PostHeaderIcon Collecting Costume Jewelry on a Budget

You might be, as a lot of us are, collecting costume jewelry on a budget.  You see all these lovely pieces but they are way out of your price range.  How can you build a collection if you don't have a lot of money to spare?

You do have some options, so let's take a look at them.

Check Out Yard Sales

Yard / garage / tag sales tend to have the lowest prices for vintage jewelry, as the owners tend to think of it as "junk jewelry".  While this isn't always the case, more often than not you can pick up some pieces for just a few dollars.  Sometimes signed pieces, sometimes with boxes included.

The down side is that a lot of yard sales don't have vintage jewelry, so you might go to several before you hit on one that has some worth checking out.

Buy Lesser Collected Makers

Vintage Rhinestone Earrings by BSK

Vintage Rhinestone Earrings by BSK

You might start your collection with some of the lesser-collected makers.  Sometimes these are newer jewelry (e.g. from the 1980's), sometimes they are makers who didn't usually design glitzy pieces.  Two of my favorite makers in this area are 1928 and BSK; I can usually pick up some nice pieces for less than $10.  Just make sure you like the costume jewelry a lot, because otherwise you may have a harder time selling it.

Buy Costume Jewelry With Less Glitz

It's true, you can pick up some pieces from the big-name designers, when those pieces don't have any (or minimal use of) rhinestones.  I've seen a lovely Trifari brooch be offered for (and sell for) as little as $3 on auction.  No rhinestones, and the particular piece dates from the mid-1980s, but it's well-made, signed and pretty.

Know When to Buy Vintage Jewelry on Ebay

As a lampwork bead seller for many years on ebay, I can tell you there are certain days and times of the week, as well as certain times of the month and even year, where the auction prices don't tend to go as high.  Knowing the cycles can help you get a piece you might not otherwise be able to afford.

In general, the last few days of the month and the first few days of the next month are good buying times.  People are paying their bills and may not have a lot of money left to spare.  Conversely, the middle of the month generally brings higher prices, as people may either have more money to spend, or at least think they do.

Summertime can bring lower prices, especially on Saturdays when the weather is fine; people are out and about instead of in front of the computer.

During the day, if you can access the auctions during a break at work or at lunchtime.  Also in the evenings before 6 PM Eastern time.

Save Up Your Money

It's true, if you are longing after a Julianna. Haskell or Eisenberg, you may have to save your pennies for while, as these pieces generally don't come cheap.  So you may want to forego buying lesser pieces for awhile in order to have enough to get a higher-end piece of costume jewelry that is near and dear to your heart.

So there are some tips or collecting costume jewelry on a budget; I hope they have helped you!  Meanwhile, let's check out some more eye candy on a budget.

3 BSK signed Brooch Pins
3 BSK signed Brooch Pins
Paypal   US $5.00
BSK My Fair Lady RS Enamel Elizas Hat Cufflinks Tag
BSK My Fair Lady RS Enamel Elizas Hat Cufflinks Tag
Paypal   US $23.49
Vintage Pave Green Rhinestone Leaf Pin by BSK
Vintage Pave Green Rhinestone Leaf Pin by BSK
Paypal   US $5.00
Vintage BSK Aurora Rhinestone Leaf Collar Necklace
Vintage BSK Aurora Rhinestone Leaf Collar Necklace
Paypal   US $9.99
STUNNING Vintage BSK rhinestone Brooch
STUNNING Vintage BSK rhinestone Brooch
Paypal   US $9.99
Vintage Estate BSK Genuine Jade Gold Moon Earrings
Vintage Estate BSK Genuine Jade Gold Moon Earrings
Paypal   US $6.25
Large BSK Maltese Cross Brooch
Large BSK Maltese Cross Brooch
Paypal   US $40.00
Vintage BSK earrings brooch rhinestone red bugs leaf
Vintage BSK earrings brooch rhinestone red bugs leaf
Paypal   US $.99
VINTAGE BSK MY FAIR LADY GREEN ENAMEL FLOWER BROOCH
VINTAGE BSK MY FAIR LADY GREEN ENAMEL FLOWER BROOCH
Paypal   US $9.99
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Vintage Sarah Coventry Brooch Rhodium Blue Beads
Vintage Sarah Coventry Brooch Rhodium Blue Beads
Paypal   US $4.99
Vintage Sarah Coventry Brooch Bracelet Black Flower Set
Vintage Sarah Coventry Brooch Bracelet Black Flower Set
Paypal   US $14.00
Sarah Coventry Faux Turquoise Aqua Fleur Pin Signed
Sarah Coventry Faux Turquoise Aqua Fleur Pin Signed
Paypal   US $10.99
Timeless Sarah Coventry Persian brooch
Timeless Sarah Coventry Persian brooch
Paypal   US $2.99
Vintage Sarah Coventry EASTER EGG Tree PIN
Vintage Sarah Coventry EASTER EGG Tree PIN
Paypal   US $5.99
Sarah Coventry Necklace Earring Set Hidden Pearl
Sarah Coventry Necklace Earring Set Hidden Pearl
Paypal   US $9.99
Vintage Sarah Coventry Silvertone Strawberry Brooch
Vintage Sarah Coventry Silvertone Strawberry Brooch
Paypal   US $19.99
Sarah Coventry Pin Baroque Pearl Flower MINT GORGEOUS
Sarah Coventry Pin Baroque Pearl Flower MINT GORGEOUS
Paypal   US $10.53
Vintage Sarah Coventry Pin Earrings Set Enamel Mint
Vintage Sarah Coventry Pin Earrings Set Enamel Mint
Paypal   US $9.00
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