Costume - or non-precious - jewellery has been worn since ancient times. This title discusses how these early pieces influenced the development of costume jewellery in the 20th century: from the Great Depression, when many could only afford glass stones, to the fantasy pastes of the 1950s which bore no resemblance to precious gems.

Recounts more than 100 years of design history, accompanied by archive images, fashion photography, and specially commissioned illustrations of period pieces.