If you love learning about jewelry history as much as I do, be sure to register for ASJRA’s annual conference, to be held virtually on May 6 and 7. “Iconic Jewelry Firms” is the theme this year. My presentation, “Coro & Louis Rousselet: Two Costume Jewelry Makers You Need to Know More About”, will be on Saturday, May 6. While […] The post A Special Event on Iconic Jewelry Firms appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

Are you joining the many going back to the office at least a few days a week? If you are looking at an unworn work wardrobe, you might be in a tight spot. Everything looks old and unstylish. Maybe things don’t fit the way they used to. How can you revive your routine without breaking the bank? I have an […] The post Back to Office Edit appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

This month marks the centennial of the greatest archeological discovery of the 20th century – the tomb of King Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. After six years of research and excavation, British archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, his patron, found three chambers filled with the young king’s mummy and the gilt, jewel-inlaid treasures he was believed to […] The post From Ancient Egypt to the 1950s: Scarab Jewelry appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

One of my favorite aspects of my job is the constant opportunity to learn something new. Correctly interpreting the words and symbols on signed jewels is vital to my authentication process. Sometimes my research on a company name yields a surprise as well as significant insights relating to costume jewelry history. To help you in your vintage shopping journey, here […] The post True vs. Fake: What’s in a Name? appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

Some of my favorite costume jewelry from the 1950s was designed by Elsa Schiaparelli. I like these pieces because they are strikingly different from those of other designers of the decade – they’re colorful, bold, and innovative. I am glad this last trait is one that continues to inspire Daniel Roseberry, Artistic Director of Maison Schiaparelli, today. In the preface […] The post Sensational Schiaparelli appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

If you love mysteries as much as I do, you probably know the plot of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile:  Linnet Ridgeway, a beautiful heiress, marries Simon Doyle, a handsome rogue who was engaged to Jacqueline de Bellefort, one of Linnet’s closest friends. For their honeymoon, the couple travel to Egypt and embark the luxurious steamship Karma for a […] The post Jewelry In the Movies: The Real Stars of ‘Death on the Nile’ appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

I love mysteries. As one who grew up reading the Nancy Drew series, I’ve continued to enjoy the genre to this day. If I’m unable to figure out whodunit, I know the guilty party will be identified by the end of the story. Unlike the world of fiction, vintage costume jewelry collecting often presents mysteries – such as who made […] The post True vs. Fake: Mistaken Identities appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

I have to admit that I’m a stickler for accuracy. The quest for information satisfies my love of research and learning. Over the years, I’ve studied costume jewelry history largely on my own and have discovered which sources are reliable and which are not. All too often I see misinformation repeated across many internet sites. One of my pet peeves […] The post True vs. Fake: Missing the Mark appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

I’ve always loved crystal jewelry. Maybe the reason is that my beloved great-aunt gave me a crystal heart on a sterling chain when I was a little girl. Or maybe over the years I’ve realized that jewelry made with colorless stones or beads goes with everything. Whatever the reason, one thing is perfectly clear: many vintage sellers mistakenly describe this […] The post True vs. Fake: Is It Crystal Clear? appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more

I am an incurable collector. I visit online marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy, and Ruby Lane, in addition to my favorite independent websites, at least once a week. I never tire from looking at vintage costume jewelry. But I confess I do get annoyed when I see something that’s described incorrectly. One characteristic that’s often mistaken is the type of […] The post True vs. Fake: How to Avoid Tarnishing a Sterling Reputation appeared first on TruFaux Jewels ..read more