Collecting Costume Jewelry 101

My name is Julia C. Carroll. I’m the author of four books on collecting costume jewelry. Welcome to my Collecting Costume Jewelry 101 webpage and BLOG for beginning and intermediate collectors!

Thank you to everyone who purchased and enjoyed my books. The four titles below are unfortunately out-of-print and only available in the secondary market.

However, there is good news!

For fun, I wrote Collecting Costume Jewelry 404 The Basics of Recognizing Great Design. It is available to read for FREE by clicking on the Collecting Costume Jewelry 404 cover. Of course, the information is copy protected, so permission is required to copy the text or photos.

The Information link on the red ribbon leads to additional reference materials and articles.

My weekly jewelry blog follows. Scroll down to read previous entries or click the BLOG INDEX link below for an alphabetical list of past blogs.

BLOG INDEX

  • Fun Finds, Fun Quiz

    With temperatures in the high 90s, I am entertaining myself by going through jewelry boxes I have not opened in years. Today I want to share with you the contents of one box and pose a “subjective” design challenge. The box contains four 1940s era vermeil (sterling with gold plating) pins. Each pin is in…

  • Phyllis Originals, Boxed Boutique Jewelry

    Phyllis Originals jewelry was made by M. & S. Manufacturing Co., Inc. located in Providence, Rhodes, Island and dates from the mid 1940s through the early 1960s. (M. & S. Manufacturing also produced jewelry signed Scitarelli.) After the end of World War II large costume jewelry companies grew to meet the demands for costume jewelry…

  • Boucher’s Gifts

    This Boucher design is a much-cherished part of my collection. My husband gave it to me for our 47th wedding anniversary. When I look at the design, I think of our loving life together. While free to fly apart, we choose to stay together. My sweet husband didn’t buy this pin because he loved the…

  • Recent Additions to Julie Vos Jewelry

    It has been a busy fourth of July week, but I did find time to post additional examples of lovely Julie Vos jewelry to Chapter Four, Collecting Costume Jewelry 404. Beginning Left to right: Butterfly station necklace and Butterfly stud earrings, two bangle bracelets one with iridescent coral stones, Antonia hoop earrings, a toggle bracelet…

  • Invisibly Set Stones

    Today I want to explore the term “invisibly’ set stones, first with a look at the history of the term and then with examples of ways costume jewelry brands imitate the “look”. History Many of the techniques found in high-end costume jewelry originated with innovations in fine jewelry. For example, Van Cleef & Arpels patented…

  • Kafin Jewelry Creations

    Very little is known about the origins of the lovely jewelry signed Kafin New York. Several sources online give the dates of operation from 1946 – 1963. I am unable to verify this information; however, the dates are consistent with the style of the jewelry. The Jewelers Buyers Guide from 1954 lists Kafin Jewelry Creations,…

  • Update Nolan Miller Goddess of Love Set

    Today I’m thrilled to add the Nolan Miller Goddess of Love bracelet to the pendant and earrings shown in an earlier blog. It measures 7 1/2″ X 3/4″. It is a link style bracelet with faceted heart-shaped stones alternating with emerald cabochon stones. The design is fluid. Although heavy, it is comfortable for at 7…

  • Miriam Haskell Porcelain Set, Transfer VS Hand-painted Designs

    Another spring costume jewelry “find” this year is the following pretty Miriam Haskell set featuring floral porcelain elements. My daughter found and selected this lovely set for her collection. The bracelet, pin and pendent all feature oval-shaped floral transfer decorations framed by hand-wired seed beads. The frames consist of an oval wire decorated with metal…

  • Eisenberg, Synonym for Quality

    As a collector, the alure of Eisenberg jewelry, especially the older brooches, is irresistible. On a recent shopping trip, I succumbed to the tempting beauty of Eisenberg to acquire the brooch shown below. Eisenberg began as a fashion house selling quality dresses. Then jewelry was added to the garments. Customers LOVED the jewels so in…

  • Shopping..Trifari Treasure

    Good morning, Today I want to write about a wonderful Trifari CLIPMATE my daughter recently found antiquing. Definition: CLIPMATE is a patented design exclusive to Trifari for a convertible pin consisting of a rail and frame mechanism used to connect two clips together to form one pin. A CLIPMATE can be worn as one pin…