A beautiful piece of jewelry can finish off an outfit, whether it is for a casual day shopping or a formal event. Vintage and antique jewelry have a charm all their own and are often easy to find when thrift shopping or estate shopping. But, it is important to know what to look for when shopping for antique and vintage jewelry, so continue reading to find out more.
Check Out the Seller
Places like eBay and craigslist are great places to search out antique jewelry. Most pieces of antique or vintage jewelry are unique, according to realtimecampaing.com. If looking on craigslist or eBay to buy a piece, and the seller has a large quantity of the same items for sale, it probably is not vintage. These selling platforms also allow one to read reviews about the seller. Are people happy with the other vintage pieces that have been purchased? Has the seller been timely in shipping the items?
Look for a Mark
Online, Experts Share Some Tips on How to Buy Vintage Jewelry. Antique pieces almost always have the maker’s mark left somewhere on the piece. If there is a mark, do some research online to find out who the original jeweler was and perhaps even find out where and when it was made. Many websites can aid in this investigation.
Ask Questions
It is always important to ask the seller some questions to help in determining whether the piece is truly vintage. Ask the seller where they acquired the piece. Ideally, they will have a story about where it came from, whether it is from their grandmother, an antique store in their small town, or an estate sale. Even large jewelers like Windsor Jewelers often know the backstories of many of their pieces.
Examine the Jewelry Thoroughly
Always examine the jewelry carefully, from all angles and sides. Chips in gems or cracks in the enamel can be difficult and expensive to repair. If the piece truly is antique, it will look old. Look for signs of wear on the prongs of a ring and the enamel. They should look worn. Another tip is to look at the size of the jewelry. Rings, for example, were usually smaller because people were smaller. But, sometimes they were made quite large to fit over gloves. Medium size rings that would fit an average hand now weren’t made so frequently 50 to 100 years ago.
Shop Around
If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Shop around to find not only the best deal but a piece of jewelry one loves the most. Estate sales are a good place to purchase antique jewelry because they came from a personal collection. It is possible to negotiate the price of pieces as well. Ask the seller if the piece comes with a jewelry certification, and if it doesn’t, offer a lower price.
Vintage jewelry is beautiful and sentimental. Just make sure that what one ends up with is truly an antique or vintage piece.
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