July 1, 2010
What is the difference between costume and fashion jewelry? Is there a difference or do they use the words interchangeably? Perhaps a better query is ought to they use the words interchangeably? To find an answer, they first need to return in time a bit and review the history of jewelry.
Although the use of materials, or specifically gold, to adorn the body basically dates back to Egypt in 3000 BC as evidenced by finds in tombs such as Tutankhamen , they must move forward to the 13th Century in Medieval Europe and England when Sumptuary Laws were enacted, to see the beginning of “fake” jewelry. Commoners, or yeomen and artisans, were forbidden from wearing gold, silver, pearls or gemstones. Since precious gemstones and pearls were highly prized, a market wholesale jewelrydeveloped for lovely glass imitations. The Italians, those from the glass making areas of Venice and Murano, began to make imitation glass gems and pearls that were of high quality.
By the 17th Century, clothes had become decorative utilizing jewelry pieces called dress ornaments on the stomacher, or front, sleeves and skirts. It became acceptable to wear fake jewelry by day and fine or actual jewelry by evening. Pearls were worn in abundance and in the coursework of this period, Jaquin of Paris patented a process for making fake pearls. About the same time, a compound of white lead oxide and potash, called paste, was developed and became widely used for making fake gems. These fake gems were pasted onto theatrical costumes, thus becoming known as costume jewelry.
Moving forward to the late 1800 , jewelry production began to move to The united states and Australia, and resulted in lower quality standards. Resistance to the lesser quality pieces prompted jewelers such as Tiffany to start to make high quality fine jewelry. By the early 1900 , they began to see recognizable names influencing the mass produced jewelry industry. Designers such as Rene Lalique , Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Napier made fake or fake jewelry fun and stylish. This fake jewelry was more often known as cocktail jewelry, or costume jewelry, thus popularizing the term.
The Second World War saw fine jewelry dwindle in production since metals were rationed. Quality costume jewelry flourished, and the post-war 1950 Art Deco period signaled the acceptance of more extravagant costume jewelry. Some of these quality pieces have attained vintage status making them of interest to collectors. The 1980 and 1990 saw the influence of TV shows, movies, and celebrity sponsorships, make costume jewelry stylish. And the term fashion jewelry came in vogue and began to refer to any jewelry that was not thought about fine or actual jewelry.
The usage of the terms costume and fashion jewelry has become analogous and interchangeable, and is often based on custom and locality. Anything of lesser value and lesser quality materials than fine gold, silver, or diamond jewelry is now often called costume or fashion. In today usage, while wholesale costume jewelryis usually thought to be less pricey than fashion jewelry, lots of parts are common to both. Costume jewelry will often have gold plating over pewter, nickel or even lead, and may contain beads or gems made of plastic or acrylic. Fashion jewelry usually will be one step higher in quality, utilizing electroplated gold or silver over brass, gold over silver, or even sterling silver as the metal base and may be accented with high-end crystals, simulated gemstones, CZ, semi-precious stones, or other natural materials. Styling in fashion jewelry will often imitate actual or fine jewelry designs.
So to answer the original query, what is the difference between costume and fashion jewelry, they must draw a fine line of distinction. Taking a look at the quality, materials, design, and cost ought to help clarify which terminology fits the situation. Either is correct; neither is incorrect! But personally, I prefer the term fashion jewelry as I need to be stylish, not attired in a costume! Contact Information
Company; yiwu dushang jewelry co, ltd
Website: http://www.china-costume- jewelry.com
Phone :86.579-85597585
Fax :86.579-85320753
Adress: 3f, No.13-15, Building 4, A zone, Futian jewelry street, yiwu city, zhejiang, china