When were brooches invented?

As a practical way to hold your clothes together brooches have been around since at least the Bronze Age and possibly earlier. Prominently on display, such items quickly became a way to impart social wealth and stature through the choice of materials and design. Often Bronze, Silver or Gold was used as the main material as well as precious and semi-precious stones. As fashions changed so too did the look and style of the brooches. Today we no longer need such items for very practical purposes, but still enjoy them for their aesthetic appeal.

How do I know if my brooch is vintage?

When examining the authenticity of vintage brooches, you’ll want to look at the small details for clues of manufacturing date. Closely examining the clasps and hinges of antique and vintage brooches will help identify what specific period in time they were most popular in. If they were by a quality maker or made of solid Silver or Gold then there may be hallmarks present as well. Different eras have different styles of jewellery and stone cuts.

Are vintage brooches worth anything?

Vintage brooches can be valuable if either they were made of precious metal and stones or if they were made by famous designers. Indeed even vintage costume jewellery by the big name Couturiers such as Dior or Yves Saint Laurent can be worth considerable sums now. Because makers do not have to hallmark smaller pieces of gold or silver jewellery below 8 grams it is common for there to be no marks so it is worth taking your brooch to a jeweller to get checked. While most vintage costume jewellery was cheaper when new and remains cheap today, much still has a value for people who just enjoy wearing these fun designs from the past.

Antique & Vintage Brooches for Sale

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Andrew Cox Antiques

Gorgeous Norwegian Silver Gilt & Enamel Brooch

£ 95

€111

$119

Gorgeous Norwegian Silver Gilt & Enamel Brooch

£ 95

€111

$119

Andrew Cox Antiques

AC Silver

French Natural Pearl & 3.10ct Diamond 15ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1930

£ 3,950

€4,614

$4,969

French Natural Pearl & 3.10ct Diamond 15ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1930

£ 3,950

€4614

$4969

AC Silver

Antiques et Cetera

Vintage Large Gold Rhinestone & Baguette Demi Parure - Boxed - Ideal Gift

£ 50

€58

$63

Vintage Large Gold Rhinestone & Baguette Demi Parure - Boxed - Ideal Gift

£ 50

€58

$63

Antiques et Cetera

AC Silver

Antique 4.40ct Basaltic Sapphire and 3.14ct Diamond Pearl & 12ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1905

£ 13,950

€16,296

$17,547

Antique 4.40ct Basaltic Sapphire and 3.14ct Diamond Pearl & 12ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1905

£ 13,950

€16296

$17547

AC Silver

Celtic Heritage

Victorian Scottish Silver Brooch, Arrow & Targe Form with Coloured Agates

£ 125

€146

$157

Victorian Scottish Silver Brooch, Arrow & Targe Form with Coloured Agates

£ 125

€146

$157

Celtic Heritage

Doubloon

Edwardian 9ct Gold & Seed Pearl Foxhead Brooch / Stockpin

£ 165

€193

$208

Edwardian 9ct Gold & Seed Pearl Foxhead Brooch / Stockpin

£ 165

€193

$208

Doubloon

Williams Antiques & Restoration

Aynsley Bone China Brooch

£ 25

€29

$31

Aynsley Bone China Brooch

£ 25

€29

$31

Williams Antiques & Restoration

Celtic Heritage

Antique Silver Scottish Clan Badge "Spes Mea Deux"

£ 130

€152

$164

Antique Silver Scottish Clan Badge "Spes Mea Deux"

£ 130

€152

$164

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

1.38ct Diamond Platinum & 15ct White Gold Drop Brooch c.1925

£ 2,950

€3,446

$3,711

1.38ct Diamond Platinum & 15ct White Gold Drop Brooch c.1925

£ 2,950

€3446

$3711

AC Silver

Antiques in Oxford

Edwardian Scottish Agate Brooch

£ 195

€228

$245

Edwardian Scottish Agate Brooch

£ 195

€228

$245

Antiques in Oxford

Celtic Heritage

Antique, Ornate Penannular Brooch, Silver with Gold Highlights, Amethyst Set Terminals

£ 115

€134

$145

Antique, Ornate Penannular Brooch, Silver with Gold Highlights, Amethyst Set Terminals

£ 115

€134

$145

Celtic Heritage

Antique Scottish Granite & Silver Brooch with Kite Mark, Design Registration

£ 95

€111

$119

Antique Scottish Granite & Silver Brooch with Kite Mark, Design Registration

£ 95

€111

$119

Celtic Heritage

Silver Penannular Brooch, Scottish, Vintage, Celtic Knot Decoration

£ 35

€41

$44

Silver Penannular Brooch, Scottish, Vintage, Celtic Knot Decoration

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Antique Sterling Silver Celtic Knot Brooch Birmingham 1913 "IONA"

£ 59

€69

$74

Antique Sterling Silver Celtic Knot Brooch Birmingham 1913 "IONA"

£ 59

€69

$74

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Sterling Silver Brooch with Orange Stone, Vintage

£ 30

€35

$38

Scottish Sterling Silver Brooch with Orange Stone, Vintage

£ 30

€35

$38

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Connemara Marble Circular Silver Brooch

£ 35

€41

$44

Vintage Connemara Marble Circular Silver Brooch

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Sterling Silver Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

Sterling Silver Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Clan Macdougall Silver Badge on Sword - Late Victorian

£ 140

€164

$176

Clan Macdougall Silver Badge on Sword - Late Victorian

£ 140

€164

$176

Celtic Heritage

1950s Scottish Sterling Silver Brooch by Ward Bros

£ 35

€41

$44

1950s Scottish Sterling Silver Brooch by Ward Bros

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Celtic Ship or Clan Galley Brooch, Vintage Hallmarked

£ 45

€53

$57

Scottish Celtic Ship or Clan Galley Brooch, Vintage Hallmarked

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Irish Silver Annular Brooch 1940s

£ 65

€76

$82

Vintage Irish Silver Annular Brooch 1940s

£ 65

€76

$82

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Scottish Celtic Silver Sword & Targe Brooch

£ 30

€35

$38

Vintage Scottish Celtic Silver Sword & Targe Brooch

£ 30

€35

$38

Celtic Heritage

The Chelsea Bijouterie

Victorian Bee Brooch 15ct Gold Pink Sapphire and Pearl Antique Insect Bug Brooch

£ 870

€1,016

$1,094

Victorian Bee Brooch 15ct Gold Pink Sapphire and Pearl Antique Insect Bug Brooch

£ 870

€1016

$1094

The Chelsea Bijouterie

Celtic Heritage

Antique Scottish Silver Stone Bar Brooch Set with Scottish Stones

£ 45

€53

$57

Antique Scottish Silver Stone Bar Brooch Set with Scottish Stones

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Shetland Silver Craft Anglian Beast Sterling Silver Brooch

£ 105

€123

$132

Vintage Shetland Silver Craft Anglian Beast Sterling Silver Brooch

£ 105

€123

$132

Celtic Heritage

Booth Antiques

Gorgeous Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Citrine Thistle Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Gorgeous Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Citrine Thistle Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Booth Antiques

Celtic Heritage

Antique 9ct Gold Irish Themed Bar Brooch with Connemara Shamrock

£ 135

€158

$170

Antique 9ct Gold Irish Themed Bar Brooch with Connemara Shamrock

£ 135

€158

$170

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Sterling Silver Penannular Brooch 1950s, Hallmarked

£ 50

€58

$63

Vintage Sterling Silver Penannular Brooch 1950s, Hallmarked

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Antique Sterling Silver & Coloured Agate Clan Kilt Plaid Brooch

£ 155

€181

$195

Scottish Antique Sterling Silver & Coloured Agate Clan Kilt Plaid Brooch

£ 155

€181

$195

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Scottish Celtic Sword Axe Shield Brooch, Moonstone Set

£ 38

€44

$48

Vintage Scottish Celtic Sword Axe Shield Brooch, Moonstone Set

£ 38

€44

$48

Celtic Heritage

Pair of Vintage Silver Brooches, Celtic Style Bird & Folige Decoration

£ 70

€82

$88

Pair of Vintage Silver Brooches, Celtic Style Bird & Folige Decoration

£ 70

€82

$88

Celtic Heritage

Antique Scottish Agate, Sterling Silver Brooch, Clan, Plaid, Kilt - Mid 19th Century

£ 260

€304

$327

Antique Scottish Agate, Sterling Silver Brooch, Clan, Plaid, Kilt - Mid 19th Century

£ 260

€304

$327

Celtic Heritage

Silver Ship Brooch, Hamish Dawson Bowman, C.A.I. Iona. Clan Galley

£ 35

€41

$44

Silver Ship Brooch, Hamish Dawson Bowman, C.A.I. Iona. Clan Galley

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

Vintage Blister Pearl Sapphire Ruby Diamond 14ct Yellow Gold Eagle Brooch c.1950

£ 6,950

€8,119

$8,742

Vintage Blister Pearl Sapphire Ruby Diamond 14ct Yellow Gold Eagle Brooch c.1950

£ 6,950

€8119

$8742

AC Silver

Diamond & Ruby 9ct White Gold Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Brooch

£ 1,495

€1,746

$1,881

Diamond & Ruby 9ct White Gold Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Brooch

£ 1,495

€1746

$1881

AC Silver

Celtic Heritage

Rare & Unusual Antique Scottish Sterling Silver Brooch, Row Boat, Dory, Dinghy

£ 330

€385

$415

Rare & Unusual Antique Scottish Sterling Silver Brooch, Row Boat, Dory, Dinghy

£ 330

€385

$415

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Sterling Silver Clan Sword & Shield Brooch Vintage 1950s

£ 35

€41

$44

Scottish Sterling Silver Clan Sword & Shield Brooch Vintage 1950s

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Booth Antiques

Pair of Edwardian Silver & Guilloche Enamel Heart Shaped Hairclips

£ 125

€146

$157

Pair of Edwardian Silver & Guilloche Enamel Heart Shaped Hairclips

£ 125

€146

$157

Booth Antiques

Doubloon

Edwardian Gold & Seed Pearl Brooch

£ 245

€286

$308

Edwardian Gold & Seed Pearl Brooch

£ 245

€286

$308

Doubloon

Vittori & Hive

Victorian Insect Brooch Pin Pinchbeck Emerald Green Ruby Red

£ 64

€75

$81

Victorian Insect Brooch Pin Pinchbeck Emerald Green Ruby Red

£ 64

€75

$81

Vittori & Hive

Material

Period

Origin

Antique Jewellery For Sale

Antique & Vintage Brooches for Sale