I was "chatting" with a customer recently about Vintage jewelry.  And we were lamenting about the new jewelry.  Oh I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with new costume jewelry, but there are some areas of concern. 
 
First, the vintage jewelry was made better as a rule.  When a designer put his/her name on a piece they wanted to be proud of that piece. Today's costume jewelry has so many opportunities to be really "fine" costume jewelry. Better processes for making better stones.  Better processes for making finishes that last forever.  Just better overall.  Unfortunately, it's hard to find "better" costume jewelry without paying an arm and a leg for it. There are some fine pieces out there, and you will pay the price for them.
 
So I come to vintage jewelry.  Jewelry that has stood the test of time.  Even the lower end pieces.  One of the common problems that I do find with vintage jewelry is in the pieces that have glued in stones.  The glue hardens and dries out and then the stone falls out.  If lost, it becomes a bit of a test to try and find a stone to replace it with.  A vintage stone-one that has a chance of matching in style, design, and process made. Thus the advent of Ebay's selling "vintage craft or broken jewelry lots".  But since Ebay began, those lots have gone up, up, up in price.  Because Ebay Seller's have become savvy to people dealing in vintage costume jewelry needing those stones!
 
BUT overall the vintage jewelry is worth both the time and trouble in not only finding it, but fixing it as well.  As my customer and I were discussing, you pay $30-75 for a good NEW piece of costume jewelry and unfortunately, many of those pieces are either made overseas somewhere, or use parts that were made overseas. This presents a problem.  NO, I'm not saying ALL these new pieces fall into those categories. But I myself have had the experience of paying for a pretty piece, worn it twice or thrice, and it breaks.  Somewhere.  The catch, or a link, or a chain.  And that is frustrating.  I have vintage pieces that have stood the test of time........a LONG time.  Maybe there is a bit of finish wear because a previous owner didn't take the care to make sure it was stored properly. Or one of my stones has been replaced or reglued.   But overall, a little finish wear is not a big deal to me.  Especially when I have paid the exact same price for a new piece and the finish has come off or worn off in 1/50th the amount of time.
 
So in evaluating New Versus Vintage - and I do admit to partiality - I vote for vintage everytime.  There is something to be said for the artists that created those pieces and the mass production of the new pieces today.  Pretty, shiny, but overall not at all worth the price in my opinion.  Vintage pieces have stood the test of time and have their minor flaws to prove it. But they are still here and lovely and in working condition.  And quite possibly will be here in much the same condition in another 10 or 25 years.  Can you say that of a much worn piece of newer costume jewelry?  I'm sorry, I can't. 
 
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/katstrinkets
 
Kathryn Atkins
Kat's Colorado Trinkets