Antique Estate Jewelry

Estate Jewelry - Antiques, Unique Designs

The most important fact to be kept in mind when buying your antique jewelry is that antique and estate have two completely different meanings. According to the US Customs for a jewelry item to be a considered true antique it must be authenticated and at least 100 years old. Which means it is impossible for all those wonderful vintage jewelry pieces and wedding rings you see online from the 1950 and 60's to be anywhere near antique. This is what we call vintage jewelry.


Estate jewelry --- is previously owned jewelry. Which means although all estate jewelry may not be vintage or authentic antique, most vintage and antique jewelry can be termed estate jewelry as it has most likely been owned by someone else. Other than that you can find estate jewelry that has been manufactured a few years ago, once again, this is not antique or vintage.


Vintage Estate Jewelry - Antique Jewelry Periods

Collectors have chronologically divided antique jewelry into specific periods starting with the Georgian period at circa 1714 and up to the modern period which we are living in today. Below are the periods that say a lot about the style of the antique jewelry you will purchase.


  • Georgian - This was the period King George ruled Britain before the advent of the industrial age. Antique jewelry from this period is handmade with diamond and gemstone settings beginning to get popular in royal jewelry. There are strong nature influences in the design of jewelry. Motifs such as flowers, birds & feathers are common in the vintage jewelry of this period.
  • Victorian - The Victorian age in antique jewelry begins with the reign of Queen Victoria who herself was a great jewelry lover. Other than this, the industrial age was here and it was going to change the process and design of making jewelry for ever. Since jewelers now had better tools, jewelry started becoming available and affordable for the general masses for the first time in history.
  • Art Nouveau - Art Nouveau jewelry is from a period roughly from the end of the 19th century to the early 20th century. This was a time of great change and experiments in terms or jewelry design and production with jewelry designers all but abandoning the restrictions that had been applied to design and style during the Victorian period. This is the time when true artists took over the jewelry business and made their impact with very non traditional & creative designs.
  • Edwardian - This period began with King Edward ascending to throne of England, taking over from Queen Victoria. Antique jewelry from this period is usually delicate in design when compared with the heavy use of gold in the Victorian period. The use of platinum, diamonds and gemstones such as emeralds, sapphire and rubies also started gaining popularity during this period.
  • Art Deco - Modernization & globalization are the two distinct influences of vintage jewelry from this period. Designers were using styles inspired by Far and Middle Eastern, Roman and Greek art with the central theme being geometry and symmetry. Art Deco vintage jewelry is largely the contribution of America to contemporary jewelry design.
  • Retro (WWI & II Years) - This the time during which Europe was at war and the manufacturing and production of jewelry was shifting to the United States. America had also now become a huge market for jewelers, as a result of which the vintage jewelry from this period has a very American element to its design. The jewelry is bold, the stones bigger and rose gold once again popular as platinum had been during the Art Deco and Edwardian years.

This should help you pick out authentic vintage jewelry from the fakes and replicas when you go shopping for antique wedding rings and jewelry


Related
Antique Jewelry
Antique Wedding Rings
Wedding Band
Jewelry Store Directory - Antique