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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Aion Jewellery

Iona Scottish Silver Viking Ship Brooch

£ 58

€66

$78

Iona Scottish Silver Viking Ship Brooch

£ 58

€66

$78

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique Pearl & 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 1,795

€2,048

$2,412

Antique Pearl & 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 1,795

€2048

$2412

AC Silver

0.52ct Ruby & 5.32ct Diamond, Platinum Brooch c.1935

£ 9,950

€11,353

$13,370

0.52ct Ruby & 5.32ct Diamond, Platinum Brooch c.1935

£ 9,950

€11353

$13370

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Scottish Provincial Silver Sprouting Tree Trunk Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Scottish Provincial Silver Sprouting Tree Trunk Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Aion Jewellery

French Silver Gilt Filigree Scarf Pin

£ 75

€86

$101

French Silver Gilt Filigree Scarf Pin

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Ola M Gorie Celtic Silver Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Ola M Gorie Celtic Silver Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Aion Jewellery

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Norwegian 19th Century 925 Silver Gilt Enamel Viking Ship Brooch Gustav Gaudernack

£ 5,000

€5,705

$6,718

Norwegian 19th Century 925 Silver Gilt Enamel Viking Ship Brooch Gustav Gaudernack

£ 5,000

€5705

$6718

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Historic David Anderson Silver & Enamel Royal Presentation Bar Crown Brooch

£ 2,500

€2,853

$3,359

Historic David Anderson Silver & Enamel Royal Presentation Bar Crown Brooch

£ 2,500

€2853

$3359

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

AC Silver

Antique 1.10ct Pink Tourmaline & Seed Pearl, 15ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1890

£ 2,550

€2,910

$3,426

Antique 1.10ct Pink Tourmaline & Seed Pearl, 15ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1890

£ 2,550

€2910

$3426

AC Silver

Jo Brayshaw

9ct Gold & Opal Stock Pin c.1900

£ 135

€154

$181

9ct Gold & Opal Stock Pin c.1900

£ 135

€154

$181

Jo Brayshaw

Aion Jewellery

Shetland Silver Seagull Brooch

£ 68

€78

$91

Shetland Silver Seagull Brooch

£ 68

€78

$91

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Gold & Seed Pearl Horseshoe Stickpin

£ 110

€126

$148

Edwardian Gold & Seed Pearl Horseshoe Stickpin

£ 110

€126

$148

Aion Jewellery

Jeff Sims Antiques

Vintage Scottish Silver Celtic Themed Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Vintage Scottish Silver Celtic Themed Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Jeff Sims Antiques

Doubloon

Diamond & Pearl Brooch

£ 425

€485

$571

Diamond & Pearl Brooch

£ 425

€485

$571

Doubloon

Garnet & Pearl Garland Brooch

£ 165

€188

$222

Garnet & Pearl Garland Brooch

£ 165

€188

$222

Doubloon

Aion Jewellery

Danish Silver & Marcasite Golfing Pendant Brooch

£ 58

€66

$78

Danish Silver & Marcasite Golfing Pendant Brooch

£ 58

€66

$78

Aion Jewellery

Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Citrine Thistle Brooch

£ 68

€78

$91

Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Citrine Thistle Brooch

£ 68

€78

$91

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Sweetheart Brooch

£ 68

€78

$91

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Sweetheart Brooch

£ 68

€78

$91

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique Mother of Pearl, 0.65ct Diamond & Peridot, 12ct Yellow Gold Turtle Brooch c.1880

£ 3,950

€4,507

$5,308

Antique Mother of Pearl, 0.65ct Diamond & Peridot, 12ct Yellow Gold Turtle Brooch c.1880

£ 3,950

€4507

$5308

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Unusual German Silver Jockey Whip Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Unusual German Silver Jockey Whip Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Paste Swallow Brooch

£ 125

€143

$168

Edwardian Silver & Paste Swallow Brooch

£ 125

€143

$168

Aion Jewellery

Large Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 125

€143

$168

Large Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 125

€143

$168

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver Gilt Dragonfly Bar Brooch

£ 110

€126

$148

Edwardian Silver Gilt Dragonfly Bar Brooch

£ 110

€126

$148

Aion Jewellery

Digby Antiques (Wiltshire)

Scandinavian Silver & Enamel Brooch

£ 145

€165

$195

Scandinavian Silver & Enamel Brooch

£ 145

€165

$195

Digby Antiques (Wiltshire)

Artisan Antiques

Antique French 18ct Gold Cameo Brooch Agate Victorian c.1880

£ 1,650

€1,883

$2,217

Antique French 18ct Gold Cameo Brooch Agate Victorian c.1880

£ 1,650

€1883

$2217

Artisan Antiques

AC Silver

Art Deco 9.10ct Aquamarine & 0.24ct Diamond, 15ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1925

£ 2,950

€3,366

$3,964

Art Deco 9.10ct Aquamarine & 0.24ct Diamond, 15ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1925

£ 2,950

€3366

$3964

AC Silver

Larkin & Gallow

Danish Anton Michelsen Silver Brooch by Gertrud Engel

£ 125

€143

$168

Danish Anton Michelsen Silver Brooch by Gertrud Engel

£ 125

€143

$168

Larkin & Gallow

Aion Jewellery

Victorian 9ct Gold & Seed Pearl Swallow Brooch

£ 145

€165

$195

Victorian 9ct Gold & Seed Pearl Swallow Brooch

£ 145

€165

$195

Aion Jewellery

Large Hallmarked Silver & Marcasite Orchid Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Large Hallmarked Silver & Marcasite Orchid Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Aion Jewellery

Victorian Silver, Chalcedony and Coral Brooch

£ 95

€108

$128

Victorian Silver, Chalcedony and Coral Brooch

£ 95

€108

$128

Aion Jewellery

9ct Gold & Chrysoprase Charles Horner Stick Pin

£ 155

€177

$208

9ct Gold & Chrysoprase Charles Horner Stick Pin

£ 155

€177

$208

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 0.81ct Diamond, 15ct Yellow Gold Bow Brooch c.1900

£ 1,995

€2,276

$2,681

Antique 0.81ct Diamond, 15ct Yellow Gold Bow Brooch c.1900

£ 1,995

€2276

$2681

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Heart Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Heart Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Striking Edwardian Silver & Moss Agate Shamrock Brooch

£ 95

€108

$128

Striking Edwardian Silver & Moss Agate Shamrock Brooch

£ 95

€108

$128

Aion Jewellery

9ct Gold Edwardian Amethyst & Seed Pearl Brooch

£ 130

€148

$175

9ct Gold Edwardian Amethyst & Seed Pearl Brooch

£ 130

€148

$175

Aion Jewellery

Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Paste Stick Pin

£ 95

€108

$128

Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Paste Stick Pin

£ 95

€108

$128

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 1.45ct Sapphire, 6.16ct Diamond & Natural Pearl, 9ct Yellow Gold Crown Brooch c.1880

£ 10,950

€12,494

$14,713

Antique 1.45ct Sapphire, 6.16ct Diamond & Natural Pearl, 9ct Yellow Gold Crown Brooch c.1880

£ 10,950

€12494

$14713

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Enamel Crescent Moon Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Edwardian Silver & Enamel Crescent Moon Brooch

£ 85

€97

$114

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Paste Diamond Running Fox Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Edwardian Silver & Paste Diamond Running Fox Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Vintage 0.62ct Ruby, 0.50ct Sapphire & 3.15ct Diamond, Platinum Owl Brooch c.1940

£ 5,950

€6,789

$7,995

Vintage 0.62ct Ruby, 0.50ct Sapphire & 3.15ct Diamond, Platinum Owl Brooch c.1940

£ 5,950

€6789

$7995

AC Silver