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 first part of a two-part episode. Please make sure you subscribe so you can hear part two as soon as it’s released later this week.   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.    All I know is that whenever I have a piece and I can’t find the stone that’s the right size, or I know it would be impossible to find the right kind, the color of the stone, or I know it’s out of production—maybe it’s a really old piece—I turn to her. She hasn’t let me down yet. Many of her stones are out of stock elsewhere, but somehow she manages to find them. We’ll hear all about her business today. Welcome to the program.   Rosie: Thanks for having me. It’s a pleasure. I love to talk about jewelry.   Sharon: I’m so glad you’re here. How did you choose the name Rhinestone Rosie?   Rosie: It was kind of a joke. I was an English minor in college, and alliteration is something that’s very memorable. I was dealing with my sister over the mail. She was sending me pieces and I would sell them. Just as a joke, I signed a check Rhinestone Rosie and it stuck.    Sharon: So, from the get-go, from day one, the name of your business was Rhinestone Rosie.   Rosie: That’s right. That’s correct.   Sharon: Does Rhinestone Rosie refer to any kind of costume jewelry stones or just rhinestones?   Rosie: Oh no, we deal with all kinds of jewelry. Beads and metals and pearls, all materials, and actually all ages. We do a lot of repairs. In our shop, our inventory goes from, I would say, the 1870s through present day.   Sharon: I know you have some pretty old vintage pieces, but I don’t know how old the antique line goes. A hundred years?   Rosie: Exactly.   Sharon: When did you first become attracted to rhinestones?   Rosie: It’s hard to say. My parents had a secondhand business, and they repaired things and sold them. This was in Orlando, Florida. I helped my mom reupho