25 Costume Jewelry Pieces Resellers Sort Out of Donation Bins First
Resellers and estate liquidators know exactly what to pull from thrift store bins before pricing the rest at fifty cents per piece. Vintage costume jewelry from the golden age of American design—the 1930s through 1970s—often carries genuine value that modern buyers don’t recognize. A single brooch with the right maker’s mark can sell for more than entire bins of ordinary fashion jewelry.
Understanding which designers mattered and which details indicate quality separates thousand-dollar finds from yard sale filler. Signed pieces from premium brands consistently outperform unmarked examples by tenfold or more.
Trifari Brooches
Trifari pieces remain among the most consistently valuable costume jewelry ever made. The crown mark identifies legitimate pieces from the company that dominated American jewelry design since the 1920s.
Rare signed pieces and jelly belly animal brooches regularly fetch $600 to $2,000 at auction, while exceptional pieces like the “Fruit Salad” fur clip once sold for $5,000.
Eisenberg Ice Rhinestone Sets
Eisenberg produced some of the most impressive rhinestone jewelry of the mid-twentieth century. Prong-set multicolored stones in intricate designs command $200 to $800 depending on condition and intricacy.
Complete parures with matching necklace, bracelet, and earrings reach significantly higher prices due to rarity.
Miriam Haskell Pieces
This designer’s intricate beadwork and floral motifs define mid-century elegance. Authentic Haskell pieces with the signature filigree backing sell for $300 to $1,500.
The detailed construction and hand-wired elements distinguish genuine pieces from factory-made lookalikes.
Coro Costume Jewelry
Coro’s innovative designs and quality craftsmanship made it one of the world’s largest costume manufacturers. Signed pieces from the 1930s through 1950s command $150 to $600.
Rare figural brooches and sophisticated designs with colored stones bring higher prices.
Schiaparelli Statement Pieces
This haute couture designer’s costume jewelry line produced bold, artistic pieces. Signed examples sell for $400 to $1,500 depending on size and complexity.
The theatrical quality of Schiaparelli designs appeals to collectors of 1950s and 1960s fashion history.
Bakelite Brooches and Bangles
Early plastic costume jewelry made from Bakelite commands surprising collector interest. Solid chunks in butterscotch, apple juice, or cornflower colors fetch $25 to $75 each for simple designs.
Intricate carved examples and unusual color combinations reach $150 to $400.
Weiss Rhinestone Brooches
Weiss produced rhinestone jewelry that rivals expensive fine jewelry in appearance. Well-made examples with prong-set stones command $200 to $500.
Aurora borealis stones and large dimensional designs from the 1950s and 1960s attract serious collectors.
Chanel Costume Jewelry
Designer Chanel jewelry from the 1980s and beyond carries genuine luxury cachet. Signed pieces sell for $500 to $2,000 depending on materials and complexity.
The distinctive Chanel aesthetic and quality construction maintain value across decades.
Lucite Jewelry from the 1940s
This shatterproof acrylic plastic became popular during wartime material rationing. Clear Lucite with embedded flowers, foliage, or colored objects brings $30 to $150 depending on condition.
Pieces featuring patriotic red, white, and blue themes command premiums.
Kramer Rhinestone Designs
Kramer’s reputation for quality craftsmanship produced highly collectible pieces. Elaborate rhinestone brooches and coordinated sets fetch $200 to $600.
The density and quality of the rhinestones distinguishes Kramer from lesser manufacturers.
Juliana/DeLizza & Elster Parures
The signature filigree and dimensional design of Juliana costume jewelry define high-end vintage costume pieces. Complete three-piece parures bring $400 to $1,200.
The Aurora borealis stones and intricate wirework command premium prices.
Yves Saint Laurent Costume Lines
YSL’s designer costume jewelry from the 1970s and 1980s represents luxury fashion accessibility. Signed pieces fetch $300 to $1,500.
The bold geometric designs and quality materials reflect the haute couture vision.
Christian Dior Jewelry
Dior’s costume jewelry maintains serious collector interest. Signed pieces, especially from the 1950s through 1970s, sell for $400 to $2,000.
The refined elegance and exceptional construction appeal to fashion historians.
Kenneth Jay Lane Pieces
KJL created high-end costume jewelry that bridged fashion and fine jewelry aesthetics. Signed examples command $200 to $800.
The impeccable quality and innovative designs keep these relevant decades later.
Hobe Costume Jewelry
Hobe’s distinctive mark and quality production standards made it a serious player. Signed pieces fetch $150 to $500.
The delicate wirework and refined designs distinguish genuine examples.
Enamel Work Brooches
Hand-enameled pieces from the 1930s through 1950s command strong prices. Well-preserved examples with intact enameling bring $150 to $400.
Figural designs and complex multicolor work reach higher values.
Rhinestone Fur Clips
These dual-purpose dress accessories remain sought after. Ornate examples with prong-set multicolored stones command $200 to $600.
The scarcity of finding functional pairs increases value substantially.
Aurora Borealis Jewelry
Mid-century pieces featuring these iridescent stones attract consistent collector interest. Brooches and bracelets with AB stones command $150 to $500.
The quality of the stone setting and overall design determines premium pricing.
Vendome Costume Pieces
Vendome’s sophisticated designs brought jewelry quality that justified premium prices. Signed examples sell for $200 to $700.
The refined aesthetic and solid construction appeal to collectors seeking elegance.
Givenchy Costume Jewelry
Givenchy’s designer costume line produces collectible pieces valued at $150 to $600. The bold 1960s designs maintain visual impact.
The Givenchy name carries fashion credibility that supports consistent pricing.
Signed Unsigned Estate Jewelry
Even pieces without maker’s marks can hold value if construction demonstrates quality. Hand-wired stones, smooth backs, and secure settings indicate genuine vintage work.
Exceptionally crafted unsigned pieces from identifiable eras fetch $50 to $300.
Art Deco Geometric Designs
Geometric brooches and bracelets from the 1920s and 1930s command respect. Innovative design and fine materials push prices to $200 to $800.
The geometric vocabulary remains distinctly recognizable and collectible.
Celluloid Jewelry from the 1920s
Early plastic costume pieces made from celluloid represent a brief manufacturing era. Intact examples without deterioration or discoloration command $40 to $150.
The fragility of the material makes survival rare.
Glass Bead Costume Sets
Hand-assembled pieces with glass beads and intricate wirework from the 1950s fetch $100 to $400. The delicate craftsmanship and rarity of finding complete sets increases value.
Mint condition examples outperform worn pieces dramatically.
Monet Costume Pieces
Monet built a reputation for affordable luxury costume jewelry. Signed examples sell for $50 to $250.
While less rare than other designers, quality execution and timeless designs maintain collector interest.
When a Marker Transforms Value
A single hallmark—a tiny impressed crown or script signature—can multiply a piece’s worth by ten or more. The difference between a five-dollar random brooch and a five-hundred-dollar Trifari comes down to that mark.
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Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.Resellers know to examine every piece with magnification and research immediately after spotting a signature.
