Costume Jewelry, also known as Fashion -, Fantaisy - of Illusion Jewelry, is a kind of jewelry that is made in America and England and was meant initially to make 'fine jewelry' (by designers like Cartier, Tiffany, etc.) accessable to the mass market using imitation materials. Starting out as accessory to theatre costumes, hence the name 'costume jewelry', this kind of jewelry became very popular with the general public in the 1940s and 1950s. This definition of costume jewelry is obsolete nowadays: costume jewelry has acquired a name and value in its own right. Prices rival those of 'fine jewelry' more and more often and are comparable to those in the antique business. Costume jewelry were and are worn by many famous women: presidents wives, princesses, film and rock stars. Examples are Jackie Onassis, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Diana, and Madonna. These jewels are also worn in television hit series like Sex and the City. In the Netherlands e.g. princess Máxima wears costume jewelry. Often the designers are Americans, like Boucher, Claudette, Coro, Hobé, Kramer, Matisse Renoir, Trifari and Weiss, but also European designers are represented in the collection, e.g. the haute couture designers Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, De La Renta, Schiaparelli, St. Laurent, etc. The pieces are signed by the maker and are so called designer jewelry. Materials used are look-a-likes of gold, silver, pearls, diamonds, and other (semi) precious stones. During the Second World War, silver and gilted silver – vermeil, was use in the absence of the simulation materials that were being used in the war industry and jewelry makes had to seek refuge in using the real thing. The price of the costume jewelry is being determined by the originality of the design, the mastership in excecuting the design, the high quality of materials used (enamel, bakelite, rhinestones, cristal, gold-plate, plastics like Lucite and thermoset, glass, etc.), the name of the designer and the scarcity in the market. Prices are comparable to those of antiques. Costume jewelry had it’s hay days in the 1950s. Of many designs there are only a few still around and in good shape. Prices of these jewels are still on the rise. In America and Engaldn these jewels are collected widely. Sometimes for a personal collection, sometimes as a money investment. In recent years it is a growing market in the Netherlands and prices rise rapidly. Costume jewelry is more or less the Otazu from earlier days. But these jewels are often old and not to be had on every street corner. With a piece of my collection you will have something that is unique and will become even more valuable over time! The jewelry that I sell are vintage pieces that date from the period of the 1940s up to the 1980s-1990s. some evidence of age or use is therefore normal. In the description I give you an indication of the condition of the jewel. Excellent: no visible sign of wear; Very Good: some wear, not visible when worn; Good: some visible wear, but very wearable. When there is damage to the piece, especially to the front, I will always mention that specifically. Come in and immerse yourself in my enchanting world of sparkle and splendor!