How to collect vintage jewellery



Having vintage collections in your jewellery box can do wonders when it comes to portraying an authentic look at a function, wedding or event. However, to be able to successfully carry out such a look, you need to understand what suits you and how to collect vintage jewellery. There are a number of factors which you must understand before you go about adding items to your vintage collections. Remember that it is important for you to take care of purchasing the right product as buying jewellery calls for a sizeable investment.

Training your eye to find hidden gems
The first and foremost step of adding jewellery to your vintage collections is to train your eye to catch the right pieces and to find hidden gems. The market for vintage jewellery is extremely buoyant. As a result, the key to purchasing the right item is often linked with condition and quality. Remember to avoid worn out or corroded plating, missing stones, chipped enamel, scratches and cloudy rhinestones. Moreover, the fastenings should always be tested to ensure that they work properly. There are a number of outlets which are ideal  for purchasing jewellery to add to your vintage collections. Some of these outlets include designer outlets, reputed jewellers, specialist jewellery fairs and retro fashion markets.

Detecting the era to which the vintage jewellery belongs
Each era has its own definition of style which can be easily detected if you know what to look for. Therefore, you must always ensure that you familiarize yourself with the various shapes and forms as well as the characteristics of the jewellery for a particular era. If you’re looking for vintage jewellery from the Victorian period, you should check out the way the stones have been placed. Generally, Victorian era jewellery featured small stones that were studded all over the piece. Cloisonné enamel work was extremely popular during the time as well.

Spotting the fakes
It is extremely important to spot the fakes to prevent yourself from getting swindled. Remember to check for dust around the stones as it could help in indicating the age of the piece. The style of the clasp should also be compatible with the date for the piece selected by you. The weight of the vintage jewellery as well as the trademark signatures and designer stamps also helps you to determine the authenticity of a particular piece.