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When looking for vintage costume jewelry, it can be tiring and cumbersome for the collector to know which pieces are going to bring in a big profit and which one’s are not. Unlike expensive fine gold and diamond jewelry, costume jewelry was made for much cheaper, using base metals and semi-precious stones. Although it was made wholesale, you should never mistake it for the cheap pieces you find in department stores today.

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When it comes down to it, collecting profitable pieces means finding the ones that are worth a lot yet still avoiding those that may look nice, but won’t get you anything. Costume jewelry that is in great demand will always get you a great deal of cash. Eisenberg and Miriam Haskell are two of the names you should definitely look out for, as they are usually hot ticket items. However, some designs are collectible while others aren’t. Remember that while the most popular designs are usually the most profitable, this is not always the case.

It can be hard for many vintage collectors because most of the jewelry is “unsigned” meaning the name brand is not engraved on it. This makes it difficult to know which pieces are worth more, but a veteran collector knows that an unsigned piece with a distinctive design can be very lucrative. There are ways to tell manufacturers apart simply by their designs.

The materials that went into making the piece also makes up a large part of its price. Pay close attention to the stones or gems and how well it is put together. This can be a determining factor in your success as a vintage costume jewelry collector.

At the end of the day, it is the quality or condition of the piece that determines its final price. However, even pieces that have undergone substantial deterioration may still bring in a good bit of money. If you use these tips, you can make a good profit as a vintage costume jewelry collector.

Shawn Daniels writes articles that help people know what to look for in vintage costume jewelry and also teaches them more about costume jewelry.