Antique Jewellery Buying Guide

The purchase of a piece of antique jewellery is a very personal experience, you may be looking for an antique engagement ring or a future family heirloom, a dazzling pair of earrings or a negligee pendant. Whether you are adding to your collection or buying your first piece, you are purchasing not just a jewel but a piece of history. With good guidance this can be a fantastic experience.

Know your style, and which historical period appeals to you.

19^th Century jewellery of the Victorian era ranges from the Romantic to the Revivalist.

Brooches of the early period are in the form of love birds, hearts, the forget me knot flower.

The Revivalist jewellery of the later 19^th Century drew influence from a myriad of cultures. A Victorian lady might wear a bracelet with Assyrian decoration, a Japanese inspired necklace or a Renaissance style locket.

Among the many styles of this period you will find Romantic period jewellery, Revival, Archaeological and Classical style jewellery, Empire style jewellery.

There are many collectors of antique jewellery and some do just that, assemble a collection of pieces they love, a snapshot of a bygone era or Century. However, for the majority it is the wearing of the jewel that brings them joy. So while you are browsing think about when you would wear the piece, Is it something delicate to be worn for a special occasion or a hardworking piece for every day. Remember that while antique jewellery has stood the test of time, Some more delicate pieces may not be suitable for a 21^st Century frenetic lifestyle.

Knowing if a signed piece is authentic,  a gem is synthetic or a pendant  is a  modern  reproduction rather than a period piece, requires a good deal of knowledge  Those involved in selling Antique jewellery know that it takes many years handling pieces to become an expert.  So unless you are prepared to do the apprenticeship yourself, buy from a trusted source.

On Jewellery Discovery, there are details about each piece, type of metal, gold purity, gemstones and measurements in carats, also the age and size of the piece.  If there is anything else you would like to know just ask, Professionals who are passionate about their jewels are very happy to give any information they have.

Prices of antique and vintage pieces have been linked to fashion, scarcity and the price of the raw materials, the gem stones and the metal. That is not the whole story, antique jewellery has continued to increase in price even when other markets are weakened.

Historically jewellery was seen as a good investment because of its portability and its intrinsic value, enabling the owners to flee conflict with a good proportion of their wealth. While today we hope that sort of danger has passed for most of us, antique jewellery is still seen as a safe investment, one that you can enjoy and have personal connections to