The term “costume jewelry” was first used in a 1933 article in the New York.

Costume Jewelry is the jewelry manufactured as ornamentation for the people to complement a particular fashionable outfit or “costume”. Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit.

The term “costume jewelry” was first used in a 1933 article in the New York. Many of the early examples of costume jewelry were larger-than-life imitations of fine jewelry, but the industry soon spawned innovative artists who experimented with a variety of shapes, materials, and color palettes. Designers of costume jewelry were often allowed to experiment wildly and use imagination for their work, which was not at the time encouraged in the world of traditional .
During the 1930s, the Great Depression brought many new customers to the costume jewelry market, as those who lost fortunes could no longer afford fine jewelry. White metal became the most common material in inexpensive metal jewelry, but World War II restrictions on the use of metals were evident in the production of gold and silver plated pieces.

Starting in the 1950s, most large costume jewelry companies starting selling their fashion jewelry to department stores, which was an innovative marketing strategy at the time. By the late 1990s, the government was beginning to play an important role in the industry by pushing costume jewelry manufacturers to upgrade facilities in order to comply with environmental legislation.

Today, costume jewelry is still a billion-dollar industry, are one of the biggest costume jewelry sellers, followed in volume by necklaces and pins. One-third of all costume jewelry purchased in theUnited States is purchased as a gift. Two-thirds are purchased for individual use.