Jewelry-Treasures.com

I wonder what made items in the past become a future antique. Is it that they lasted long enough to become an antique or is there something special about all antiques that help them to acquire that status? I also sometimes am left wondering what, in this current time, will become an antique in the near or distant future. Here I’m going to explore what might make an item collectable and some things that you could save for an antique of the future.

So, why is something commonly bought collectable?
* Fastest thing I think of is – they are a limited edition or limited in the amount created
* They are produced in quantity but only for a short period of time
* The are a throw away item like a newspaper or a pez
* They occur as a result of a major event
* They might be a totally new breakthrough in technology at the time
* They declare a time, as in, the spirit of something
* Something that was once mass produced but has a very remarkable design

Now what accessories could be collected or be a collection that transforms into an antique for the future? Here are a few brief examples.

* Bamboo – One item that seems to have a long lasting quality is bamboo. You can find it in furniture and in basket weaving both of which usually have high tensile strength. Many unique items can be created with bamboo. Very durable and long lasting yet unique in many cases.
* Bottles especially perfume bottles
* Dolls have always been seen as collectable but how about Doll Houses
* The infamous Potter (Harry Potter) items
* Button Watches…now that is something to research
* Certain chairs some made from antique wood
* Toys that bring back memories from childhood
* Some Purses and handbags
* Miniature plastic figures, like a lord of the rings figure for example

Just use your imagination. You could decide to collect something based on a certain designer just like some people collect based on a favorite artist. You never know what will be a future antique but it sure can be fun to collect what you enjoy and see what happens.

Some people are familiar with Asian art and when they think of an Asian antique they think of jade or of a painting. But there is a huge absolutely enormous antique Asian market and in it you might be best able to successfully collect small items. Here are some of the items that encompass the Asian art world and within it we will take a peak at some of the tiny easy to store collectibles that are a sensible investment.

Within the world of Asian art antiques you will find things that sound familiar like:
* Prints
* Paintings
* Furniture
* Jade carved items
* Pottery
* Porcelain
* Pendants
* Wooden Carvings
* Lacquered boxes
* Pill Box
* Cosmetic case
….and maybe some things that don’t sound very familiar at all like:
* Netsuke
* Snuff Bottles
* Bronze ware
* Textiles
* Inro
* Stone bottle

Ok, so you recognize some or all of these. Now let’s explore some of the antiques that are in demand that just happen to be very small.

While you can imagine the skill required and the craftsmanship involved with making a hand carved piece the true beauty might not strike you until you have actually attended some functions and events that display the many works of Asian art. So, before you decide to collect an item do some research on the type of artwork that catches your fancy.

If you would like to collect something like a lacquer container of the finest workmanship then try an inro which is best described as a miniature cosmetic case or antique pillbox. These antique containers are designed in the most exquisite manner. They are meant to be accompanied by a netsuke which is like a modern keychain about an inch in height and they are usually crafted out of wood or carved out of ivory.

These Asian pieces of art are a good investment for an antique art collector. It is thought that these inros and netsuke collectibles will be a main stay in the Asian artesian marketplace. But if you are more interested in figurines then try jade.

Pieces of carved jade show the true mastery of an artist as jade is very difficult to carve. And it is even more difficult to carve a tiny piece. But the smaller the jade carving the more valuable it usually is. Among the jade carvings, look for figurines, bowls, animals and such. If you want to look for the 19th century carvings then you will find some very good buys as these can often have some of the finest craftsmanship.

You would also do well to look into snuff bottles made of jade or a stone bottle of Chinese origin. Now you wouldn’t go wrong with a large jade carving but as mentioned the smaller ones are usually more painstainkingly crafted and can fetch a high value. This could end up being a book on collecting Asian art antiques but we have explored some of the smaller collectible and popular art pieces.

So, whether you want to collect pendants, small snuff bottles or miniature pill boxes you have just entered the remarkably stable and huge world of the small Asian antique market.

Have you thought of an antique wedding ring in your search for something unique? Do you want something you can pass along with your family history? Antique rings have a certain charm to them and a unique quality not found in a modern ring. Let’s explore this a bit more.

* Consider the fact that you can often find a larger looking diamond that dates back to the 30′s. Why is that? Well the bands were very elaborate and allowed the carved setting to accentuate the diamond in a way that made it look bigger.
* an old heirloom ring is sometimes less expensive than a new diamond ring.
* old wedding rings are many times of a much better craftsmanship
* Antique bands are already an heirloom
* if you were to order a ring made today with the same style work as an antique ring you would pay much more than you would pay for the authentic era ring.
* antique diamond rings can be found with lovely but slight rose hues or yellow or green diamonds…Talk about unique.

But do keep in mind, when shopping for antique jewelry, that if the wedding ring has any other companion stones they need to be checked for quality. Many other stones are soft and can be more easily cracked. Stones such as pearls, opals, or emeralds are good examples of softer stones.

Also consider that an antique diamond’s quality was measured differently in the past due to technological differences. The cutting methods were also different but then that is what will also help to make the ring more unique.

When you shop for a ring keep in mind the terminology used because a truly antique ring is, by most rules, a ring that is over fifty years of age.

Whatever ring you decide to buy just make sure that the ring brings you pleasure. Preserve your family history by purchasing a unique Antique wedding ring and a touch of class like no modern ring can project.