What to Look for in Vintage Jewelry

Vintage jewelry recalls the days of quality workmanship and classic style. It can also recall shoddy workmanship and a complete lack of style. This is why you should always know what to look for in vintage jewelry before even considering shopping for any.

Vintage jewelry is usually considered any piece over 20 years old. Once the piece hits 100 years old, it's considered antique. In the jewelry world, though, the classification depends on the style and make of the jewelry. Some antique pieces can be as young as 80 years old.

Material
Be careful to inspect the exact materials used in the creation of any piece of vintage jewelry. Nobody wants to pay gold prices for copper jewelry. You also don't want to think you're wearing a gold necklace but end up with copper stains on your neck.

Think about how difficult cleaning and repairing your vintage jewelry will be when checking the materials. If the material is worn and damaged beyond repair, you'll have to like the piece just as it is. If you don't you shouldn't buy it. If it can be cleaned and/or repaired, check the price for these services, or the jewelry may end up costing you much more than you anticipated.

Clasps
Always check the clasps and links on a piece of vintage jewelry. You need to make sure everything is secure and strong, not about to break. It's never fun to buy a pair of expensive vintage earring, only to have the stud break after five minutes of wear. If the clasp or links are weak, make sure they can be replaced at a local jewelry store, or the item is just a piece of junk.

Periods
When shopping for vintage jewelry, you need to know some of the basic lingo. Most stores will categorize their pieces according to the period they were made in. The timelines and labels are used rather loosely, and often overlap.

Art Nouveau is the earliest period for vintage jewelry, considered to be items made from 1890 to 1910. Edwardian jewelry overlaps Art Nouveua, ending about 1915. Art Deco came around in the roaring 1920s and ended about 1940. Retro jewelry began around 1940 and generally ended about 1960. Though there is no one formal name for jewelry in the 1970s and 1980s, most people just use the decade itself to describe the jewelry that emerged from that time.