Vintage rhinestone jewelry is quite beautiful to look at and is intended to simulate diamonds. The best rhinestones are cut from quartz crystal. Vintage rhinestone jewelry comes in many exciting shades and they give off a wonderful sparkle effect.

These pieces of crystal were originally sifted from the Rhine River in Austria and after World War II they became as exciting as diamonds. Over the years, original rhinestones gave way to mass produced glass rhinestones but there are a few features that the finer variety offer. They will be hand faceted, prong set and polished. The sparkle will help to determine the quality. The craftsmanship will often come through in a piece of vintage jewelry as well.