What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £25 (~$33) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £21 (~$28) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £16 (~$22) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £11 (~$15) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £6 (~$8) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Metal content misdescribed as solid when it is plated, and stones described as natural when they are lab-grown or simulant. Both are common and neither is always deliberate.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether costume jewellery is worth what is being asked:
- Missing stones and rhinestones
- Worn plating showing base metal
- Broken clasps and fittings
- Modern mass-produced pieces
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Signed pieces from recognised costume makers
- Mid-century and Art Deco designs
- Complete parures and matching sets
- Bright, untarnished plating
Common faults and fakes
Hallmarks can be faked but are rarely faked well, and a jeweller will read one in seconds. Plated pieces wear through at edges and clasps first.
Ask for a close photograph of the hallmark and the item’s weight in grams. Those two facts alone put a floor under what it can be worth.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about costume jewellery, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Check the reverse of every piece under magnification. A single signed piece can be worth more than the rest of the lot together, and it is easily missed.
Say honestly how much is broken or missing stones. Job lot buyers expect some spares and price accordingly when told.
Look for hallmarks. Silver pieces mixed into a costume lot are common and worth separating out.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check the reverse for a maker’s signature
- Count the stones and note any missing
- Bundle unsigned pieces rather than listing singly
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The whole lot laid out together, countable
- Any signed pieces photographed individually, front and back
- A close-up of typical clasps and settings
- Any broken, tarnished or missing-stone pieces, grouped honestly
Details to confirm before you commit
- How many pieces and what types
- Any signed or marked pieces, named individually
- Approximate era if you can judge it
- Honest split between wearable pieces and spares or repairs
Live costume jewellery listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse jewellery & watches for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady to lot buyers and crafters year round, with a Christmas lift. Signed pieces sell individually and quickly.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have costume jewellery sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell costume jewellery for what to photograph and how to price, or what costume jewellery is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used costume jewellery?
Around £3 to £16 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check costume jewellery before buying?
Ask for a close photograph of the hallmark and the item’s weight in grams. Those two facts alone put a floor under what it can be worth.
Is buying costume jewellery second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Metal content misdescribed as solid when it is plated, and stones described as natural when they are lab-grown or simulant. Both are common and neither is always deliberate.
See also: all buying guides · costume jewellery value guide · selling costume jewellery · Jewellery & Watches · condition grades.