The Retro Style Jewelry That Could Be Worth A Ton Of Money

When it comes to fashion, everything that was considered old and out of date is suddenly back in style. This includes all different cuts of pants, various trends from bygone fashion eras, and even a few valuable watches from back in the day. The one accessory that is making a big comeback is retro costume jewelry, which is finding new life with individuals looking to make a bold statement with a thing of beauty from the past. The best news about the comeback of retro jewelry is that you can get in on the ground floor for selling it, either in person or as an easy online side hustle.

If you love wearing jewelry, but no next to nothing about how to evaluate its cost or where to start if you are looking to sell some, do not worry. There's lots of simple ways to develop a sharp eye for taste, as well as calculate how much vintage jewelry can add up in terms of dollars.

Costume jewelry is not the same thing as fine jewelry because of the nature of their materials. Where fine jewelry tends to be composed of solid precious metals like. gold, sterling silver, or solid platinum. On the other hand, costume jewelry tends to be made up of based metals, such as copper, brass, or aluminum, occasionally having a precious metal accent or paint finish to it. Make no mistake, though: vintage jewelry can still be worth a lot of money.

For the most part, local jewelers are willing to examine and assess the value of a piece of jewelry for free, whether it is considered fine or costume. Building relationships with trusted jewelers, as well as buyers and sellers, is the key to running a successful business, so work on those people skills. However, what turns a profit in the retro jewelry resale game is the niche skill to find a signature or the marked piece.

According to The Penny Hoarder, sellers are not just looking for name-brands, but recognizable ones as well, especially ones from specific time periods that could increase their overall value.

While there is a lot of history behind precious metals and the numerous ways to invest in silver and gold, jewelry, particular costume pieces, are a different kind of investment since they have only been around since the 1920s. Fashion jewelry popped up throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, typically using glass gems to resemble real jewels, culminating with the introduction of the Swarovski crystal from a glass-cutting machine that far exceeded human capabilities.

By the 20th century, costume jewelry hit the scene as a way to have expensive earrings, necklaces, and more without paying an arm and a leg for them. Because materials were getting cheaper to produce and manufacturing skills improved, more people started buying them as fashion accessories, including Coco Chanel who set off a whole trend of costume pearls woven multiple times around the neck and hanging down to the waist or knee.

Today, designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Christian Dior have designed highly regarded pieces of costume jewelry that will no doubt be worth a lot more years from now as fashionistas of the future seek them out.