22 Costume Jewelry Pieces Worth More Than They Look
Fashion jewelry from the 1920s through 1970s, particularly pieces bearing maker marks or those crafted from quality materials like rhinestone-set brass, has emerged as a serious collectibles category. Costume jewelry value depends on maker reputation, the quality of the setting, the clarity of any rhinestones or colored glass, and the overall condition.
A single brooch or necklace from a renowned costume jewelry designer can bring several hundred dollars, and matched parure sets significantly more.
Coro Duettes Fur Clips
Coro’s patented Duette fur clips, which could be worn individually or snapped together to form a brooch, represent one of the most innovative and collectible costume jewelry designs. A complete Duette with both clips in excellent condition and functioning mechanism brings $80 to $200, while single clips or non-functioning examples bring $30 to $75.
The presence of the Coro mark and original rhinestone clarity significantly affect value.
Trifari Crowned T Brooches
Trifari’s distinctive crowned T mark on brooches, particularly on pieces with gilt brass and aurora borealis rhinestones from the 1950s and 1960s, commands steady collector demand. A signed Trifari brooch in excellent condition with sharp rhinestone facets brings $40 to $120, while larger pieces or complete sets bring $100 to $250.
The quality of the rhinestone setting and the clarity of the crown mark affect pricing.
Kramer of New York Parures
Kramer of New York produced high-quality rhinestone jewelry parures—matching necklace, bracelet, and earring sets—during the 1950s and 1960s. A complete parure in original box with all rhinestones present and facets intact brings $120 to $300, while individual pieces bring $30 to $80.
The presence of original packaging and maker marks significantly increases value.
Weiss Aurora Borealis Brooches
Weiss jewelry featuring aurora borealis rhinestones—prismatic coating that creates rainbow flashes—from the 1950s onward appeals to collectors seeking visual impact. A Weiss brooch with aurora borealis stones in excellent condition and secure setting brings $50 to $130, while larger pieces or those with rare color combinations bring $100 to $250.
The quality of the rhinestone coating and the intricacy of the design matter.
Eisenberg Ice Rhinestone Jewelry
Eisenberg Ice was the prestige line of Eisenberg costume jewelry, featuring flawless rhinestones in complex designs from the 1940s onward. A substantial Eisenberg Ice brooch or pin in excellent condition with all rhinestones intact brings $80 to $200, while smaller pieces bring $40 to $100.
The clarity of the rhinestones and the maker’s mark significantly affect value.
HAR Brooch with Jewel-Tone Stones
HAR (Harman and Erickson) produced distinctive costume jewelry featuring colorful stones and unusual design elements from the 1950s and 1960s. A substantial HAR brooch with bright colored rhinestones in jewel tones and excellent condition brings $60 to $150, while smaller pieces bring $30 to $75.
The color saturation and the intricacy of the setting drive pricing.
Lisner Rhinestone Necklace Sets
Lisner produced high-quality rhinestone costume jewelry sets, particularly necklaces with matching earrings, from the 1950s onward. A complete Lisner set in original condition with all rhinestones intact and functioning clasps brings $60 to $150, while individual necklaces bring $30 to $80.
The presence of original company packaging increases value.
Marvella Faux Pearl and Rhinestone Sets
Marvella specialized in costume jewelry combining faux pearls with rhinestone accents, creating distinctive parures from the 1950s onward. A complete Marvella parure with necklace, bracelet, and earrings in excellent condition brings $75 to $180, while individual pieces bring $25 to $60.
The quality of the faux pearls and the clarity of rhinestones affect value.
Vendome Rhinestone and Gold-Tone Jewelry
Vendome produced luxury-appearing costume jewelry with intricate rhinestone settings in quality brass from the 1950s through 1970s. A substantial Vendome brooch or pin with complex rhinestone setting and excellent condition brings $60 to $150, while smaller pieces or earrings bring $20 to $50.
The intricacy of the setting and the quality of the brass base matter.
Boucher Sculptural Brooches
Boucher created sculptural, artistic costume jewelry brooches from the 1940s onward, often incorporating semi-precious stones and quality settings. A substantial Boucher brooch with interesting sculptural design and quality setting in excellent condition brings $100 to $250, while smaller pieces bring $50 to $120.
The artistic merit of the design and the quality of the materials drive strong demand.
Castlecliff Colorful Rhinestone Pins
Castlecliff produced distinctive costume jewelry with unusually colored and combined rhinestones from the 1950s onward. A substantial Castlecliff pin with multicolored rhinestones in complex arrangement and excellent condition brings $70 to $180, while smaller pieces bring $30 to $75.
The boldness of the color choices and the intricacy of the design affect pricing.
Corocraft Rhinestone Brooch Pieces
Corocraft, the upper tier of the Coro company, produced higher-quality costume jewelry with superior rhinestone setting from the 1940s onward. A signed Corocraft brooch with sharp rhinestone facets and excellent condition brings $50 to $130, while smaller pieces bring $25 to $60.
The clarity of maker marks and the rhinestone quality matter.
Derby Faux Jade and Rhinestone Pieces
Derby produced costume jewelry incorporating faux jade, turquoise, and other colored glass with rhinestone accents from the 1950s onward. A substantial Derby brooch with interesting colored glass elements and bright rhinestone accents in excellent condition brings $50 to $120, while smaller pieces bring $20 to $50.
The color vibrancy and setting quality affect value.
Galbandi Enamel and Rhinestone Brooches
Galbandi specialized in colorful enamel work combined with rhinestone setting in their costume jewelry from the 1950s onward. A substantial Galbandi brooch with bright enamel colors and complex rhinestone setting in excellent condition brings $60 to $150, while smaller pieces bring $25 to $60.
The vibrancy of the enamel and the intricacy of the rhinestone work matter.
Glas Costume Jewelry Sets
Glas produced European costume jewelry with exceptional quality rhinestone setting, particularly known for parure sets from the 1950s onward. A complete Glas parure in original box with all stones intact brings $100 to $250, while individual pieces bring $40 to $100.
The quality of the rhinestone clarity and the presence of original packaging drive value.
Hollycraft Pave Rhinestone Pins
Hollycraft created costume jewelry with tight pave rhinestone settings, producing pieces that resembled fine jewelry, from the 1950s and 1960s. A substantial Hollycraft brooch with complex pave setting and all rhinestones intact in excellent condition brings $70 to $180, while smaller pieces bring $30 to $75.
The density and uniformity of the rhinestone setting matter.
LeVerr Rhinestone Brooch and Clip Set
LeVerr produced distinctive costume jewelry often with unusual color combinations and quality settings from the 1950s onward. A LeVerr brooch in excellent condition with interesting design and quality rhinestone setting brings $50 to $120, while clip-back earrings or smaller pieces bring $20 to $50.
The uniqueness of the design and the quality of the setting affect pricing.
Monet Enamel and Rhinestone Pieces
Monet produced extensive costume jewelry lines with enamel work and rhinestone accents from the 1950s onward. A substantial Monet brooch with bright enamel colors and complex rhinestone accents in excellent condition brings $40 to $100, while smaller pieces bring $15 to $40.
The vibrancy of the enamel and the intricacy of the setting drive demand.
Pell Sculptural Costume Brooches
Pell created artistic, sculptural costume jewelry brooches often with unusual materials and complex designs from the 1950s onward. A substantial Pell brooch with interesting sculptural design and quality setting in excellent condition brings $70 to $180, while smaller pieces bring $30 to $70.
The artistic merit of the design and the quality of the materials matter.
Regency Faux Moonstone and Rhinestone Sets
Regency produced costume jewelry featuring faux moonstone effects combined with rhinestone accents from the 1950s onward. A complete Regency set in excellent condition with luminous moonstone effects and clear rhinestones brings $60 to $150, while individual pieces bring $25 to $60.
The quality of the moonstone effect and the clarity of rhinestones affect value.
Sandor Enamel Brooch and Earring Sets
Sandor produced distinctive costume jewelry with colorful enamel work and quality settings, particularly known for parure sets from the 1950s onward. A complete Sandor set in original box with vibrant enamel colors in excellent condition brings $75 to $180, while individual pieces bring $30 to $70.
The vibrancy of the enamel and the presence of original packaging increase value.
Sphinx Ornate Rhinestone Pins
Sphinx produced heavily ornamented costume jewelry with intricate rhinestone settings and quality brass from the 1950s onward. A substantial Sphinx brooch with complex ornate design and all rhinestones intact brings $60 to $150, while smaller pieces bring $25 to $60.
The intricacy of the ornamentation and the quality of the rhinestone setting matter.
When Glass and Brass Became Precious
Costume jewelry from the twentieth century represents the democratization of jewelry, allowing people to wear luxury-appearing pieces at accessible prices. The finest costume jewelry demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship and aesthetic vision, with maker reputation and quality of materials creating value that transcends the inexpensive original purchase price.
A parure set from a top maker in perfect condition, with original box and all rhinestones intact, can bring as much as people once spent on genuine jewelry at the department store. The vintage costume jewelry market has matured into a serious collecting category where quality of setting and clarity of stones rival fine jewelry considerations.
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