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Buying Antique Jewelry

Buying antique jewelry can be fun and rewarding, but it's good to know what to look for so that you aren't hoodwinked into buying a worthless trinket. Buying estate and antique jewelry can sometimes even prove to be the least expensive way to get an excellent piece of valuable jewelry for a good price; antique engagement rings, for example, are onekind and usually less expensive than a modern counterpart. Before diving into the history of jewelry, let's take a minute to distiguish between antique and estate jewelry. Antique jewelry is generally anything from before the 1920s. This includes Georgian, Romantic, Early, Middle and Late Victorian, and Belle Epoque/Arte Nouveau. Estate jewelry has no connotation about age; it is simply jewelry that has been previously owned, and may be antique, retro, vintage, or nearly new. Vintage Jewelry usually refers to jewelry from the 1920s to the 1950s, while retro is usually 1960-1985. Art periods and time periods are not synonymous, either. Some art periods overlap, while obviously time periods can't overlap. For example, a brooch from 1909 might be art nouveau, arts and crafts, or Edwardian in design.

Time Periods in Jewelry

'''Georgian Jewelry''' '''Romantic/Early Victorian ''' '''Mid-Victorian''' '''Late Victorian/Belle Epoque''' '''Art Deco''' '''Vintage/Retro'''

Buying Advice

Antique jewelry is unusual in that its value isn't only based on the precious metals and gemstones incorporated into the design. These elements are, of course, important, but even pieces intended as inexpensive trinkets or costume jewelry can have significant value if they are old or interesting enough. For example, Bakelite was an early plastic used to make, among other things, bangle bracelets. Although not expensive when sold, Bakelite has become a popular collectible authentic Bakelite sells for much more than the value of the materials. Buying antique jewelry online can be a risky proposition for a beginner. Before buying a piece, examine all the photographs carefully. If you have questions about the piece, contact the jeweler. Be sure to find out whether the jewelry has been repaired or whether it started out as a different type of ornament. (For example, brooches and pendants can often be interconverted.) Familiarize yourself with antique jewelry terminology. Some of the jewelry popular a century ago has gone the way of the corset, so you may encounter unfamiliar terminology. Lace pins, for example, were used to hold a lady's shawl in place. The glossary linked below has many terms with which you should be familiar. Also take the time to learn a little about the period that interests you beyond the short discussion here; jewelry can be a big investment and is certainly an expensive collecting hobby, so take the time to make sure you're gettingĀ  your money's worth.