Spotting a fake piece of vintage jewelry...

In today's vintage jewelry market, there are many unscrupulous jewelry dealers hoping to make a quick buck off of an unsuspecting collector by selling them a fake piece of jewelry at authentic prices. And with the high-quality fake materials being used to mass produce these fake pieces that are being found on the market today, it can be very hard to tell which pieces are real and which ones are frauds. With so many reproductions on the market, it can even be hard for professionals to tell the real pieces of vintage jewelry from the frauds. How then can a novice size up a piece of jewelry to be sure that they are purchasing the real thing? Here's how: Always question a good bargain. In most cases, a deal that seems too good to be true really is too good to be true. So, before you make an emotional purchase and snatch up a beautiful piece of jewelry at an unbelievable price, stop to think that what you see, or what you think you see, might not be what you are actually getting. Do your homework. Online there are dozens of sites that post pictures and descriptions of known frauds that are being mass produced and sold as authentic pieces. If you tend to purchase pieces from a certain time period or style, be sure that you are familiar with the scams that are out there before you go shopping. Be aware that there will be unsigned pieces of jewelry that almost look exactly like the real thing. These pieces were often created at the same time as the original by competing jewelers. While the materials used to make these pieces may be real, the ¬knockoff is not worth as much as the original and the price should reflect this. Never trust that all the information that a dealer gives you is correct. Even dealers receive false information and can pass it along to their consumers unintentionally. Remember, the most important thing that you can do to prevent being duped at the vintage jewelry counter is to make yourself aware of what's out there and how to tell the real pieces from the frauds. Taking just a little bit of time to do your homework before you go shopping can save you a great deal of hassle and headache in the long run.

Vintage Jewelry....Can you tell whats real or fake?

Vintage jewelry collecting, and especially vintage costume jewelry collecting, has exploded onto the market in recent years. Many are signed and many are unsigned. With this explosion has been an increase of fake jewelry to go along with it. Therefore, when it comes to collecting vintage jewelry, be sure you know what you are looking for and at. Later on, you will be glad that you did.

But, how do you know if the jewelry is real or fake? There are a couple of different ways to look at this. One would be to deal with a trusted dealer. Possibly one that either you, or someone you know, has dealt with before. The second, and probably the best way to attack this issue would be through research and education. There are many books on the market now that include many photographs that can be use to compare other pieces with. This is a highly resourceful resource that would, could, and should be used when unsure of the piece.

The internet is a vast array of knowledge on this subject also. Many collectors create and maintain a person website describing what they personally collect and enjoy. These can assist also. If you are going to search through some of the internet auction websites, rest assured that there are good as well as bed when it comes to this aspect of the jewelry collecting field. When utilizing an internet auction, do the research. Check out the seller. Make every attempt to verify that you are dealing with a creditable resource and dealer. This single most piece of advice is probably the most valuable advice any jewelry collector should heed.

There are many unsigned pieces out there. These are pieces that was, for the biggest part, created for the masses and sold wholesale to places like Sears and J.C. Penny. These are very nice pieces. However, these pieces need to be extensively researched in order to avoid the pitfalls of purchasing a fake. Some of these highly sought after and collectible designers would include Miriam Haskell, Weiss, and Eisenberg.

Cleaning is a crucial part of taking care of your jewelry. But, be aware when it comes to rhinestones. If you immerse it under water, odds are that you will destroy part of it, without even knowing that you did. There is a very thin foil lining on the back of most rhinestones. Liquids have a tendency to destroy this foil lining. To avoid this, spray your cleaner directly onto a rag or towel, and wipe the piece gently and throughly.

Buying, Pricing, And Value Of Vintage Jewelry...

Vintage costume jewelry is a far cry from the fashion pieces you will find in most department stores. In fact, while new costume jewelry will literally depreciate in value, signed vintage jewelry from the 1920's through the late 1960's and early 70's is still appreciating in value. Thousands of jewelry enthusiasts are finding vintage jewelry collecting profitable-when they know what to look for when buying.

Identifying the valuable vintage costume necklaces, rings, and other pieces to collect boils down to knowing what actually determines value on the market. No precious metals or gemstones are used to make costume pieces but some jewelry is plated with precious metals like gold or silver. In addition, vintage costume jewelry pieces were produced in masses at factories unlike fine jewelry.

Some costume designs have become so popular that they now are worth many times their original sale price. Making big money is possible when collecting but you need to understand what determines value so you can purchase the most profitable pieces to resale. Pricing for vintage pieces can be broken down into five main components:

Rarity

Originality of Design

Demand

Quality of Materials and Craftsmanship

Final Condition

The supply of vintage jewelry varies greatly and this affects pricing in a big way. The great diversity of manufacturers also created vast differences in batch sizes. Profits tend to be lower when talking about pieces made by the larger players like Coro and Accessocraft who produced jewelry in large batches. DeMario, McClelland, and other small companies might only have batch sizes numbering in the hundreds.

Because they are so much rarer, those pieces from the smaller companies will almost always sell for more than something from one larger manufacturers-but this is only a guide and not a steadfast rule. But beware, even the major costume jewelry manufacturers like Trifari and Coro would have limited runs of specialty pieces that are now considered quite valuable due to their rarity-just as is the case with the smaller companies.

A wardrobe is not complete without a costume jewelry. It's a must have addition that adds flare and flamboyance to any usual attire. Present day production techniques have allowed the creation of high-quality and exquisitely designed jewelry at a much lower cost. These techniques produced articles that are so genuine looking that an untrained eye will not be able to distinguish between genuine and imitations. This article will discuss a couple of reasons why you should sincerely include costume jewelry in your everyday wardrobe.

For one reason, costume jewelry can provide you with a wide variety at a fraction of the cost. You can create your own virtual treasure chest of blings without costing you a lot. You can find earrings, necklaces, finger rings, toe rings, body jewelry, brooches, cufflinks and even tiaras in the huge collection of costume jewelries. You can use them to adorn or accentuate your otherwise boring attire. Because of its cheap price, you can always feel and look like a million dollars wearing one.

Costume or fake jewelry are available in a wide variety. If you scout the market, you can find copies of classical designs to exorbitant pieces. A lot of designers are able to expand their creativity and thereby produce very rare pieces minus the related cost of bespoke design. You may fancy an unusual jewelry and you're more likely to find one that has a lesser price.

An expensive jewelry that gets damaged can cost a lot to be repaired. If that is not possible, you need to have the damaged jewelry replaced entirely. This can be pretty devastating as the total loss of expensive jewelry can cost more to be repaired, much more replaced. You may be covered by an insurance policy but still, this does not guarantee that you will not incur any financial cost. On the contrary, damaged costume jewelry can be easily replaced because of its relatively low price.

If you want to expand your collection of accessories, you can try to pool your fancy jewelry with friends and family. The low value placed on fancy jewelry makes it easier for its owner to swap these items without worry as compared to those high-valued items.

Because costume jewelry has a relatively low value, you can treat yourself and other people even if there's no special occasion or event. This simply implies that if you are out on your usual shopping spree and you saw a bracelet that you feel you just need to have, then you can purchase it without the guilt. If somebody just did a favor for you, you can send a gift of gratitude of costume jewelry.