These Vintage Christmas Ornaments Are Actually Worth A Lot Of Money

In a world where everyone seems to be on the hunt for the newest and the latest of just about everything, there is still something to be said about the nostalgia of Christmas — and that nostalgia could actually mean money in the bank. If you've got old ornaments, just like those old kitchen gadgets and cookware you might have inherited from you grandmother that are packed away in the garage, vintage Christmas ornaments could be worth a small fortune. So, as you get down the boxes of ornaments and sort through your hoard of modern novelty ornaments, budget-friendly plastic baubles, and lovingly wrapped antique ornaments handed down from generation to generation, be on the lookout for something collectors go wild for: Shiny Brite ornaments. These glass ornaments have not only retained their value but can go for anywhere from $5 to $90 and with complete, mint condition sets going for much more at antique dealers and online retailers.

The price you can fetch for these ornaments today is actually quite shocking, considering they originally sold for two cents to 10 cents at Woolworth's in 1939. Americans today spend a great deal more on holiday decorations than they did in those days, but if you consider the initial minimum cost of a Shiny Brite ornament purchased in 1939 and the minimum resale value today, you are looking at a minimum 2,400% return on that investment, something which could really come in handy with today's Christmas shopping.

Shiny Brite Ornaments are a brand of Christmas ornaments that first appeared on the market in 1937 and, according to Kovels Antique Traders, were the most popular ornaments in the United States throughout the '40s and '50s. Created by a German immigrant named Max Eckardt who grew up near the German village of Lauscha where blown glass Christmas ornaments were first crafted in the 1840s, Eckardt brought the technique used to create his beloved childhood Christmas ornaments to America and created a style of ornaments that would soon grace Christmas trees across the country.

Shiny Brite ornaments remained in production until the 1960s when plastic ornaments started to gain popularity. During the time of their production, they were made in partnership between Eckardt, F.W. Woolworth's, and the Corning Glass Company. Using a machine-blown glass technique, these delicate ornaments were made of lightweight glass lined with silver nitrate, which is what gave them the shiny appearance that has stood the test of time in the Shiny Brites still around today.

Whether you come across a box of Shiny Brites or a collection of valuable antique books hiding away in the attic, you have choices. You can either hang onto them and hand them down to future generations (after all, these types of items have obviously been kept around for their sentimental value and make great family heirlooms) or you can sell them to cash in on their worth. Shiny Brite ornaments, which were once a staple of Christmas trees in American households, have retained their value and can fetch a pretty penny depending on the era of production and the condition they are in today.

If you opt to sell your Shiny Brites, you can do so easily with online retailers like eBay and Etsy, but you can also sell them in person to many antique dealers across the country who know what they are looking for. In order to ensure you get the most for your items, you'll want to make sure they are authentic, since other companies have attempted similar styles and the name was even revamped after production ended by another producer, Christopher Radko. One of the best ways to ensure you have an authentic Shiny Brite and not a reproduction is by the box, which will clearly indicate that they are Shiny Brite and made in America. You can also look for a patent number on the ornament indicating the age of the design and the ornament, and check for the telltale silvery shine that indicates a glass ornament lined with silver nitrate.