Costume Jewelry Information & Jewelry Articles by UKgiftsets.com
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HomeBrief History of Costume Jewelry:
Costume Jewelry or fashion Jewelry is not a new idea. Evidence from excavation shows that Jewelry goes as far back as the Romans and even before then. Ancient tribes and civilization made Jewelry specific to their people, and wore necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and anklets or ankle chains, nose rings and body Jewelry to represent various aspects of their tribe, gender and status.
Modern Costume Jewelry :
Costume Jewelry these days is made so that people who are usually allergic to base metals can wear it without a problem - this is due to Jewelry makers recognising that it can be a nuisance if people do have a reaction to ordinary mixed metals or alloys, thus coating their merchandise in real gold or silver. Sometimes this Jewelry if referred to as ‘brushed gold’ or ‘brushed silver’, ‘gold plated’ or silver plated’, even platinum plated Jewelry is as beautiful as the real thing, yet a fraction of the price.
Costume Jewelry and Fashion:
Through the ages people have continued to use costume Jewelry to represent who they are and to enhance their appearance. From the tribal idea springs the notion that Jewelry is worn to identify with a group, for example Punk costume Jewelry was sometimes made from pins and razor blades - it was easy to identify that individual as a Punk from the Jewelry he or she was wearing. As a status symbol, some Jewelry, for instance that of Coco Chanel in the 1930’s, set the trend amongst the glitterati and thus became massively popular, so much so, cheaper imitations were mass produced to supply the demanding market.
The Costume Jewelry Boom:
Costume Jewelry has once again become popular and although it has evolved simply to accessorise an outfit, it is still worn to show individuality and/or to signify belonging to a group of similar trends; Goth or EMO Jewelry for example, Bling or Street Jewelry, Boho, and body piercing Jewelry. The well-known fashion houses continue to produce high quality costume Jewelry which is as popular today as Coco Chanel’s Jewelry was in the early twentieth century. Very recently the popularity of antique and vintage or retro costume Jewelry has been revived by films such as Oscar winner The Aviator and Phantom of the Opera, also advocated and reinforced by top actresses including Gwyneth Paltrow and Drew Barrymore. The boom has prompted an interest in acquiring both pre and post war Jewelry as well as Victorian and earlier pieces. 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s brooches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other pieces which may not have been valuable ten years ago are rocketing in value, and their appeal as being antiques of the future have only reinforced their popularity and desirability.
Antique and Vintage Costume Jewelry Trends:
Antique and vintage costume Jewelry items, as with most design trends, reflect events during the era in which they were made. Victorians for example desired gold or if gold was not available then an imitation. This was largely due to the gold rush in California where the Western world discovered gold in what were then, plentiful amounts. This discovery spread quickly and attracted many people to the area. As news travelled far and wide the desire to wear gold or the closest to it became paramount in the most fashionable of circles.
Gold Alloy and Imitation Gold Costume Jewelry:
The costume Jewelry made from gold alloys and gold plated base metal was a popular alternative to the real thing. Gold alloy such as Pinchbeck or ‘Poor Man’s Gold’ as it was more widely known was used to make chains, brooches and other pieces as it was cheap and easy to use. The exact compound of Pinchbeck is not known but it is thought to be 83% copper and 17% zinc. Gold-filled or plated accessories were also in demand and mass produced, the process made easier with newly invented machinery.
Art Deco Costume Jewelry and Design:
Art Deco design crept into Jewelry making and is mostly identified by geometric shapes, straight lines and stepped patterns. The Art Deco design was born from the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in Egypt in 1922. The fashion of the day dictated costume Jewelry styles and was greatly influenced by the introduction of the female vote. This new found freedom and step towards equality revealed itself in the radical changes in dress with arms on show, shorter dresses revealing the legs, and short hair cuts like the ‘bob’.