What is costume jewelry

Costume jewelry is popular among fashion and set designers. There's also the category, "fashion jewelry." Fashion jewelry is typically made from genuine but less rare & expensive materials, such as sterling silver, crystal, semi-precious stones, and freshwater pearls.
Costume jewelry originated on stage sets, where it was used for props. Jewelry for the stage was designed to be larger than life so that it would be visible to the audience, and it was a cheap way to make the set for a stage production more rich and lively.
Some jewelry designers specialize in costume jewelry which is worn by the rich and famous for a variety of reasons: fashion, security, or a sense of fun. Many individuals who own famous or expensive pieces of jewelry will have costume jewelry replicas made for more casual wear, so that they do not run the risk of losing an irreplaceable piece of jewelry.
Costume jewelry usually starts with a base metal such as tin. The metal is treated to resemble a more expensive metal such as gold, silver, or platinum. Traditionally, costume jewelry used fake stones made from glass or paste. However, some costume jewelry uses real gemstones that are less expensive versions of their precious counterparts. Usually, the “stones” used in costume jewelry are large and involve flashy cuts.
Costume jewelry is made in all sorts of styles from Victorian inspired brooches to imitation pearl necklaces. Rings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry accessories all come in costume as well as regular form. Costume jewelry can also be made at home by enterprising craftspeople, and can be a fun project for kids as well.