Vintage Jewellery Checking: A Beginner-Friendly List
Despite modern models, vintage jewellery retains its popularity among precious metal lovers. They keep searching for bracelets, rings, or earrings that are between 20 and 100 years old. Some love the nostalgic charms behind those accessories. Others admire the unique craftsmanship of each of the priceless ornaments. Those factors are what make the accessories distinctive and authentic.
Vintage jewellery represents special characteristics of the 20th-century fashion era. In general, it symbolises timeless romance and heirloom value. Those symbols are different from today’s accessories, which mostly speak about minimalism and personal style. If you wear an old bracelet, your overall look will become more elegant. In addition, opting for this type of accessory offers eco-friendly benefits.
In this regard, you purchase jewellery that comes from existing materials instead of requiring new mining ones. This article will explore the value of accessories in today’s market. Besides, find out how to tell if the old gems that you search for are truly original. Scroll down until the last sentence!
Is vintage jewellery worth any money?
Yes, these gemstones are worth your money, especially those that come from high-quality materials or own distinctive design elements. The old jewels from specific eras are also very valuable. For example, a low-end ring from the Victorian Era (1837-1901) is worth between US$300 and $800. The value is higher than the ring from the Art Deco Period (1920-1930s).
The cheapest ring can be between US$100 and $400. In short, the price ranges are very diverse, even within the same era. They depend on several factors, which you can read in small bullets below!
Material and quality: Vintage jewellery from solid gold, platinum, and precious stones (diamonds and rubies) is usually very expensive.
Designers: A lot of buyers give more value for the old gemstones from Henri Picq, Atelier René Boivin, and Oscar Heyman & Brothers.
Era & rarity: Jewels from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian or Art Deco are often more desirable.
Condition: Items with tiny alterations can have high values.
Four ways to identify vintage jewellery for beginners
Are you currently looking for old trinkets? Indeed, for modern consumers, these ornaments can fit into your evening dress, flapper dress, or traditional Javanese gown (kebaya). You can hunt for these ornaments in offline and online markets. For the offline option, you can visit flea or thrift stores or antique jewellery shops.
However, you shouldn’t buy vintage jewellery mostly because of its low price. You need to know simple ways to identify whether or not the earring or brooch that you want is really original. The fake gemstone will instead ruin your entire fashion style. Let’s find out the techniques in the list below!
Looking for hallmarks or stamps
The first step to identifying good, old jewellery is ensuring the gemstone has a tiny mark inside the band or clasp. Moreover, most older pieces have worn or hand-stamped marks, unlike perfectly clean ones, as you commonly find in modern trinkets. Examples of the hallmarks are 9k and 10k for gold purity. For silver, the stamps are usually 925 or Sterling.
Observing the design
Vintage jewellery usually has slightly irregular stone settings because it comes from human hands, unlike modern accessories, which offer perfect stone cutting. Besides, the old gemstones contain detailed engraving, making them peculiar and iconic. You may not discover such a style in contemporary ornaments with sleek and clean designs.
Examining the clasp or fastening
You can understand the age and period of vintage jewellery from this feature. For example, C-clasp brooches are closely related to the pre-1900 period. The early 20th-century gemstones usually have box clasps with a safety latch. Modern ones opt for simple spring clasps. Another instance is trombone clasps in brooches during the Victorian and Edwardian Eras.
Checking the colour of the vintage jewellery
Certain eras have distinctive metal colours for the gemstones. For instance, most gemstones during the Victorian Era were set in yellow gold. Platinum and white gold were famous during the Art Deco period. Bold and warmer tones were more common in the retro era, which happened during and after World War II. Examples of the tones are rose or pink gold and aquamarine blue.
Make your own precious trinkets with the Canggu Silver Jewelry Class!
Vintage jewellery isn’t just about the classy and exquisite decoration. Rather, it remains valuable to this day because it carries stories and values. These are the main factors that make the jewel remain popular to this day. You can add a certain memory to your ring, earring, or brooch. The key to that is designing and making it with your own hands.
Canggu Silver Jewelry Class is ready to make your dream silver accessories come true. In our studio, you will get direct guidance from our experienced local craftsmen. They will share the values behind the jewels, so you will understand that the pieces go beyond physical metals. So, what are you waiting for? Book your session now via this website!
