What Determines the Value of Antique Jewellery?

 There are many factors that determine the value of antique jewellery, including its design, workmanship, and provenance. Provenance is one of the most difficult factors to determine, but some recent auctions have proven the value of some pieces. A Marie Antoinette pearl drop pendant, which sold for more than US$36 million at Sotheby's in Geneva, is a perfect example. Other elements that determine a piece's value include the piece's style and the maker's name.

Vintage vs antique jewellery

 There are several important differences between antique and vintage jewellery. Antique jewellery is considered older and more valuable. Some pieces are even centuries old. Antique jewellery has no manufacturer or retailer markup, making them a better investment than brand-new jewellery. Buying any old jewellery won't make a good investment, however, so there are several important factors to consider when purchasing vintage jewellery. Read on to discover what these differences mean and how you can make the right purchase.

 One way to tell if a piece of jewellery is vintage is its age. To qualify as vintage, a piece must be 20 years old or older. Antique jewellery, on the other hand, is over 100 years old. As a result, antique jewellery is often more valuable than vintage pieces. However, some vintage pieces are much older than antique ones. This means that vintage pieces may be more expensive. However, it is important to do your research to avoid losing a lot of money or risk ruining your precious piece.

Classification

 There are various techniques that can help you in the classification of antique jewellery. One of the best ways is to look for certain traits in a piece, like the maker and era of the item. Besides, these traits can help you target your search efforts further. Let's take a look at the different techniques below. There is a definite art to this. It takes a lot of experience and skills. But, if you want to get started, there is no better way than by following these guidelines.

 First of all, we must classify the piece of jewelry. Antique jewellery is usually over 100 years old. Moreover, authentic antique jewellery is very valuable. A famous example of an antique necklace is the Hutton Mdivani Jadeite Necklace which sold to Cartier for $27 million in 2014.

Styles

 There are several styles of antique jewellery, each with its own characteristics. Gold and rose gold dominate the styles of vintage jewelry. In previous decades, platinum was popular, but it was scarce during World War II. Colorful gemstones were popular and less expensive, but diamonds were not, except in tiny accents. Earrings made their debut during this period, and were usually close to the ear. Long dangles were also out of style, and were replaced by clip-on designs.

Georgian jewelry is one of the oldest commercially available styles. Named after four kings of England, this style is known for its elaborate designs, colorful precious stones, and love of yellow gold. Most pieces of Georgian jewelry were part of a set, and are therefore extremely expensive. Many pieces are engraved with a lover's name, or have other sentimental value. Listed below are a few styles of antique jewellery that are worth looking at.

Price

 The cost of antique jewellery is not a trivial matter. Unlike modern jewels, antique pieces are made with higher-quality materials. Gemstones from the earlier period were of a higher quality, as oceans were not as polluted. Besides, the colours of 20th-century gemstones are not nearly as vivid as those used in antique jewellery. To understand the true value of antique jewellery, you should compare its price with the current rates on the Internet.

 A good rule of thumb is to keep in mind that the price of antique jewellery is affected by a number of factors. First, the history of the piece is important. The story behind it can influence its value. The story behind a piece of antique jewellery also affects its price. It's therefore important to research the background of the item before paying its price. For instance, if a piece of jewellery has been passed down from a grandparent, it's more likely to be an heirloom.