Buying Vintage Jewelry – Things to Consider

Are you dreaming of owning a beautiful antique piece of jewelry which you can flaunt during events and ceremonies? Or is there someone very dear to you who loves vintage jewelry and you want to give them a pleasant surprise by gifting a lovely antique piece? In both the cases, you might feel daunted regarding whether you are getting a real deal or not. Of course, you should beware of cheats and fakes with whom the vintage jewelry market is filled. Visit Modern Vintage Style – for the most original, unique and stunning pieces of vintage jewelry, as well as designer jewelry and vintage inspired handmade jewelry. The jewelry you get here is made of quality components like vintage beads, quality glass beads, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and semiprecious stones. Here are some tips of buying quality vintage jewelry.

Condition of the Jewelry

When you start shopping for vintage jewelry, don’t take its condition for granted. Of course, a piece belonging to the Victorian era will have a very vintage look, meaning it won’t surely look new. But you can find jewelry items from the 40s, 50s or 60s in a new condition, if it has been very lightly and carefully worn. Even with older items, look for the best. Worn out plating, darkened rhinestones, clasps that are not working, missing parts and stones and scratched or chipped enamel bring down the value of a vintage item. Also you should avoid obvious repairs like shoddy soldering or messy stone replacement. In short, you will need a close examination for important details. Especially with online photos you should observe this caution. Don’t pay top dollar for a piece in poor condition.

Quality

When you find a piece which you fall in love with at once though it is low quality and low-priced, go ahead and buy it, because it is just fun! But in general, while buying vintage costume jewelry, looking for quality makes sense. Quality items hold their worth and wear better eventually. Some signs of quality you can look for are pronged settings, smooth plating, sparkling stones and substantial weight.

You can find jewelry houses which are known for manufacturing high-end pieces and there are ones who produce moderately priced pieces.

Should the vintage jewelry purchased ideally be “signed”? Not required. You can get even more splendid unsigned pieces in the secondary market.

Personality

If you are buying the vintage piece for yourself, consider which types you can wear comfortably. Size, color, durability and overall style can influence your purchases. E.g. colorful  vintage brooches of all kinds flatter business attire, while clear rhinestone brooches look great on denim jackets and shirts, so that even the most casual dresser can show a little dazzle.

If you are buying a gift, consider the age, personality and liking of the recipient. Buying a heavy rhinestone brooch for your teenager niece won’t make sense, if you have noticed her always wearing pins not larger than the size of a quarter. Similarly your boldly dressing aunt wearing flashy jewelry won’t much appreciate a dainty pair of earrings.

Special Touch

Get some background of the piece you buy from the dealer, like the manufacturer or designer, era or age of the piece, distinguishing characteristics of the design or materials used and the former owner’s background (provenance) if possible. Print out this information on a small, nice card which you can tuck on the gift box. If your recipient knows a little about vintage jewelry, this information is priceless and wearing the piece will then become more meaningful. You can do this while buying the piece for yourself too, so that you will feel not only well-dressed but also elegant while wearing the historic piece.