If you want to feel a personal connection with the past, then there is nothing more special than a piece of Antique or Vintage Jewellery. Here are pieces which were created to stand testament to our own lives, which have been wrapped or hung around our ancestor's bodies in good times as well as bad, and often represent the finest work of the Crafts Men and Women who created them. They incorporated precious materials such as Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Diamonds into timeless forms and created jewellery such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings and more. By being worn these were items with a very personal story to each owner, but also bold symbols of social status in their day. They have closely followed fashions such as the Classical Revival of the Georgian Era, Victorian Mourning Jewellery as well as the more Modernist designs of the 20th Century.
When purchasing old fine jewellery, you are not just buying into the public and private story of its time, but an underlying asset in the precious materials it has been made from. That antique and vintage jewellery is more popular than ever around the world is hardly surprising as these are pieces that can be cherished and worn on a daily basis. And when these pieces are tied to special events such as Wedding and Engagement Rings then so much the better.
At LoveAntiques we have a fine selection of Antique and Vintage jewellery for all your wearing and collecting needs.
£ 58
Sterling Silver Necklace Vintage Pocket Watch Chain Style With T Bar 16" Length
£ 58
riversidemaximus23
£ 48
Pocket Watch Chain Spinner 12ct Gold Plated Vintage 1970s Victorian Revival
£ 48
riversidemaximus23
£ 125
Aion Jewellery
Large Victorian Silver Cross Pendant Necklace
£ 65
Mantiques Bazaar
Masonic Leather Jewellery Box
£ 25
Mantiques Bazaar
Tan Leather Cufflink Box
£ 17
Aion Jewellery
Silver & Enamel Cornish 'piskie' Good Luck Brooch
£ 95
Mantiques Bazaar
Leather Cufflink Box
£ 30
Mantiques Bazaar
Late Victorian Blue Velvet Brooch Box
£ 25
Aion Jewellery
14ct Gold & Diamond Victorian Stick Pin
£ 165
Mantiques Bazaar
Victorian Leather Jewellery Box Possibly for a Necklace
£ 30
Aion Jewellery
Silver & Enamel V & Tudor Rose Bar Brooch
£ 85
Aion Jewellery
Pair of Vintage Silver & Chrysoprase Cufflinks
£ 65
Mantiques Bazaar
Late Victorian Mappin & Webb Bracelet Box
£ 50
Mantiques Bazaar
Cartier Red Leather Ring Box
£ 50
£ 145
Mantiques Bazaar
Victorian Goldsmith's Alliance Leather Jewellery Box
£ 40
Aion Jewellery
Norwegian Silver Drop Pendant Necklace
£ 125
Mantiques Bazaar
Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Tan Leather Ring Box
£ 30
Aion Jewellery
Pair of Modernist Silver & Enamel Earrings
£ 75
Mantiques Bazaar
Fine Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Leather Ring Box
£ 45
Mantiques Bazaar
Early 20th Century Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Bracelet Box
£ 50
Aion Jewellery
Art Deco Silver Gilt Panel Link Bracelet
£ 160
Aion Jewellery
Norwegian Vintage Silver Solje Pendant Necklace
£ 75
Andrew Cox Antiques
A Lovely Mid Century Danish Silver Brooch
£ 100
£ 70
£ 1,550
£ 1,475
Artisan Antiques
9ct Solid Gold Cigar/cigarette Pick Drill with Engine Turned Decorations - Asprey & Co Ltd
£ 295
9ct Solid Gold Cigar/cigarette Pick Drill with Engine Turned Decorations - Asprey & Co Ltd
£ 295
Artisan Antiques
£ 95
£ 68
Deco Original Ltd
Stylish Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Jewellery Box
£ 150
£ 89
Deco Original Ltd
Goergian Birds Eye Maple Jewellery Box
£ 175
£ 2,250
£ 4,950
Antique 0.95ct Diamond and 18ct White Gold Solitaire Style Ring Circa 1925
£ 4,950
AC Silver
Doubloon
18ct Gold,5 Diamond Ring
£ 185
£ 68
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Multi Function Jewellery Storage Drawers
£ 825
£ 5,950
Like all antique and collectable items the value of antique jewellery varies widely. Some will be far cheaper than its new equivalent and thus very good value, while others will be far higher than a new piece due to its desirability and rarity. The factors which will make the item more expensive are the current value of the underlying materials used such as the weight and quality of the gold, weight, cut and clarity of the diamonds, the calibre of the maker as well as the overall aesthetic look of the piece. Much (but not all) fine antique jewellery will be hallmarked somewhere which allows you to work out some of these factors, but if you are not sure then it is always worth showing it to a specialist.
The choice of jewellery is a very personal thing so it is fair to say that there is not one single type of antique jewellery which is the most popular. Sometimes the decision may come down to size as rings, bangles and necklaces are very size specific. Alternatively pendants, earrings and brooches are universally popular because no intrinsic size is needed. Although classic forms of jewellery never go out of fashion, other more stylised antique pieces are subject to the same fads and revivalist fashions just like new pieces.
Every reputable antique jewellery company will tell you that for jewellery (or any item) to be called antique it should be at least 100 years old. Details that tell you the age of a certain antique ring said to be Georgian, for example, should be easily available either via the Hallmarks or stylistically. Since the design of many classic pieces have not changed for perhaps several hundred years, never assume your piece is a genuine antique just because the shape is more traditional.