The following two paragraphs were copied from the blog No Signposts in the Sea. A Small Guide to Vintage Costume Jewelry was written in 2011 and all the tips about vintage jewelry are relevant today. If you are interested in buying vintage jewelry to wear or collect, this is a must read. The post is packed full of useful information and written in a manner that everyone will understand. The pictures are vivid and show excellent detail to go along with the information given. Here are some links to the resources listed in the post.
Illusion Jewels Ruby Lane Etsy EbaySometimes valuable information is missed because we neglect to read the comments made to a post. The following was copied from the comments section of "A Small Guide to Vintage Costume Jewelry" and is the reply given by the host, aka The Waves.
"You pretty much have to rely on small details. The overall style of the piece can give you some indication - large, rhinestone/crystal pieces were big in the 50s ad 60s, for example. Really simple and a little rougher looking brooch closures (just the pin and a simple hook) usually mean the piece is older, pre-1950s. Necklace clasps and clip earring closures are typically patented, so if there is a patent number on the clasp, you can google the number and you'll find when it was patented. The more complicated the necklace clasp, the more likely it is that the piece is old and of some value. Screw back earrings are always older than typical clip earrings.
Value is tough to estimate. When I find something interesting, I try to look for similar pieces on eBay, Etsy or Ruby Lane, and go with what they typically sell for. There are also a lot of costume jewelry books out there, but sometimes the value estimates are dated in those. Basically you need to do a lot of research! :)"
This reply is dated April, 2013. The last post on her blog is from 2014, but I hope this is just a break. Maybe she would be willing to bring us up to date on her jewelry findings in a guest post on this blog. Stay tuned. The author goes by the name "The Waves." Very cute theme and I am looking forward to reading more of her posts, No Signposts in the Sea.
