I just had a conversation on the phone with a really nice lady who wanted to consign jewelry for her soon to be opened clothing boutique in the hippest mall in Bangkok. After explaining to her that my jewelry is mostly one of a kind, made of sterling silver and 18K gold, she exclaimed, “oh it’s costume jewelry.” I started to frown with a mixed feeling. I didn’t want to be impolite and correct her on the phone that my jewelry is definitely not costume jewelry but she needed to know that! But how can I tell her on the phone, without her seeing my pieces?
As a creator, I would call most of my works contemporary jewelry, with a handful of art jewelry pieces. I have been struggling to find easy ways to explain to people the differences between costume jewelry and art jewelry.
Here in Thailand, anything that is not made of gold or platinum with diamonds or ‘precious’ colored stones are considered Costume. And that’s way too braod. I have seen amazing art pieces made purely of plastic or paper. I have also seen mass-produced jewelry made of enameled and ’semi-precious’stones that I would consider them costume jewelry (or fashion jewelry). People here would rather pay money for such jewelry than unique art pieces…
I am sure that those of us who are in the jewelry business would have no problem distinguishing the two types of jewelry mentioned. But how can we explain to the general public the differences between the two? Where do we draw the line? Is costume jewelry the same as fashion jewelry? I am confused!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Jen 10.29.08 at 2:45 p10
I always thought that costume/fashion jewelry meant mass-produced, low-quality, cheap jewelry. Definitely not made with gold or silver, unless it was plated. Neither have I ever thought of costume jewelry as one-of-a-kind. Maybe I am mistaken, but this is what I have always thought.
Helen Hill 10.30.08 at 2:45 p10
My understanding of costume jewellery is mass-produced, cheap jewellery made with cheap materials - base metals (maybe plated), glass, paste, crystal “gems”.
To me, sterling silver and gold jewellery with real gemstones is fine jewellery because you’re using precious metals and real stones. It might not be high end as in all gold or platinum with diamonds, etc but I think it still counts as fine jewellery or art jewellery as you say. I may be wrong.
atinuj 10.30.08 at 2:45 p10
Thanks for your comments.
After a bit of a research online, I came to the following conclusions:
Non-precious materials (plastic, woods, fabric, etc.) can be seen in both types of jewelry. So material by itself cannot distinguish the two.
One main different is through the design process–costume jewelry is designed to immitate other types of jewelry or to follow certian trends, while art jewelry is made with original design ideas, concepts.
Another main different is through the amount produced adn the manufacturing process. Costume jewelry is normally made in large amount, by medium to large sized factories while art pieces are made in small or limited amount with some one-of-a-kind pieces normally in a hand-made fashion in artists’ studios.
As for the metal used, both costume and art jewerly can have plated base metal. I am still not sure if silver jewelry with a little bit of 18k gold can be considered fine jewelry…
I am sure there are more ways to distinguish the two types of jewelry. Please feel free to share your opinions.
Thanks, Atty