| Humans have hung necklaces around their necks and | | | | and ballerinas, often with twinkling rhinestones set into |
| rings around their wrists since the beginning of history. | | | | patterns on bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. |
| Throughout the last hundred years or so, fashion and | | | | Costume jewellery created between about 1945 and |
| technology have combined to make some with the | | | | 1960 was tailored and sophisticated. Refinements |
| most beautiful costume diamond jewelry known to | | | | inside the jewelry in the 1940s and 1950s meant |
| humankind. | | | | smaller pieces. Themed pieces became famous, like |
| Costume jewellery made over the last hundred many | | | | animal pins with Poodles and Scottish terriers. |
| years is nearly as gorgeous and spectacular as | | | | Christmas tree pins also enjoyed wonderful popularity, |
| genuine diamond jewelry created of precious metals | | | | as did other themed jewelry for holidays like Easter, |
| like platinum, gold, and silver, and precious gemstones | | | | Halloween, and Valentine's Day. |
| like diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. | | | | Sparkle has usually been well-known on costume |
| Costume jewellery has evolved through the many | | | | jewellery, with rhinestones and their descendants, cubic |
| years, as may be seen by reviewing the background | | | | zirconium, often found embedded in rings and earrings. |
| of this fashion tradition. | | | | Nowadays, these kitschy pieces are highly sought |
| The 1920s and 1930s saw an era of Art Deco | | | | following by collectors. |
| jewellery, featuring jet black stones, white platinum and | | | | Mid-priced wristwatches are a fantastic example of a |
| silver metal, and symmetrical and geometric shapes. | | | | costume jewelry item which is very collectible and |
| This period in costume jewelry is characterized by | | | | growing far more valuable with every single season. |
| pendant necklaces, bangle bracelets, jeweled | | | | Look for chunky men's watches with brands like |
| accessories like cigarette holders and pillboxes, and | | | | Bulova, Omega, Seiko, and Elgin. |
| long, dangling earrings. | | | | The best place to discover these vintage jewelry |
| Plastic was king of costume diamond jewelry from | | | | pieces is on the secondhand market. On the web |
| about 1935 until well into the early 1950s. Indeed, plastic | | | | classified and auction websites like craigslist, eBay, and |
| Bakelite bangle bracelets and Bakelite bead necklaces | | | | overstock provide many fun costume diamond jewelry |
| are sought following right now as collectible jewellery | | | | pieces. A recent eBay search turned up 2,554 |
| due to the fact of its vivid colors and timeless modern | | | | costume jewelry items for sale! Estate sales are also |
| design sensibilities. This era saw plastics formed into | | | | an excellent source of secondhand costume jewellery, |
| fanciful shapes, like sunbursts, bows, daisies, horses, | | | | as are antique floors and private sellers. |