The 60s Jewelry Everyone is Obsessed With! - Episode #165

[00:00:00] Welcome to the The Jewelry Reseller's Podcast, your go-to source for all things shiny, sparkly, and of course, profitable. I'm your host, Desiree, and I'll be your guide on this dazzling journey through the world of reselling jewelry. We'll be diving deep into the art and science of reselling, uncovering valuable tips, insider secrets, and sharing stories from successful jewelry resellers.

[00:00:25] We'll explore market trends, industry news, and even discuss how to find those hidden gems just waiting to be discovered in thrift stores, estate sales, and beyond. So, if you're dreaming of turning your hobby into a hustle, or if you're a seasoned pro looking to stay at the top of your jewelry reselling game, join me each week for insights, stories, and more on the Jewelry Resellers Podcast.

[00:00:51] The 1960s may have been the most dramatic decade in jewelry history. In less than 10 years, jewelry went from elegant pearls and matching sets to giant geometric earrings, futuristic space age designs, psychedelic colors, and free-spirited bohemian styles.

[00:01:16] No other decade changed so much so quickly. The world was changing, the space race was underway, youth culture was taking over, fashion rules were being broken, and for the first time, jewelry became less about tradition and more about self-expression. And for us vintage jewelry resellers, that makes the 1960s one of the most exciting decades to study.

[00:01:44] It's a decade filled with iconic designs, collectible makers, and pieces that are still hiding in thrift stores, estate sales, antique malls, and maybe even jewelry jars today. Let's take a look at the jewelry that defined the 1960s and why collectors are still searching for it more than a half a century later.

[00:02:07] So that's the direction we're going in today, jewelry friends. Hello, my name is Desiree, and you know that I am your jewelry reselling bestie. So the 1960s completely changed the jewelry industry. If the 1950s were polished, elegant, and ladylike, the 1960s came in and broke all the rules.

[00:02:30] This was the decade of social change, youth culture, music, space exploration, and experimentation. And of course, the jewelry reflected all of it. When you're sourcing vintage jewelry today, the 1960s is a decade that really deserves your attention. Because so many of the styles that emerged during this era continue to influence fashion even now.

[00:03:00] Certain designers, materials, and trends from the 1960s remain highly collectible, while other pieces are often overlooked and can still be found at thrift stores, estate sales, and online auctions for surprisingly affordable prices. In this episode, we're going to talk about the major jewelry trends of the 1960s,

[00:03:24] the materials that defined the decade, and the designers that collectors are still hunting for today. We're also going to cover some celebrity influences, and what jewelry resellers should keep an eye out for when they're sourcing. So before we get into that, you know I like to remind you to make sure you visit our website, JewelryResellersPodcast.com, because over there, you can opt in to our newsletter.

[00:03:54] And when you do, you'll get instant access to a download I created. And it's titled, The 20 Best-Selling Vintage Jewelry Brands That All Resellers Should Know. And if you're looking to learn how to flip jewelry for profit, I invite you to join my free community. It's called Jewelry Jumpstart, and you can get more information and join for free at JewelryJumpstart.com.

[00:04:19] So one of the biggest things to understand about the 1960s is that it was really two decades wrapped into one. The early 1960s still carried some of the elegance and sophistication of the 1950s. Women wore coordinated jewelry sets, pearls remained popular, and fashion was relatively conservative.

[00:04:45] But by the mid and late 1960s, everything began to shift. Young people were driving fashion trends instead of the older generations. The British Invasion, the rise of rock music, the mod movement, the space age, and eventually the hippie movement all transformed how people dressed and accessorized.

[00:05:13] As a result, the jewelry from the 60s can vary dramatically depending on when it was made. A piece from 1961 may look completely different from something that was made in 1969. One of the most recognizable trends of the decade was mod jewelry. Now the mod movement originated in London and quickly spread throughout Europe and the United States.

[00:05:40] Mod fashion embraced bold geometric shapes, clean lines, graphic patterns, and futuristic designs. Now jewelry designers then responded with oversized circles, squares, rectangles, and abstract forms. Black and white color combinations became extremely popular.

[00:06:02] Acrylic, enamel, plastic, and other non-traditional materials started appearing in jewelry design. So when you're outsourcing, don't automatically dismiss plastic jewelry. And I know we've talked about that here on the podcast. Some of the most iconic mod pieces were intentionally made from plastic materials.

[00:06:28] Today, certain examples can be quite collectible, particularly when they're signed by a known designer. The 60s also introduced a fascination with futuristic design that was heavily influenced by the space race. After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957 and the United States accelerated its space program,

[00:06:55] space exploration became part of everyday culture. Fashion designers embraced what became known as space age fashion. Jewelry began featuring sleek metallic surfaces, sculptural shapes, starburst motifs, moon-inspired designs, and abstract forms that looked like they belonged on a spaceship.

[00:07:23] Silver-toned metals became especially popular because they complemented the futuristic aesthetic. Now designers also experimented with unusual textures and dramatic silhouettes. Some pieces almost resemble modern art sculptures rather than traditional jewelry. One style that continues to attract collectors today is the large statement necklace.

[00:07:51] The 1960s saw a movement toward bold, eye-catching accessories. Necklaces became larger, earrings became more dramatic, and jewelry often served as the focal point of an outfit. Many of these statement pieces incorporated colorful enamel, rhinestones, beads, and textured metals. If you've ever found a huge necklace and wondered who would wear something that bold,

[00:08:20] well, there's a good chance that you're looking at a piece inspired by 1960s fashion. The popularity of costume jewelry continued to grow throughout the decade. By this point, costume jewelry had become widely accepted and fashionable. Women no longer viewed fine jewelry as the only desirable option.

[00:08:43] Instead, they embraced affordable pieces that made it easy to change their look every day. Now this change in style also benefited some costume jewelry manufacturers that are still highly collectible today.

[00:09:03] Companies like Wise, Lisner, Coro, Sarah Coventry, and Trafari remained important players throughout the decade. Now let's talk about Trafari for a moment because this is one of the names that every reseller probably already knows.

[00:09:26] Trafari had established itself as one of the premier costume jewelry companies in America by the 1960s. Their pieces were known for quality construction, sophisticated designs, and excellent craftsmanship.

[00:09:41] During the 1960s, Trafari continued producing beautiful gold-toned jewelry, floral motifs, textured metal designs, and modernist pieces that remained popular with collectors. Many vintage Trafari items still sell very well today, especially signed pieces in excellent condition.

[00:10:06] So when sourcing jewelry, always flip pieces over and look for the Trafari mark because even relatively simple designs can have value. And another major design or designer of this era was Sarah Coventry. And you all know how much I love Sarah Coventry jewelry and have been sourcing, selling, and collecting it for years.

[00:10:31] But unlike many jewelry companies that sold through department stores, Sarah Coventry became famous through home jewelry parties. And if that sounds familiar, it's because it's the business model that was similar to companies like Tupperware and Avon. So women would gather in homes to shop for jewelry, creating a social shopping experience that became extremely popular through the 60s.

[00:10:59] Sarah Coventry jewelry often featured large stones and bold designs and statement-making pieces. And while some of these pieces are more common than others, certain examples continue to attract collectors and vintage jewelry enthusiasts. And of course, we can't talk about 60s jewelry without also mentioning Kenneth J. Lane. Now, Kenneth J. Lane helped elevate costume jewelry to a new level.

[00:11:28] His designs were glamorous, fashionable, and often worn by celebrities, socialites, and even royalty. Lane understood that women wanted dramatic jewelry that looked luxurious without the price tag of fine jewelry. Today, vintage Kenneth J. Lane pieces remain highly sought after and are often recognized by collectors for their bold style and quality construction.

[00:11:58] And another designer worth mentioning is Monet. I know we all are familiar with Monet jewelry. During the 60s, Monet became known for sleek gold-tone and silver-tone jewelry featuring clean lines and modern styling. Many Monet pieces age remarkably well and still look contemporary decades later.

[00:12:21] And this is one reason why I always encourage resellers not to overlook signed Monet pieces. Some may not bring huge money, but they often sell because they're wearable, recognizable, and attractive to modern buyers. Now, one of the most fascinating developments of the 60s was the growing popularity of wearable art jewelry.

[00:12:44] Designers began treating jewelry as artistic expression rather than simply fashionable decoration. Abstract shapes, asymmetrical designs, and unusual materials all became more common. This movement laid the groundwork for many of the artisan and studio jewelry trends we would see in later decades.

[00:13:11] Now, for resellers, this means that unusual doesn't always mean undesirable. Sometimes the strangest-looking vintage piece turns out to be exactly what a collector is searching for. As the decade moved into the late 1960s, another major influence began shaping jewelry trends. And that was the hippie movement.

[00:13:38] If mod jewelry was sleek, geometric, and futuristic, hippie jewelry was the complete opposite. It embraced nature, individuality, self-expression, and a rejection of traditional fashion rules. Natural materials became incredibly popular. Wood, leather, shells, beads, stones, feathers, handcrafted elements.

[00:14:07] All kinds of things started appearing in jewelry designs. People wanted jewelry that felt personal rather than mass-produced. Now, long beaded necklaces became a staple of the era. Layering multiple necklaces together was common, and many pieces featured earthy colors inspired by nature.

[00:14:29] Turquoise became especially popular along with coral, amber, jade, and other natural-looking stones. And this trend is important for resellers to know because many vintage pieces from the late 1960s don't immediately scream valuable the way a rhinestone brooch might.

[00:14:51] A simple strand of beads, a handcrafted pendant, or a piece featuring natural materials can easily be overlooked. Today, buyers who love bohemian fashion and festival fashion and vintage-inspired looks are often drawn to these pieces because the aesthetic remains surprisingly current.

[00:15:16] The growing interest in Native American jewelry during the 1960s also deserves a mention. Southwestern styles gained popularity as turquoise jewelry became fashionable nationwide. Sterling silver pieces featuring turquoise cabochons, stamp work, and traditional craftsmanship attracted attention from collectors and fashion-conscious consumers alike.

[00:15:44] So, of course, when you're sourcing today, you'll want to learn the difference between authentic Native American jewelry and the mass-produced tourist pieces. Genuine examples created by skilled artisans can command significantly higher prices than similar-looking commercial pieces. The late 60s also saw the rise of what many collectors call flower-power jewelry, and this is a lot of fun.

[00:16:12] Floral motifs appeared everywhere. Daisies, sunflowers, butterflies, leaves, heart shapes, and nature-inspired themes reflected the optimism and free-spirited culture of the era. These motifs remain highly collectible because they instantly capture the look and feel of the decade. One thing I find interesting about 60s jewelry is how color became such an important design element.

[00:16:40] Earlier decades often focused heavily on clear rhinestones and traditional elegance. The 1960s embraced bold color combinations. We were seeing bright oranges, vivid yellows, hot pinks, turquoise blues, lime greens, and psychedelic color palettes really became fashionable. Jewelry often mirrored the colorful artwork, clothing, and music culture that defined the decade.

[00:17:10] When sorting through jewelry, don't automatically dismiss a piece because it seems loud or over the top. Sometimes those wild color combinations are exactly what make a piece desirable to collectors. So the 60s were also a great decade for earrings. Now large clip-on earrings remained popular throughout much of the era because many women still didn't have pierced ears.

[00:17:37] So you'll often find oversized floral earrings, geometric earrings, dangling bead earrings, and dramatic statement styles from this period. Now clip-on earrings are frequently overlooked by newer resellers because many modern buyers prefer pierced styles.

[00:17:59] The reality is that vintage jewelry collectors often don't care, but some collectors wear clip-ons while others may convert them. A desirable design can still sell well regardless of the closure type. Alright, now let's talk about celebrities because celebrity influence played a huge role in jewelry trends during the 60s. One of the biggest fashion icons of the decade was Jackie Kennedy.

[00:18:29] Jackie Kennedy represented elegance, sophistication, and timeless style. Her jewelry choices influenced millions of women. She frequently wore pearls, classic gold jewelry, and refined pieces that reflected her polished image. Even today, many people associate strand pearls and understated jewelry with the Jackie Kennedy look.

[00:18:56] Then there was Elizabeth Taylor, who represented an entirely different side of jewelry culture. Now we've talked about Elizabeth Taylor here on the podcast, and her legendary jewelry collection became almost as famous as her acting career. She owned extraordinary gemstones, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and pearls.

[00:19:19] Her love of jewelry helped keep public fascination with fine jewelry alive during a decade that was increasingly embracing costume pieces. So whenever people talk about celebrity jewelry collections, Elizabeth Taylor is usually one of the first names that comes up. Another major influence was Twiggy.

[00:19:44] Twiggy's mod style became one of the defining fashion looks of the 60s. Her short haircut, dramatic eye makeup, and youthful fashion choices helped popularize the geometric and futuristic jewelry styles that became so closely associated with the decade. When collectors talk about authentic mod fashion, Twiggy is often part of that conversation.

[00:20:12] Now music also influenced jewelry trends in a way that had never really happened before. The Beatles helped popularize youthful fashion and self-expression. As the decade progressed and artists embraced more experimental styles, jewelry became more eclectic and individualistic.

[00:20:34] So by the end of the 1960s, musicians such as Janis Joplin were known for wearing layered necklaces, oversized rings, ethnic-inspired jewelry, and unconventional accessories. And of course, we can't forget the major style influence of Diana Ross and the Supremes.

[00:20:59] Their glamorous stage presence introduced millions of women to sparkling rhinestone jewelry, dramatic earrings, and elegant accessories. So while the mod movement was gaining popularity in London, and Jackie Kennedy represented classic sophistication in Washington,

[00:21:22] Diana Ross helped define a glamorous look that continues to inspire collectors and fashion lovers even today. Vintage photos of the Supremes are a great reminder that jewelry wasn't just about fashion in the 60s. It was also about confidence, performance, and personal style. And this helped pave the way for the jewelry trends of the 70s,

[00:21:49] which would become even more free-spirited and expressive. Now I want to talk about the materials because this can help tremendously when you're identifying jewelry from the 60s. Gold-toned metal remained popular, but silver-toned jewelry experienced a major surge thanks to that space-age aesthetic we talked about earlier.

[00:22:15] Textured metals became fashionable, and many designers experimented with brushed, hammered, and unrefined finishes. Of course, acrylic and lucite appeared in countless designs as well. Transparent, colorful, and lightweight, these materials allowed designers to create larger pieces without the excessive heaviness.

[00:22:41] Lucite jewelry from the 1960s has developed a strong collector following. Certain examples featuring unusual shapes, embedded elements, or designer signatures can sell surprisingly well. And enamel was another material that defined the decade. Brightly colored enamel allowed manufacturers to create vibrant graphic designs that fit perfectly with the bold fashions of the era.

[00:23:10] Now one category that deserves special attention from resellers is rhinestone jewelry. Many people assume rhinestone jewelry peaked in the 1950s. But beautiful rhinestone pieces continue to be produced throughout the 1960s as well. Designers begin incorporating more modern settings, unusual stone shapes, and contemporary color combinations.

[00:23:37] Signed rhinestone jewelry from companies like Wise, Juliana, Kramer, and Regency continues to attract collectors today. This is why I always tell people to slow down when they're sorting jewelry. One signed piece hidden among a pile of tangled necklaces can completely change the value of an entire jewelry lot.

[00:24:03] The 60s were also a fascinating decade because jewelry became increasingly accessible. Fashion trends were no longer dictated by wealthy socialites or Hollywood movie stars. Young people had spending power and manufacturers responded by producing affordable jewelry that reflected current trends.

[00:24:26] And as a result, there's still a tremendous amount of 60s jewelry circulating in the secondary jewelry resale market today. So this is good news for us resellers because it means opportunities are still out there. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars at an auction house to find vintage jewelry from this era.

[00:24:47] Some of the best pieces are still hiding in estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets, antique malls, and yes, even sometimes jewelry jars. So now let's talk about if you're a reseller today, what specific pieces from the 60s should you be paying attention to? Well, we've already covered quite a few of them in this episode.

[00:25:13] Names like Trafari, Wise, Juliana, Regency, Kramer, Sarah Coventry, Monet, Napier, and Kenneth J. Lane continue to attract collectors. And some pieces are fairly common, but others can sell for surprisingly strong pieces depending on the design, rarity, and condition.

[00:25:38] So large statement necklaces continue to perform well because they fit both vintage fashion and modern styling. Buyers often wear them with simple outfits to create a focal point. And the same is true for oversized earrings, sculptural brooches, and dramatic cocktail rings. And of course, mod jewelry remains one of the most recognizable categories from the 60s.

[00:26:07] Pieces featuring geometric shapes and bold color blocking, black and white designs, lucite elements, and futuristic styling often appeal to both vintage collectors and fashion buyers. Now, one thing I do want to mention, a category that I think deserves special attention, is wearable art jewelry. Sometimes these pieces don't look like traditional jewelry at all.

[00:26:37] They may feature an unusual shape, or maybe an abstract form, or maybe mixed materials, or even some type of odd artistic construction. So a lot of resellers may pass these pieces over because they may seem strange or difficult to identify. Meanwhile, collectors who appreciate mid-century designs are actively searching for pieces just like these.

[00:27:03] So the key is learning how to recognize quality and to look for substantial construction, interesting craftsmanship, unusual materials, and thoughtful design details. And of course, I cannot emphasize enough that condition becomes especially important when we're dealing with 1960s jewelry.

[00:27:28] So the more you understand about vintage jewelry history, the easier it becomes to spot opportunities that other people may miss. And one of the things I love most about the 60s is how much variety exists within a single decade. You have the polished elegance of the early 1960s, and you have the bold geometric experimentation of the mod movement. You have futuristic excitement of the space age.

[00:27:56] Then you have the earthy artistic influence of the hippie movement arriving later in the decade. Each of those trends produce completely different types of jewelry, yet all of them belong to the same remarkable period in history. The 1960s were a decade of transformation. Fashion became younger, more experimental, and more expressive.

[00:28:25] Jewelry evolved from an accessory into a form of personal identity. People weren't simply wearing jewelry to match an outfit anymore. They were using it to communicate who they were, what they believed, and how they wanted to present themselves to the world. This spirit of self-expression is one reason the 60s jewelry remains so popular today. Collectors appreciate the history.

[00:28:55] Fashion lovers appreciate the design. And resellers appreciate the opportunity to uncover hidden gems that still exist in the second-hand marketplace. If you're building your knowledge on vintage jewelry, I think the 1960s is an absolutely delicious decade worth studying. The styles are distinctive, and the designers are memorable.

[00:29:19] And many of the trends continue influencing jewelry and fashion more than a half a century later. So the next time you're outsourcing jewelry or browsing an estate sale or sorting through a box of costume jewelry, keep an eye out for those bold colors and geometric shapes, textured metals, lucite pieces, oversized earrings, and signed designer treasures.

[00:29:45] Because you might just discover that one of the most revolutionary decades in jewelry history is sitting right there in front of you. And that's what makes vintage jewelry so fun. Because every piece tells a story. And, as we've talked about today, sometimes that story begins in the 1960s. So let me know your thoughts on this one, jewelry friends.

[00:30:11] Do you have any jewelry in your collection from the 1960s? Have you sourced some? Have you sold some? I'd love to hear your thoughts and get your feedback. Thank you so much for spending this time with me, and I'll check in with you again really soon.