Costume Jewellery Origins
Costume jewellery originally surfaced over 300 years ago when cheap jewellery was made from glass to avoid using expensive precious materials such as diamonds and rubies. Later in the 1800s craftsmen started using semi precious materials to give the same look as expensive jewellery at a fraction of the cost. This meant that valuable looking jewellery was now available to common people who were previously unable to afford it. This type of jewellery became extremely popular in the middle of the 20th century when middle class women wanted to wear expensive looking jewellery without having to pay the high prices associated with them.
This was around the same time that manufacturers opted against the handmade, craft like approach to making costume jewellery and started using large manufacturing machines to mass produce items which in turn reduced costs further and made it widely availably to people from all walks of life. The 1930s saw a large increase in the popularity of costume jewellery as it was marketed as a cheap and disposable items that could be bought and used with specific outfits. To be enjoyed instead of being hid away in the safety of houses across the country.