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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Andrew Cox Antiques

Fabulous Silver & Mother of Pearl Buckle Brooch

£ 210

€245

$264

Fabulous Silver & Mother of Pearl Buckle Brooch

£ 210

€245

$264

Andrew Cox Antiques

AC Silver

Antique 3.95ct Ruby 0.44ct Diamond & 8ct Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch c.1890

£ 3,950

€4,614

$4,969

Antique 3.95ct Ruby 0.44ct Diamond & 8ct Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch c.1890

£ 3,950

€4614

$4969

AC Silver

Antique 2.90ct Sapphire & 0.92ct Diamond 9ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 2,650

€3,096

$3,333

Antique 2.90ct Sapphire & 0.92ct Diamond 9ct Yellow Gold Brooch c.1890

£ 2,650

€3096

$3333

AC Silver

Lefays Fine Arts

Antique Carnelian Hardstone Cameo Brooch 18k Gold, Diamonds Cultured Pearls

£ 1,795

€2,097

$2,258

Antique Carnelian Hardstone Cameo Brooch 18k Gold, Diamonds Cultured Pearls

£ 1,795

€2097

$2258

Lefays Fine Arts

Aion Jewellery

Art Nouveau Edwardian Silver & Enamel Tudor Rose Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Art Nouveau Edwardian Silver & Enamel Tudor Rose Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Aion Jewellery

Small Edwardian Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Small Edwardian Silver & Enamel Butterfly Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Aion Jewellery

Charles Horner Chester Silver Edwardian Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Charles Horner Chester Silver Edwardian Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Aion Jewellery

A Charles Horner Enamelled Art Nouveau Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

A Charles Horner Enamelled Art Nouveau Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Aion Jewellery

Lefays Fine Arts

Tommaso Saulini (italian 1793-1864) Large Signed Cameo of a Lady. 18k Gold Brooch Mount. Original Case

£ 1,975

€2,307

$2,484

Tommaso Saulini (italian 1793-1864) Large Signed Cameo of a Lady. 18k Gold Brooch Mount. Original Case

£ 1,975

€2307

$2484

Lefays Fine Arts

Aion Jewellery

Rare Chester Silver Charles Horner 'Spider' Bar Brooch

£ 135

€158

$170

Rare Chester Silver Charles Horner 'Spider' Bar Brooch

£ 135

€158

$170

Aion Jewellery

Swedish Silver Marcasite Brooch

£ 48

€56

$60

Swedish Silver Marcasite Brooch

£ 48

€56

$60

Aion Jewellery

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Sterling Silver Agate & Citrine Coloured Paste Stone

£ 30

€35

$38

Scottish Sterling Silver Agate & Citrine Coloured Paste Stone

£ 30

€35

$38

Celtic Heritage

Aion Jewellery

Hallmarked Silver Stag Brooch

£ 75

€88

$94

Hallmarked Silver Stag Brooch

£ 75

€88

$94

Aion Jewellery

Celtic Heritage

Sterling Silver Kilt Pin - 1930s Hallmarked & Assayed

£ 50

€58

$63

Sterling Silver Kilt Pin - 1930s Hallmarked & Assayed

£ 50

€58

$63

Celtic Heritage

Aion Jewellery

Victorian Silver Filigree Butterfly Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Victorian Silver Filigree Butterfly Brooch

£ 65

€76

$82

Aion Jewellery

Canadian Silver & Enamel Maple Leaf Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

Canadian Silver & Enamel Maple Leaf Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

Aion Jewellery

14ct Gold & Ruby Love Knot Stick Pin

£ 85

€99

$107

14ct Gold & Ruby Love Knot Stick Pin

£ 85

€99

$107

Aion Jewellery

Celtic Heritage

Mid 19th Century Victorian Silver Scottish Thistle Brooch - Wreath Like

£ 190

€222

$239

Mid 19th Century Victorian Silver Scottish Thistle Brooch - Wreath Like

£ 190

€222

$239

Celtic Heritage

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver & Ceramic Ruskin Brooch

£ 95

€111

$119

Edwardian Silver & Ceramic Ruskin Brooch

£ 95

€111

$119

Aion Jewellery

An Art Deco Silver & Marcasite Dress Clip

£ 55

€64

$69

An Art Deco Silver & Marcasite Dress Clip

£ 55

€64

$69

Aion Jewellery

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Brooch Silver Plated, Vintage, Very Large

£ 110

€128

$138

Scottish Brooch Silver Plated, Vintage, Very Large

£ 110

€128

$138

Celtic Heritage

Aion Jewellery

Edwardian Silver Bar Brooch with a Morpho Butterfly Wing Panel

£ 38

€44

$48

Edwardian Silver Bar Brooch with a Morpho Butterfly Wing Panel

£ 38

€44

$48

Aion Jewellery

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Plaid Brooch, Sterling Silver, Small Size, Agate Stone

£ 40

€47

$50

Scottish Plaid Brooch, Sterling Silver, Small Size, Agate Stone

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Charles Rennie Macintosh Design Sterling Silver Rose Brooch

£ 25

€29

$31

Charles Rennie Macintosh Design Sterling Silver Rose Brooch

£ 25

€29

$31

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Lion Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage 1950s

£ 40

€47

$50

Scottish Lion Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage 1950s

£ 40

€47

$50

Celtic Heritage

Celtic Knot Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Knot Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Sterling Silver Axe Brooch, Vintage

£ 25

€29

$31

Scottish Sterling Silver Axe Brooch, Vintage

£ 25

€29

$31

Celtic Heritage

Celtic Knot Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Knot Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Heritage

AC Silver

Antique 2.10ct Emerald & 7.73ct Diamond Platinum Floral Brooch c.1900

£ 14,950

€17,464

$18,805

Antique 2.10ct Emerald & 7.73ct Diamond Platinum Floral Brooch c.1900

£ 14,950

€17464

$18805

AC Silver

1.25ct Sapphire 2.34ct Diamond & Platinum Brooch c.1925

£ 3,450

€4,030

$4,340

1.25ct Sapphire 2.34ct Diamond & Platinum Brooch c.1925

£ 3,450

€4030

$4340

AC Silver

Antique 4.10ct Aquamarine & Seed Pearl 15ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1880

£ 1,795

€2,097

$2,258

Antique 4.10ct Aquamarine & Seed Pearl 15ct Yellow Gold Pendant / Brooch c.1880

£ 1,795

€2097

$2258

AC Silver

Andrew Cox Antiques

Gorgeous Charles Horner Silver & Amethyst Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Gorgeous Charles Horner Silver & Amethyst Brooch

£ 110

€128

$138

Andrew Cox Antiques

Celtic Heritage

Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver "Tara" Style Brooch

£ 35

€41

$44

Vintage 1930s Sterling Silver "Tara" Style Brooch

£ 35

€41

$44

Celtic Heritage

1950s Irish Sterling Silver, Connemara Marble & Marcasite Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

1950s Irish Sterling Silver, Connemara Marble & Marcasite Brooch

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Scottish Celtic Style War Axe Brooch 1950s/1960s

£ 32

€37

$40

Scottish Celtic Style War Axe Brooch 1950s/1960s

£ 32

€37

$40

Celtic Heritage

Sterling Silver Scottish Highlands Sword & Targe Brooch

£ 30

€35

$38

Sterling Silver Scottish Highlands Sword & Targe Brooch

£ 30

€35

$38

Celtic Heritage

Ola Marie Gorie, Puffin Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Ola Marie Gorie, Puffin Brooch, Sterling Silver, Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Celtic Heritage

Celtic Knot Sterling Silver Brooch, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Knot Sterling Silver Brooch, Vintage

£ 20

€23

$25

Celtic Heritage

Irish Sterling Silver Brooch - Dublin 1967 - Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Irish Sterling Silver Brooch - Dublin 1967 - Vintage

£ 55

€64

$69

Celtic Heritage

Gaelic Sterling Silver Penannular Brooch - Very Small

£ 45

€53

$57

Gaelic Sterling Silver Penannular Brooch - Very Small

£ 45

€53

$57

Celtic Heritage

Material

Period

Origin

Antique Jewellery For Sale

Antique & Vintage Brooches for Sale