| There is virtually no difference between | | | | is from. Style, material, the type of piece. |
| costume jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume | | | | For example dress clips came in in the 1930s |
| Jewelry dates back to the 1930s. By the | | | | and were out of style by the 1950s. Jewelry |
| definition of antique that would also make it | | | | reflects styles, designs, colors and stones |
| antique jewelry. However, most jewelry | | | | of the era. For example from 1910 to 1930 |
| experts have come to agree that antique | | | | silver was the favorite color for metal, so |
| jewelry predates the 1930s.Costume Jewelry | | | | jewelry was found in platinum, white gold, |
| came into being in the 1930s as a cheap | | | | silver or a base metal colored to look like |
| disposable jewelry meant to be worn with a | | | | silver. By World War II, gold was popular |
| specific outfit, but not meant to be handed | | | | again but in short supply, since it was vital |
| down through generations. It was intended to | | | | to the war effort. What gold was available |
| be fashionable for a short period of time, | | | | was made into very thin sheets and usually |
| out date itself, and then be repurchased to | | | | bonded to silver (called vermeil) before |
| fit with a new outfit purchase, or with a new | | | | being turned into jewelry. By the 1930s |
| fashion style. It became available in large | | | | rhinestones popularity was ever increasing in |
| quantities during the 30s.Cheap jewelry also | | | | Europe. It was not available to the |
| existed prior to the 1930s. Paste or glass | | | | Americans until the 1940s. As a result, many |
| jewelry as far back as the 1700s. The rich | | | | of the pieces from this period tend to |
| had their fine jewelry duplicated for a | | | | feature lots of metal and a single stone or a |
| variety of reasons, using paste or glass | | | | small cluster of tiny rhinestones.Today is |
| stones. By the mid 1800s with the growth of | | | | certainly not much different from past times. |
| the middle class there were now different | | | | We still have fine jewelry, semi precious |
| levels of jewelry being manufactured using | | | | jewelry, and of course costume jewelry |
| fine, semi-precious and base materials. Fine | | | | available to us. Costume jewelry can add the |
| jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems such as | | | | finishing touch and show your fashion sense. |
| emeralds and saphires continued to be made. | | | | Costume Jewelry styles of past years are now |
| Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin | | | | becoming very fashionable and many are being |
| layer of gold attached to a base metal, | | | | reproduced. Even with costume jewelry there |
| entered the market for the middle class. | | | | is a difference in quality. Many of the new |
| This jewelry was often set with semi-precious | | | | pieces do not have the vibrance in the stones |
| gems such as amethyst, coral or pearls, and | | | | or the weight of the older pieces.Antique and |
| was much more affordable. And then there was | | | | vintage costume jewelry are both fun to |
| jewelry that most anyone could afford, | | | | collect and fun to wear. No longer is |
| consisting of glass stones and base metals | | | | costume jewelry simply "collectable." It is |
| made to look like gold. All three types were | | | | "in style, and" "fashionable," and a |
| intended to be passed down to future | | | | terrific conversation starter. Dress to |
| generations.There are usually clues that can | | | | impress! |
| help one identify what era a piece of jewelry | | | | |