Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The History Of Rhinestone Necklaces

By Angela Briggs


Rhinestones became popular around the thirteenth century when crystals were discovered in the Rhine River. They were hand cut and polished at that time and very time consuming to make. The stones were prized for their brilliance and were made into rhinestone necklaces and other jewelry for the upper classes.

Mass production of these stones became possible by the eighteenth century. An invention by Swarowski revolutionized the industry and made the stones available to people of all classes. The crystals were made of glass and with treatment could be made in numerous colors. In the United States eighty percent of crystals present are created by Swarovski.

Over time the popularity of these pieces have wavered tremendously. In the years between nineteen twenty and nineteen forty they were very popular with the younger people purchasing pieces that were designed slim and feminine for style. The more mature consumers were buying broaches and larger items.

Popularity for crystals diminished tremendously in the twenty years including the nineteen fifties and sixties. The younger generation was not interested in sparkly jewelry. They determined that the natural look was more to their liking and began using leather and cords to create their adornments. The stones were rediscovered with the disco dance era and an advanced sense of fashion.

As a location for decoration the neck is one of the most prominent places to display your style. With the multiple styles and colors that are available the opportunities are enormous. For chokers or collars the showy nature of these stones are perfect. They can emphasize the length of a long neck and highlight the deep V necks of cocktail gowns.

Another fashion arrives in the form of a bib. It covers a large part of the bodice with intricate designs to draw the eye. Bibs can be worn with low cut gowns or with high necked tops as well. As an all around favorite one or more long strands can be worn. They can be worn long or doubled and for a less formal look tied in a knot in front.

Vintage pieces are becoming a popular collection item. Many of these pieces were created by custom jewelers and have high value for resale. People look for them in old jewelry boxes belonging to their grandparents that have been handed down to them. Another venue for collection is estate sales or yard sales of people who have older items to offer. David Swarovski gave a gift to Liberace that was a fifty one pound crystal valued at nearly fifty thousand dollars twenty years ago. It is worth much more now.

Necklaces have been a form of adornment since cave man days. Rhinestone necklaces came along later and have held their place in fashion for centuries. They are precious pieces that many women wear and value through the years. Many are passed to the new generation as family heir looms.




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