Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry falls into two categories: 1) pieces which imitate fine jewelry items, and 2) pieces created just for fun, often featuring comical, political, or cultural designs. Costume jewelry imitating fine jewelry can be so skillfully made that it can be hard to tell the difference.

Throughout the 20th century, inexpensive costume jewelry pieces were sold at variety stores while more expensive items were sold at department stores and via catalog.

Costume jewelry was made of glass, plastic, and synthetic or semiprecious stones with imitation or inexpensive metals. Rhinestones and Bakelite, for example, were two commonly used materials. Plated metals (gold- and silver-plated brass, nickel, and pewter, for example) were commonly used to replace real gold and silver.

During World War II, the base metals used for costume jewelry were needed for the war effort, so sterling silver jewelry became popular and was sometimes plated with colored gold. Those items are sought-after today.

Other materials used during WWII include wood, felt, plastic, yarn, and leather.

Because it was cheap, costume jewelry was meant to be fashionable, and women were expected to get rid of old pieces as new fashion trends changed; however, many women saved their jewelry pieces because they liked how they looked!

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