What you’ll learn in this episode:   Why it’s harder to find quality vintage and modern costume jewelry today than in years past How Rosie secured a spot as an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow  What Rosie looks for in the pieces she collects, wears and sells in her shop Where the term “costume jewelry” came from and its history Why Rosie is one of the only people in America who will repair costume jewelry   About Rosie Sayyah Rosie Sayyah has been selling and repairing vintage and estate jewelry from her shop, Rhinestone Rosie, in Seattle since 1984. In the early 1980s, Rosie felt her family tradition of dealing in antiques calling to her. Upon leaving her corporate career in television, she decided to open a jewelry store that not only had unique, exciting items for sale, but also where she could restore greatness to jewelry that had fallen into disrepair. Teaching herself about vintage costume and estate jewelry culture and repair through books, hobby shops, and hands-on experience, Rosie has become a national expert in the field. In the late 1990s, she began appearing regularly on “Antiques Roadshow” on PBS TV and continues today as one of their expert appraisers.   Photos available on TheJewelryJourney.com   Additional resources: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter   Transcript: Rosalie Sayyah, aka Rhinestone Rosie, first got jewelry lovers’ attention as an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow. But she has earned her customers’ loyalty for her ability to repair vintage costume jewelry and perfectly match missing rhinestones when no one else can. She joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about why so few jewelers will repair costume jewelry; what she looks for in the pieces she buys; and how to start a costume jewelry collection of your own. Read the episode transcript here.   Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the second part of a two-part episode. If you haven’t heard part one, please head to TheJewelryJourney.com.    Today, I’m talking with Rhinestone Rosie. You may already be familiar with Rosie. She has her own retail outlet in Seattle, and she does a strong mail order business. You may be familiar with her by seeing her on Antiques Roadshow giving the price of vintage jewelry to people who want to know. Welcome back.   Sharon: Why don’t they make them anymore?   Rosie: I don’t know exactly why, but take a company like Schreiner. They’re so collectable. Most of the stones that were put in that jewelry in the 50s and 60s came from a secret stash that he had from the early 20s and 30s. They just don’t make them anymore. A lot of new jewelry is Lucite, plastic stones, not glass, not crystal, so there is a problem with soldering, of course.   Sharon: That’s interesting. I didn’t think about that. Do you ever have a problem letting something go if somebody brings in a whole collection, and you’re going to sell 9% of the pieces, but you want one that you want to hold onto for whatever reason?   Rosie: I’m not sure I understand that question.    Sharon: Do you ever have a problem or a question of letting something go when somebody brings in 99 pieces?   Rosie: I want to buy it and they don’t want to sell it?   Sharon: Or they want to sell it and you think you should be selling it, but you can’t let it go, so you buy it?   Rosie: Of course, yes. There are pieces that never hit the sales floor, you bet.   Sharon: That’s interesting. Do you teach classes on vintage jewelry and rhinestones? You said you do a lot of talking.   Rosie: The only thing I’ve done lately has been the talks. I used to do classes in my shop. I would drag chairs from the tavern down the block. But we’ve rearranged the floor plan of our shop, and it doesn’t suit itself very well. I’m still very, very aware of Covid, I’m sorry. I do wear a mask when I’m in my shop. People don’t have to wear a mask if they come in. That’s why we’re only open three days a week, to limit exposure. I probably wouldn’t do classes that way f