<![CDATA[Old Costume Jewelry: Latest News]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com Sat, 04 Apr 2026 06:56:52 +0000 <![CDATA[Collect Vintage Designer Signed jewelry Only ? Designer Unsigned is Beautiful & Valuable Too!]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/collect-vintage-designer-signed-jewelry-designer-unsigned-valuable/ Tue, 15 Mar 2016 22:36:55 +0000 https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/collect-vintage-designer-signed-jewelry-designer-unsigned-valuable/ JULIANA D&E Peacock Blue AB Rhinestone SUNBURST Pin Ears Wedding 

After years of selling vintage jewelry I found that many of my customers decided to collect designer signed jewelry ONLY..How sad. Sad because there are so many seriously beautiful and valuable unsigned pieces.Some of the ones I sold for the highest prices were unsigned. With books and information pointing out construction elements seen in certain designer pieces it's much easier to learn about and recognize them, So collecting old jewelry is even more exciting and fun. You can do some studying and find treasures which are overlooked by many a vintage jewelry collector as well as dealer. Some you may want to check on are listed as follows:  Miriam Haskell, Eisenberg, Hobe' Coro, Mazer,schreiner of New York and of course, Juliana. But most of all, collect what truly pleases you (unless you go into the business of selling old jewelry) and have fun with it all!

]]> JULIANA D&E Peacock Blue AB Rhinestone SUNBURST Pin Ears Wedding 

After years of selling vintage jewelry I found that many of my customers decided to collect designer signed jewelry ONLY..How sad. Sad because there are so many seriously beautiful and valuable unsigned pieces.Some of the ones I sold for the highest prices were unsigned. With books and information pointing out construction elements seen in certain designer pieces it's much easier to learn about and recognize them, So collecting old jewelry is even more exciting and fun. You can do some studying and find treasures which are overlooked by many a vintage jewelry collector as well as dealer. Some you may want to check on are listed as follows:  Miriam Haskell, Eisenberg, Hobe' Coro, Mazer,schreiner of New York and of course, Juliana. But most of all, collect what truly pleases you (unless you go into the business of selling old jewelry) and have fun with it all!

]]> <![CDATA[Old Costume Jewelry, Vintage Whimsical Tremblers and Movable Jewelry]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/old-costume-jewelry-vintage-whimsical-tremblers-and-movable-jewelry/ Sun, 06 Mar 2016 15:14:00 +0000 https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/old-costume-jewelry-vintage-whimsical-tremblers-and-movable-jewelry/ Vintage jewelry pieces especially near and dear to my heart are the Art Deco era trembler and movable pieces. Because they are so unique they have become highly collectible and now most of what I I collected have been sold But, I'm always on the hunt to find more from that period. This jewelry was designed in many forms. Flower designs seem to be the most prevalent with shimmering rhinestone encrusted blossoms trembling gently. Some pieces had several trembling blooms, others, just one. Other themes are more difficult to find, a favorite of mine are birds which are hard to come by anymore. Some were enameled which are especially delightful to collect and wear. Movable pieces featured flowers which rotated and jewelry with wheels that turned. A favorite of mine which I wish I still had is the Cinderalla's pumpkin carriage brooch which was designed so the wheels turned. Later pieces are more available in the marketplace, I still love the early Art Deco ones best. But you decide, they all are charming to be sure.

]]> Vintage jewelry pieces especially near and dear to my heart are the Art Deco era trembler and movable pieces. Because they are so unique they have become highly collectible and now most of what I I collected have been sold But, I'm always on the hunt to find more from that period. This jewelry was designed in many forms. Flower designs seem to be the most prevalent with shimmering rhinestone encrusted blossoms trembling gently. Some pieces had several trembling blooms, others, just one. Other themes are more difficult to find, a favorite of mine are birds which are hard to come by anymore. Some were enameled which are especially delightful to collect and wear. Movable pieces featured flowers which rotated and jewelry with wheels that turned. A favorite of mine which I wish I still had is the Cinderalla's pumpkin carriage brooch which was designed so the wheels turned. Later pieces are more available in the marketplace, I still love the early Art Deco ones best. But you decide, they all are charming to be sure.

]]> <![CDATA[Vintage Jewelry Collecting, Art Deco Era]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/vintage-jewelry-collecting-art-deco-era/ Sun, 06 Mar 2016 15:06:42 +0000 https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/vintage-jewelry-collecting-art-deco-era/ My passion for old costume jewelry has a long and wonderful history, I've been collecting, buying,and selling for many years now. If I were to start anew it would be most likely be the same, buying for the look of a piece . A new collector has so many choices. Collect a certain period such as Art Deco, Nouveau, or Victorian? Designer signed? Specific designers? Bakelite and plastics? You might do best if you follow my follow my first rule ; buy what you find appealing, make sure the condition is very good, scrutinize it carefully. Eventually you will see you veer towards a certain designer, style, and or period. I love so many different looks that I went into it as a business. My collecting crosses the board. Favorites of mine are  old Czech jewelry pieces from the turn of the century through the 1930's,  and jewelry  from the Art Deco, and Retro,1930's- 40's,era. Some of the best designs from that time, in my opinion, are seen in : Trifari, Jomaz, Eisenberg Original, Coro, Sandor, De Mario, Schiaparelli, McClelland Barclay, Ciner, and Mariam Haskell, especially the unsigned ones from the 1920's & 30's. They have such an avant garde look! And, of course, the enamel jewelry from that period. But I will always buy a beautiful unsigned piece as well. So, go shop, lol!

]]> My passion for old costume jewelry has a long and wonderful history, I've been collecting, buying,and selling for many years now. If I were to start anew it would be most likely be the same, buying for the look of a piece . A new collector has so many choices. Collect a certain period such as Art Deco, Nouveau, or Victorian? Designer signed? Specific designers? Bakelite and plastics? You might do best if you follow my follow my first rule ; buy what you find appealing, make sure the condition is very good, scrutinize it carefully. Eventually you will see you veer towards a certain designer, style, and or period. I love so many different looks that I went into it as a business. My collecting crosses the board. Favorites of mine are  old Czech jewelry pieces from the turn of the century through the 1930's,  and jewelry  from the Art Deco, and Retro,1930's- 40's,era. Some of the best designs from that time, in my opinion, are seen in : Trifari, Jomaz, Eisenberg Original, Coro, Sandor, De Mario, Schiaparelli, McClelland Barclay, Ciner, and Mariam Haskell, especially the unsigned ones from the 1920's & 30's. They have such an avant garde look! And, of course, the enamel jewelry from that period. But I will always buy a beautiful unsigned piece as well. So, go shop, lol!

]]> <![CDATA[Does restoring a piece of vintage jewelry lower its value?]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/restoring-vintage-jewelry-value-97ee42/ Tue, 16 Feb 2016 22:06:04 +0000 https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/restoring-vintage-jewelry-value-97ee42/ It depends on the quality of the restoration work and how much of the original components have to be restored. Essentially you don't want to have a piece that is completely damaged stay in a state of disrepair . It would be better to have it brought back to a beautiful functioning piece than to allow it to languish away forever. A professional who can replace the more simple components such as pin backs, jump rings, chain, stones, etc. by using vintage parts that are comparable or almost exact will not devalue the piece (in my opinion). I have (professionally) restored pieces myself for quite a number of years and received full value on them afterwards. My buyers were aware of what was done and preferred to have them wearable again. More difficult restorations such as repainting enamel also may not devalue the piece if done correctly and professionally. I am a professional porcelain artist who has restored enameling on many of the 1920's-30's pieces, again with the buyer knowing what was done, and received full value for the piece. For the ones who are purists and don't ever want anything restored, I respect your decision to keep a piece of jewelry in a damaged state if desired, but the value will be lost there regardless.

]]> It depends on the quality of the restoration work and how much of the original components have to be restored. Essentially you don't want to have a piece that is completely damaged stay in a state of disrepair . It would be better to have it brought back to a beautiful functioning piece than to allow it to languish away forever. A professional who can replace the more simple components such as pin backs, jump rings, chain, stones, etc. by using vintage parts that are comparable or almost exact will not devalue the piece (in my opinion). I have (professionally) restored pieces myself for quite a number of years and received full value on them afterwards. My buyers were aware of what was done and preferred to have them wearable again. More difficult restorations such as repainting enamel also may not devalue the piece if done correctly and professionally. I am a professional porcelain artist who has restored enameling on many of the 1920's-30's pieces, again with the buyer knowing what was done, and received full value for the piece. For the ones who are purists and don't ever want anything restored, I respect your decision to keep a piece of jewelry in a damaged state if desired, but the value will be lost there regardless.

]]> <![CDATA[Other Vintage Jewelry Reserructions]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/other-vintage-jewelry-reserructions/ Thu, 07 Jan 2016 23:20:34 +0000 https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/other-vintage-jewelry-reserructions/ Okay, so. maybe you don't want to make another piece of jewelry from old costume jewelry. Maybe...because you just have smaller bits and pieces you collected for a project at some point ?? Great! So many ideas and not enough time, lol! we've all seen the framed Christmas tree items; but how about a subject other than a Christmas theme? Lots of ideas came to mind when I started a couple of years ago. Here's one that I really had fun with. See many more in my Ellen Originals sold category for more ideas!

]]> Okay, so. maybe you don't want to make another piece of jewelry from old costume jewelry. Maybe...because you just have smaller bits and pieces you collected for a project at some point ?? Great! So many ideas and not enough time, lol! we've all seen the framed Christmas tree items; but how about a subject other than a Christmas theme? Lots of ideas came to mind when I started a couple of years ago. Here's one that I really had fun with. See many more in my Ellen Originals sold category for more ideas!

]]> <![CDATA[Vintage Jewelry Resurrections - New From Old !]]> https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/vintage-jewelry-resurrections-new-from-old-/ Thu, 07 Jan 2016 22:07:06 +0000 https://oldcostumejewelry.com/blog/vintage-jewelry-resurrections-new-from-old-/ All of us vintage jewelry collectors have a lot of pieces that we simply don't wear, but keep... because... we just can't discard them. They're vintage, right??? We had fun collecting them! Even though they are nice, some aren't fabulous designer pieces that don't inspire us any longer, some have become common to us;  we've seen too many that are similar in our years of collecting;  we've been to hundreds of antique malls, shows, and sales. Some may have too much wear to them, and some are simply so damaged, but have such beautiful components,  we can't let them go. So, resurrecting them into new jewelry pieces that can inspire us can be a great, as well as fun, process. So, I've seen many redesigned pieces now, some are super cool, others, well...maybe not, lol! If you aren't creative maybe find a talented designer that is,  and have a favorite, memorable, or gorgeous piece made for you personally. Check out some of my resurrected jewelry pieces in my Ellen Originals & Ellen Originals (sold for custom orders) categories on the oldcostumejewelry.com website, and Ellen Originals on my Ellen Eaton facebook site. Get inspired!

]]> All of us vintage jewelry collectors have a lot of pieces that we simply don't wear, but keep... because... we just can't discard them. They're vintage, right??? We had fun collecting them! Even though they are nice, some aren't fabulous designer pieces that don't inspire us any longer, some have become common to us;  we've seen too many that are similar in our years of collecting;  we've been to hundreds of antique malls, shows, and sales. Some may have too much wear to them, and some are simply so damaged, but have such beautiful components,  we can't let them go. So, resurrecting them into new jewelry pieces that can inspire us can be a great, as well as fun, process. So, I've seen many redesigned pieces now, some are super cool, others, well...maybe not, lol! If you aren't creative maybe find a talented designer that is,  and have a favorite, memorable, or gorgeous piece made for you personally. Check out some of my resurrected jewelry pieces in my Ellen Originals & Ellen Originals (sold for custom orders) categories on the oldcostumejewelry.com website, and Ellen Originals on my Ellen Eaton facebook site. Get inspired!

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