Different Types of Jewelry | Vintage, Native, Costume & Designer Jewelry

Different Types of Jewelry: Vintage, Native, Costume, Designer, and Estate Jewelry

Jewelry can be confusing because there are so many different types, styles, ages, and materials. Some jewelry is made from gold, silver, diamonds, or gemstones. Other jewelry may be made from rhinestones, glass, enamel, beads, turquoise, coral, or plated metals. Some pieces are valuable because of what they are made from, while others are desirable because of the age, maker, design, or collector interest.

Many people find older jewelry in a family estate, a jewelry box, a drawer, a storage container, or a collection that was passed down. Sometimes it is easy to recognize what something is. Other times, it is not so clear. A piece may not look expensive, but it may still have interest because it is vintage, signed, handmade, Native, designer, or part of a larger estate collection.

This Q & A page is meant to give a simple explanation of different types of jewelry. At Private Jewelry Buyer, we purchase quality jewelry and help clients understand which older pieces may be worth reviewing by appointment.

Q: What is vintage jewelry?

Vintage jewelry usually means jewelry that is older, often at least 20 years old. Many people use the word vintage when talking about jewelry from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s. Vintage jewelry can include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, rings, watches, pins, and full matching sets.

Vintage jewelry does not always have to be gold or diamonds. Some vintage pieces are made from rhinestones, glass stones, faux pearls, enamel, lucite, beads, or plated metal. What makes vintage jewelry interesting is often the style, age, construction, maker, and overall look.

Q: Why do people collect vintage jewelry?

People collect vintage jewelry for many reasons. Some like the style of older pieces because they look different from modern jewelry. Others collect certain designers, colors, stones, brooches, bracelets, or time periods. Vintage jewelry can have a charm that newer jewelry does not always have.

Older pieces may also be better made than some newer fashion jewelry. The clasps, settings, stones, and details can show more care and character. A colorful rhinestone brooch, a heavy bracelet, or a bold necklace from the past can still be very appealing today.

Q: What is costume jewelry?

Costume jewelry is jewelry made mostly for fashion. It is usually not made from solid gold, platinum, or expensive gemstones. Instead, costume jewelry may use rhinestones, glass, enamel, faux pearls, plated metal, plastic, beads, or other decorative materials.

Many people think costume jewelry has no value, but that is not always true. Some vintage costume jewelry is collectible, especially when it is signed, well made, colorful, unusual, or from a known designer. Older costume jewelry collections can sometimes have strong buyer interest, even when the pieces are not made from precious metal.

Q: What are examples of vintage costume jewelry?

Vintage costume jewelry can include rhinestone brooches, clip earrings, charm bracelets, large necklaces, colorful pins, beaded jewelry, enamel pieces, holiday pins, dress clips, and matching sets. Some pieces are simple, while others are very detailed and decorative.

Brooches are very common in older costume jewelry collections. Many families have boxes of pins, earrings, and necklaces that belonged to a mother, grandmother, aunt, or other family member. Even if the pieces were worn for fashion, some may still be collectible today.

Q: What is designer jewelry?

Designer jewelry is jewelry made by a known brand, maker, artist, or design house. Some designer jewelry is fine jewelry made from gold, platinum, diamonds, or gemstones. Other designer jewelry may be costume jewelry made from non-precious materials.

A designer name can make a piece easier to identify. The jewelry may have a stamp, logo, tag, or signature on the back, clasp, inside of the bracelet, ring band, or earring clip. Designer jewelry can be desirable when the maker is known and the piece has good style, condition, and demand.

Q: What designer names are common in vintage costume jewelry?

Some common names people may find in vintage costume jewelry include Trifari, Weiss, Kramer, Coro, Hattie Carnegie, Napier, Miriam Haskell, Eisenberg, Boucher, Sarah Coventry, Monet, and other makers. Some pieces are clearly signed, while others may have small marks that are hard to see.

A signature does not always mean a piece is highly valuable, but it can help. The name, age, design, condition, and style all matter. Some unsigned pieces can also be interesting if they are unusual, well made, or have a strong vintage look.

Q: What is signed jewelry?

Signed jewelry has a name, mark, symbol, or stamp from the maker. The mark may be on the clasp, back of a brooch, inside of a ring, back of an earring, or on a small metal tag. Sometimes the mark is very small and easy to miss.

Signed jewelry can help identify who made the piece. This can be important with vintage costume jewelry, Native jewelry, designer jewelry, and fine jewelry. If a piece is signed, it is usually a good idea not to throw it away or donate it before having it looked at.

Q: What is Native jewelry?

Native jewelry often refers to jewelry made by Native American, Southwestern, Indigenous, or tribal artists and makers. It may include sterling silver, turquoise, coral, shell, inlay work, stamped silver, cuffs, rings, pendants, necklaces, earrings, and concho belts.

Some Native jewelry is handmade by known artists. Other pieces may be tourist jewelry, factory-made jewelry, or newer pieces made in a Native style. The age, artist, materials, weight, construction, and markings can all make a difference.

Q: Is turquoise jewelry always valuable?

No, not all turquoise jewelry is valuable. Some turquoise jewelry is inexpensive fashion jewelry, while other pieces may be collectible and desirable. The value depends on the quality of the turquoise, the silverwork, the artist, age, condition, and overall design.

Older sterling silver turquoise cuffs, squash blossom necklaces, signed pieces, heavy rings, and handmade items may have more interest than newer mass-produced pieces. Still, it is often worth having turquoise jewelry reviewed, especially when it is part of an older estate collection.

Q: What is estate jewelry?

Estate jewelry simply means jewelry that was previously owned. It does not always mean the jewelry came from a formal estate sale. It can include inherited jewelry, family jewelry, older pieces from a collection, or jewelry left behind after someone passes away.

Estate jewelry may include fine jewelry, costume jewelry, watches, sterling silver, Native jewelry, designer pieces, religious medals, charm bracelets, brooches, rings, and mixed jewelry lots. Some estate jewelry has sentimental value, while other pieces may have resale or collector interest.

Q: What is the difference between fine jewelry and costume jewelry?

Fine jewelry is usually made from precious metals such as gold, platinum, or sterling silver. It may also include diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, or other gemstones. Fine jewelry is often valued based on metal content, gemstone quality, brand, condition, and design.

Costume jewelry is usually made from fashion materials such as rhinestones, glass, plated metal, enamel, faux pearls, beads, or plastic. Costume jewelry is not usually valued for gold or gemstone content, but certain vintage costume pieces can still be collectible because of the maker, age, and style.

Q: What types of jewelry are often found in inherited collections?

Inherited jewelry collections are often mixed. One box may contain gold jewelry, costume jewelry, watches, broken pieces, old earrings, brooches, charm bracelets, sterling silver, Native jewelry, religious jewelry, designer pieces, and items that are difficult to identify.

Many families are surprised by what may be worth reviewing. Sometimes the obvious gold pieces are not the only items with interest. Older brooches, signed costume jewelry, sterling silver cuffs, turquoise pieces, vintage watches, and unusual designer jewelry may also matter.

Q: Should older jewelry be cleaned before an appointment?

It is usually better not to heavily clean older jewelry before showing it. Some vintage jewelry, Native jewelry, rhinestones, pearls, enamel, and plated pieces can be damaged by strong cleaners, soaking, polishing creams, or ultrasonic machines.

Light dusting is usually fine, but harsh cleaning can hurt the surface or remove age-related details. If you are not sure what the jewelry is made from, it is safer to leave it as-is and let it be reviewed first.

Q: Does condition matter with older jewelry?

Yes, condition matters. Jewelry with missing stones, broken clasps, heavy wear, bent parts, or damaged enamel may be less desirable. Complete, clean, wearable pieces usually have stronger interest.

However, condition is not the only thing that matters. Some older jewelry may still be worth reviewing even if it has wear. Signed pieces, Native jewelry, rare designs, sterling silver, and unusual vintage items can still have interest depending on the piece.

Q: How can someone prepare jewelry for a private review?

The easiest way is to gather the jewelry together and keep it in one place. You do not need to organize everything perfectly. If possible, keep matching sets together and avoid throwing away single earrings, broken pieces, or items that look old until they have been looked at.

Photos can also be helpful before an appointment. Clear pictures of the front, back, clasp, signatures, markings, and group photos of the collection can make it easier to see what may be of interest.

Q: Why do people choose a private jewelry buyer?

Many people prefer a private appointment because selling jewelry can feel personal. This is especially true when the jewelry was inherited or belonged to a family member. A quiet appointment can feel easier than walking into a busy store or trying to figure everything out alone.

Private Jewelry Buyer works by appointment and reviews select vintage jewelry, Native jewelry, costume jewelry, designer jewelry, estate jewelry, watches, sterling silver, and quality jewelry collections. We purchase quality jewelry and help make the process simple, private, and easy to understand.

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