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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Century Antiques

Antique Arts & Craft Silver & Amethyst Brooch - Circa 1910

£ 85

€97

$113

Antique Arts & Craft Silver & Amethyst Brooch - Circa 1910

£ 85

€97

$113

Century Antiques

WhatSheWants

Pair of Art Deco Catalin & Jewelled Hat Pins Circa 1920

£ 58

€66

$77

Pair of Art Deco Catalin & Jewelled Hat Pins Circa 1920

£ 58

€66

$77

WhatSheWants

Aion Jewellery

German Silver Gilt & Turquoise Choker Buckle

£ 125

€142

$167

German Silver Gilt & Turquoise Choker Buckle

£ 125

€142

$167

Aion Jewellery

Early 20th Century Silver Lizard Brooch

£ 65

€74

$87

Early 20th Century Silver Lizard Brooch

£ 65

€74

$87

Aion Jewellery

Queens Antiques & Collectables

Vintage French Catherine Popesco Brooch Blue & Green Enamel

£ 55

€63

$73

Vintage French Catherine Popesco Brooch Blue & Green Enamel

£ 55

€63

$73

Queens Antiques & Collectables

Underwoodhall

Silver Posy Holder Brooch - Birmingham 1882

£ 125

€142

$167

Silver Posy Holder Brooch - Birmingham 1882

£ 125

€142

$167

Underwoodhall

Irish Silver Brooch - Dublin 1965

£ 49

€56

$65

Irish Silver Brooch - Dublin 1965

£ 49

€56

$65

Underwoodhall

AC Silver

Antique 4.42ct Aquamarine, 1.35ct Ruby, 0.22ct Diamond and 14ct Yellow Gold Brooch Circa 1935

£ 2,950

€3,358

$3,936

Antique 4.42ct Aquamarine, 1.35ct Ruby, 0.22ct Diamond and 14ct Yellow Gold Brooch Circa 1935

£ 2,950

€3358

$3936

AC Silver

Underwoodhall

Silver Mayflower Brooch. Chester 1955

£ 65

€74

$87

Silver Mayflower Brooch. Chester 1955

£ 65

€74

$87

Underwoodhall

Artisan Antiques

Antique Victorian Diamond Tiara Starburst with Convertible Brooch / Pendant c.1890

£ 23,500

€26,750

$31,357

Antique Victorian Diamond Tiara Starburst with Convertible Brooch / Pendant c.1890

£ 23,500

€26750

$31357

Artisan Antiques

Aion Jewellery

Art Deco Austrian Silver & Chrysoprase Brooch

£ 75

€85

$100

Art Deco Austrian Silver & Chrysoprase Brooch

£ 75

€85

$100

Aion Jewellery

Unusual Victorian Engraved Silver Pendant Cross Brooch

£ 75

€85

$100

Unusual Victorian Engraved Silver Pendant Cross Brooch

£ 75

€85

$100

Aion Jewellery

Large Silver & Mother of Pearl Brooch

£ 85

€97

$113

Large Silver & Mother of Pearl Brooch

£ 85

€97

$113

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 1.17ct Ruby & 1.56ct Diamond, 18ct White Gold Bar Brooch c.1910

£ 2,950

€3,358

$3,936

Antique 1.17ct Ruby & 1.56ct Diamond, 18ct White Gold Bar Brooch c.1910

£ 2,950

€3358

$3936

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Art Deco Silver & Paste Diamond Bow Brooch

£ 85

€97

$113

Art Deco Silver & Paste Diamond Bow Brooch

£ 85

€97

$113

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 23.50ct Garnet & 0.28ct Diamond, 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 6,950

€7,911

$9,274

Antique 23.50ct Garnet & 0.28ct Diamond, 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 6,950

€7911

$9274

AC Silver

Vintage 2.15 Carat Diamond & 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1960

£ 2,750

€3,130

$3,669

Vintage 2.15 Carat Diamond & 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1960

£ 2,750

€3130

$3669

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Charles Horner Chester Edwardian Silver & Pearl Brooch

£ 125

€142

$167

Charles Horner Chester Edwardian Silver & Pearl Brooch

£ 125

€142

$167

Aion Jewellery

Rare Victorian Cricket Themed Silver Stick Pin

£ 95

€108

$127

Rare Victorian Cricket Themed Silver Stick Pin

£ 95

€108

$127

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique Pearl & 0.77ct Diamond, 9ct Rose Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1910

£ 2,950

€3,358

$3,936

Antique Pearl & 0.77ct Diamond, 9ct Rose Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1910

£ 2,950

€3358

$3936

AC Silver

Robert Belcher Antiques

Mid 19th Century Pietra Dura Brooch c.1860

£ 975

€1,110

$1,301

Mid 19th Century Pietra Dura Brooch c.1860

£ 975

€1110

$1301

Robert Belcher Antiques

AC Silver

Antique 4.86ct Thai Ruby, 0.88ct Diamond, 9ct Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch c.1890

£ 7,950

€9,050

$10,608

Antique 4.86ct Thai Ruby, 0.88ct Diamond, 9ct Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch c.1890

£ 7,950

€9050

$10608

AC Silver

Antiques in Oxford

Dorrie Nossiter Brooch in Silver and Moonstones

£ 890

€1,013

$1,188

Dorrie Nossiter Brooch in Silver and Moonstones

£ 890

€1013

$1188

Antiques in Oxford

Georg Jensen Silver Brooch 'Mobius' Brooch

£ 320

€364

$427

Georg Jensen Silver Brooch 'Mobius' Brooch

£ 320

€364

$427

Antiques in Oxford

Doubloon

Victorian Opal & Diamond Stickpin

£ 485

€552

$647

Victorian Opal & Diamond Stickpin

£ 485

€552

$647

Doubloon

Aion Jewellery

Antique French Silver & Pearl 'Snowflake' Brooch

£ 75

€85

$100

Antique French Silver & Pearl 'Snowflake' Brooch

£ 75

€85

$100

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 1.50ct Sapphire, 0.60ct Diamond & Platinum Brooch c.1910

£ 2,250

€2,561

$3,002

Antique 1.50ct Sapphire, 0.60ct Diamond & Platinum Brooch c.1910

£ 2,250

€2561

$3002

AC Silver

Antique Crystal, 0.14ct Emerald, 0.58ct Diamond and 18ct Yellow Gold Cupid & Psyche Brooch c.1880

£ 2,250

€2,561

$3,002

Antique Crystal, 0.14ct Emerald, 0.58ct Diamond and 18ct Yellow Gold Cupid & Psyche Brooch c.1880

£ 2,250

€2561

$3002

AC Silver

Doubloon

Victorian Cameo Brooch

£ 98

€112

$131

Victorian Cameo Brooch

£ 98

€112

$131

Doubloon

AC Silver

Antique 1.90ct Diamond, Pearl and Enamel, 15ct Yellow Gold Locket Pendant / Brooch Circa 1880

£ 5,950

€6,773

$7,939

Antique 1.90ct Diamond, Pearl and Enamel, 15ct Yellow Gold Locket Pendant / Brooch Circa 1880

£ 5,950

€6773

$7939

AC Silver

Antique 26.52ct Garnet, 1.23ct Diamond, Pearl and 15ct Yellow Gold Jewellery Suite Circa 1890

£ 4,950

€5,635

$6,605

Antique 26.52ct Garnet, 1.23ct Diamond, Pearl and 15ct Yellow Gold Jewellery Suite Circa 1890

£ 4,950

€5635

$6605

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Charming Silver & Enamel Buckle Brooch

£ 78

€89

$104

Charming Silver & Enamel Buckle Brooch

£ 78

€89

$104

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Art Nouveau Silver & Amethyst Paste Brooch

£ 95

€108

$127

Edwardian Art Nouveau Silver & Amethyst Paste Brooch

£ 95

€108

$127

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 2.05ct Emerald & 0.40ct Diamond, 9ct Yellow Gold Bar Brooch c.1910

£ 4,450

€5,065

$5,938

Antique 2.05ct Emerald & 0.40ct Diamond, 9ct Yellow Gold Bar Brooch c.1910

£ 4,450

€5065

$5938

AC Silver

Penrose Antiques Ltd

1980s Christian Dior Gold & Green Stone Bow Brooch

£ 245

€279

$327

1980s Christian Dior Gold & Green Stone Bow Brooch

£ 245

€279

$327

Penrose Antiques Ltd

Andrew Cox Antiques

An Attractive Mid Century Silver Brooch by John Lauritzen

£ 95

€108

$127

An Attractive Mid Century Silver Brooch by John Lauritzen

£ 95

€108

$127

Andrew Cox Antiques

Antiques in Oxford

Antique Silver Gilt Brooch in Jugendstil Style

£ 395

€450

$527

Antique Silver Gilt Brooch in Jugendstil Style

£ 395

€450

$527

Antiques in Oxford

AC Silver

Antique 0.38ct Diamond, Pearl and Enamel, 18ct Yellow Gold Bracelet / Brooch Circa 1880

£ 6,950

€7,911

$9,274

Antique 0.38ct Diamond, Pearl and Enamel, 18ct Yellow Gold Bracelet / Brooch Circa 1880

£ 6,950

€7911

$9274

AC Silver

Larkin & Gallow

Norwegian Silver Gilt Enamel Leaf Brooch

£ 150

€171

$200

Norwegian Silver Gilt Enamel Leaf Brooch

£ 150

€171

$200

Larkin & Gallow

Doubloon

Art Nouveau Carved Bone Brooch

£ 85

€97

$113

Art Nouveau Carved Bone Brooch

£ 85

€97

$113

Doubloon