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

Canadian Sterling Silver & Enamel Maple Leaf Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Canadian Sterling Silver & Enamel Maple Leaf Brooch

£ 55

€63

$74

Aion Jewellery

Quality Arts & Crafts Silver 'norse Shield' Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Quality Arts & Crafts Silver 'norse Shield' Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Doubloon

Large Silver & Enamel RAF Wings Brooch by Charles Horner

£ 95

€109

$128

Large Silver & Enamel RAF Wings Brooch by Charles Horner

£ 95

€109

$128

Doubloon

AC Silver

Antique 42.50ct Aquamarine and Pearl, 18ct Yellow Gold Birks Brooch Circa 1935

£ 4,995

€5,722

$6,745

Antique 42.50ct Aquamarine and Pearl, 18ct Yellow Gold Birks Brooch Circa 1935

£ 4,995

€5722

$6745

AC Silver

Century Antiques

Antique Arts & Craft Silver & Amethyst Brooch - Circa 1910

£ 85

€97

$115

Antique Arts & Craft Silver & Amethyst Brooch - Circa 1910

£ 85

€97

$115

Century Antiques

WhatSheWants

Pair of Art Deco Catalin & Jewelled Hat Pins Circa 1920

£ 58

€66

$78

Pair of Art Deco Catalin & Jewelled Hat Pins Circa 1920

£ 58

€66

$78

WhatSheWants

Aion Jewellery

German Silver Gilt & Turquoise Choker Buckle

£ 125

€143

$169

German Silver Gilt & Turquoise Choker Buckle

£ 125

€143

$169

Aion Jewellery

Early 20th Century Silver Lizard Brooch

£ 65

€74

$88

Early 20th Century Silver Lizard Brooch

£ 65

€74

$88

Aion Jewellery

Queens Antiques & Collectables

Vintage French Catherine Popesco Brooch Blue & Green Enamel

£ 55

€63

$74

Vintage French Catherine Popesco Brooch Blue & Green Enamel

£ 55

€63

$74

Queens Antiques & Collectables

Underwoodhall

Silver Posy Holder Brooch - Birmingham 1882

£ 125

€143

$169

Silver Posy Holder Brooch - Birmingham 1882

£ 125

€143

$169

Underwoodhall

Irish Silver Brooch - Dublin 1965

£ 49

€56

$66

Irish Silver Brooch - Dublin 1965

£ 49

€56

$66

Underwoodhall

AC Silver

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

£ 2,950

€3,380

$3,983

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

£ 2,950

€3380

$3983

AC Silver

Underwoodhall

Silver Mayflower Brooch. Chester 1955

£ 65

€74

$88

Silver Mayflower Brooch. Chester 1955

£ 65

€74

$88

Underwoodhall

Artisan Antiques

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

£ 23,500

€26,922

$31,733

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

£ 23,500

€26922

$31733

Artisan Antiques

Aion Jewellery

Art Deco Austrian Silver & Chrysoprase Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Art Deco Austrian Silver & Chrysoprase Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Unusual Victorian Engraved Silver Pendant Cross Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Unusual Victorian Engraved Silver Pendant Cross Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

Large Silver & Mother of Pearl Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Large Silver & Mother of Pearl Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 2,950

€3,380

$3,983

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

£ 2,950

€3380

$3983

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Art Deco Silver & Paste Diamond Bow Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Art Deco Silver & Paste Diamond Bow Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 6,950

€7,962

$9,385

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

£ 6,950

€7962

$9385

AC Silver

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

£ 2,750

€3,150

$3,713

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

£ 2,750

€3150

$3713

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Charles Horner Chester Edwardian Silver & Pearl Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Charles Horner Chester Edwardian Silver & Pearl Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Aion Jewellery

Rare Victorian Cricket Themed Silver Stick Pin

£ 95

€109

$128

Rare Victorian Cricket Themed Silver Stick Pin

£ 95

€109

$128

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 2,950

€3,380

$3,983

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

£ 2,950

€3380

$3983

AC Silver

Robert Belcher Antiques

Mid 19th Century Pietra Dura Brooch c.1860

£ 975

€1,117

$1,317

Mid 19th Century Pietra Dura Brooch c.1860

£ 975

€1117

$1317

Robert Belcher Antiques

AC Silver

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

£ 7,950

€9,108

$10,735

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

£ 7,950

€9108

$10735

AC Silver

Antiques in Oxford

Dorrie Nossiter Brooch in Silver and Moonstones

£ 890

€1,020

$1,202

Dorrie Nossiter Brooch in Silver and Moonstones

£ 890

€1020

$1202

Antiques in Oxford

Georg Jensen Silver Brooch 'Mobius' Brooch

£ 320

€367

$432

Georg Jensen Silver Brooch 'Mobius' Brooch

£ 320

€367

$432

Antiques in Oxford

Doubloon

Victorian Opal & Diamond Stickpin

£ 485

€556

$655

Victorian Opal & Diamond Stickpin

£ 485

€556

$655

Doubloon

Aion Jewellery

Antique French Silver & Pearl 'Snowflake' Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Antique French Silver & Pearl 'Snowflake' Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 2,250

€2,578

$3,038

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

£ 2,250

€2578

$3038

AC Silver

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

£ 2,250

€2,578

$3,038

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

£ 2,250

€2578

$3038

AC Silver

Doubloon

Victorian Cameo Brooch

£ 98

€112

$132

Victorian Cameo Brooch

£ 98

€112

$132

Doubloon

AC Silver

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

£ 5,950

€6,816

$8,034

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

£ 5,950

€6816

$8034

AC Silver

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

£ 4,950

€5,671

$6,684

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

£ 4,950

€5671

$6684

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Charming Silver & Enamel Buckle Brooch

£ 78

€89

$105

Charming Silver & Enamel Buckle Brooch

£ 78

€89

$105

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Art Nouveau Silver & Amethyst Paste Brooch

£ 95

€109

$128

Edwardian Art Nouveau Silver & Amethyst Paste Brooch

£ 95

€109

$128

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 4,450

€5,098

$6,009

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

£ 4,450

€5098

$6009

AC Silver

Penrose Antiques Ltd

1980s Christian Dior Gold & Green Stone Bow Brooch

£ 245

€281

$331

1980s Christian Dior Gold & Green Stone Bow Brooch

£ 245

€281

$331

Penrose Antiques Ltd

Andrew Cox Antiques

An Attractive Mid Century Silver Brooch by John Lauritzen

£ 95

€109

$128

An Attractive Mid Century Silver Brooch by John Lauritzen

£ 95

€109

$128

Andrew Cox Antiques