How to Identify Vintage Costume Jewelry and Make Money From It

As anybody who has amassed a group of bijou is aware of, there’s nothing just like the detritus in drawers, containers and overflowing jewellery containers. Amid the diamonds and opals, the silver and gold (OK, for those who’re fortunate), lies a special form of magnificence — the great thing about costume jewellery.

Whereas costume jewellery typically will get quick shrift in comparison with valuable stones and metals, classic jewellery sellers reap the advantages of this false impression. It seems that there’s a lot worth to be present in costume jewellery, if solely the client — or the grandkid — is aware of how one can establish classic jewellery.

Chances are you’ll come throughout costume jewellery in a number of methods. You may get a tangle of necklaces, rings, brooches and bangles as an inheritance. Maybe you have been fortunate sufficient to get fake pearls and rhinestones as presents over time. Or possibly you’re a beginner junker or have began going to property gross sales on the lookout for silver and gold however are questioning concerning the worth of bijou that isn’t.

What Is Costume Jewellery?

Costume jewellery — typically known as vogue jewellery — is mostly mass produced. It may be made from many supplies, together with plastic, however sometimes not valuable metals, particularly gold.

The phrase costume jewellery grew to become standard within the Nineteen Thirties and the jewellery itself offered a method for girls to adorn themselves for much less cash. Assume dripping with jewels, simply not diamonds, rubies and emeralds and as a substitute amethyst, amber, turquoise and onyx.

Now, a few of that retro classic costume jewellery is price some cash, particularly when it’s from a good designer. Jewellery stamped with the producer or designer’s title is nearly at all times price greater than unsigned items.

Bakelite bangles, necklaces and pins are a very good instance of how costume jewellery has elevated in worth. The fireplace-resistant, castable plastic was made into chunky, colourful jewellery (and napkins rings, too) within the Nineteen Thirties and 40s. For those who’ve discovered some Artwork Deco delights in Grandma’s jewellery field, know {that a} Bakelite bangle could possibly be price $100 or extra. Discovered a cool pin? That could be $500.

12 Recommendations on Learn how to Establish and Promote Classic Costume Jewellery

When confronted with a crowded jewellery field, it’s exhausting to search out which means in any of it.

How are you aware which items to maintain and with which to half methods?

We interviewed two jewellery sellers who’ve turned a big revenue by means of their gross sales. Laura Clarice Webb, who runs London-based Clarice Jewellery, as soon as bought a brooch for 22 kilos (about $30) and offered it for 700 kilos (about $950) that very same day. Whereas newcomers most likely received’t get that far instantly, there are some vital requirements to bear in mind in your journey, even when that’s simply going by means of Grandma’s previous jewellery cupboard.

Jennifer Ward owns classic jewellery enterprise Ward Vintage and is predicated in Bernardsville, New Jersey, and offers primarily with costume jewellery.

Be mindful, what was in vogue again then typically comes round once more and at a revenue. So earlier than you dump that Nineteen Fifties hideous Rivoli stone brooch that Grandpa obtained Grandma within the Nineteen Fifties, know that somebody may simply pay $50 for it. Likewise the Monet earrings your greatest pal gave you as a present for being a bridesmaid in her Seventies marriage ceremony.

Listed here are 12 tricks to decide if these prized jewels worn with pleasure are price one thing and how one can hawk them if they’re.

1. If You See One thing Good, Double Examine

First, whereas this publish is about costume jewellery, we have now an vital caveat: You probably have jewellery that could possibly be made from valuable metals and stones, test it out with a jeweler, Ward stated.

Ward will typically work with consumers who go away a bulk jewellery assortment to her. It’s grueling to undergo items one after the other, however diamonds within the tough — pardon the expression — do emerge. She as soon as took a set of earrings to a jeweler and found that they have been 14-karat gold. The jeweler stated they wouldn’t promote them for lower than $1,000.

Most native jewelers are prepared to have a look at objects for no or low value, in accordance with Ward. It’s price forming that relationship now so the place to go whenever you do have a query. And for those who already know a few of your vintage jewellery is valuable, listed here are our greatest suggestions for promoting instantly.

2. Do Analysis on The place to Promote Vintage Jewellery

Each Ward and Webb sofa their solutions in qualifiers, however a lot of their on-line enterprise occurs on Instagram. Ward stages and posts a few of her most eye-catching objects on the social media platform, although most of the precise monetary dealings occur off of the app.

Webb likes Instagram’s community-based ambiance. With just a few easy hashtags, like #vintagejewelry or #antiquerings, she will faucet into a world group.

“Instagram is simply really easy and a relaxed method of simply sharing what you’ve got,” she stated. “I really feel like if somebody was beginning and so they had a variety of bijou, you’ll be able to choose just a few of the precise hashtags and there are 1000’s prepared to purchase and share data.”

3. Be Ready to Sift By Retro Items and Different Gadgets

A part of the enjoyable of going to a thrift retailer, flea market or property sale is that it may really feel like a little bit of a jungle. Don’t anticipate to enter and discover 30 stuff you need inside the first quarter-hour. It takes a while — and a very good eye — to search out what you need, in accordance with Ward. (Listed here are some nice methods for locating actual gold at a flea market — and making $9,000 in revenue from it.)

“You need to be prepared to sift by means of a variety of junk,” she stated. “It’s not such as you’re going to go in and get ten issues.”

4. The Supplies of Classic Jewellery Matter

Don’t instantly discard costume jewellery that appears out of fashion or don’t immediately scream luxurious. The truth is, Webb is an enormous advocate of glass materials objects. You don’t have to search out high quality supplies for a chunk to be price one thing.

“If somebody finds one thing and it’s glass, don’t be deterred,” she stated. “Simply because it’s glass doesn’t imply it’s nugatory.”

5. Construct Relationships With Sellers and Consumers

Each Ward and Webb have relationships with prospects and sellers to get the most effective items out to the precise individuals. Ward texts forwards and backwards with sellers of classic and costume jewellery. She has Zoom conferences to see the most effective items. Do I need this one or that one, she wonders.

If you’re trying to unload household vintage jewellery, this may not be as large a priority for you since it could be a one-time journey. Nonetheless, if you wish to construct an vintage jewellery enterprise, relationship constructing is vital.

Webb has met quite a few individuals by means of her journeys to antiques festivals. Whereas the enterprise connections are vital, it’s the eagerness that conjures up her. These are good individuals to hunt recommendation from whenever you’re first beginning out.

“There are such a lot of individuals who you’ll be able to inform they’re not making some huge cash, however they only love what they do,” she stated. “It retains them going.”

6. Search for a Signature or Different Makers Mark

One no-fail bit of recommendation to discover a piece that may earn at the least somewhat cash: spot the signature or the marked piece. It’s not simply objects by name-brand designers that appeal to consumers at prime greenback — it’s recognizable American manufacturers, like Monet and Napier. The secret’s to search out issues that symbolize sure time durations and will enchantment to collectors.

Even for those who don’t see a signature, so basically you probably have what you consider to be unsigned items, search for a maker’s mark, says Webb. That could possibly be a small animal or an emblem that explains the jewellery’s lineage. Put money into a magnifying glass as a result of a few of these marks could be fairly small.

“Even when it’s not valuable steel or valuable stone, it could nonetheless have a mark,” Webb stated. “For those who Google it, you’ll normally discover somebody someplace who has carried out the analysis.”

7. Seek the advice of Costume Jewellery Collectors Worldwide

In order for you a one-stop-shop database with virtually all the knowledge it’s worthwhile to learn about costume jewellery, then Costume Jewellery Collectors Worldwide is the place for you. Not solely are the group and its website an effective way to construct up a pointy data for costume jewellery, nevertheless it’s additionally a useful strategy to meet different costume jewellery buffs.

Need to know how one can establish a chunk from World Conflict II? You may begin by studying that white metal was truly not allowed on the time, because it was wanted to supply arms. As an alternative, distinctive supplies like wooden and even plastic have been typically substituted.

You probably have a penchant for sure designers, like Miriam Haskell or Kenneth Jay Lane, look no additional than this interview with Lane himself and a synopsis of Haskell’s origin story (and whether or not she was the true designer of her eponymous jewellery).

If these little snippets of knowledge aren’t practically sufficient, then contemplate shopping for this book by Ginger Moro on a number of the most well-known European jewellery designers. You may even study just a few extra obscure artists.

8. If It Appears to be like High quality, It Most likely Is

Typically figuring out if a dressing up jewellery necklace or different piece is high-quality is as straightforward as selecting them up.

“Good costume jewellery has a weight to it,” Webb stated. Ask your self, are they heavy for his or her measurement?

Most of the older items have been triple-plated, in accordance with Ward. Even costume jewellery that appears well-made is probably going extra beneficial, she stated.

9. Be Cautious of Fakes

The world of bijou and jewellery identification is just not with out its dangers. Webb is aware of this properly: she is going to now not buy classic costume jewellery by Chanel, as a result of there are such a lot of fakes. The truth is, she as soon as spent about $275 on a pair of earrings solely to study they have been faux.

A few of the fakes, Webb stated, “are of such a very good commonplace that I don’t suppose I’d be capable to inform whether or not a few of them are actual or not.”

“It’s not price investing the cash as a result of it’s an excessive amount of of a threat.”

10. Perceive Which Jewellery Items Are Good Sellers

When Ward scouts the cabinets for good jewellery, there are specific issues that at all times catch her eye. She is much less centered on design and extra centered on kind which helps her decide worth.

For instance, so many classic earrings are clip-ons, so when she finds classic earrings on posts or with an earring clasp meant for pierced ears, she grabs these. That’s as a result of so many individuals — about 85% — have pierced ears. If the earrings have already got clasps, the client doesn’t should take them to a jeweler to be altered. In different phrases, they’re extra doubtless to purchase pierced classic earrings.

Appeal bracelets are ever standard, too — suppose Pandora however classic jewellery. European designer jewellery made by Givenchy, Christian Dior and, sure, Chanel will at all times promote.

11. Know What Your Shoppers Need

Simply as constructing relationships with distributors is vital, so is constructing relationships with shoppers who store for particular kinds on classic jewellery or costume jewellery collectors. Ward is at some extent the place she will establish sure items for sure shoppers. Typically, which means straying from buying issues simply primarily based on what she would need to put on.

“I nonetheless purchase what I like, nevertheless it’s not essentially what I’d put on,” she stated.

12. Create a Model and Web Presence

If you wish to be actually profitable within the classic jewellery enterprise, then the identical factor holds true as with every different line of labor: Construct a private model. One strategy to preserve shoppers coming again is to create a distinct segment advertising and marketing tactic that at all times makes them consider you, significantly on the subject of packaging. Contemplate sending your jewellery with paper grasp tags bearing the recipient’s title as a fragile contact.

Webb makes most of her gross sales by means of her web site, and far of that’s by means of her weekly publication. That e mail chain has 600 subscribers and a whopping 70-80 % click on fee — the common for many newsletters is less than 20 percent. Her subscribers are engaged and able to peruse her latest listings. Most of her objects go quick.

“The publication is my greatest achievement, as a result of it’s all been by means of individuals selecting to enroll,” she stated. “That’s the important thing to success.”

Author Elizabeth Djinis is a contributor to The HE, typically writing about promoting items on-line by means of social platforms. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Smithsonian Journal and the Tampa Bay Instances.