A stunning, uncommon piece of jewelry can be acquired by purchasing it used. When purchasing jewelry, however, you often gamble when shopping vintage: are you really purchasing vintage, or is this item genuinely antique? When purchasing from reputable vintage vendors, this is simple to rectify, but you never know when you’ll need to evaluate a piece of jewelry on your own.
Antique and vintage jewelry are similar in that they both date from earlier eras and frequently include more distinctive, one-of-a-kind designs.
However, antique and vintage jewelry genuinely differ greatly from one another. The main distinction between vintage and antique items is that antique items are those that date back at least 100 years, whilst vintage items are those that are more recent in time.
Antiques can be worn, however wearing them requires more sensitive maintenance. Instead of being worn-able fashion items, these items are frequently maintained as works of art or even antiques. Vintage jewelry can be worn more casually because it is still relatively new compared to other pieces of jewelry, but it should be maintained as should any jewelry.
The majority of vintage jewelry admirers are casual collectors rather than appraisers. So, how can you determine whether your jewelry is considered antique or vintage without paying for professional assistance? We step in to help with it.
To find out how to tell if your used jewelry is vintage or if it’s genuinely antique, keep reading.
Determine the Style
Despite the fact that jewelry styles often overlap, you can try to determine your jewelry’s historical beginnings by looking at its distinctive style.
The history of jewelry design can be divided into eras. Victorian jewelry, for instance, will have a highly distinctive appearance. This distinction is particularly obvious when compared to more contemporary jewelry that first appeared during the Jazz Age of the 1920s.
Victorian jewelry, which dates from the 1800s through the early 1900s, is unquestionably antique. Victorian jewelry had a tremendously ornate appearance, with jewels being set in metals that resembled claws all around the gem. The expression was dramatic and commanded attention. When you encounter that style, you cannot help but think of this time period.
Yes, you can accessorize with certain vintage Victorian pieces as long as you treat them gently. An excellent method to accessorize is, for instance, with this 1890s late Victorian Snake Brooch.
However, antique and vintage jewelry genuinely differ greatly from one another. The main distinction between vintage and antique items is that antique items are those that date back at least 100 years, whilst vintage items are those that are more recent in time.
If you love vintage designs, search for something more retro, such as a set of 1950s dangle rose earrings. These earrings are stylish and adorable. These earrings are eerily reminiscent of the era from which they were made.
The best advise we can give is to learn about the various jewelry fashion eras and try to categorize your accessory correctly. This will help you distinguish between antique and vintage jewelry. When compared to more current mid-century jewelry, the appearance of accessories from the Art Deco era is noticeably different.
If you pay special attention to the style, which is quite revealing, you will be able to discern whether your item is antique or vintage.
Specify Particular Materials
The additional materials used, in addition to the types of metals and jewelry design styles, are an excellent way to determine when your piece was made. Various materials were more frequently used in jewelry during different eras, and they frequently reveal a lot about the time period in which it was made.
Bakelite is an excellent way to determine how old a piece of jewelry is. It is a type of plastic that resists flames and was created in 1909. However, during the 1920s and 1950s, bakelite became widely used in jewelry production. It is safe to assume that your item is vintage if you say it is constructed of bakelite because of the material’s long history of popularity.
The necklace with bakelite hearts dates to the 1930s. The bakelite would be a telling indication of its vintage status if you did not know the item’s year of origin.
Camphor glass is an additional substance to be on the lookout for. Since camphor glass was widely used in jewelry from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, it can be used to identify older pieces. Finding modern vintage jewelry made of this material is uncommon. If you can spot this in your accessories, it probably dates back in time.
However, there is some material overlap. Jewelry made with foil opal, often known as faux opal, or during the Victorian era is unquestionably considered ancient. But keep in mind that jewelry still regularly uses this material. It can also be found in more recent vintage items.
Faux opal was frequently used in brooches throughout the 1970s, so if you find it in your jewelry or brooch, there is a good possibility that it was manufactured in the 1970s or 1980s and is therefore old. It won’t be as obvious because of the overlap in material utilization.
When inspecting your jewelry, keep in mind that common materials can often reveal if it is antique or vintage.
Jewelry Stamps
Our final piece of advise is to look for maker’s marks or stamps on the inside or back of your jewelry.
If there are no marks on your jewelry, which might occasionally happen, do not be concerned. The other suggestions can be used to more accurately ascertain your jewelry’s condition.
Let’s say you do have any marks on your accessories. In such scenario, this is a terrific approach to determine the precise date of manufacture, which will provide a definitive answer as to whether your object is antique or vintage.
What precisely is a maker’s mark, you may be wondering? Maker’s markings are the tiny initials or symbols engraved into the jewelry as a method for the creator to “sign” their creations. If your jewelry features those kinds of symbols or initials, all you have to do is try to determine who made it.
All you have to do to detect a mark on a vintage ring is look inside the band.
Jewelry maker’s markings and stamps are a fun way to discover the history of your jewelry as well as a reliable technique to determine whether a piece is vintage or antique.
At-Home Evaluation
Determining if your jewelry is vintage or antique can be difficult. The lines are fine, but you can do it at home if you follow these guidelines.
Keep an eye out for any maker’s marks, the type of jewelry it is, the materials it is made of, and the style. You can determine the broad time period in which your jewelry was made by using these suggestions, which will determine whether it qualifies as vintage or antique.