If you want to feel a personal connection with the past, then there is nothing more special than a piece of Antique or Vintage Jewellery. Here are pieces which were created to stand testament to our own lives, which have been wrapped or hung around our ancestor's bodies in good times as well as bad, and often represent the finest work of the Crafts Men and Women who created them. They incorporated precious materials such as Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Diamonds into timeless forms and created jewellery such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings and more. By being worn these were items with a very personal story to each owner, but also bold symbols of social status in their day. They have closely followed fashions such as the Classical Revival of the Georgian Era, Victorian Mourning Jewellery as well as the more Modernist designs of the 20th Century.
When purchasing old fine jewellery, you are not just buying into the public and private story of its time, but an underlying asset in the precious materials it has been made from. That antique and vintage jewellery is more popular than ever around the world is hardly surprising as these are pieces that can be cherished and worn on a daily basis. And when these pieces are tied to special events such as Wedding and Engagement Rings then so much the better.
At LoveAntiques we have a fine selection of Antique and Vintage jewellery for all your wearing and collecting needs.
Doubloon
Silver Greyhound Brooch
£ 65
Doubloon
Amethyst & Pearl Brooch
£ 145
The Chelsea Bijouterie
Single Strand Very Long Pearl Necklace 54" Vintage 1960s Triple Double Sautoir
£ 860
Single Strand Very Long Pearl Necklace 54" Vintage 1960s Triple Double Sautoir
£ 860
The Chelsea Bijouterie
£ 110
riversidemaximus23
Victorian Pocket Watch Chain Cute Little Pig Fob 1890s
£ 36
£ 95
Bracelet Sterling Silver 1940s Bond Boyd Toronto Wide Fancy Panels 7 1/2" L
£ 95
riversidemaximus23
The Chelsea Bijouterie
Antique 9ct Rose Gold Foliate Cufflinks Edwardian Hallmarked Birmingham 1908
£ 360
Antique 9ct Rose Gold Foliate Cufflinks Edwardian Hallmarked Birmingham 1908
£ 360
The Chelsea Bijouterie
The Chelsea Bijouterie
Vintage Pearl Bracelet with Peridot Cluster Clasp 9ct Gold 1950s Triple Strand
£ 890
Vintage Pearl Bracelet with Peridot Cluster Clasp 9ct Gold 1950s Triple Strand
£ 890
The Chelsea Bijouterie
FB Antiques
Antique Platinum Aquamarine & Diamond Brooch
£ 3,950
£ 13,950
Andrew Cox Antiques
A Versatile Early 20th Century Silver Torque Bangle
£ 45
Andrew Cox Antiques
A Gorgeous Charles Horner Silver & Enamel Pendant
£ 135
Bijou & Box’s
Edwardian Silver Chain
£ 170
Lefays Fine Arts
Carnelian Hardstone Cameo 18ct Gold Brooch of Classical Lady
£ 895
£ 36
Victorian Horseshoe Pocket Watch Chain Fob 1890s Large Equestrian Nickel Fob
£ 36
riversidemaximus23
£ 1,095
Celtic Heritage
Vintage Silver Scottish Nessie Playing the Bagpipes Charm
£ 28
£ 30
Sally White Vintage
Art Deco Platinum Sapphire & Diamond Flower Cluster Ring
£ 895
Celtic Heritage
Sterling Silver Scottish Themed Sgian Dubh Brooch - Antique
£ 30
£ 195
£ 345
Celtic Heritage
Vintage Silver Ornate Penannular Brooch with Gemstones
£ 45
£ 135
Victorian Fob 12ct Gold Filled & Nepheline Pocket Watch Chain Large Antique Fob
£ 135
riversidemaximus23
£ 95
World War 1 9ct Gold & Tortoiseshell Sweetheart Brooch - Norfolk Regiment - 1916
£ 95
Century Antiques
£ 499
£ 89
Antique Latvian Solid Silver Sakta Brooch with Butterscotch Amber Stone c.1950
£ 89
Artsubject
Celtic Heritage
Scottish Ornate Brooch Silver Purple Stone - Hallmarked 1955
£ 55
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
Gents Omega Constellation Beads of Rice Bracelet c.1960
£ 195
£ 3,950
£ 4,950
antiquejewellers.com
The Antique Victorian Butterfly Pietra Dura Ring
£ 699
Andrew Cox Antiques
Stunning Austro-hungarian Silver Gilt Cross Pendant
£ 325
£ 2,950
£ 490
£ 40
£ 5,450
antiquejewellers.com
The Antique Victorian Ruby, Pearl & Emerald Daisy Ring
£ 1,289
antiquejewellers.com
The Antique Victorian 1865 Garnet & Emerald Romance Ring
£ 1,099
antiquejewellers.com
The Antique 18th Century Emerald Memorial Ring
£ 3,009
Like all antique and collectable items the value of antique jewellery varies widely. Some will be far cheaper than its new equivalent and thus very good value, while others will be far higher than a new piece due to its desirability and rarity. The factors which will make the item more expensive are the current value of the underlying materials used such as the weight and quality of the gold, weight, cut and clarity of the diamonds, the calibre of the maker as well as the overall aesthetic look of the piece. Much (but not all) fine antique jewellery will be hallmarked somewhere which allows you to work out some of these factors, but if you are not sure then it is always worth showing it to a specialist.
The choice of jewellery is a very personal thing so it is fair to say that there is not one single type of antique jewellery which is the most popular. Sometimes the decision may come down to size as rings, bangles and necklaces are very size specific. Alternatively pendants, earrings and brooches are universally popular because no intrinsic size is needed. Although classic forms of jewellery never go out of fashion, other more stylised antique pieces are subject to the same fads and revivalist fashions just like new pieces.
Every reputable antique jewellery company will tell you that for jewellery (or any item) to be called antique it should be at least 100 years old. Details that tell you the age of a certain antique ring said to be Georgian, for example, should be easily available either via the Hallmarks or stylistically. Since the design of many classic pieces have not changed for perhaps several hundred years, never assume your piece is a genuine antique just because the shape is more traditional.