Vintage Jewelry – Expensive Keepsakes from the Past

Like wine, vintage or estate jewelry is a commodity that becomes more valuable as it ages. Accessories such as these may belong to several periods dating back as early as the eighteenth century.

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Vintage Jewelry - General Overview

Previously owned or antique jewelry may come from different decades or eras reflected in their designs. Georgian era jewelry, circa 1715-1837, is handmade and very rare, often featuring leaves, birds and other elements of nature that are carved in or designed with precious stones. A popular brand of vintage jewelry in this period was Memento Mori, which offered accessories of skulls and coffins to represent death. Nature-inspired designs were also common in the early Victorian, romantic jewelry era from 1837 to 1855. This period popularized lockets and brooches for daywear and colored gemstone and diamonds for evening wear. Vintage jewelry continued to evolve in the nineteenth century, during the periods of mid-Victorian grand jewelry, late Victorian aesthetic jewelry, and the early days of Art Nouveau jewelry.

Vintage Costume Jewellery - 20th Century

At the turn of the twentieth century, the Edwardian, Art Deco and Retro jewelry eras emerged, marking the age of vintage costume jewellery. The Art Deco was made famous in France and revived the hype for Egyptian design jewelry. Companies in the 1920s were compelled to keep up with the continued rise of mass production in the 1920s by making designs that were fit for replication. Revolutionary fashion designer Coco Chanel added vintage costume jewellery to her designs during this period. Subsequently, the Retro period in the mid-1930s saw the combination of natural materials with plastics as a result of the persisting struggle with art versus mass production. The era featured flowers, sunbursts and other designs with Hollywood flair as well as moonstones, military themes and ballerinas. From 1945 to 1960, the Art Modern period upheld traditional designs, charactized as bold, lavish, large and chunky. This was also the rise of charm bracelets.

Vintage Bridal Jewellery - Collections

Vintage bridal jewellery ranges from earrings to brooches and headdresses. Some wedding couples use these antiquities as their “something old” element. Their designs usually consist of studded gemstones and pearls, although some of today’s vintage designs use rhinestones instead of diamonds for customers seeking more affordable options. Chandelier is a common theme, especially with necklaces and earrings. The idea is for the bride to be shining and sparkling with the help of her accessories. Some items, however, also make use of softer elements such as flowers and feathers and incorporate them into the gemstones. This is common especially for headdresses and veils.