Understanding these jewelry terms may help you in representing jewelry appropriately when selling or educating yourself as a collector who frequently shops for collectible pieces. Peruse the information below to learn about different categories of jewelry in both the fine and costume varieties from old to new. This term applies to both fine and costume jewelry pieces. Antique costume jewelry is defined as jewelry not made using gold or platinum and gemstones. Like “antique,” this term can apply to both fine and costume jewelry. The vintage category in jewelry is vast and varied ranging from old plastics like celluloid to coveted couture pieces. The quality of these items can be low to high, as can the values. The piece shown here, a desirable Christian Dior rhinestone brooch with simulated jade cabochons, would be termed as vintage regardless of the camp you’re in as it dates to the 1960s. Keep in mind that some contemporary artisans and jewelry manufacturers with a collectible following do find inspiration by looking at antique and vintage jewelry. Some of these pieces are very close to copies of old pieces, in fact, while others just have elements reflecting styles of the past, such as Art Deco or Art Nouveau, for example. It is also important to understand that some of these designs are indeed vintage-looking, meaning they were modeled after or inspired by authentic vintage pieces. Those combing thrift stores for bargains sometimes mistake these pieces for vintage. The best way to get a feel for the quality, construction, and components of these look-alikes is to visit places where new jewelry is being sold. Once you see the difference in the back construction and types of stones that are currently being used, the differences become apparent. Will these items be collectible in the future? That is a possibility. Inexpensive jewelry made decades ago, including many Bakelite pieces, were sold inexpensively when they were new. It took quite some time for them to become valuable collectibles, however, and there are no guarantees. Other types of mass-marketed costume jewelry made during the 1950s and ’60s can be a hard sell to avid collectors these days. The exception is with some home shopping channel jewelry, which can be sold in large quantities depending on the demand for each collection. Designs by Heidi Daus, for instance, do have a collectible following even though they are made in China. The difference is that like the turtle brooch shown here, they are higher in quality and have a much higher selling price point when they are new in comparison to the pieces widely sold in import shops. For this reason, they fit better into the contemporary collectible jewelry category mentioned above.
