Why Does The Value Of Vintage Jewellery Increase Over The Years?
Jewellery is long-lasting and becomes more valuable over the years. Although all other aspects are the same, it is the nature of vintage jewellery that makes it more valuable than the new jewellery manufactured these days. In addition, the manufacturer and retailer do not dramatically affect the markup of vintage pieces.
Important Things To Remember When Buying Vintage Jewellery
If you are thinking of investing in vintage jewellery, then take the following important points into consideration to make sure that you are investing in pieces that will give you the best returns:
- Learn The Difference Between Vintage And Antique Jewellery
Generally, jewellery is deemed vintage if it was manufactured 20 to 100 years ago, and antique pieces, on the other hand, are much older, with some pieces dating back 100 years or more, and even back to ancient times.
This difference is extremely important, because usually, the older a piece of jewellery is, the more you will pay for it.
- Hallmarks And Designer Labels
If a vintage jewellery piece, as with pieces of any age, carries the signature of a well-known designer, its value will increase considerably. The difference is, however, that the signatures of vintage jewellery designers of those days, were in places on the piece where they were barely visible, with some not even having a signature. Motifs or manufacturer’s marks, which were the only indicators of the piece’s uniqueness, could hardly be seen with the naked eye.
Those new to investing in vintage jewellery could hardly be blamed for missing these distinguishing marks. Therefore, it is vital that you have a professional jeweller examine vintage jewellery pieces for hallmarks and designer labels that might be hidden. The discovery of these distinguishing marks could increase the value of the piece significantly!
Hallmarks and designer labels are absolute proof of the significant value of vintage jewellery. You can refer to the basic list of hallmarks on the website of the Birmingham Assay Office.
- Gold Vintage Jewellery
Since gold has always been considered valuable, it makes sense to buy vintage jewellery as an investment. It is also much easier to sell jewellery for its gold content rather than the overall quality of the piece. It is the purity of the gold that is most important, which means that you can even sell damaged and broken jewellery at a high price, because, even when scrapped, the gold content will still fetch a high price.
- The Value Of Gemstones In Vintage Jewellery
Vintage jewellery that still has its original stones are rarer and more valuable. In fact, these gemstones are valued so highly, that the good gemstones are removed from some old pieces and used in the settings of new jewellery.
The value of gemstones in vintage jewellery is just as important as it is in modern pieces. The “four C’s” – cut, colour, carat, and clarity, should also be considered. Diamonds are still the most popular stone, with size being an extremely important aspect.
Other important precious stones like emerald, ruby, and sapphire, can increase the asking price of a piece significantly if they have been cared for correctly and are in good condition. You can negotiate a better deal if the stones in vintage jewellery are loose, faded, or cracked, which is quite common in the jewellery from days gone by. It is for this reason that you should always only invest in pieces that are in the best possible condition.
- Proving Originality
Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people out there who will try and sell you vintage jewellery that is not truly original.
The gemstones set in the old piece are fake, or even where a new jewellery item has been treated to make it look old.
If you are new to the world of vintage jewellery, and are not familiar with crucial factors, you are in danger of paying money to these opportunistic individuals, for a piece of jewellery that is in part, or completely fake.
You can avoid this unpleasant experience by using established expert companies like Vintage Tom (parent company Charles Hart Ltd who were established in 1820) and not only will you receive fair advice and expertise you will feel confident in the item you have purchased. Have a glance at our testimonials and Google reviews
What Are The Best Types Of Vintage And Antique Jewellery To Invest In?
The following types of vintage and antique jewellery make good investments:
Art Deco Jewellery – the 2020s is a new decade, and Art Deco jewellery will become antiques, and increase in value significantly. The striking Cubism designs, induce feelings of a future full of hope, and in these unstable times, resonate with investors.
Natural Pearls – there was a downward trend in the prices of natural pearls in the 1920s, after the introduction of cultivated pearls.
It takes plenty of time to produce natural pearl jewellery items, however, they are tremendously valued by today’s markets, with prices doubling over the past ten years.
Contemporary Jewellery – if you, like most clever investors, are considering a long-term investment, then the jewellery created by new designers will eventually become precious investments. You will find promising jewellers at events such as the Goldsmiths Fair and choose their best new design offers. Their creations will, in time, become extremely sought-after vintage and antique pieces.
In Conclusion
If you are thinking of investing in vintage jewellery, then make sure to take your time, do things properly, and there is little doubt that the pieces you buy, will increase in value over the years.
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