Jewelry is among my favorite things to thrift. It is such a cheap thrill. Easy to transport if you find it on a trip, generally not breakable if you have to shove it in your purse.
Better yet — some of it can be quite valuable!
Fine jewelry is fairly easy — if you can identify stones and metals, you will probably recognize the good stuff. But costume jewelry can be a little different. Yes, some of it is made exceptionally well, with great attention to detail, but the maker is really what makes a piece rare or valuable.
Below, part two of my favorite under-the-radar jewelry brands to hunt for (both because of their value, sure, but also because these makers have turned out some dope pieces over the years).
THE DESIGNER: R.J. Graziano
R.J. Graziano goldfish earrings
Why It’s Worth Thrifting:
R.J. Graziano makes statement jewelry that often looks remarkably similar to much more expensive jewelry by brands like Chanel, Christian Lacroix, or Yves Saint Laurent — and it is almost always priced much more affordably!
Graziano for Neiman Marcus belt
Per its official website, the company was founded in New York in 1975 and received an early boost when Bloomingdale’s asked Graziano himself to create an exclusive collection. Over time, the brand expanded into other major department stores, including Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus.
Over the following decades, Graziano has produced a variety of fashion jewelry: chunky chains, belts, rhinestone collars, cocktail rings, chandelier earrings, and colorful stone-covered pieces. The designs offer something of a snapshot of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
*A note on the labels: Jewelry is generally marked R.J. GRAZIANO or simply GRAZIANO in block lettering.
