[Jewelry making - Article 00224] - Re: [Orchid] Accepted definition of Costume Jewellery?

[Catherine Ondrey]

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    This is a very good question. And probably one that there is no real
    answer for. The technical definition is any jewelry made from
    inexpensive materials, imitation or semi-precious stones. So
    technically anyone making jewelry out of anything other than gold
    and precious gemstones is making costume jewelry. 

    I remember when I was selling beaded jewelry back before I got into
    metalsmithing. I wanted to make my pieces stand out and chose to only
    use one-of-a-kind beads or very high end beads. I could easily have
    well over $150-$175 in materials alone. One time, a woman looking
    over my pieces made the comment that my jewelry was well-made and
    very nice for "costume" jewelry.  I thanked her, but was in a panic
    to think that here I was making jewelry that I thought was exquisite
    and someone called it "costume" jewelry. It really bothered me. The
    reason for this is that I have several books in my library (ok, not
    really a library, but the corner of my studio that is a complete
    mess....) on costume jewelry. I used them for inspiration and designs
    from the 50's-70's...retro stuff. I immediately went home and started
    to look through the books. I noticed that all the "costume" jewelry
    was plastic beads, rhinestones and junk. No semi-precious stones.  I
    was so hurt that someone put my jewelry in the same category as
    jewelry made with plastic, etc. 

    I got over it, but decided that the definition for costume jewelry
    is very outdated and doesn't fit anymore with what jewelry artists
    are making today. I actually think costume jewelry can also be
    considered "bridge jewelry". Not cheap, not expensive.. .but
    somewhere in between... (usually the hardest category of jewelry to
    sell, by the way...). Costume jewelry does not also mean "cheap". 

    I know this is a little off track - but did anyone see the $950
    "costume jewelry" necklace being sold by one of the more well known
    department stores?  If not - check it out - it's online.. $950 for a
    teeny-tiny $5 strand of turquoise nuggets and a cast BRASS pendant. 
    So there's costume jewelry out there selling for $1000... knowing
    that, I don't have a problem selling my "costume" jewelry. 

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