Classic vs Costume: Which Type of Jewellery is Best?

Guest post by Francesca.

For many people the word “jewellery” conjures up images of exquisite pieces made from precious metals such as gold and platinum. While this is a fairly accurate description of fine jewellery, the majority of pieces we see in the high street are actually what is known as costume jewellery.

Costume jewellery is usually made from less expensive metals and contains semi-precious stones, or even glass or plastic, rather than gems such as diamonds and rubies. This makes it a much more inexpensive option for day to day wear. But which type of jewellery is actually best, costume or classic?

Costume or Classic?

There are no two ways about it, classic jewellery is really special. Fine pieces such as this are usually given as gifts to mark momentous occasions, or are even handed down through the generations. While this means that the jewellery is something a little bit out of the norm, many of us are too worried about losing or damaging a piece of classic jewellery to even consider wearing it on any but the most prestigious occasions.

Costume jewellery on the other hand, is much more suitable for everyday wear. It is usually much less expensive than a classic piece, although that’s not to say that costume jewellery is always cheap. Some pieces of costume jewellery are beautifully crafted, but the settings and the quality of the metal used will usually mean they cost less than a classic piece.

The beauty of costume jewellery is that you can chop and change pieces to reflect the season’s latest trends. You can opt for styles that are the height of fashion at the time of purchase without the high price tag of a classic piece. Costume jewellery is a great way of brightening up any outfit and clever accessorising allows you to constantly update your look without having to change your entire wardrobe every year.

Which is best?

While costume jewellery is great for injecting a splash of fashionable funkiness into your wardrobe, there is still plenty of room in the jewellery box for the classic pieces too. Classic jewellery might not be the height of fashion but it has a timeless quality that few costume pieces can ever compete with.

Classic fine jewellery will stand the test of time and will still look beautiful many decades down the line. The higher quality of the metals used to create such pieces means that there is no chance of green fingers and you won’t find that your jewellery discolours as the years go by.

When it comes down to it, every woman needs a selection of both classic and costume pieces to complete her look. Costume jewellery is perfect for every day wear but a few classic pieces are essential to add a hint of refinement for those special occasions.

Don’t ever be afraid of wearing your classic jewellery when the time is right. Those exquisite pieces need to be shown off and shouldn’t languish in your jewellery box for fear of being lost or damaged. For everyday glamour, however, costume jewellery is ideal. It adds a touch of finesse to the most ordinary outfit and will bring a fashionable edge to your day to day look

This guest post was written by UK fashion blogger Francesca, who loves all things sparkly! She writes on behalf of pearlandbutler.com.