Collecting Fine Jewelry

Collecting fine jewelry may not be the chosen hobby of many people, but once you fall in love with the intricacies of jewelry, it becomes difficult to think of much else. At Chasing Treasure, we provide the storage pieces that can properly hold a collection fine jewelry. If you do decide to begin collecting jewelry, there are several considerations to make your collection stand out from the crowd.


1. Choose your favorite time period. Some of the most unbelievable pieces of jewelry have come from the Art Deco period. These pieces have intricate work that makes them stand apart from other pieces from the 20th Century. However beautiful the pieces are, their rarity makes them expensive to acquire. If that time period is out of your price range, there are amazing pieces that were designed after World War II. If you want to keep your collection affordable, you could look for costume jewelry rather than pieces that have real gems and precious metals. Take a good look at what the 1970s have to offer.

2. Choose your favorite colors. When you begin hunting for exquisite pieces, you will find that certain colors grab your attention. The best collections are the ones that make us smile. So if you love gems with unusual and unexpected colors, then buy them. You might find a chocolate diamond that turns your head, or a darker red ruby. Even though those are not the ideal colors, if you love them, then who cares!

3. Consider the way you plan to store the pieces. For many collectors, the size and shape of the pieces dictate whether or not they buy them. If a piece is too big for you to safely store, then why buy it? Jewelry boxes only come in so many sizes and unless you have a safe that will hold some of the pieces, your convenience should be taken into consideration.

4. Wearability can matter. Along with being able to store the jewelry you buy, you should also consider whether or not you plan to wear the pieces. If they are too valuable to wear in public, then don’t wear them. But, jewelry is meant to be worn and hopefully, you will have an opportunity to show off your beautiful collection. In order to safely wear some of your favorite pieces, you can always have a jeweler add safety catches so there is an added level of protection, especially with watches, bracelets, and necklaces.

5. Get the best insurance. If your collection is extremely valuable, you should properly insure it. If you do not have the proper coverage and your collection is stolen, you might not have any recourse for the money you spent to build the collection. In many cases, adding extra coverage does not cost much - just a few extra dollars. Only your insurance agent will know what is best for your personal property.

Where to Find Unique Costume Jewelry

At ChasingTreasure.com, we sell the best jewelry boxes for your favorite treasures. When you are ready to add more treasure to your boxes, there are several places to turn for unique costume jewelry. Some of the best costume jewelry has already been sold, so when you want to avoid the shopping balls and chain stores, here are some great places to turn:

Etsy: If you have never shopped on Etsy, you are in for a great surprise. This online shopping site is a mecca for vintage clothing and accessories, especially jewelry. You can shop by vintage brand, color, style, and even by location. The prices are affordable and shipping is, too. It is easy to find favorite shops and you can even chat with the owners. Shopping for costume jewelry on Etsy is like shopping at a neighborhood bazaar.

Garage/Tag Sales: Shopping at garage sales or tag sales is a fun way to find costume jewelry, especially if you love to hunt for treasure. You might have to shop at several different garage sales to find one that offers jewelry for sale; you can increase your odds if you shop at neighborhood sales. Garage sales usually have the best prices, because people are trying to clean out their homes.

Estate Sales: These are often the best places to find costume jewelry, often because the homeowners are trying to sell everything inside of the home. The prices tend to be higher than at garage sales, because estate sales are often run by professionals who usually get a percentage of the amount sold.

Antique Stores/Malls: Antique stores often have the most amazing selection of costume jewelry, but you can expect to pay for it. Many antique stores have several vendors and you can usually tell if the prices will be low or high based on how the jewelry is displayed. Pieces that are inside of cases tend to be more expensive than the pieces that are not in cases. However, do not let the barrier of the case discourage you because many vendors will keep pieces inside of cases to prevent them from being stolen. It does not hurt to ask the prices and you can usually negotiate them lower. If you buy more than one piece from an antique vendor, the vendor will often lower the prices, too.

eBay: If you know exactly what you are looking for, eBay is the best place to shop for costume jewelry. There are always thousands of pieces for sale on the website. If you do not know what you are looking for, browsing can be practically overwhelming. If you do know what you are looking for, odds are that you will find it. Prices on eBay vary significantly, so it is best to do a little research before you buy. Just like on Etsy, there are vendors who own shops and you can always ask talk to them about certain pieces. You can also usually save on shipping if you buy more than one piece from a vendor.

Shopping for costume jewelry is just as fun as shopping for shoes. Whether you shop for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or rings, you are bound to find more than what you need and it all looks great!