#Beauty #White #Costume #Jewelry #Year #Long #WorthPoint
For many years, white costume jewelry was the ugly stepchild of the vintage world. Why was it so undesirable? For one reason, it was very common. The irony lies in the fact that so many vintage pieces exist because white jewelry sold very well back in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Yes, there was a time when almost every fashionable lady had a few pieces of opaque white jewelry in her cache of accessories.
By now, you might be wondering if I’m talking about “milk glass” jewelry. The answer is yes, at least regarding white opaque glass stones. Some sellers and collectors have nicknamed this type of jewelry milk glass, but is that correct? If you want to reach more buyers when listing online, then embracing this trend can be the way to go. However, not all jewelry purists like it since milk glass in antique and vintage circles traditionally references kitchen glass and tableware rather than jewelry.
Wearing White Costume Jewelry
Whether made with milk glass, resin embellishments, or white enameled metal, this type of jewelry has garnered a wider share of fans over the past decade or so. The freshness of white jewelry is often associated with summertime wear today, which is understandable since it was originally popular during the warmer seasons of the year back when it was new.
Jewelry collectors don’t shy away from bucking trends, however, and many pair white costume jewelry with their winter outfits nowadays. White jewelry suggests snow in the wintertime and can offer a dramatic contrast when worn with dark colors like black and charcoal gray.
What You Need to Know
The desirability of white jewelry has changed somewhat over the past decade or so as the best designer pieces have become more scarce. Both resellers and collectors have embraced jewelry made with opaque white stones or white enameling with more fervor as white jewelry has become more challenging to find.
Keep in mind that most of the highly collectible pieces are made with glass stones, with just a few exceptions. Some brands sell better and hold their value more readily than others, so we’ll cover a few names and attributes to watch out for when you’re scouring thrift stores or perusing online listings.
Trifari and Monet
When lots of white jewelry was being made in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Trifari and Monet were prolific manufacturers doing business in Providence, Rhode Island. They both saw great success selling white styles, but Trifari is the more desirable of the two. When seeking the more valuable styles, look for pieces made with molded glass flower petals (often mistaken for poured glass), white “fruit salad” stones, and enameled figures like owls and eagles.
Monet white pieces, especially beads, tend to linger with sellers until the right buyer comes along, so be sure not to overpay for them. One exception can be the larger necklaces Monet made in white in the late 1960s and into the ‘70s, which can be worth a bit more.
Kramer of New York
Kramer marketed several white designs during the ‘50s, including a number with clear rhinestone accents. These are some of my personal favorites for winter wear since they impart the look of snow and ice, although they’re lovely in warm weather as well. Other pieces have molded stones shaped like flowers and leaves. Those set with glass stones tend to sell better than those made with thermoset plastic.
Keep in mind that most white jewelry by Kramer falls into the moderate price range, and some pieces are more desirable than others. They can appeal to budget-minded collectors, but sellers may have to sit on them awhile before they sell.
Juliana by DeLizza & Elster
The white jewelry made by DeLizza & Elster (D&E) is another personal favorite for everyday wear. These pieces are nicely crafted and have a bolder-than-average look, especially the bracelets and necklaces. They also tend to bring prices that are a bit higher than average. The exception is with brooches and clip earrings. Those are a harder sell, even though they’re made well and look great when worn.
Miriam Haskell
Miriam Haskell is known for making many pieces of white jewelry, too. These tend to sell for more than other brands when the styles are more elaborate. That can mean white glass components mixed with antiqued gold in necklaces or showier designs like wide memory wire cuff bracelets.
One caveat with Haskell is that the wires holding beads in place tend to deteriorate with age. Be sure to check each piece you purchase carefully for damage. And even though Haskell sells better than some other brands, don’t overpay for single strands of plain white beads, as they tend to linger in online shops when priced too high.
Schreiner
Of course, I saved the best for last. Just a few years ago, white jewelry with a Schreiner mark wasn’t a huge deal. Now, prices for anything and everything Schreiner have gone up tremendously. This includes familiar Schreiner styles like ruffle brooches in white that can sell for hundreds if not thousands.
The drawback with Schreiner is that about half the pieces they produced in their New York-based factory were unmarked, and some of those were white. A good point of departure in learning how to peg unmarked pieces is an article I wrote for Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l on identifying Schreiner brooches. Considering the values of these pieces, it’s well worth the time and effort to get to know them better. Regardless of the color, it will sell if it’s marked Schreiner.
Now you know some of the things to look for in white jewelry and why sellers shouldn’t shy away from offering it to customers all year long. And instead of saving your white jewelry for summer wear, don’t be surprised if you get tons of compliments when donning a piece or two in the wintertime too.
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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