Top designers featured vintage jewelry from the early 1940s and 50s in their fall 2004 collections.

Now there is a hot trend to find the real thing.

Jewelry manufacturers and designers from decades ago knew how to create the "bling." There is a strong resurgence of interest in vintage jewelry.

"We are moving away from just strictly collecting it, where people thought it was just stuff that my grandmother had, to things that are actually fashionable that people want to wear right now and we're moving into fall we should see that even more," vintage jewelry collector Pam Wiggins said.

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	Vintage jewelry Vintage jewelry is making a comeback.

As early as this past February, the catwalks of New York featured the fall trend. The Perry Ellis collection showed jackets adorned with jewelry from the 50s and 60s.

Women and designers want vintage jewelry because it's different and looks less mass produced.

"This is a duet clip. This actually has a mechanism along the back where you can separate it to where it is two dress clips which were very popular in the 1930s and going into the 40s. Or you can put it back together and wear it as a pin," Wiggins said.

Another 1940s piece is typical of the era. It has the look of real diamonds and sapphires but it's all costume.

"This piece is from the 50s. You can tell by the aurora borealis tones here in the center of this piece. They didn't start using this iridescent finish that we call aurora borealis until the 1950s," Wiggins said.

The heavy gold plating on one of Wiggins' 60s pieces was typical from that decade. The hook at the top made it versatile to wear as a necklace or pin.

When on the hunt for vintage gems, Wiggins said to look for a good manufacturer and for signed pieces. The stones should be clear, not cloudy. It's important to take special care of your vintage pieces. Use caution with how you store and clean your treasures.

"One of the things you want to keep in mind when you are storing your jewelry, especially with pieces that have a finish on them like the aurora borealis or glass pieces, try to keep them from knocking around too much because they will scratch and sometimes break," Wiggins said.

An easy way to clean the jewelry is to spritz glass cleaner (like Windex) on the tip of a cotton swab and wipe clean. That will make your vintage jewelry last long enough for another generation to enjoy someday.

Wiggins'new book about collecting and selling on eBay will be out in September. You can see more of her collection and several other vintage jewelry vendors at the Antique Mall located off 183 near Burnet Road.

	Style notes
A couple of Austin designers are featured in August's issue of In Style magazine. Cat Swanson has her fall fur piece paired with a Nicole Miller coat, and a white blouse under an Asian-inspired vest. The article also mentions you can purchase the items at Factory People. And Anthony and David or "Nak" as he likes to be called now, of Anthony Nak are also featured in the issue. Flip-flip charity fundraiser News 8 Austin's Erica Riggins won the most votes for her flip-flop design featured at Highland Mall. She won $1,000 that was donated to The Settlement Home.