About Costume Jewelry Rings
- Costume jewelry rings tend to be flashier than "traditional" ones.
Costume jewelry rings tend to be large and flashy. However, as with most things, these measurements are relative. Some costume jewelry rings have one extremely large stone, while others are slightly "calmer" and set with a variety of colored, bezeled stones. They can be made of gold, platinum, diamonds, gemstones, or glass and stainless steel. They often come in different combinations of these components as well, such as sterling silver and diamonds. - Costume jewelry also may be worked into exotic animal forms like this rhinestone leopard.
Costume jewelry rings can be worn on any finger of the hand, including the thumb. Many women make an ambiguous statement about their relationship status by wearing costume jewelry rings on the ring finger of their left hand. These rings are clearly not traditional engagement or wedding rings, but they serve to keep many men at a distance. Costume jewelry rings are also ideal for adding color to your look without accessorizing with a bright piece of clothing. - Costume jewelry rings tend to have oversize stones. For example, a stone in a traditional setting for an engagement ring generally ranges from 1/4 of a carat to 3 carats. However, costume jewelry stones are often 5, 7 or even 10 carats, because the point is to be flashy rather than particularly elegant. Whether the stones are real or fake is also much less of an issue when it comes to costume jewelry.
- When you are purchasing costume jewelry, you should have a goal in mind before you start to buy. If you want a "trademark" item that people know you always wear and that expresses your personality, then you will need to purchase a better caliber of ring, and get a good setting even if you use an artificial stone. However, if your costume jewelry ring is just for fun every once in a while, then the quality of the setting will matter much less.
- Many people think of costume jewelry rings as "paste" rings that are made of cheap plastic stones and with metal that will turn your fingers green. However, costume jewelry rings can be extremely valuable, and some are even investment-quality pieces of jewelry. There is nothing wrong with wearing a costume jewelry ring proudly and on a regular basis as long as it is appropriate for the occasion.
- When you buy costume jewelry rings from a jeweler, always make sure that you understand what you are getting. While $10, $20 or even $50 costume jewelry rings cannot be expected to hold up forever and are almost certainly plated with metal rather than solid metal such as gold, a high-quality costume jewelry ring should come with an appraisal and a warranty. If you are buying for the purposes of investment, always make sure to get an independent appraisal before you buy.
