Antique and vintage jewelry have a charm of their own! When you think of antique jewelry, you tend to think of the sort of thing that shows up at the Antique Road Show, Fabergé jewelry that is valued at thousands of pounds, but of course most of the antique pieces are much more modest and accessible. I started at antique fairs a few years ago, and jewelry was always popular, whether it was rings, brooches, necklaces, or bracelets.
Antique jewelry is typically defined as 100 years or older, while vintage is often defined as older pieces made after the Retro Modern period of the 1940s and up to and including the 1980s. It is a very broad field and the terms are often interchangeable.
In fact, for those of you on a budget, used jewelry, or used as the trade prefers to call it, is a great alternative to buying new jewelry. I found that antique jewelry is usually well made and attractive, especially since, with the rising price of gold and other precious metals, less attractive and / or damaged pieces are now melted for their scrap value, leaving the best pieces intact. . . The idea of having an unusual engagement ring or wedding ring that is antique or pre-teen is something to consider, as very often these rings will be cheaper than the modern equivalent, but of good quality, if not better. I think it’s good to perhaps reflect on the past history of a vintage piece and speculate on the history behind it!
So where do you find old and antique jewelry? Some jewelry stores sell second-hand jewelry and you can buy it online. eBay is a popular source, but be careful, it’s easy to get carried away and bid more than you bargained for! And the caveat emptor rule applies, which means ‘buyer beware’ and I find that if something seems too good to be true, it generally is!
When shopping for antiques you need to make sure what it is you are buying so always get a proper receipt from the vendor proving the item is genuine. It should indicate the gems used and that the diamonds are genuine and not substitutes like cubic zirconia. Gold and silver should have a hallmark of contrast – all British silver and gold are, but foreign items, such as Indian jewelery, may not be. It may be worth getting an independent appraisal for valuable items.
My advice to anyone interested in buying antique or vintage jewelry is to learn as much as you can. Read about it and find out what you are looking for. Knowledge is power. It’s fun too!
Another idea is to consider the vintage style. New jewelry that has been made in a retro style is also very popular and is often good value for money. On my website, there are many retailers that make beautiful ranges of attractive jewelry and watches in traditional and antique styles to suit every taste, be it Victorian, Art Nouveau, or Art Deco, so feel free to take a look and remember, shop at these retailers. it is safe and easy.
Written by Michelle Michaelis, who used to work with vintage jewelry and still has a soft spot for some retro jewelry.
