ebay will take the time to post a decent picture. However, unless you know the jewelry piece by sight and/or it's at such an incredibly low bid amount that you almost literally can't go wrong, don't bid based on a fuzzy picture. Remember, you're purchasing on Ebay "sight-unseen" so that picture is vitally important; it's the only visual you have to go on when deciding whether you're going to part with some of your hard-earned money. "When in doubt, back out."

Don't be afraid to contact the seller and request more pictures. Ebay allows one free picture per item but charges for every one after that so it's only natural that sellers want to keep their overhead down and thus tend to supply only one picture. But that doesn't mean they can't email you more upon your request. If they're interested in selliing their item and they're a conscientious seller, they should have no problem with this.

If the listing says something like, "..stamped WEISS on the back," go ahead and ask for a picture of the back. Not that the jewelry isn't stamped, but rather to help make sure you're not bidding on a fake or reproduction. Yep, fake costume jewelry, can you believe that? An excellent source of both pictures and descriptions of vintage costume jewelry marks can be found online

And speaking of sellers...my rule is: If there's a question, ASK IT. I recently considered bidding on a very pretty clear rhinestone necklace - all prong-set stones, teardrop shaped larger stones in its center - very nice, and described as being in "excellent condition." Though the picture was clear, it was taken from a bit of a distance so I couldn't really see the stones in detail. I sent the seller the question, "Are there any visible flaws? Are there any dead or damaged stones?" And the seller responded that, yes, on closer examination there were a few stones which were darkening or dead. A frequent and (hopefully) honest oversight but it was an aspect of the necklace not disclosed in the listing. Had I bid based on, "excellent condition," and won, I would've been terribly disappointed! Remember, every person has their own definition of "excellent condition;" it's your job to try to ensure that the jewelry piece lives up to YOUR definition of "excellent condition."

Do not be afraid to ask the age of a piece. "Vintage" jewelry can be interpreted as anything from the 20's or 30's right on through to the 80s. And just 'cause a jewelry piece has rhinestones doesn't make it vintage and every piece of old plastic isn't Bakelite.

Bakelite It's one of the few vintage jewelry materials which by and large CAN be tested both fairly accurately and fairly easily. You get a cotton swab, spray Formula 409 on it, and rub the piece. If the swab turns yellow, odds are your piece is Bakelite. Now, this test won't work on all pieces - I understand that laminated Bakelite and some black pieces won't test, but it's a fairly wide-spread, well-known and generally accepted test of authenticity. And most dealers/sellers will know this. So before you bid on Bakelite, be sure it's been tested. I would be satisfied if a seller told me a piece passed the 409 or the Simichrome test (Simichrome's a special compound which is pink coming out of its tube and turns yellow - like the 409 - when rubbed on Bakelite). Some sellers will get huffy and offended when asked whether piece has been tested and what method was used - why? I don't know. If I'm considering parting with a good amount of dollars for something promoted as Bakelite, I have a perfect right (and so do you) to ask for verification of the material. If you ask and you get a reply that runs along the lines of, "Well I've been selling jewelry for 25 years and I know Bakelite when I see it.." and blah and blah and blah, don't bid on it. I'm very happy the seller knows Bakelite; it's THEIR job, however, to convince ME, whose dollars they want, that it's Bakelite. Why a seller wouldn't run out to Wal-Mart and buy a $4 bottle of 409 to make a $40 or $50 profit (or more!), especially when testing Bakelite can be done with such ease, is beyond me.

Check your seller's references. Ebay gives each of us a feedback rating; use it. Click on the feedback and read some comments. Also be sure to check how many "mutually withdrawn" feedbacks there are. To me, that generally tells me there's been some disputes. Go with what your instincts tell you.

Don't be dazzled. I know it's hard. The picture is excellent, the quality of the stones is great, and it's the right price...and your heart starts to pound. I repeat: Don't be dazzled. My friend once found a pair of earrings that weren't to be believed - absolutely gorgeous, multicolor rhinestones in different sizes and shapes - just incredible! She was all set to bid and getting excited until she took a second look at one of the pictures. Hey, aren't earrings supposed to match each other?? She were so bedazzled that we weren't seeing the obvious: One or the other of the earrings had replacement stones. Yeah, I know. Stupid but true.

Lastly, and this tip applies to any and all your Ebay bids: Check out the shipping and handling charges BEFORE you bid! There are some rotten apples out there who will charge you $16 or $18 or more to ship a one or two ounce piece of jewelry. Why? Because Ebay charges a "Final Value Fee" which is a percentage of the final price paid. So..if I start out with a low starting bid, sell you a $10 piece of jewelry but charge you $20 in shipping, the Final Value Fee charged to me is based on $10. And my fees are lower. Had I sold you a piece of jewelry for $25 and charged you a more-realistic shipping fee of $5, then the Final Value Fee charged to me by Ebay is based on $25. You see? The Final Value Fee calculation doesn't include shipping and handling. A good thing to know and a good look into the character of a seller. Your "great buy" of $10 could turn into a "lousy buy" if your total out-of-pocket expense is $30. If a flat rate shipping & handling charge isn't a part of the item's listing, email the seller - give your state and zip code - and have them quote you shipping and handling charges BEFORE you bid.