Exploring The History Of Rhinestone Necklaces

By Angela Briggs


Rhinestones became popular around the thirteenth century when crystals were discovered in the Rhine River. They were hand cut and polished at that time and very time consuming to make. The stones were prized for their brilliance and were made into rhinestone necklaces and other jewelry for the upper classes.

Mass production of these stones became possible by the eighteenth century. An invention by Swarowski revolutionized the industry and made the stones available to people of all classes. The crystals were made of glass and with treatment could be made in numerous colors. In the United States eighty percent of crystals present are created by Swarovski.

These stones have a varied history of popularity. In the period between nineteen twenty and nineteen forty they enjoyed a high use volume because the population of America and other countries was involved with high fashion combined with jewelry to match. The older generation leaned more towards individual pieces such as broaches or hair clips.

Popularity for crystals diminished tremendously in the twenty years including the nineteen fifties and sixties. The younger generation was not interested in sparkly jewelry. They determined that the natural look was more to their liking and began using leather and cords to create their adornments. The stones were rediscovered with the disco dance era and an advanced sense of fashion.

The neck is the perfect showcase for jewelry that makes a statement about the person wearing it. With the multiple styles of neck wear available and a multitude of colors and shapes to choose from one can truly stand out among their peers. Those who have long slim necks can accentuate that characteristic by selecting chokers or collars and wearing a deeply cut V neck top.

Another fashion arrives in the form of a bib. It covers a large part of the bodice with intricate designs to draw the eye. Bibs can be worn with low cut gowns or with high necked tops as well. As an all around favorite one or more long strands can be worn. They can be worn long or doubled and for a less formal look tied in a knot in front.

Vintage pieces are becoming a popular collection item. Many of these pieces were created by custom jewelers and have high value for resale. People look for them in old jewelry boxes belonging to their grandparents that have been handed down to them. Another venue for collection is estate sales or yard sales of people who have older items to offer. David Swarovski gave a gift to Liberace that was a fifty one pound crystal valued at nearly fifty thousand dollars twenty years ago. It is worth much more now.

Rhinestone necklaces have been a part of man's history since before the thirteenth century. They have held on to their place as a preferred mode of expression for centuries and will continue to be an intricate part of societies fashion world in the future. You can look forward to these pieces being handed down from mothers to daughters for generations to come.




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