Costume jewellery is used to complement and balance an outfit worn for a special occasion. Normally these types of ornaments are made of artificial gemstones and materials that look like gold and silver. Because of this reason these items are not very expensive. Plastic and glass are also used in the making of earrings and rings belonging to this category.

This term was coined in the twentieth century when such jewellery items were required for cinema and theatre performances. These items are designed to be easily disposable. Sometimes this type of jewellery is also known as antique jewellery. Many online stores display and sell these items as they are in high demand nowadays.

Precious and semi-precious gemstones are usually not used in the making of such items. This is because the finished pieces are supposed to be showy and colorful to grab instant attention. Diamonds,
pure gold and pearl earrings, necklaces and bracelets are too elegant to be used as costume items.

Sometimes these ornaments are also called fashion, trendy and fake items. When we hear the term fashion jewellery, instantly some flashy and bright items come to mind. These jewellery items are meant for stage performances and theatre plays in order to keep the audience interested for the entire duration.

Leather, wood, pewter, nickel and brass are some of the materials used in the making of this type of jewellery. Some relatively expensive items may also contain a small proportion of gold, platinum and sterling silver. It depends on the purpose of the jewellery to decide how pricey it should be. Normally this type of jewellery needs to be replaced regularly and therefore people usually opt for inexpensive items.

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