Costume jewelry is also known as fashion jewelry or fake jewelry & it is a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, out date itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style. Its main use is in fashion, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes, or investments. It tends to be flashy and sometimes over the top with gaudiness, although subdued costume jewelery which is designed to imitate more upscale jewelry is also available. Costume jewelry is popular among fashion and set designers, as well as people who want to have a little bit of fun with their jewelry.Costume jewelry is made of less valuable materials including base metals, glass, plastic, and synthetic stones; in place of more valuable materials such as precious metals and gem which is manufactured as ornamentation to complement a particular fashionable.
Originally, costume or fashion jewelry was made of inexpensive simulated gemstones, such as rhinestones or lucite, set in pewter, silver, nickel or brass. During the depression years, rhinestones were even down-graded by some manufacturers to meet the cost of production. Modern costume jewelry incorporates a wide range of materials. High end crystals, cubic zirconia. Some pieces incorporate plastic, acrylic, leather or wood. simulated diamonds, and some semi-precious stones are used in place of precious stones. Metals include gold- or silver-plated brass, and sometimes vermeil or sterling silver. Lower-priced jewelry may still use gold plating over pewter, nickel or other metals.
Women in all social stations, even the working-class woman, could own a small piece of costume jewelry. The average town and country woman could acquire and wear a considerable amount of this mass-produced jewelry that was both affordable and stylish. Many feel that the machine has spoiled the beauty of the hand-made costume jewelry; the truth is that the machine has made fashion jewelry more affordable and has enabled people to produce enough of this jewelry to fuel the interest of millions of ladies from all around the world.
Costume jewelry was further made popular by various designers in the mid twentieth century. Some of the most remembered names in costume jewelry include both the high and low priced brands: Dior, Chanel, Monet, & Tiffany. Coco Chanel greatly popularized the use of faux jewelry in her years as a fashion designer, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls.In many instances, high-end fashion jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status, and increases in value over time. Today, there is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. The main collecting market is for 'signed pieces', that is pieces which have the maker's mark, usually stamped on the reverse. Amongst the most sought after are Miriam Haskell, Coro, Crown Trifari and Sphinx. However, there is also demand for good quality 'unsigned' pieces, especially if they are of an unusual design. Some jewelry designers specialize in costume jewelry which is worn by the rich and famous for a variety of reasons: fashion, security, or a sense of fun. Many individuals who own famous or expensive pieces of jewelry will have costume jewelry replicas made for more casual wear, so that they do not run the risk of losing an irreplaceable piece of jewelry.
Originally, costume or fashion jewelry was made of inexpensive simulated gemstones, such as rhinestones or lucite, set in pewter, silver, nickel or brass. During the depression years, rhinestones were even down-graded by some manufacturers to meet the cost of production. Modern costume jewelry incorporates a wide range of materials. High end crystals, cubic zirconia. Some pieces incorporate plastic, acrylic, leather or wood. simulated diamonds, and some semi-precious stones are used in place of precious stones. Metals include gold- or silver-plated brass, and sometimes vermeil or sterling silver. Lower-priced jewelry may still use gold plating over pewter, nickel or other metals. 
Women in all social stations, even the working-class woman, could own a small piece of costume jewelry. The average town and country woman could acquire and wear a considerable amount of this mass-produced jewelry that was both affordable and stylish. Many feel that the machine has spoiled the beauty of the hand-made costume jewelry; the truth is that the machine has made fashion jewelry more affordable and has enabled people to produce enough of this jewelry to fuel the interest of millions of ladies from all around the world.
Costume jewelry was further made popular by various designers in the mid twentieth century. Some of the most remembered names in costume jewelry include both the high and low priced brands: Dior, Chanel, Monet, & Tiffany. Coco Chanel greatly popularized the use of faux jewelry in her years as a fashion designer, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls.In many instances, high-end fashion jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status, and increases in value over time. Today, there is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. The main collecting market is for 'signed pieces', that is pieces which have the maker's mark, usually stamped on the reverse. Amongst the most sought after are Miriam Haskell, Coro, Crown Trifari and Sphinx. However, there is also demand for good quality 'unsigned' pieces, especially if they are of an unusual design. Some jewelry designers specialize in costume jewelry which is worn by the rich and famous for a variety of reasons: fashion, security, or a sense of fun. Many individuals who own famous or expensive pieces of jewelry will have costume jewelry replicas made for more casual wear, so that they do not run the risk of losing an irreplaceable piece of jewelry.