Antique Jewelry

Jewelry is considered antique if it is a piece that was made over a century ago. They may also include

those pieces which carry a certain design criteria and are branded as Art Deco, Vintage or Retro; or they may also be some estate jewelry, which by definition means jewelry that previously belongs to another owner or individual.

Many of today's fine jewelry pieces are created and inspired by antique designs. It is quite rare though,

to see a piece that was made and crafted with materials not already used by jewellers today. Best of all, antique jewelry are crafted with utmost quality. It is very well made so much so that it stands through time.

Antique Jewelry from Period to Period
From 1760 to 1830, during the Georgian period, accessories were characterized by extravagance and

ornate gold craftsmanship made of cannetille (or jewelry that is held by fine metal wires) was very popular. Enamelled pieces, particularly in cobalt blue combined with diamonds, were considered a favorite decorative ornament. Women wore drop earrings and long necklaces with a variety of textured gold chains. This was the fashion statement during this time.

Years later, bright colored gems became a fad, while intricate gold embellished jewelry still remained popular. This was known as the Victorian era, a time for romanticism and industrialization. Many archaeological achievements were also made known during this period that it inspired styles based on Egyptian and Celtic origins. Buckles and accessories with serpent designs or love knots became popular with women and along with this, brooches in varied shapes and forms was widely accepted.

At the turn of the century, Art Nouveau movements were gaining popularity that it also affected design changes in the world of jewelry making. Artistic expression was its main objective and gold was no longer popular. In place of it were brass and silver. Other popular ornaments also included pearls, designed in long strings or made as a choker; or jewelry encrusted with sapphire and amethysts. Platinum also became a jeweller’s favorite and it remains one of the primary materials used even today.

The Art Deco era brought about dynamic designs which were also influenced by Africa and India. The use of primary colors and frosted pieces was the rave of this period. After the war in the 40's jewelry production became slow and materials became scarce. In place of platinum and gold was alloy and designs were made for large scale pieces with only a minimal stones encrusted in it.

Buying Antiques
In buying antique jewelry, it is first important to learn how to classify what kind of piece you are eyeing because the period where it originates from, whether it was in the Victorian Era or the Art Deco period, essentially affects how valuable it its. Additionally, many reproductions of antique jewelry are already made available in the market, it would be best for those who would like to own authentic antique pieces to be familiar with the marks of each of the different periods to differentiate these from the "reproductions". Lastly, shop only at dealers or stores which carry a good reputation for selling authentic antique pieces, they will normally provide you with the right information and assistance and give you the best deals worth your money.

Antique Jewelry Directory - Informations, resources, guides and online shopping for antique jewelry.

Fashion Jewelry Guide - Jewelry guide features silver, gold, titanium jewelries, the newest trends and online shopping advices.