Buying Vintage Jewellery for a gift this coming Christmas or to wear during the party season is a sure way to be unique and individual. Not only will you be getting something which it is highly unlikely anyone else has but you will also be very stylish.

But buying vintage jewellery is not always easy. Do you know the difference between a genuine vintage ring and a new copy made in china this year? Here are ten tops from Anne at AntiquesAvenue to help you buy an original vintage piece on-line.

1. Find a reputable dealer

Ok, you may think that I would suggest that you find a vintage jewellery dealer rather than simply looking on eBay for a piece of vintage jewellery. Here are my reasons, it is difficult to tell a genuine piece of vintage jewellery from new. There are lots of people on eBay selling jewllery they claim to be vintage when it is in fact simply second hand or new and has been made in a vintage style. Buying those pieces is fine if you want something new or a couple of years old but not if you want a piece with genuine history and vintage quality.

How do you find a reputable vintage jewellery dealer? Well take a look around the Internet. Like AntiquesAvenue a dealer with lots of vintage pieces will be prepared to help you in your selection. Does the website state that the items are genuine vintage?

2. Read the description

Does the piece of vintage jewellery you are looking at say how old the piece is? Or does it just say “Vintage style”, “Vintage inspired” or has it been remade and include vintage pieces?  If in doubt ask. Also look in the description for size information and condition ( see further down the page for more about these). Look at the pictures. If you are not sure then start asking questions.

3. Ask Questions

Once you have seen a piece of vintage jewellery you like the look of ask questions if these are not already in the description. You need to know:

Is this a genuine vintage brooch, what size is this vintage ring or how long is this vintage necklace?

How old is this pair of art deco earrings?  Remember if it is not circa 1920s to 1940 it is not going to be real vintage art deco.

What condition is this piece in (see further down)

 

 

 4. What makers marks or Hallmarks are on the piece?

Makers marks and hallmarks can help assure you that your piece of jewellery is genuine however many older pieces have few identifying marks. Even gold or silver from the Victorian era or the early 1900s does not need to be fully hallmarked to be real.

5. Is there more than one available?

One of the big selling points for vintage jewellery is that each piece is relatively rare and compared to new you are far less likely to see someone else wearing the same item. It is rare but not impossible for a dealer to have more than one of any given piece of jewellery. Ask the dealer. If they have more than one of most items then they are not going to be genuine vintage. Over at AntiquesAvenue I only have 2 of any item when I have bought new vintage stock from an old shop which has shut down ( the Wedgwood jasper jewellery  for example)

6. Does it look new?

If the piece of jewellery you are looking at is bright and shiny and looks new it probably is . Gold jewellery is an exception to this as it does not show age in the same way as other metals. Silver can be brought back to its original colour by dipping it but most vintage dealers would not do this in order to retain the vintage patina.

7. Check the sizing

Brooches are often the best piece of vintage jewellery to give as a gift as the sizing is less important than with a ring or the length of a necklace. Even with a brooch you do not want one which is 7 cms long to do on a delicate piec eof material nor do you want a brooch measuring 1.5 cms long to go on a chunky coat or cardigan as it will look lost.

8. Check the condition

Much vintage jewellery has not survived well. Hopefully you will find a statement about the condition of the vintage jewellery on a website. AntiquesAvenue states that all items are in excellent vintage condition unless there is something specific written about signs of ageing or an issue with the piece. Some slight wear is to be expected and is acceptable on vintage jewellery , hopefully this is confined to very light touches which show as age rather than damage or missing stones

9. Learn about vintage Jewellery

Here on AntiquesAvenue blog there is lots of information about vintage jewellery and how to learn more about it. Use this an other websites and books to learn what to look for in detail. You too can find out how to date a piece of vintage jewellery by looking at it.

10. Ask how your jewellery will be posted

 Once you have chosen and paid for your piece of jewellery you want to be sure that it arrives safely. All AntiquesAvenue  jewellery is posted in a box and by secure post. Please do check that the piece you are to be sent will travel is a box as otherwise pin and clips can get damaged. The posts from earrings can bend if they are just put in bubble wrap, a bracelet can be crushed unless it is boxed.

 

AntiquesAvenue is specialising in genuine vintage and antique jewellery. Please select from the links on the left of this page to buy vintage jewellery which you can be sure is original.