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

Email me the latest items

Sort by:

Newest

Items:

Celtic Heritage

Late 19th Century Antique Silver Long Pin Penannular Brooch in the Style of 1st/2nd AD

£ 45

€53

$57

Late 19th Century Antique Silver Long Pin Penannular Brooch in the Style of 1st/2nd AD

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Silver Clan Badge - Clan Davidson - Vintage Lapel Size

£ 40

€47

$50

Silver Clan Badge - Clan Davidson - Vintage Lapel Size

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Silver Ship Brooch - Made for the Christian Girls Association in Scotland

£ 25

€29

$31

Scottish Silver Ship Brooch - Made for the Christian Girls Association in Scotland

£ 25

€29

$31

Celtic Heritage

Silver, Amethyst Scottish Celtic Brooch - Thomas Ebbutt - Vintage 1953 - Lapel Size

£ 50

€58

$63

Silver, Amethyst Scottish Celtic Brooch - Thomas Ebbutt - Vintage 1953 - Lapel Size

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Silver Hunting Horn Brooch Scottish Celtic Themed

£ 50

€58

$63

Vintage Silver Hunting Horn Brooch Scottish Celtic Themed

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Rare John McGilvray Scottish Silver Pseudo Penannular Brooch, Hallmarked 1926 Vintage

£ 75

€88

$94

Rare John McGilvray Scottish Silver Pseudo Penannular Brooch, Hallmarked 1926 Vintage

£ 75

€88

$94

Celtic Heritage

Irish Connemara Marble & Marcasite Silver Brooch - Hallmarked Dublin 1967

£ 40

€47

$50

Irish Connemara Marble & Marcasite Silver Brooch - Hallmarked Dublin 1967

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Celtic Cross Silver Brooch - Hallmarked Glasgow 1947

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Cross Silver Brooch - Hallmarked Glasgow 1947

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Sterling Silver Clan Graham Badge - Small & Light

£ 25

€29

$31

Scottish Sterling Silver Clan Graham Badge - Small & Light

£ 25

€29

$31

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

11.19ct Banded Agate, Enamel & 18ct Yellow Gold Cockerel Brooch

£ 1,895

€2,214

$2,384

11.19ct Banded Agate, Enamel & 18ct Yellow Gold Cockerel Brooch

£ 1,895

€2214

$2384

AC Silver

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Vintage Silver Plaid or Kilt Brooch - Thomas Ebbutt 1948

£ 55

€64

$69

Scottish Vintage Silver Plaid or Kilt Brooch - Thomas Ebbutt 1948

£ 55

€64

$69

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Themed Antique Silver Sgian Dubh Brooch

£ 40

€47

$50

Scottish Themed Antique Silver Sgian Dubh Brooch

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Silver Celtic Ship Brooch Hallmarked Birmingham 1957

£ 40

€47

$50

Vintage Silver Celtic Ship Brooch Hallmarked Birmingham 1957

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Irish Vintage Silver Tara Style Brooch - Patrick Archer, Cork Na/688

£ 90

€105

$113

Irish Vintage Silver Tara Style Brooch - Patrick Archer, Cork Na/688

£ 90

€105

$113

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Silver Scottish Clan Badge "Semper Paratus" Edinburgh 1956 Medlock & Craik, Inverness. Nr/1015

£ 40

€47

$50

Vintage Silver Scottish Clan Badge "Semper Paratus" Edinburgh 1956 Medlock & Craik, Inverness. Nr/1015

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Silver Scottish Galley or Viking Longboat at Sea Hallmarked

£ 38

€44

$48

Vintage Silver Scottish Galley or Viking Longboat at Sea Hallmarked

£ 38

€44

$48

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Silver Scottish Clan Family Brooch with the Motto "Virtus in Arduis".

£ 50

€58

$63

Vintage Silver Scottish Clan Family Brooch with the Motto "Virtus in Arduis".

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Mystical Beast Sterling Silver Brooch, Hamish Dawson-bowman Vintage 1940s. Or/723

£ 95

€111

$119

Scottish Mystical Beast Sterling Silver Brooch, Hamish Dawson-bowman Vintage 1940s. Or/723

£ 95

€111

$119

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Silver Brooch, Mid to Late Victorian, Antique, Agates

£ 110

€128

$138

Scottish Silver Brooch, Mid to Late Victorian, Antique, Agates

£ 110

€128

$138

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Scottish Celtic Silver Ship Brooch Hallmarked, Ward Brothers 1961

£ 33

€39

$42

Vintage Scottish Celtic Silver Ship Brooch Hallmarked, Ward Brothers 1961

£ 33

€39

$42

Celtic Heritage

Antique, Early 19th Century Scottish St. Andrew, Saltire, Silver, Plaid or Kilt Brooch

£ 420

€491

$528

Antique, Early 19th Century Scottish St. Andrew, Saltire, Silver, Plaid or Kilt Brooch

£ 420

€491

$528

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Scottish Celtic Malcolm Gray Small Silver Brooch

£ 40

€47

$50

Vintage Scottish Celtic Malcolm Gray Small Silver Brooch

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Antique Victorian Silver & Agates Scottish Themed Hunting Horn Brooch

£ 75

€88

$94

Antique Victorian Silver & Agates Scottish Themed Hunting Horn Brooch

£ 75

€88

$94

Celtic Heritage

Antique Silver Scottish Clan Badge "Deo Juvante" Possibly Clan Duff.

£ 95

€111

$119

Antique Silver Scottish Clan Badge "Deo Juvante" Possibly Clan Duff.

£ 95

€111

$119

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Antique Late Victorian Sterling Silver & Agates Plaid or Kilt Brooch

£ 120

€140

$151

Scottish Antique Late Victorian Sterling Silver & Agates Plaid or Kilt Brooch

£ 120

€140

$151

Celtic Heritage

Bagpipe Scottish Brooch Sterling Silver with Smokey Quartz - Hallmarked Edinburgh 1986

£ 50

€58

$63

Bagpipe Scottish Brooch Sterling Silver with Smokey Quartz - Hallmarked Edinburgh 1986

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Victorian Silver Scottish Celtic Plaid Brooch, Banded Agate on Slate Backing

£ 90

€105

$113

Victorian Silver Scottish Celtic Plaid Brooch, Banded Agate on Slate Backing

£ 90

€105

$113

Celtic Heritage

Doubloon

Silver Scottish Celtic Brooch

£ 100

€117

$126

Silver Scottish Celtic Brooch

£ 100

€117

$126

Doubloon

Celtic Heritage

Early Silver Zoomorphic Penannular Brooch of the Initial Form - Lr/331

£ 250

€292

$314

Early Silver Zoomorphic Penannular Brooch of the Initial Form - Lr/331

£ 250

€292

$314

Celtic Heritage

Late 19th Century / Early 20th Century Scottish Silver Plaid or Kilt Brooch, Natural Stones

£ 135

€158

$170

Late 19th Century / Early 20th Century Scottish Silver Plaid or Kilt Brooch, Natural Stones

£ 135

€158

$170

Celtic Heritage

Moonstone & Silver Penannular Brooch, Vintage, Very Small, Lapel Size

£ 95

€111

$119

Moonstone & Silver Penannular Brooch, Vintage, Very Small, Lapel Size

£ 95

€111

$119

Celtic Heritage

John Hart Vintage Silver Sword & Shield Brooch, Hallmarked Edinburgh 1963

£ 35

€41

$44

John Hart Vintage Silver Sword & Shield Brooch, Hallmarked Edinburgh 1963

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Silver Crowned Luckenbooth Brooch Smokey Quartz Gemstone, Edinburgh 1978

£ 60

€70

$75

Scottish Silver Crowned Luckenbooth Brooch Smokey Quartz Gemstone, Edinburgh 1978

£ 60

€70

$75

Celtic Heritage

Vintage Scottish Silver Targe Shield Brooch Hallmarked Chester in 1936

£ 48

€56

$60

Vintage Scottish Silver Targe Shield Brooch Hallmarked Chester in 1936

£ 48

€56

$60

Celtic Heritage

Artisan Antiques

Antique Victorian 18ct Gold Star Blue Enamel Pearl Brooch Pin - c.1880

£ 450

€526

$566

Antique Victorian 18ct Gold Star Blue Enamel Pearl Brooch Pin - c.1880

£ 450

€526

$566

Artisan Antiques

Celtic Heritage

Late Georgian to Early Victorian, Scottish Agate Memorial Brooch

£ 390

€456

$491

Late Georgian to Early Victorian, Scottish Agate Memorial Brooch

£ 390

€456

$491

Celtic Heritage

Antiques in Oxford

20th Century Silver Brooch by Georg Jensen

£ 450

€526

$566

20th Century Silver Brooch by Georg Jensen

£ 450

€526

$566

Antiques in Oxford

Celtic Heritage

Mid Victorian Scottish Celtic Multi Stone Brooch - No/649

£ 130

€152

$164

Mid Victorian Scottish Celtic Multi Stone Brooch - No/649

£ 130

€152

$164

Celtic Heritage

Antiques in Oxford

Abstract Brooch, Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen

£ 340

€397

$428

Abstract Brooch, Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen

£ 340

€397

$428

Antiques in Oxford

Celtic Heritage

1950s Silver Clan Badge, Macmillan Clan, John Hart "Iona Scotland"

£ 85

€99

$107

1950s Silver Clan Badge, Macmillan Clan, John Hart "Iona Scotland"

£ 85

€99

$107

Celtic Heritage

Material

Period

Origin

Antique Jewellery For Sale

Antique & Vintage Brooches for Sale