How to Tell a Fashion Jewelry Piece is Older

To look at fashion jewelry and antique pieces of jewelry, one can not see any difference at all. Fashion jewelry goes back to the thirties in the United States. Even fashion jewelry from that period is considered antique even though it is not expensive. The more antique pieces worth the most are older than this.

Beginning With 1930

Fashion jewelry of the 1930's was created because of the need to have a cheaper form of jewelry that could be disposed of after being work with one outfit only. It was not like the more expensive and precious jewelry that was given to children and grandchildren after death. The fashion jewelry was only created to be fashionable only for a time and then when a new outfit or style was created, it could be changed easily. Large amounts of fashion jewelry were made in this time.

The Eras And Times

Fashion jewelry with a low price tag was also prevalent before 1930. These jewelry pieces were made of glass or paste and could be seen as far back as the eighteenth century. Those with money had their own precious pieces made into copies because they needed to protect their investments. The middle of the nineteenth century saw an increase in the middle class societies wearing these same types of fashion jewelry more often but instead of glass, semi precious stones and metals were used. Gold, diamonds, precious gems, and thin gold pieces became available to the middle class and were cheaper so they could afford to buy it. The fashion jewelry was so inexpensive every class of people could buy it with no problem.

Pieces Show Their Age

You can sort what era the piece of jewelry is from. The style, material used, and the piece itself is a clue. Dress clips were not in before the 1930's and were out of style in the 1950's. Beginning in 1910 and ending in 1930, silver was the color most preferred by the customers so pieces were made from platinum, silver, and white gold or a material painted silver. By the start of the Second World War, the jewelry changed to make gold the popular metal but was a scarce commodity. Rhinestones came in during the thirties also especially in Europe. It came to American ten years later.

The Same As Before

Today's costume jewelry is not as varied as you might think from the pieces of the past decades. There is still an abundance of fine precious jewelry pieces, semi precious items, and fashion jewelry. Those styles used in the past few decades are showing it as popular again and is being created for the women of today. The quality of the piece is the only difference you can find but the older pieces have a brilliance and weight that is not found today. No matter whether you like antique pieces or a new piece, they are all fun to collect and show off with a new outfit. You do not just have to collect them; they are now in style and very much a part of the fashion of today. They are also great for helping you to start an interesting conversation at a get together.