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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The Chelsea Bijouterie

Large Victorian Shell Cameo Brooch – 9ct Gold Mount, Nike Goddess of Victory c.1890

£ 490

€561

$662

Large Victorian Shell Cameo Brooch – 9ct Gold Mount, Nike Goddess of Victory c.1890

£ 490

€561

$662

The Chelsea Bijouterie

Underwoodhall

15ct Peridot + Pear Brooch / Pendent

£ 1,295

€1,484

$1,749

15ct Peridot + Pear Brooch / Pendent

£ 1,295

€1484

$1749

Underwoodhall

Larkin & Gallow

Art Deco Silver & Enamel 'Bluebird' Brooch

£ 70

€80

$95

Art Deco Silver & Enamel 'Bluebird' Brooch

£ 70

€80

$95

Larkin & Gallow

Time to Admire Ltd

9ct Gold Hallmarked Oval Shaped Cameo Pin Brooch

£ 145

€166

$196

9ct Gold Hallmarked Oval Shaped Cameo Pin Brooch

£ 145

€166

$196

Time to Admire Ltd

Underwoodhall

9ct Gold Owl Brooch

£ 295

€338

$398

9ct Gold Owl Brooch

£ 295

€338

$398

Underwoodhall

Penrose Antiques Ltd

1980s Grossé Silvertone Rhinstone & Pearl Flower Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

1980s Grossé Silvertone Rhinstone & Pearl Flower Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Penrose Antiques Ltd

Red Bus Art

18ct Gold Sweetheart Army Brooch Queens Regiment Lamb Flag

£ 375

€430

$506

18ct Gold Sweetheart Army Brooch Queens Regiment Lamb Flag

£ 375

€430

$506

Red Bus Art

AC Silver

Antique 6.25ct Basaltic Sapphire, 0.24ct Emerald & 7.30ct Diamond, 15k Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch c.1890

£ 24,950

€28,583

$33,688

Antique 6.25ct Basaltic Sapphire, 0.24ct Emerald & 7.30ct Diamond, 15k Yellow Gold Butterfly Brooch c.1890

£ 24,950

€28583

$33688

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Art Deco Silver & Marcasite Duette Dress Clip

£ 85

€97

$115

Art Deco Silver & Marcasite Duette Dress Clip

£ 85

€97

$115

Aion Jewellery

9ct Gold & Amethyst Bar Brooch

£ 135

€155

$182

9ct Gold & Amethyst Bar Brooch

£ 135

€155

$182

Aion Jewellery

Underwoodhall

9ct Pendent & Brooch

£ 695

€796

$938

9ct Pendent & Brooch

£ 695

€796

$938

Underwoodhall

Aion Jewellery

Danish Art Nouveau Silver & Chrysoprase Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Danish Art Nouveau Silver & Chrysoprase Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 110

€126

$149

Edwardian Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 110

€126

$149

Aion Jewellery

Underwoodhall

9ct Gold Commemorative

£ 395

€453

$533

9ct Gold Commemorative

£ 395

€453

$533

Underwoodhall

Aion Jewellery

Early 20th Century Silver Gilt Filigree Bar Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Early 20th Century Silver Gilt Filigree Bar Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Aion Jewellery

George V Silver & Paste Diamond Leaf Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

George V Silver & Paste Diamond Leaf Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

Aion Jewellery

French Reverse Carved Lucite Vintage Brooch

£ 34

€39

$46

French Reverse Carved Lucite Vintage Brooch

£ 34

€39

$46

Aion Jewellery

Lovely Petite Silver & Enamel Buckle Brooch

£ 78

€89

$105

Lovely Petite Silver & Enamel Buckle Brooch

£ 78

€89

$105

Aion Jewellery

Underwoodhall

15ct Gold & Coral Bird Brooch

£ 395

€453

$533

15ct Gold & Coral Bird Brooch

£ 395

€453

$533

Underwoodhall

Hughes-Browne

Queen Victoria - 1845 Silver Crown Enamel Brooch

£ 90

€103

$122

Queen Victoria - 1845 Silver Crown Enamel Brooch

£ 90

€103

$122

Hughes-Browne

AC Silver

Antique Essex Crystal & 14k Yellow Gold Brooch c.1915

£ 2,250

€2,578

$3,038

Antique Essex Crystal & 14k Yellow Gold Brooch c.1915

£ 2,250

€2578

$3038

AC Silver

Antique 5.88ct Diamond & Silver Star Brooch c.1910

£ 6,950

€7,962

$9,384

Antique 5.88ct Diamond & Silver Star Brooch c.1910

£ 6,950

€7962

$9384

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Arts & Crafts Victorian Silver & Blister Pearl Bar Brooch

£ 105

€120

$142

Arts & Crafts Victorian Silver & Blister Pearl Bar Brooch

£ 105

€120

$142

Aion Jewellery

Charles Horner Petite Edwardian Silver Bow Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Charles Horner Petite Edwardian Silver Bow Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Aion Jewellery

Whitby Jet Carved Victorian Brooch

£ 48

€55

$65

Whitby Jet Carved Victorian Brooch

£ 48

€55

$65

Aion Jewellery

The Red House Antiques

Edwardian 15ct Gold Peridot & Pearl Pendant / Brooch

£ 495

€567

$668

Edwardian 15ct Gold Peridot & Pearl Pendant / Brooch

£ 495

€567

$668

The Red House Antiques

AC Silver

Antique Arts & Crafts Style Enamel & 15k Yellow Gold Brooch by Murrle Bennet & Co c.1900

£ 2,950

€3,380

$3,983

Antique Arts & Crafts Style Enamel & 15k Yellow Gold Brooch by Murrle Bennet & Co c.1900

£ 2,950

€3380

$3983

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Victorian Silver Bird on Branch Silver Sweetheart Brooch

£ 65

€74

$88

Victorian Silver Bird on Branch Silver Sweetheart Brooch

£ 65

€74

$88

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Lily of the Valley Silver Leaf Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Edwardian Lily of the Valley Silver Leaf Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Sterling Silver & Enamel Canadian Maple Leaf Brooch

£ 65

€74

$88

Sterling Silver & Enamel Canadian Maple Leaf Brooch

£ 65

€74

$88

Aion Jewellery

The Red House Antiques

Victorian Citrine & Seed Pearl Pendant Brooch with Chain

£ 495

€567

$668

Victorian Citrine & Seed Pearl Pendant Brooch with Chain

£ 495

€567

$668

The Red House Antiques

Artisan Antiques

Antique Edwardian Peridot & Seed Pearl Pendant Necklace 9K Gold - 1909

£ 550

€630

$743

Antique Edwardian Peridot & Seed Pearl Pendant Necklace 9K Gold - 1909

£ 550

€630

$743

Artisan Antiques

Antique Victorian Silver Gilt Chatelaine Rococo Decorations - c.1860

£ 1,350

€1,547

$1,823

Antique Victorian Silver Gilt Chatelaine Rococo Decorations - c.1860

£ 1,350

€1547

$1823

Artisan Antiques

Antique Victorian Diamond Pearl Brooch/pendant Buckle Shape 18K Gold - c.1890

£ 750

€859

$1,013

Antique Victorian Diamond Pearl Brooch/pendant Buckle Shape 18K Gold - c.1890

£ 750

€859

$1013

Artisan Antiques

Aion Jewellery

Art Deco Silver & Chrysoprase Dress Clip

£ 78

€89

$105

Art Deco Silver & Chrysoprase Dress Clip

£ 78

€89

$105

Aion Jewellery

The Red House Antiques

Antique Pinchbeck Cameo Brooch c.1880

£ 250

€286

$338

Antique Pinchbeck Cameo Brooch c.1880

£ 250

€286

$338

The Red House Antiques

Highland Antiques Limited

Victorian Agate & Cairngorm Silver Brooch c.1880

£ 395

€453

$533

Victorian Agate & Cairngorm Silver Brooch c.1880

£ 395

€453

$533

Highland Antiques Limited

Victorian Antique Silver & Montrose Agate Circulas Brooch c.1880

£ 395

€453

$533

Victorian Antique Silver & Montrose Agate Circulas Brooch c.1880

£ 395

€453

$533

Highland Antiques Limited

Victorian 9ct Gold & Banded Agate Brooch c.1880

£ 345

€395

$466

Victorian 9ct Gold & Banded Agate Brooch c.1880

£ 345

€395

$466

Highland Antiques Limited

Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd

Victorian Hand Carved Strombus Gigas Shell Cameo

£ 860

€985

$1,161

Victorian Hand Carved Strombus Gigas Shell Cameo

£ 860

€985

$1161

Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd