Vintage Earrings

Vintage earrings is a specialty in the costume design jewelry market that is very competitive. There are many people that that collect these specific items, and only these items. However, they are many people that collect all types of costume jewelry, and not just vintage earrings too. This is always a decision that needs to be made by the personal collector. It is entirely up to the collector as to what that want collect. Considering the vast amount of costume jewelry on the market today, many collectors specialize in certain types or brands, and vintage earrings will fall into this category.

There are three types of earrings. Clip on, screw back, and post. Each have their own distinctions and value, depending upon the demand. Pierced ears has been popular since the nineteen twenties. However, this seemed to change somewhat in the nineteen thirties, when clip on and screw back earrings became the rage and fashion statement that a majority of woman would make. By the early nineteen sixties, earrings that was for pierced ears became back into fashion.

Stone materials in costume based jewelry earrings included mother of pearl, many types of colored rhinestones, Lucite, and glass. They came in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Settings could include gold and silver, however, when it came to costume jewelry, these precious metals was normally left out. However, one of the few that did use this type of settings, primarily silver, was Trifari. These Trifari earrings are now some of the most sought after earrings in the costume jewelry market. Nonetheless, there were others that used these materials too, and those too, are highly desired and wanted.

Cameo type earrings seem to be a large seller when it comes to earrings also. These highly detailed profile carvings are both beautiful and desired.

But, there are plenty of fakes on the market too. These knock offs are quite good, even to the knowledgeable collector. Therefore, a collector must either deal with a trusted individual, or research the piece. Researching the piece or pieces, with the advent of the internet and the many costume jewelry websites out there, is becoming easier and easier. There have also been many books on the subject. These books are a wonderland of knowledge and include many pictures with which a collector could compare and verify the piece.

Where can you find vintage costume jewelry? Many places sell these pieces. They can be found at numerous places. A wonderful place to look is at flea markets, yard sales, and second hand stores. These are places where you may just find a great deal. However, they are not the only places to look. Try some of the many internet auctions, as well as the ever increasing websites devoted to this collecting genre. Where ever you do decide to look, be sure that you have researched these items and know what you are buying. After all, you do not want to purchase what you though was a pair of vintage earrings, only to find out later that they are not.