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Vintage Guide

11/09/2018 1212 0 3

 

If you are a fan of vintage then now is a great time to look for quality pieces as the market
is buoyant, and with a little bit of background research you can  find some great vintage
necklaces, earrings, bracelets, or  brooches to add to your collection. There are pieces  to
suit every style  and taste, and  you can find a wide variety of choice in terms of  value
and significance. With so many buying options available, it’s a great idea to know
what to look for when buying vintage , and, if possible, understand a bit of the history
behind each piece.


Hans Wullum silver pink crystal necklace   Grosse green crystal brooch
L to R: Hans Wullum necklace, Ciner panther bracelet,and Grosse green crystal brooch from
Modern Vintage Style

Designer Vintage Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets and Brooches

Designer vintage is always popular and if the condition is good then these pieces will
often keep their value in future years. Names to look out for are Christian Dior, Yves
Saint Lauren
t, Sara Coventry and Trifari amongst many others. Knowledge is power
and it is a great idea to read up on this subject before making any major purchases.
Knowing exactly what to look fo puts you ahead of the game and will ensure you get
the best designer vintage bargain.  

Tips for Buying Vintage

If you are looking to buy some beautiful vintage jewellery keep in mind the following
points:

Condition is Key

 – Don’t take the condition of a vintage jewellery piece for granted. Have a thorough
look at the item from all angles and use a jeweller’s loupe for close inspection. Keep an
eye out for extremely worn plating, cloudy or darkened rhinestones, clasps that don't work
properly, missing stones or rhinestones, and chipped or scratched enamel. All these will
lower the value of a vintage item. Obvious repairs such as poor soldering and stone
replacements should also be avoided.

Look for quality 

– If you find a bargain price piece of low quality jewellery that you love, and must have
then go ahead and buy it. However, overall you should be looking for quality vintage
jewellery as these pieces will wear better and hold their value over time.  Look for signs
of quality such as substantial weight, pronged settings, smooth plating and sparkling
stones to ensure it is real vintage and not newer jewellery
.

Look for designer names /signatures 

 Particular manufacturers are known for making jewellery of quality: Eisenberg,
Schiaparelli, and Miriam Haskell, are a few names to look for when purchasing
luxury pieces. Moremoderately priced signatures include Weiss, Coro, Trifari, and 
Butler and Wilson, and Christian Dior  among many others. Should you always look
for a signed piece of vintage jewellery? Not necessarily. Although the designer signature
will generally increase the value of the piece there are even more beautiful unsigned pieces
available and all the previously mentioned companies made unsigned jewellery at one
point or another. It really depends on who you are buying the jewellery for – a costume
jewellery collector will appreciate a signature much more than someone who will enjoy the
piece as a fashion accessory. There are various  guides to collecting vintage jewellery and
resource books which can help you determine top brands and signatures to look for.

Consider Personality 

– If you're buying for yourself, consider the style of jewellery you feel comfortable wearing
and what suits your wardrobe. Size, colour, durability and overall look will influence your
purchases. When buying presents,  such as vintage necklaces, or vintage earrings consider
the taste of the owner, bright colour rhinestones are not everyone’s idea of style. The beauty
of vintage jewellery is the vast range of styles from delicate and simple to big bold and bright.

Add a special touch to gifts

 - Ask the dealer to provide some background information on the item you're purchasing. This
can include the manufacturer or designer, age of the item, distinguishing design characteristics
or materials, and any background on the former owner (this is known as provenance) if known.
Print out these details onto a small piece of card which you can add into the gift box. To a
person who knows little about vintage jewellery, these bits of information are priceless, and make
owning the item more meaningful.

For more general information on costume jewellery the V and A museum   is a good
place to look. 

Further reading: The Complete Guide to Costume Jewellery
                           The Ultimate Guide to European Costume Jewellery Brands