Vintage Pot Metal Jewelry: What Is It and Is It Worth Selling?If you have an older jewelry box filled with rhinestone brooches, dress clips, bracelets, necklaces, or clip-on earrings, some of those pieces may be made from a material commonly called pot metal. The name may not sound glamorous, but pot metal was used in a great deal of vintage costume jewelry, including pieces that collectors still look for today. One of the biggest mistakes people make with older jewelry is assuming that anything made from inexpensive metal has little or no interest. With vintage costume jewelry, the metal is only one part of the story. Age, design, maker, construction, stones, condition, and overall appearance can all matter. If you are sorting through an inherited collection, an old jewelry box, or pieces that have been stored for decades, it may be worthwhile to look at the collection as a whole before throwing anything away. What Is Pot Metal Jewelry?Pot metal is a general name that has been used for inexpensive base-metal alloys rather than one specific type of metal. The exact mixture can vary. In vintage costume jewelry, these metals gave manufacturers an affordable material that could be molded or cast into decorative shapes. This made it possible to produce large brooches, ornate settings, floral designs, dress clips, bracelets, buckles, and other decorative jewelry without using precious metals. Many pieces were then plated, painted, enameled, or decorated with rhinestones, glass stones, imitation pearls, or other materials. When new, some of this jewelry could be surprisingly elaborate. When Was Pot Metal Used in Costume Jewelry?Pot metal and similar base metals can be found in costume jewelry from different periods, but they are especially associated with many pieces made during the early and middle decades of the 20th century. Jewelry fashions changed dramatically during those years. Large geometric designs, colorful rhinestones, floral brooches, figural jewelry, dress clips, and bold statement pieces became popular at different times. Manufacturers could use less expensive metals to create dramatic designs for buyers who wanted fashionable jewelry without the cost of fine jewelry. You can see how pot metal fits among the many materials used in older costume pieces in our article about vintage costume bracelets from the 1850s through the 1960s. What Does Vintage Pot Metal Jewelry Look Like?There is no single appearance that identifies every piece. Pot metal jewelry may be silver colored, dark gray, plated, painted, or almost completely hidden underneath stones and decorative surfaces. Some examples are heavy and substantial. Others have very detailed cast designs. You may find older pieces decorated with clear rhinestones, colored glass, enamel, faux pearls, or combinations of different materials. Common pieces can include:
Some pieces may show wear, darkening, plating loss, or small areas of corrosion after many decades. That does not automatically mean the entire collection should be discarded. Does Pot Metal Mean the Jewelry Is Cheap?Originally, pot metal helped manufacturers produce jewelry at a lower cost. But original manufacturing cost and today's collector interest are two different things. Vintage costume jewelry is often collected because of its design, age, maker, unusual construction, color, rarity, or connection to a particular fashion period. A piece does not necessarily have to be made from precious metal to be interesting to a vintage jewelry buyer. This is particularly important when dealing with an inherited collection. A box may contain sterling silver, plated jewelry, pot metal, brass, rhinestones, glass, signed pieces, unsigned pieces, and newer jewelry all mixed together. Rather than trying to separate everything according to metal alone, it can make more sense to keep the older collection together until someone familiar with vintage costume jewelry has looked through it. Should You Clean Old Pot Metal Jewelry?Be careful. Older base-metal jewelry can react differently to moisture, chemicals, polishing compounds, and aggressive cleaning. Some vintage pieces also have rhinestones that were glued into place many decades ago. Soaking a piece or using strong cleaners can potentially affect old finishes, stones, foil backs, glue, or plating. If you are thinking about selling an older collection, you generally do not need to make every piece look new first. Keeping the jewelry in its current condition is often the simpler approach. What About Broken or Damaged Pot Metal Jewelry?Do not automatically throw it away. Vintage costume jewelry collections frequently contain missing stones, broken clasps, separated components, worn plating, single earrings, or pieces that need repair. Some may have limited interest, while others may still be useful because of their maker, design, age, stones, or parts. If you have an entire box or estate collection, sorting out every damaged piece yourself may not be necessary. We discuss this subject further in our article about scrap and damaged vintage costume jewelry. Signed and Unsigned Pot Metal JewelryOne of the first things people often look for is a manufacturer's signature. Some vintage costume jewelry companies marked their pieces, while many other pieces were unsigned. A signature can provide useful information, but the absence of one does not automatically make an older piece uninteresting. Experienced vintage jewelry buyers look beyond a name stamped on the back. Construction, design, stones, hardware, age, condition, and the overall style of a piece can also help determine whether it deserves a closer look. Have a Box of Vintage Costume Jewelry?Pot metal jewelry often turns up as part of larger family and estate collections rather than as a single piece. You may open an old jewelry box and find rhinestone brooches beside sterling pieces, costume necklaces, clip-on earrings, bracelets, watches, signed jewelry, and items you cannot identify. You do not have to become an expert before deciding to sell. At Jewelry Buyers of Costume and Vintage, we specialize in purchasing older vintage and costume jewelry. We work with individuals and families who are downsizing, sorting inherited jewelry, clearing an estate, or simply ready to sell pieces that have been stored for many years. We are especially interested in seeing older collections rather than having someone discard pieces simply because they are not made from precious metal. Selling Vintage Pot Metal Jewelry in Orange CountyIf you have vintage pot metal jewelry, rhinestone jewelry, older costume jewelry, signed pieces, or a mixed inherited collection, consider having the collection reviewed before deciding what to keep, donate, or throw away. Sometimes the most interesting pieces in an old jewelry box are not the ones that initially look the most valuable. Jewelry Buyers of Costume and Vintage is located in Orange, California and works with sellers throughout Orange County and surrounding Southern California communities. Private appointments are available for people interested in selling qualifying vintage jewelry and larger collections. Jewelry Buyers of Costume and Vintage
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