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Expert in vintage costume jewelry from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s & 1950s

Vintage lapel pin w/faux emeralds & diamantés in sterling
Close-up view of emerald glass baguettes
Close-up view of diamantes w/round faux emeralds
Back of vintage lapel pin

Emerald, Diamanté & Sterling Dress Clip

$295.00

MAKER: Unknown

SIZE: 2" x 2 1/4"

CONDITION: Excellent

DATE: 1942-1947 (based on use of sterling)

MARKS: "STERLING DEWEES N"

REFERENCE:

This vintage lapel pin is beautiful in design and construction, and wearable in many ways. It has faceted emerald-cut and round emerald-glass stones, in sharp contrast to the diamantés and rhodium-plated sterling silver setting. This color combination is rich and versatile. You can wear this jewel on the shoulder or lapel of a jacket, on the shoulder of a dress or sweater, or on a hat or a scarf. The hinged, double-prong fastener works best on weighty fabrics. Although this piece is marked, I cannot identify the maker. The design and use of sterling make me think it’s from the mid-1940s. But I don’t think these details matter – this clip is stunning!

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Emerald, Diamanté & Sterling Dress Clip

$295.00 USD
Why Buy Vintage Costume Jewelry?

One reason is that it’s environmentally friendly. Resale fashion and vintage jewelry has become a preferred sustainable and affordable shopping choice by today’s discerning fashion and eco-conscious consumer.

Another major reason is the quality. Although vintage costume jewelry was made for all levels of the marketplace – from dime stores to high-end fashion boutiques and jewelry stores – you will find only the best pieces here. They were well-designed and carefully made to last. The manufacturers represented here used only the finest materials – glass stones and beads from Bohemia, Austria, and France, and faux pearls from France and Japan. Settings were primarily sterling silver, gold-filled, or base metals heavily plated with gold, silver, or rhodium. Stones were hand-set, and pieces were hand-finished.

The northeastern part of the U.S. was the center of the industry, with the largest companies located in Providence, Rhode Island by the end of World War II. During the Depression, the quality of costume pieces climbed to new levels when many jewelers and craftsmen had to switch to this segment of the industry. In addition, it attracted many skilled workers who fled the political situation in Europe for the U.S. For these reasons, designs and manufacturing techniques rivaled those employed in the making of fine jewelry.

A third reason to buy costume jewelry is its uniqueness. Having survived for so many decades in such wonderful condition and having been selected for their aesthetic quality, the pieces you’ll find here are unlikely to be found elsewhere.

True vs Fake - how to shop vintage costume jewelry with confidence

Barbara Schwartz, a noted costume jewelry historian, is the author of "True vs Fake" , an in-depth blog series providing examples of how vintage costume jewelry can be accurately attributed. She also shares tips on how to avoid being duped into buying misidentified vintage costume jewelry.