Vintage jewelry is the common term for costume jewelry embedded  from previous decades. It is typically embedded with real or fake gemstones.  If jewelry is predates the 1950’s, it falls into the category of antique jewelry.  Vintage jewellery collectors have lots of fun finding pieces at thrift shops, ebay, estate sales, and other venues.

Vintage jewellery is sometimes used interchangeably with “estate jewely.”  

Characteristics of Vintage/Estate Jewelry

Vintage jewelry is usually laden with genuine or faux gemstones with a sparkling quality.  It is made to appear to be embedded with glittering diamonds or rubies or emeralds or other precious stones. Some vintage jewellery pieces are embedded with glittery rhinestones.  Such items come in array of shapes — eg brooches with marquise stones and saphire blue rhinestones — and many styles such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco,  Retro, 1950’s,  Victorian, Edwardian filigree, Art Moderne, Replica.  Collectors of vintage jewels become quite familiar with such terms. 

Estate Jewelry Collectors

 Collectors become quite savvy in identifying rare and valuable vintage costume jewellery at low prices.  They will be able to identify the different rocks used such pieces, whether it is rubies, bakelite, rhinestones, diamonds, plastic, or glass.  The value of vintage jewellery is not just determined by how old it is, but such factors as who wore it and who designed it, if it appeared on past TV shows or movies etc. etc. ect.

Investing in Vintage Jewelry

If you want invest in vintage jewelry, there are lots of books on the subject. Visite garage sales, consignment shops, attend estate sales, go to thrift shops, check out Internet forums.  It is lots of fun not just finding vintage jewelry but connecting with the interesting people who also collect, whether in person or online.  There are certainly ways to make money buying and selling vintage jewelry, on ebay, Craigslist, or at physical locations.

Vintage jewelry is very collectable, and there have been many books published on the subject. They are full of photographs with references to the various manufacturers. Vintage jewelry is always fun. You can pick up pieces at Vintage Jewelry is a broad term used to describe different types of antique jewelry by different jewelers. There are several categories that usually come up when discussing vintage jewelry, and they are: Victorian, Edwardian filigree, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Art Moderne, Retro, 1950’s, Replica & Reproduction jewelry, vintage costume, collectible costume, vintage watches, men’s accessories & vintage vanities.