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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Celtic Heritage

Scottish Sterling Silver Axe Brooch, Vintage

£ 25

€29

$31

Scottish Sterling Silver Axe Brooch, Vintage

£ 25

€29

$31

Celtic Heritage

Celtic Knot Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Knot Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

Antique 2.10ct Emerald & 7.73ct Diamond Platinum Floral Brooch c.1900

£ 14,950

€17,464

$18,805

Antique 2.10ct Emerald & 7.73ct Diamond Platinum Floral Brooch c.1900

£ 14,950

€17464

$18805

AC Silver

1.25ct Sapphire 2.34ct Diamond & Platinum Brooch c.1925

£ 3,450

€4,030

$4,340

1.25ct Sapphire 2.34ct Diamond & Platinum Brooch c.1925

£ 3,450

€4030

$4340

AC Silver

Antique 4.10ct Aquamarine & Seed Pearl 15ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1880

£ 1,795

€2,097

$2,258

Antique 4.10ct Aquamarine & Seed Pearl 15ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1880

£ 1,795

€2097

$2258

AC Silver

Andrew Cox Antiques

Gorgeous Charles Horner Silver & Amethyst Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Gorgeous Charles Horner Silver & Amethyst Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Andrew Cox Antiques

Celtic Heritage

Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver "Tara" Style Brooch

£ 35

€41

$44

Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver "Tara" Style Brooch

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

1950s Irish Sterling Silver, Connemara Marble & Marcasite Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

1950s Irish Sterling Silver, Connemara Marble & Marcasite Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Celtic Style War Axe Brooch 1950s/1960s

£ 32

€37

$40

Scottish Celtic Style War Axe Brooch 1950s/1960s

£ 32

€37

$40

Celtic Heritage

Sterling Silver Scottish Highlands Sword & Targe Brooch

£ 30

€35

$38

Sterling Silver Scottish Highlands Sword & Targe Brooch

£ 30

€35

$38

Celtic Heritage

Ola Marie Gorie, Puffin Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Ola Marie Gorie, Puffin Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Celtic Heritage

Celtic Knot Sterling Silver Brooch, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Knot Sterling Silver Brooch, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Heritage

Irish Sterling Silver Brooch - Dublin 1967 - Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Irish Sterling Silver Brooch - Dublin 1967 - Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Celtic Heritage

Gaelic Sterling Silver Penannular Brooch - Very Small

£ 45

€53

$57

Gaelic Sterling Silver Penannular Brooch - Very Small

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

Vintage Shell & 9ct Yellow Gold Last Supper Cameo Brooch 1974

£ 1,495

€1,746

$1,881

Vintage Shell & 9ct Yellow Gold Last Supper Cameo Brooch 1974

£ 1,495

€1746

$1881

AC Silver

Digby Antiques (Wiltshire)

Mexican Silver Bird Brooch - Rafael Melendez

£ 120

€140

$151

Mexican Silver Bird Brooch - Rafael Melendez

£ 120

€140

$151

Digby Antiques (Wiltshire)

AC Silver

Antique 1.77ct Diamond, Enamel & Platinum Horse & Huntsman Brooch

£ 6,950

€8,119

$8,742

Antique 1.77ct Diamond, Enamel & Platinum Horse & Huntsman Brooch

£ 6,950

€8119

$8742

AC Silver

Doubloon

Silver Greyhound Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Silver Greyhound Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Doubloon

Amethyst & Pearl Brooch

£ 145

€169

$182

Amethyst & Pearl Brooch

£ 145

€169

$182

Doubloon

FB Antiques

Antique Platinum Aquamarine & Diamond Brooch

£ 3,950

€4,614

$4,969

Antique Platinum Aquamarine & Diamond Brooch

£ 3,950

€4614

$4969

FB Antiques

AC Silver

Vintage 6.87ct Diamond & Platinum Cornucopia Brooch c.1950

£ 13,950

€16,296

$17,547

Vintage 6.87ct Diamond & Platinum Cornucopia Brooch c.1950

£ 13,950

€16296

$17547

AC Silver

Lefays Fine Arts

Carnelian Hardstone Cameo 18ct Gold Brooch of Classical Lady

£ 895

€1,045

$1,126

Carnelian Hardstone Cameo 18ct Gold Brooch of Classical Lady

£ 895

€1045

$1126

Lefays Fine Arts

AC Silver

Antique 0.56ct Diamond & 9ct Yellow Gold Bar Brooch c.1900

£ 1,095

€1,279

$1,377

Antique 0.56ct Diamond & 9ct Yellow Gold Bar Brooch c.1900

£ 1,095

€1279

$1377

AC Silver

Celtic Heritage

Sterling Silver Scottish Themed Sgian Dubh Brooch - Antique

£ 30

€35

$38

Sterling Silver Scottish Themed Sgian Dubh Brooch - Antique

£ 30

€35

$38

Celtic Heritage

Doubloon

1930s Art Deco Opal & Diamond Brooch

£ 345

€403

$434

1930s Art Deco Opal & Diamond Brooch

£ 345

€403

$434

Doubloon

Century Antiques

World War 1 9ct Gold & Tortoiseshell Sweetheart Brooch - Norfolk Regiment - 1916

£ 95

€111

$119

World War 1 9ct Gold & Tortoiseshell Sweetheart Brooch - Norfolk Regiment - 1916

£ 95

€111

$119

Century Antiques

Artsubject

Antique Latvian Solid Silver Sakta Brooch with Butterscotch Amber Stone c.1950

£ 89

€104

$112

Antique Latvian Solid Silver Sakta Brooch with Butterscotch Amber Stone c.1950

£ 89

€104

$112

Artsubject

AC Silver

Natural Pearl & 1.75ct Diamond & 17ct White Gold Brooch

£ 3,950

€4,614

$4,969

Natural Pearl & 1.75ct Diamond & 17ct White Gold Brooch

£ 3,950

€4614

$4969

AC Silver

Celtic Heritage

Early 20th Century Scottish Themed Sterling Silver Agate Wishbone Brooch

£ 40

€47

$50

Early 20th Century Scottish Themed Sterling Silver Agate Wishbone Brooch

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

Vintage 13.65ct Zircon & 0.15ct Diamond 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch 1989

£ 3,950

€4,614

$4,969

Vintage 13.65ct Zircon & 0.15ct Diamond 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch 1989

£ 3,950

€4614

$4969

AC Silver

Celtic Heritage

Antique Scottish Circular Plaid Brooch, Banded Agate, Inner & Outer Silver Rim

£ 40

€47

$50

Antique Scottish Circular Plaid Brooch, Banded Agate, Inner & Outer Silver Rim

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Lefays Fine Arts

Carnelian Cameo 18ct Brooch / Pendant of Classical Lady

£ 1,475

€1,723

$1,855

Carnelian Cameo 18ct Brooch / Pendant of Classical Lady

£ 1,475

€1723

$1855

Lefays Fine Arts

Celtic Heritage

Vintage St. Magnus Brooch, Sterling Silver, Malcolm Gray, Ortak

£ 35

€41

$44

Vintage St. Magnus Brooch, Sterling Silver, Malcolm Gray, Ortak

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Early 20th Century Scottish Agate Brooch - Highlands Style

£ 35

€41

$44

Early 20th Century Scottish Agate Brooch - Highlands Style

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

Doubloon

Victorian Cameo Brooch

£ 115

€134

$145

Victorian Cameo Brooch

£ 115

€134

$145

Doubloon

Gold 1930s RAF Wings Sweetheart Brooch

£ 210

€245

$264

Gold 1930s RAF Wings Sweetheart Brooch

£ 210

€245

$264

Doubloon

Celtic Heritage

Late 19th Century / Early 20th Century Silver Amethyst Citrine Brooch - Light + Delicate

£ 50

€58

$63

Late 19th Century / Early 20th Century Silver Amethyst Citrine Brooch - Light + Delicate

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

19th Century Victorian Scottish Agate Brooch, Kite Mark, Lapel Size

£ 45

€53

$57

19th Century Victorian Scottish Agate Brooch, Kite Mark, Lapel Size

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Antique Silver & Amethyst Plaid Kilt Brooch 1913

£ 55

€64

$69

Scottish Antique Silver & Amethyst Plaid Kilt Brooch 1913

£ 55

€64

$69

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Brooch Sterling Silver, Moss Agate - Thomas Ebbutt

£ 45

€53

$57

Scottish Brooch Sterling Silver, Moss Agate - Thomas Ebbutt

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Material

Period

Origin

Antique Jewellery For Sale

Antique & Vintage Brooches for Sale