How to Shop Vintage for Fashion Jewelry

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Secondhand fashion jewelry is a popular category among vintage shoppers for a few reasons. First, jewelry is not only beautiful, but also expensive. By finding unique pieces at Vintage Values Boutique, you can save quite a bit of cash. Plus, jewelry can feel a bit safer than shopping for hats, socks, and other more intimate used items. Easier to clean, some shoppers find that jewelry is a preferred vintage item. Finally, shoppers might enjoy imagining the stories behind beautiful, quality pieces from a bygone era. 

But, how can you optimize your vintage jewelry shopping experience? Start at Vintage Values. Browse and purchase our inventory online for an even more convenient way of shopping our  vintage values. Then, apply these four principles as you shop costume jewelry.

1. Understand Metals

Fashion accessorizing combines color, texture, and style. An important part of this is the metal that the jewelry is made from. Most jewelry consists of cheap base metals that sometimes create allergic reactions due to their lower quality. Often, these metals are found in costume jewelry at Vintage Values. Other metals used in the making of costume jewelry include: 

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• Nickel
• Brass
• Pewter
• Silver
• Plastic
• Glass and/or plastic gems
• Aluminum

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• Bronze
• Zinc Alloy
• Copper
• Stainless steel (includes nickel, chromium, copper, titanium, and iron)
• Niobium (most commonly used, as it comes in an entire rainbow of colors

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If you struggle with allergies to metal, it’s important to know which kinds bother you. Also, if you’re looking for pieces with a little more value, understand the difference between these common costume jewelry metals and more fine pieces.

2. Know How to Clean Your New-to-You Costume Jewelry

Another important thing to know about shopping vintage for fashion jewelry is understanding it may need a little TLC.  In other words, just because a piece is tarnished doesn’t mean it’s worthless! The most beautiful truly gold pieces will lose a little luster over time. 

If you’ve found a piece that has captured your heart but it needs a little love, follow these steps:

1. Use towels, Q-tips, and other soft materials to scrub off any shadows. You can even use a toothbrush for more intensive chemical reactions. 
2. If a wipe-down doesn’t do the trick, try a natural remedy. Lemon juice is known to break down the layer of oxide that creates discoloration. Adding baking soda to the juice will add another level of intensity without harming the actual metal beneath. If you don’t have lemon juice, you can also try a mixture of white vinegar and water. Also, try olive oil to shine the piece. But remember, it will need to be cleaned again soon.
3. If the natural remedies fail, or you would rather skip to something less do-it-yourself, you can also clean your jewelry in baby shampoo, which is more gentle than the shampoo adults use. Toothpaste is also effective.
4. If these options do not work, seek out the advice of a professional. 

3. Maintain Your Jewelry

After cleaning your costume jewelry, you will probably want to keep it from tarnishing again. Do this by keeping it dry, in a darker cabinet or room. Keep your jewelry separate by metal and store it at a constant temperature away from humidity.

4. Browse the Inventory at VintageValuesBoutique.com

Not interested in sifting through tangled piles of necklaces and bracelets? Just head over to our website, where you can scroll through our inventory of beautiful costume jewelry pieces with ease. We include a brief description of the item, including the length of necklaces and more. That way, you will be able to learn even more about the piece than if you were physically in our Las Vegas store. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call (702) 570-5435.

By purchasing from our store, you take part in resale thrifting that saves lives. 100% of all proceeds benefit Women’s Resource Medical Centers of Southern Nevada. So, while you will enjoy top quality, gently used designer goods at vintage values, others will benefit from your purchase even more deeply. Check out our online vintage store and order your costume jewelry today!

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