Men and women have worn costume jewellery since the Romans developed the ability to cut glass imitations of precious gemstones. Jewellery was worn to enhance appearance, display wealth and affirm love, friendship and loyalty. The reasons for wearing jewellery remain the same today, but the popularity of styles changes. Vintage costume jewellery is experiencing a revival these days as sparkling vintage rhinestone brooches are roaring back in style. Here are a few things youll need to know to help you pick out the right pieces.

What is it.

Costume jewellery is defined as jewellery that is made from non-precious materials such as cut glass.

Parures.

It is a set that includes a necklace, brooch and pair of earrings.

Demi-parures.

It includes a brooch and a pair of earrings.

Missing Stones.

Steer clear of an item with any missing stones. They are very difficult to replace.

Faux Pearls.

Watch closely any pieces with faux pearls because they chip easily and these chips cannot be fixed. Also, soap, cream and perfume can erode faux pearls.

Enamel.

Pieces with enamel can cause problems. Small areas of enamel damage can be retouched but large areas are very difficult to repair.

Condition Matters.

Good condition is important with vintage costume jewellery. Pin clasps that dont work, hinges that are suspect may not be replaceable because they may no longer be made. Before you purchase, double check that all the pieces are in original condition and in good working order.

Names to Look For.

The biggest name in Canada for vintage costume jewellery is Sherman and it was usually signed. Other makers to be on the look out for are Trifari, Coro, Schreiner, Hobe and Schiaparelli.

Care.

Once youve found something you like, youll want to take good care of it. Store your vintage costume jewellery separately in small plastic bags to guard against scratching.

Where To Find Great Vintage Costume Jewellery.

Antique shops, flea markets, garage sales and Ebay are all good sources for vintage costume jewellery.

Value.

Prices range from under $20 for unsigned pieces to much more for signed sought-after pieces, parures and demi-parures.

Martin Swinton

A lifelong lover of all things old, Martin was born in Toronto, Canada and spent time in Malaysia as a child.

Martin learned to restore furniture when he was a teenager and has worked at an auction house. He owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located at 1927 Avenue Road, Toronto, Canada.

His television appearances include Canadian Living Television, Breakfast Television, Daytime and Toronto Living.

Martin teaches courses on antiques and he writes a regular column "Let's Talk Antiques" for the Town Crier newspaper and "Antiques 101" for the Home Advisor. He also does appraisals for estates and community events.

When Martin is not appearing on television or teaching, he can be found in his shop restoring well-worn furniture, gluing vintage tables or re-caning and rushing chairs. On warm summer days, he has been seen multi-tasking out front of the shop when he chats up the locals and works on his tan.

Martin recalls that he has always been interested in things from the past, so it is not surprising that he graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Archaeology. He holds a high school equivalency diploma from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Martin completed his grade 2 course of studies at Cedarvale Public School before being home school through to high school. At the age of 7 Martin was diagnosed with a bad case of dyslexia, which explains a lot of the problems that he had in Mrs. Mansica's grade 2 reading circle.

His personal areas of interest are Asian art, European furniture and the Arts & Crafts movement. Martin is a member of the Monarchist League of Canada. He lives in Toronto with his wife Andrea and Kurt, his basketball mad 14-year old son.