Guide to Costume Jewelry Replication

Costume jewelry is appealing to people for a lot of reasons; it’s affordable, it’s pretty, and it comes in a variety of dazzling designs. When a piece of costume jewelry is lost, damaged, or completely unusable due to allergic reactions, it can be a heartbreaking thing for many people. Fortunately, costume jewelry duplication is always an option. Read on to learn more about the costume jewelry custom creation process.

What Is Costume Jewelry?

Costume jewelry refers to cheap jewelry made from non-jewelry metals such as brass, bronze, copper, and miscellaneous alloys. The stones are either glass, plastic, resin, or Swarovski crystals. 

The extremely cheap materials mean that costume jewelry is exceptionally affordable in comparison to fine jewelry. However, these materials are what we call a “one-and-done” type of metal; once cast, they usually can’t be modified without some changes to the design. Sometimes, the alloys aren’t even conducive to standard metalwork, making repairs such as earring posts and ring sizing impossible.

Why You Should Consider Costume Jewelry Duplication

In the event that you have a sentimental piece of costume jewelry, it may be in your best interest to get the item duplicated in higher-grade material. Here are several reasons to consider the switch:

1. Durability: Costume jewelry is cheaply made, so it’s not the best in terms of durability. Over time, faux stones will fall out, plating will wear off, and the metal may even start to crumble.
   
   

   This pendant was recreated in sterling silver and gold plated with an antiqued engraving. The original item was made from zinc and couldn't take plating.

2. Alterations & Repairs: As previously mentioned, some costume jewelry metals cannot be worked with. This means that you won’t be able to repair any broken items or size any rings if necessary. 
3. Allergies: Non-jewelry metals or base metals can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. This is often due to nickel content, which can be found in jewelry alloys.

By switching to a fine jewelry duplication, the durability of the item is much better, the item can be sized, and you won’t trigger an allergic reaction as most fine jewelry metals are hypoallergenic.

Costume Jewelry Duplication

Once you’ve decided to go ahead with replicating your costume jewelry, here comes the fun part! First, think about what metal you want to create your item in. Sterling silver is the most affordable fine jewelry metal, and you can have it plated in yellow or rose gold to keep costs low if you want it to be a different color. Next, think about what you want to replace the stones with. Costume jewelry stones are very cheap and can even burn during metalwork, so we don’t recommend using the stones from your original item in the new piece. Consider cubic zirconia or synthetic gemstones if you want the replication to be affordable.

After you’ve hammered out the details, it’s time for the jeweler to get to work! They first make a 3D design to cast the metal, and then produce the item. The stones are set, and then polishing, cleaning, and plating. Finally, they finish off the item. 

The original ring was made from alloy; the client wanted it remade in 14k white gold.

Cost and Turnaround Time

Custom creation isn’t easy, because it can be quite labor intensive. At sterling silver, custom creation prices start at $250 and increase depending on weight and labor required. Turnaround time is typically 3-4 weeks.

Now you’re all set on costume jewelry duplication! If you want to get started, comment below and we’ll help you out.