How to Buy Vintage Jewelry at Thrift Shops

Some of the ideal locations to come across excellent vintage costume jewelry are thrift shops. You've observed the big stores - Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers...and then there are the charity shops run by churches and non-profits. All of them receive donated jewelry, and I have found some amazing pieces in thrift shops. It seems to me that the larger chain shops have far better costs than the smaller charity shops, but it seriously depends on who is pricing the jewelry when they put it out for sale. Some shop workers are rather savvy about values, but some are not and they sometimes cost jewelry especially low. Maybe they figure that if it is not genuine gold it isn't worth a lot. Very good for us!

Thrift shop shopping has lost the stigma of being just junk shops or locations where the down-and-out shop.

A outstanding tip is to become friendly with the staff of the shops that you check out. One clerk lets me rummage by way of the jewelry bins prior to she costs them and puts them out on the floor. Another lets me know when they get a large amount of jewelry donated.

Get out when the shop has their specials. One store in my town has a 30% Senior discount on Wednesdays. Guess which day is my shopping day!

Oftentimes the shop management will put a substantial amount of jewelry in a plastic bag and sell the bag for a fixed cost. If you uncover these, examine the bag as closely as you can - you won't be allowed to open it, and there is lots of junk in there, mostly stuff that didn't sell, and frequently lots of plastic Mardi Gras beads. I bought these bags a few times, and it was enjoyable sorting by means of every thing, but I wound up donating most of it to a nursing dwelling for crafts projects. I have located a couple of honestly good pieces this way, but I don't think it was honestly worth the time and trouble.

Most thrift shops have a glass case where they keep the much better stuff. Ask to see pieces that interest you, and examine them closely. Look closely at the racks exactly where they generally hang the cheaper stuff. I located a sterling silver Native American belt buckle, with a turquoise stone in it and signed by the artist, hanging in a zip lock bag on a rack. I purchased it for $2.80 and sold it on eBay for $52! It was badly tarnished, but I polished it up and it was fabulous.

There generally seem to be lots of watches in those cases. Beware of copies of well-known makes, and get only name brands that you recognize. Make positive the band is in very good condition and that there are no scratches on the crystal. The watch most likely won't be working, so program to invest $five to $7 for a battery. If you're getting for resale, be certain to incorporate the expense of a battery to see if the watch is worth buying. You're taking a opportunity there - it may well not function even immediately after a new battery is installed.

No matter whether you are obtaining jewelry for your own collection or for resale, there are numerous issues to look for when examining thrift shop jewelry.

Condition, condition, condition: You are going to come across all kinds of jewelry in all kinds of condition. Appear for broken clasps, missing stones, worn metal finishes, and any green material on gold tone jewelry. The green stuff is corrosion, and it can't be cleaned off. Pass on that 1. Check that stone settings are tight, and if they are not, be careful with the piece - you must be able to tighten them. If the piece is dirty you can clean it. Bring a jeweler's loupe or strong magnifying glass so you can examine the piece closely.

Is the piece signed? The name on the back of a pin or earring, on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, or on an earring clip is the "signature" of the designer. Signed pieces can be additional beneficial than unsigned, but there are also several many "unsigned beauties" out there. Look for the name, and if there is a copyright symbol ©, that means the piece was made immediately after about 1955. No symbol - you possibly have a real vintage piece. Look for the numbers 925 on silver jewelry - that indicates it's sterling silver, and if the price is right, you've got a steal.

Price: It's tough to put a cost on thrift shop jewelry - the more affordable, the greater, of course! I try not to invest more than $3 for a pin, bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings. You could possibly come across some thing honestly spectacular that expenses extra, and if you believe you can profit from it, or you want it for your self, go ahead and purchase it. A good rule of thumb when shopping thrift shops is this: If you like it but are not positive, set your self a limit, say $5. If it turns out to be not so awesome, you are not out that a lot. As mentioned, some thrift shop workers know a lot more about jewelry, and will cost some pieces too high for you to sell and make a profit. But there appears to be fairly a bit of employee turnover in these shops, so the next person pricing jewelry may not be as knowledgeable.

Soon after Christmas is a good time to pick up Christmas jewelry. Some shops will mark down holiday items to get rid of them, other shops just store them away for next year.

I love shopping at thrift shops - just like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you by no means know what you are going to get. Each trip is a treasure hunt. Some days are slim pickin's, but some days are extremely rewarding. Just yesterday I got 10 pieces for $15 - various are sterling silver, and one piece may well be jade - I'm still not certain.

Be consistent in your thrift shop shopping. Try to go out every week, and get out when the shops have their special promotions. Most of the large chain shops put out new merchandise all day lengthy, some other shops restock on particular days. Acquire out when those are, and get there early.

Read books about costume jewelry, and become knowledgeable, so when you shop the thrift shops you will be armed with details. Have fun with it, get to know the thrift shop staff, and you will come home with some fabulous jewelry at fabulous costs.

Steampunk Jewelry - Fashion and Dark Victorian Wonders!

Steampunk Jewelry is a very unique form of artistic expression. As a wonders of Dark Victorian era, the beautiful form of steampunk jewelry presented relatively new. But the ideas behind it go back many years. Starting out in the 80's as a subgenre of science fiction writing, the idea of steampunk is rapid technological advance during the time of the industrial revolution, rather than during the information age.

The alternate history provides a beautiful backdrop for some really unique designs. Ideas of buzzing steam powered machines, complete with whirling, cranking gears powering airships, computers and more are spectacular for speculative fiction, and really translate beautifully when placed in the realm of fashion.


To learn more about Steampunk Jewelry, let's find out what Lora Sutton said about "a present from the past". Sutton is a steampunk jewelry designer and artist from London Particulars (Steampunk Jewelry Shop). She was a professional steampunk jewelery maker for many years. Through "London Particulars" - brand for her online steampunk jewelry shop - Lora Sutton have been featured in the latest issue of GOTHIC BEAUTY MAGAZINE! London Particulars Designs have also been featured in Imposter Magazine and Bizarre Magazine's Steampunk Special edition, numerous websites and a variety of Art Galleries.

A Present From the Past by Lora Sutton - The world of Steampunk is beginning to emerge into the mainstream from the various, underground circles where it has long been a well-kept secret. Steampunk fashion is now appearing on the catwalks and beginning to catch the eye of the media and it will be interesting to see if the whole movement will evolve or whether its followers will forsake it once it hits the high street.

There is so much to Steampunk, from the classic books of Jules Verne and HG Wells to the "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" Graphic Novels of Alan Moore, art, role playing games, clothes, but for me its Steampunk Jewelry that I love the most.

I have been making my own vintage jewelry for quite some time and have always been interested in vintage pieces, the remnants of yesteryear. So when I saw that there was a whole new way to reappropriate the past and give it a modern context, via Jewelry - I was in heaven!


As a main component, I'll buy old watches and timepieces anywhere I can find them but the bulk of my material has come via the Internet. Over the past year the cost has been increasing as sellers realize that there is a market for vintage watches (broken at that) and instead of listing "Watches for repair or parts" they are now rebranding them as "Steampunk" and upping the prices. I love to take these old timepieces apart and discover the treasures they contain. A lot of the time, you find plastic workings from modern watches, but often when you find a watch that was made pre-sixties, you will find tiny rubies that are used as bearings because they are so resilient.

When you look at the workings of these old watches you can only marvel at the craftsmanship that has gone into making them. It is little wonder that all these intricate pieces have inspired another art form, Horological Collage, which uses watch parts to create pictures. This translates beautifully into Steampunk Art and some of my favourite pieces utilise this technique.

Once I have an abundant supply of vintage watch parts to fashion into Steampunk Jewelry, it's simply a question of finding the best way to reappropriate the cogs and movements and it's never long before inspiration strikes. I love the fact that I'm giving something so skilfully made, which was sadly discarded as junk, a new life. Surely that is the ultimate form of upcycling!

Finding and Buying Vintage Jewelry

Seeking Vintage jewelry is fun but as a buyer you should remember a few key things that will help you find pieces that are not about to fall apart. Especially if you are just starting a collection or just want a piece or two of vintage jewelry for a special occasion. To begin with, the heavier the piece, the older it is. Pieces from the twenties were made of pot metals, such as brass and steel, and are more substantial. Pieces made after World War II often contain plastics and aluminum.

Look for the designer’s signature on the back. Pieces signed by Hattie Carnegie, Sarah Coventry, and Miriam Haskell are assembled better than those without names. Look for it on the rhinestone balls or the clasp backs.

Notice the type of clasp on the piece. Many old pieces have hook-like C-clasps which come undone too easily. Around the time of the sixties, sturdier clasps came into popularity. These resemble the lobster claw kind used today.

Don’t shy away from a piece because of grime. You can have it cleaned by a watch cleaner, who will usually charge less than a jewelry specialist, or you can clean it using light steel wool. You can buff off tarnish or dip a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and swab it.

You can find vintage jewelry auction on eBay by going to Jewelry and Watches, then clicking Vintage and Antique. Categories on the left side of the page help you narrow your search by type.

The keyword search function lets you search for specific words. As you go deeper into the website, you can narrow your search by subcategory. If you are unable to find what you seek, try looking in eBay Stores, or go to the eBay Community and create a post under Want It Now, or you can save your search on My eBay, and they will alert you when the item comes available.

Remember to figure shipping costs into your price. If the item is expensive, see to it that the seller insures the item. For more information from a seller, just click the “Ask seller a question” link under their profile. Be sure to make your transaction on eBay with either Buy It Now, a bid, or Best Offer, so that you will be covered by their protection programs. Do not pay through MoneyGram or Western Union. PayPal is the safe option, because you can pay the seller without them viewing your account numbers. PayPal offers 100% buyer protection, and your purchase is covered to $1,000.

Notice the seller’s rating and the number of transactions they have completed. Look at their positive response percentage and read the buyer feedback before purchasing from them. By doing a bit of research on antique shops, vintage jewelry auction or other vintage pieces and the individual selling them, you can protect yourself and make a quality purchase at a reasonable price.

Choosing jewelry is much like choosing clothing, and so it is with vintage jewelry. Vintage custom jewelry should be something that you feel comfortable with, yet is a great way of adding a little flair to your jewelry box. Whether choosing costume or Vintage jewelry, accessorizing with just the right rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings is a great way to give a finishing touch to any outfit.