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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Antiques in Oxford

Antique Silver Gilt Brooch in Jugendstil Style

£ 395

€453

$533

Antique Silver Gilt Brooch in Jugendstil Style

£ 395

€453

$533

Antiques in Oxford

AC Silver

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

£ 6,950

€7,962

$9,385

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

£ 6,950

€7962

$9385

AC Silver

Larkin & Gallow

Norwegian Silver Gilt Enamel Leaf Brooch

£ 150

€172

$203

Norwegian Silver Gilt Enamel Leaf Brooch

£ 150

€172

$203

Larkin & Gallow

Doubloon

Art Nouveau Carved Bone Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Art Nouveau Carved Bone Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Doubloon

Aion Jewellery

Vintage Ola M Gorie Celtic Cross Silver Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Vintage Ola M Gorie Celtic Cross Silver Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Aion Jewellery

Victorian Silver & Marcasite Treble Clef Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Victorian Silver & Marcasite Treble Clef Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

Antique 1.52ct Aquamarine & 2.92ct Diamond, 18ct White Gold Double Clip Brooch c.1925

£ 3,950

€4,525

$5,334

Antique 1.52ct Aquamarine & 2.92ct Diamond, 18ct White Gold Double Clip Brooch c.1925

£ 3,950

€4525

$5334

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Victorian Silver Horse / Horseshoe Lapel Pin

£ 80

€92

$108

Victorian Silver Horse / Horseshoe Lapel Pin

£ 80

€92

$108

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

€2,056

$2,424

Antique Pearl & 18ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 1,795

€2056

$2424

AC Silver

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

£ 9,950

€11,399

$13,436

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

£ 9,950

€11399

$13436

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Scottish Provincial Silver Sprouting Tree Trunk Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Scottish Provincial Silver Sprouting Tree Trunk Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

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

$115

Ola M Gorie Celtic Silver Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Aion Jewellery

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

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

£ 5,000

€5,728

$6,752

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

£ 5,000

€5728

$6752

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Historic David Anderson Silver & Enamel Royal Presentation Bar Crown Brooch

£ 2,500

€2,864

$3,376

Historic David Anderson Silver & Enamel Royal Presentation Bar Crown Brooch

£ 2,500

€2864

$3376

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

AC Silver

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

£ 2,550

€2,921

$3,443

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

£ 2,550

€2921

$3443

AC Silver

Jo Brayshaw

9ct Gold & Opal Stock Pin c.1900

£ 135

€155

$182

9ct Gold & Opal Stock Pin c.1900

£ 135

€155

$182

Jo Brayshaw

Aion Jewellery

Shetland Silver Seagull Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

Shetland Silver Seagull Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Gold & Seed Pearl Horseshoe Stickpin

£ 110

€126

$149

Edwardian Gold & Seed Pearl Horseshoe Stickpin

£ 110

€126

$149

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

€487

$574

Diamond & Pearl Brooch

£ 425

€487

$574

Doubloon

Garnet & Pearl Garland Brooch

£ 165

€189

$223

Garnet & Pearl Garland Brooch

£ 165

€189

$223

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

$92

Charles Horner Edwardian Silver & Citrine Thistle Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Sweetheart Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Sweetheart Brooch

£ 68

€78

$92

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 3,950

€4,525

$5,334

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

£ 3,950

€4525

$5334

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

$169

Edwardian Silver & Paste Swallow Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Aion Jewellery

Large Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Large Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 125

€143

$169

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver Gilt Dragonfly Bar Brooch

£ 110

€126

$149

Edwardian Silver Gilt Dragonfly Bar Brooch

£ 110

€126

$149

Aion Jewellery

Digby Antiques (Wiltshire)

Scandinavian Silver & Enamel Brooch

£ 145

€166

$196

Scandinavian Silver & Enamel Brooch

£ 145

€166

$196

Digby Antiques (Wiltshire)

Artisan Antiques

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

£ 1,650

€1,890

$2,228

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

£ 1,650

€1890

$2228

Artisan Antiques

AC Silver

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

£ 2,950

€3,380

$3,983

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

£ 2,950

€3380

$3983

AC Silver

Larkin & Gallow

Danish Anton Michelsen Silver Brooch by Gertrud Engel

£ 125

€143

$169

Danish Anton Michelsen Silver Brooch by Gertrud Engel

£ 125

€143

$169

Larkin & Gallow

Aion Jewellery

Victorian 9ct Gold & Seed Pearl Swallow Brooch

£ 145

€166

$196

Victorian 9ct Gold & Seed Pearl Swallow Brooch

£ 145

€166

$196

Aion Jewellery

Large Hallmarked Silver & Marcasite Orchid Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Large Hallmarked Silver & Marcasite Orchid Brooch

£ 85

€97

$115

Aion Jewellery

Victorian Silver, Chalcedony and Coral Brooch

£ 95

€109

$128

Victorian Silver, Chalcedony and Coral Brooch

£ 95

€109

$128

Aion Jewellery

AC Silver

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

£ 1,995

€2,285

$2,694

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

£ 1,995

€2285

$2694

AC Silver

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Heart Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Edwardian Silver & Amethyst Heart Brooch

£ 75

€86

$101

Aion Jewellery