Featured New to buying vintage costume jewelry? What do these all have in common?

I was searching something on Ebay and ran across these pins (there were MANY more in different styles but just picked 4). All from current, unsold Ebay auctions. What do they have in common?








What they have in common:

These were listed on Ebay in BIN's for $6 or Best Offer with nearly free ($2) shipping from China.

I could see someone getting fooled by these. I don't think any of us who have purchased jewelry over the years would be fooled in person. These probably feel pretty inexpensive in the hand. But they are definitely going for the vintage costume jewelry look.

But if you didn't look carefully (the antique boxes underneath are deceiving) I could see someone fooled. I can't even wrap my mind around how they are being produced, packaged and shipped so inexpensively.

Just thought I'd share!

 

New or old i LOVE that 1st brooch !

 

Nice!

 

Maybe they stole pics from other sellers. I’ve also seen Indian sellers listing reproductions of antique jewelry with images of genuine ones from antique dealers

 

A friend of mine bought me a sterling silver ring with a turquoise stone from China for a total with shipping of $5. It's heavy and I know it's real sterling silver. The stone is likely one of those fake turquoises but it's attractive and I wear it from time to time. She just wanted to see what was really in the box for $5. We think some of the Chinese sellers are subsidized by the government. They don't pay the shipping, it's on the house.

 

I would wear the first one and the third one. Don't care for the other two. The first one reminds me of a snowflake pin I ordered at Christmas from ebay. It was very inexpensive. I wanted a crystal style pin to go on a black velvet jacket for a holiday party. It was perfect for that. I've worn it a total of three times.

The stones look like they're in the setting with super glue. They just kind of lay on top of the piece rather than having any depth. The yellow stones in that first pin remind of that construction.

 

Indeed! Many (most?) Indian sellers are known for that forgery one even stole a pic of mine from collectors weekly! I reported him with proof...

 

I really, really wish there was a way to sort out just items coming from China, instead of all international shippers. There's one outfit that sells brand new plastic cameo trash in the antique category and they list hundreds at a time. I would block but of course they have multiple usernames.

Not that it's foolproof because they still do that switcharoo where they claim a states-side address and ship from China anyway. Got a car fuse recently and it came from China and doesn't fit of course.

 

I'm buying an unusual watch band from China, on Amazon.ca.
The ones listed start at around $40....and go as high as $ 90.....

I'm buying the one at $ 7 .

I expect to get ripped off...........

 

They are pretty but not great quality. I bet some/all have that wide C-strap catch for the pin stem. They used old jewelry boxes to add some "legitimacy" but it's not convincing me! Chinese stuff is waaaay cheap, so many shoppers will not care about age or whether the design is original.