The vintage jewelry market provides the middle ground where you can purchase fine pieces without spending a fortune. Many women have actually made a hobby out of searching for these affordable elegant jewelry pieces that are appropriate for almost any occasion.

Following are a few things to guide you when shopping for vintage jewelry in order to determine the true value.

Most of today's vintage jewelry shops carry pieces that were created in the 1930's or later. So, that's the vintage jewelry we will be focusing on in this article.

The Art Deco jewelry style was popular in the days of Flappers and Prohibition, with multiple necklaces worn at once. You may have seen pictures of ladies in those fantastic short dresses with lots of fringe, and a bevy of bright necklaces "tied" in a loose knot near the end of the strands. Perhaps even your grandmother was one of them? New plastics, enamel accents and amber, along with bright colors are characteristic of the time. Chokers are another popular vintage jewelry item from this era.

The 1940's brought the Retro style, snapped up in Hollywood society. Some popular vintage jewelry pieces from this time period include large rings with large stones (precious or otherwise) which became all the rage. Necklaces, bracelets and watches were large, elegant and flashy. These vintage jewelry items were a good backdrop to the sleek and tailored styles of the day.

Vintage costume jewelry of the 1950's (post World War II era) provided a practical but glitzy alternative to their 1940's counterparts. Rhinestones, the faux diamond of the day, made of quartz mined from the Rhine River, took center stage replacing diamonds. Hence, there's quite an abundance of vintage rhinestone jewelry such as necklaces, pendants, bracelets and brooches. Vintage jewelry with gold plating indicate more affordable items at the time. Silver colored pieces were coated with non-tarnishing Rhodium plating.

The 1960's ushered in a period of handmade jewelry by individual craftsmen. These vintage jewelry designer items range from inexpensive but unique designs of hammered oversized brass and silver earrings to Renaissance style ornate pendants and rings. Lost-wax casting was also a popular technique.

Lea Stein, a French costume jewelry designer came on the scene in the late 1960's, making a big splash with her cellulose creations featuring cats and a variety of other animals, big and small, flower and leaf motifs, music note designs and the like, formed into brooches that sealed her place in jewelry history. To this day her vintage jewelry is a hot collection item. You should watch for these gems in your search.

Finding vintage jewelry may not be so hard, and you certainly don't have to settle for cheap, poor quality jewelry from a discount store. A little searching and perseverance over time can make you the proud owner of some very classy vintage jewelry. Not to mention the fun new hobby you just discovered!

Besides jewelry stores, you can look for vintage jewelry in antique shops, estate sales, and even flea markets. You would be surprised that some people don't realize the value of the stuff they're trying to get rid of. So, on occasion you can expect to find really precious and cheap vintage jewelry. It just takes a little time and perhaps a little luck.

Of course, the internet is also a great place for finding vintage jewelry. You can search for web sites selling lots of vintage jewelry at wholesale prices. eBay is a popular place to buy and sell all kinds of stuff, including vintage jewelry lots.