If you like it -- buy it!
Reminiscing…that's what collecting vintage costume jewelry is all about. It's like a perpetual scavenger hunt! If you look at a piece and say, "Wow!" -- buy it! If you hesitate, someone else will take it home. Even today's costume jewelry is affordable, so why not buy it just because you like it? Who knows -- the piece you buy today could become worth much more in later years than the price you paid for it. And in the meantime, you'll enjoy wearing it.

Getting started
Buy what you like. If you enjoy Christmas and Christmas colors, holiday brooches is a good way to start your collection. Unmarked evergreen trees start at about $20 and come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. Later, you can branch out to buy matching earrings, candles, wreaths, or reindeer.

Finding pieces
Flea markets, garage and estate sales, and auctions often yield overlooked treasures. Your mother's or grandmother's jewelry boxes or "junk jewelry" boxes can be goldmines. You're likely to find lovely vintage pieces that, with a little cleaning, can make you feel as glamorous as if you are dripping in diamonds!

Shopping tips
Here are some tips to help you purchase quality jewelry:

• Consider investing in a jeweler's loupe or a magnifier. The magnification can be from three up to ten power, which magnifies the image up to ten times its size.
  
  
• Examine jewelry in the sunlight if possible, to avoid the distortions of fluorescent lighting.
  
  
• Learn to recognize a piece that is beyond repair or was repaired poorly.
  
  
• Turn the piece over and look at all sides. Walk away from it if it is not of good quality.
  
  
• Avoid items that are broken, missing pin backs, missing parts, or have badly damaged plating unless you are sure you can have it repaired at a reasonable cost.
  
  
• If stones are missing, be sure that you can replace them before buying the item. Even if the item is marked down, it won't be a good find if you can't fill in the space.
  
  
• Look at the details. Does the item have nice lines, good coloring, and clean joints? Is it well detailed? Does the bracelet wrap comfortably around the wrist or the necklace fit in the hollow of your neck?
  
  
• Look for bargains. Imitation diamonds or clear rhinestone jewelry are slow movers and most dealers will give you a discount for less-than-perfect items.
  
  
• Colored stones usually cost more than clear stones.
  
  
• Larger pieces usually cost more than small pieces.
  
  
• Sets with multiple pieces are worth more than single items.