Costume jewelry (also called fashion jewelry, junk jewelry or fake jewelry) is jewelry that is made of less valuable materials, including base metals, glass, plastic, and synthetic stones, in place of more valuable materials such as precious metals and gems. Costume jewelry is usually inexpensive, and often flashy. Its main use is in fashion, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes, or investments. Jewelry (the American spelling; spelled jewellery in Commonwealth English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ... In chemistry, the term base metal is used informally to refer to a metal that oxidizes or corrodes relatively easily, and reacts variably with diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form hydrogen. ... Glass can be made transparent and flat, or into other shapes and colors as shown in this sphere from the Verrerie of Brehat in Brittany. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A gold nugget A precious metal is a rare metallic chemical element of high economic value. ... A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling rough rock with abrasive grit, in a rotating drum. ... Fashion illustration by George Barbier of a gown by Jeanne Paquin, 1912, from La Gazette du bon ton, the most influential fashion magazine of its era. ...

Components

Originally, costume or fashion jewelry was made of inexpensive simulated gemstones - such as rhinestones, lucite, or a heavy glass known as paste - set in pewter, nickel or brass. Modern costume jewelry incorporates a wide range of materials. High end crystals, CZs or cubic zirconia simulated diamonds, and some semi-precious stones are used in place of precious stones. Metals include gold- or silver-plated brass, and sometimes vermeil or sterling silver. Lower-priced jewelry may still use gold plating over pewter, nickel or other metals; items made in countries outside the United States may contain lead. Some pieces incorporate plastic, acrylic, or wood. A rhinestone or paste is a diamond simulant made from rock crystal, glass or acrylic. ... Structure of PMMA: (C5O2H8)n Structure of methyl methacrylate Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polymethyl-2-methylpropanoate is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ... Pewter plate Pewter is a metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder consisting of 1-15 percent copper, acting as a hardener, with the addition of lead for the lower grades of pewter, which have a bluish tint. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 4, d Appearance lustrous, metallic and silvery with a gold tinge Standard atomic weight 58. ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ... Quartz crystal Synthetic bismuth hopper crystal Insulin crystals Gallium, a metal that easily forms large single crystals A huge monocrystal of potassium dihydrogen phosphate grown from solution by Saint-Gobain for the megajoule laser of CEA. In chemistry and mineralogy, a crystal is a solid in which the constituent atoms... Zirconia (ZrO2) is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium. ... Vermeil (pronounced vehr-MAY), also known as silver gilt, is a combination of sterling silver, gold, and other precious metals. ... Sterling may refer to: Sterling (car), a British automobile manufacturer. ... For Pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or poly (methyl 2-methylpropenoate) is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ... Trunks A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood is a solid material derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs. ...

Etymology

The term costume jewelry dates back to the early 20th century. It may reflect the use of the word "costume" to refer to what is now called an "outfit"; for example, a "handsome street costume of maroon brown velvet". Thus the jewelry worn with everyday fashion (costumes) grew to be known as "costume jewelry." Another theory is that the term refers to the jewelry worn in theatrical productions.

History

Coco Chanel greatly popularized the use of faux jewelry in her years as a fashion designer, bringing costume jewelry to life with gold and faux pearls. Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel (August 19, 1883 – January 10, 1971)[1] was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist philosophy, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her arguably the most important figure in the history of 20th-century fashion. ... Look up faux in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Kenneth Jay Lane has since the 1960s been known for creating unique pieces for Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Vreeland, and Audrey Hepburn. He is probably best-known for his three-strand faux pearl necklace worn by Barbara Bush to her husband's inaugural ball. Some say that the Duchess of Windsor is buried in Lane's jewelled belt. Kenneth Jay Lane (born April 22, 1930) American costume jewelry designer. ... The Simpsons, see Bouvier family#Jacqueline Bouvier. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Diana Vreeland (July 29, 1906 in Paris, France – August 22, 1989) was a noted columnist and editor in the field of fashion. ... Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993) was an Academy Award-winning Anglo-Dutch actress of film and theatre, Broadway stage performer, ballerina, fashion model, and humanitarian. ... White House Portrait Barbara Pierce Bush (born June 8, 1925) is the wife of the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, and was First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. ... An inauguration is a ceremony of formal investiture whereby an individual assumes an office or position of authority or power. ... The Duke and Duchess of Windsor on their wedding day. ...

In many instances, high-end fashion jewelry has achieved a "collectible" status, and increases in value over time. There is a substantial secondary market for vintage fashion jewelry. A collectible (or collectable) is typically a manufactured item designed for people to collect. ... In general, the economic value of something is how much a product or service is worth to someone relative to other things (often measured in money). ... The Vintagers, after a miniature of the Dialogues de Saint Gregoire (thirteenth century)—manuscript of the Royal Library of Brussels. ...