Floral starburst-style costume brooch with aurora borealis crystals

This piece appears to be a vintage-style costume brooch featuring a six-pointed floral starburst or pinwheel design. The central element is a large, faceted red glass or resin cabochon, surrounded by a halo of smaller round-cut crystals with an aurora borealis (AB) coating, which gives off a multi-colored shimmer including hues of pink, gold, and blue. The petals or rays of the starburst are constructed from a darkened, silver-toned metal, possibly pewter or a base metal with an antiqued finish, characterized by textured, rope-like or milgrain edges. These openwork petals are further accented with smaller inset crystals in various shades of red and amber. The overall construction is consistent with costume jewelry produced in the mid-to-late 20th century. High-quality craftsmanship is suggested by the prong-set appearance of the stones and the intricate casting of the metalwork. No maker's marks or signatures are visible from the upward-facing angle; therefore, the attribution remains speculative and based solely on stylistic elements common in mid-century fashion jewelry. The item shows light surface patina and dust consistent with age, but otherwise appears to have all stones intact.

Based on my visual examination of the provided image, I have assessed this starburst floral costume brooch. The piece exhibits characteristics common in mid-to-late 20th-century fashion jewelry, specifically the use of aurora borealis (AB) crystals and an antiqued base metal finish. While I can see a central red cabochon and intricate openwork casting, I cannot verify the specific metal composition or the manufacturer from a photo alone; a physical inspection would be required to identify any potential maker’s marks on the reverse. The current estimate is based on the assumption that this is a well-crafted, unsigned vintage piece in good condition with all stones present. In the current market, demand for mid-century 'glamour' costume jewelry remains steady among collectors. However, since the attribution to a specific designer like Juliana or Weiss is speculative and unauthenticated, the value reflects its merit as an 'in the style of' vintage accessory. Should the piece be physically examined and found to bear a hallmark from a prestigious maker, the value could increase toward the higher end of the range or beyond. Conversely, if it is determined to be a modern reproduction using lower-quality plastics rather than glass crystals, the value would likely drop below $15. To confirm its status, I would recommend an in-person inspection to verify stone settings, hinge construction, and metal weight. The provided estimate assumes the item is a vintage era-appropriate piece without major structural defects not visible in the photograph.