Page 2, Aug. 04, Instyle Magazine, "Jewelry with a Past

Page 2, Aug.04, Instyle Magazine, "Jewelry with a Past"

Low to High Sparkly pins, both vintage and vintage-inspired, at every price....

1) Vintage 1960s enamel ­and gold-tone brooch with faux pearl, Coro, $65;

2) New vintage-style crystal-and-resin brooch, Roxanne Assoulin for Lee Angel, $133

3) New vintage-style silver-plated brooch with rhinestones and crystals, R.J..Graziano, $165

4) Vintage 1940’s faux smokey-topaz and tourmaline brooch, Elsa Schiaparelli, $300

5) Vintage 1950s colored rhinestone brooch, Hattie Carnegie, $450

6) Vintage 1980s crystal and faux-pearl brooch, Chanel, $950

What to know before you buy
* Examine pieces to make sure stones are secure and metal parts are intact (bring a loupe or magnifying glass). Pick it up: In general, the heavier the gem, the higher the quality.
* Ask if a piece has been repaired or has had stones re­placed. Stay away from damaged pieces (or ask if you can get an assessment from a repair shop before buying). Repaired pieces aren't necessarily worth less than pristine ones, but it's good to know what you're getting.
* Look for signed pieces, stamped or soldered with a designer's name or trademark. They're more desirable to collectors, as they'll appreciate in value.
* Peruse shops and Web sites to familiarize yourself with important styles and designers. Two recom­mended references: Costume Jewelry: The Complete Visual Reference and Price Guide, by Judith Miller (DK Publishing), and Amazing Gems: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Most Dazzling Costume Jewelry, by Deanna Farneti Cera (Abrams).
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1970s green-and-clear crystal necklace, Yves Saint Laurent, $350;

Care & Handling
Costume jewelry, made from in­expensive base metals, glass,and faux pearls and gems, is quite fragile; Here are some tips to preserve old and new pieces:

* Keep jewelry away from soap, lotion, perfume and hairspray, which can all cause damage. Store in boxes in acid-free paper or Ziploc bags.
*Clean jewelry with a soft-bristle toothbrush or a cotton ball soaked in distilled water or JewelryJoose (jewelryjoose.com). Use a soft jeweler's I cloth or chamois to clean metal settings.
*If a stone falls out, reattach with jewelry glue (try Zap-a-Gap or GS Hypo cement; 805-499-8959). See an expert for other fixes (base metals and faux gems can't be soldered like fine jewelry). I

Above: 1950s blue-and-green Austrian crystal Pineapple earrings, $150; Left: Inew vintage-style rhinestone and-crystal earrings, Banana Republic, $38
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