Fine antiques are treasured by many and what woman doesn’t have a few antique jewellery pieces in her collection? If we are talking about antique jewellery, we first should understand the difference between ‘antique’ and ‘vintage’.
What Is Antique Jewellery?
Technically speaking, a jewellery item must be at least 100 years old to be classed as ‘antique’, anything younger would be classed as ‘vintage’. Those looking for antique pieces can browse the website of a reputable antique dealer, where they will find genuine antiques at affordable prices.
What To Look For In Antique Jewellery
The first thing to look for are hallmarks; most antique jewellery is made from gold, silver or platinum and hallmarks indicate purity and the assaying office that issued the hallmark. There are two precious metal classifications:
- Karat system – 8k, 9k, 10k, 14k, 18k,21k and 24k, which is pure gold.
- Millesimal Finess system – 333, 417, 583, 585, 625, 750, 833, 875, 916, 958 and 999.
Of course, these hallmarks could have literally worn away over the many years, especially with rings. If you are looking to find out more about a piece of antique jewellery, take it to a leading antique dealer, who would be happy to examine the piece and carry out a valuation.
Period Identification
Here are a few common aspects of numerous periods of antique jewellery:
- Edwardian Era (1901-1910) – Intricate milgrain and filigree are a sure sign of the Edwardian era, with diamonds and pearls being very popular. The colour was not really that popular, rather white (clear) diamonds and platinum or white gold was the norm for the jewellery of this time.
- Victorian Era (1830-1900) – This era is divided into 3 sections: romantic, grand and aesthetic periods. The romantic period saw lots of coloured gemstones – amber, emeralds, sapphires, rubies and amethyst, to name but a few. When Albert died, the style of jewellery was more formal and less colourful, which was the grand era and the aesthetic period saw more colour and creativity emerge from a new generation of jewellery makers.
- Art Deco Period (1915-1935) – This began in the mid-1920s, with an art exhibition held in Paris that showcased a new concept featuring bold, geometric shapes and rich colour. This style influenced all aspects of society, including jewellery, which is as popular today as it was back then. If you are looking for the ultimate Art Deco diamond engagement ring, start by searching online for a leading antique dealer, and then you can browse their extensive catalogue.
- Art Nouveau (1890–1915) – Similar to Art Deco, the Art Nouveau period preceded Art Deco and the flowing curves and creative shapes laid a foundation for the more extreme Art Deco. Popular gemstones including amber, citrine, amethyst, moonstone, opal and pearls were also used to make Art Nouveau jewellery.
- Retro Era (1930-1940) – This was a time when platinum was in short supply, therefore yellow gold and sterling silver were used. Animal shapes were common, while semi-precious stones were easier to acquire during WWII. If you are interested in acquiring retro antique jewellery, or one of those rare vintage engagement rings Australia or your country offers, you can find a dealer near you through a quick online search; your local antique dealer is the best person to contact.
The best person to appraise a piece of antique jewellery is your local antique dealer. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a specific style of antique diamond engagement ring, the antique dealer would have an extensive catalogue of genuine antique diamond rings.
There are some very realistic replicas of fine antique jewellery, so you do have to be on alert when purchasing antique jewellery. Approach an established antique dealer, and you can be sure that the piece is, in fact, genuine.
