Antique and vintage jewellery posseses an allure every one of its own! Once you think of antique jewellery, you tend to think about the kind of thing that turns on the Antique Road Show, the Faberge jewellery that’s valued in the a large number of pounds, but obviously the majority of vintage pieces are more modest and affordable. I started in antique fairs some years ago, and jewellery was always popular, whether rings, brooches, or necklaces or bracelets.
Antique jewellery is generally defined to be 100 years of age or even more, lakshmi hara whereas vintage is frequently defined as older pieces made following the Retro Modern amount of the 1940s and around and such as the 1980s. It is a very wide field, and usually the terms are interchangeable.
Indeed, for those on a budget, pre-owned, or pre-loved jewellery as the trade prefers to call it, is a good alternative to buying new jewellery. I discovered that vintage jewellery is usually well-made and attractive, especially since, with the rising price of gold and other precious metals, the more unattractive and/or damaged pieces are actually melted down for his or her scrap metal value, leaving the better pieces intact. The thought of owning a unique gemstone or wedding ring that’s vintage or pre-loved is something which can be viewed as as often these rings will soon be cheaper compared to modern equivalent but just nearly as good quality if not better. I believe it’s nice to perhaps reflect on days gone by history of a classic piece and speculate on the real history behind it!
So where do you discover antique and vintage jewellery? Some jewellery shops sell second-hand jewellery, and you can buy online. eBay is a favorite source, but be mindful – it’s easy to obtain carried away and bid a lot more than you intended! And the rule of caveat emptor applies – which means ‘buyer beware’ and I find when something looks too good to be true, then generally it is!
When buying antiques, you’ll need to make sure of what it is you’re buying, so always get an effective receipt from owner which shows that that is genuine. It will state the gems used, and that any diamonds are genuine and not substitutes such as for instance cubic zirconium. Gold and silver must certanly be hallmarked – all British silver and gold is, but foreign items such as for instance Indian jewellery might not be. An unbiased appraisal may be worth obtaining in case of valuable items.
My advice to anyone interested in buying antique or vintage jewellery is to learn as much as you possibly can. Read up about any of it and get to know what you are looking for. Knowledge is power. It’s also fun!
Another idea is to take into account vintage-style. New jewellery that’s been made in a vintage style is also very popular and often good value. On my website, are many retailers who do lovely ranges of attractive jewellery and watches in traditional and antique styles to accommodate any taste, whether Victorian, Art Nouveau or Art Deco, so feel liberated to take a peek, and remember, buying from these retailers is safe and easy.
