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

Vintage seashell necklace w/milk-glass beads
Close-up view of beads & shells
Maker's mark
Another view of necklace worn doubled
Close-up view of necklace worn doubled
Necklace worn long

Milk-Glass Bead & Seashell Long Necklace by Miriam Haskell

$245.00

MAKER: Miriam Haskell

SIZE: 46" x 3/4"

CONDITION: Excellent

DATE: Late-1970s (based on slide clasp)

MARKS: "MIRIAM HASKELL" embossed on brass hang tag; "3427691" and "Haskell" in script on slide clasp

REFERENCE: Gordon & Pamfiloff, p.63

This vintage seashell necklace with milk-glass beads is an exceptionally long (46”) strand by Miriam Haskell. It was made later than my usual 1920-1960 scope, but this piece is so whimsical that I bought it anyway. This jewel can be worn long, doubled or even tripled! It closes with a slide clasp, which is the clue to the date of manufacture. This necklace works well with other milk-glass jewelry, including earrings by the same maker. Scroll down to see them.

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Milk-Glass Bead & Seashell Long Necklace by Miriam Haskell

$245.00 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.