Costume Jewelry

     Costume jewelry is jewelry which is produced in non-precious metals, and is often gold or silver plated and made using synthetic or glass stones.

Caring for Costume Jewelry:
     Costume jewelry is vulnerable to tarnish. Tarnish is the result of oxidization, which is caused by the interacting of the metal with certain elements such as oxygen and sulphur, as well as certain acids. To keep the jewelry tarnish free, it should be frequently cleaned in mild dishwashing liquid and water. Thoroughly dry your jewelry after exposure to the water. Store in a dry container or plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper. The use of polish, cloth, paste and other strong jewelry cleaners is not recommended. Removal of tarnish or oxidation film from metal, silver or gold plated jewelry must be done by a professional.

Materials:
Some materials that are used in costume jewelry include:

- Bakelite
- Lucite
- Plastic
- Paste
- Gold and Silver plated metal
- Stainless Steel
- Rhinestones

     A lot of costume jewelry is vintage. Therefore, some kinds of costume jewelry is considered a collectible.

Price:
     Because costume jewelry is made from less expensive materials it can be quite cheap.