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Enjoying Antique Jewelry
Vintage & Antique Jewelry – Vintage reproductions are rare for costume parties, and having all the family together for events makes it a great time to show off the diamond on that vintage engagement ring.
Jewellery has always remained a popular excellent for both gift-giving and wearing up. Naturally, jewellery is a part of that, from rings and earrings to necklaces, and that one unique quantity that dates back to the Victorian era or before. The sparkling light of diamonds and other gems reflection helps attract peoples attention just where the wearer wants it. Part of the beauty of antiques is that they provide a physical window into the past that you can trace.
The Basics of Jewelry
One thing that makes jewellery both required and collectable is its beauty; another is the staggering amount of variety available. A quick look through eBay can appearance you thousands of new and pre-owned necklaces, rings, bracelets, and other pieces. Amongst metals, you can discover gold, platinum, and sterling silver. For stones, there is everything from diamonds and sapphires to rubies, emeralds, and tourmaline. Terms like antique and vintage can rub on to all of them because they refer to the age slightly than type or materials.
How Do You Distinguish Among Antique and Vintage Jewelry?
When it comes to anything other than brand new jewellery, words like used and refurbished are rarely, if ever, used. The jewellery industry has its terminology, and while some people may use terms like estate, antique, and vintage jewellery almost interchangeably, they are not quite the same thing. Each carries its specific meaning:
Estate Jewelry: All antique and vintage jewellery is also estate jewellery, as the term means pre-owned. That being the case, the term estate remains most commonly applied to jewellery that is previously owned but is not old enough to be considered antique or vintage. There are places like The Estate Watch & Jewelry Co. where you can buy or sell your estate jewelry or just learn the worth of it.
Vintage Jewelry: Vintage applies to jewellery more than thirty years old, which is most twentieth-century jewellery. Vintage and vintage-inspired jewellery are trendy.
Antique Jewelry: Once jewellery hits the century mark, it’s described as antique, so the term can apply to pieces even thousands of years old, though most at that age are in museums.
How Do You Categorize Jewelry Pieces?
While the simple three-way breakdown into vintage, estate, and antique is easy to understand, it is not enough to cover the full range of jewellery available. For that, it is better to break things down by eras, with each reflecting a different period and style. One thing to be aware of is that different ages do overlap, with some covering the same periods:
Georgian: The bold designs of Georgian jewellery remained produced from roughly 1714 to 1830; it features symmetrical designs often surrounded by gold bows.
Victorian: With her reign stretching from 1837 to 1901, Victorian jewellery encompasses various styles, including mourning jewellery and items that reflect the deepest antiquity.
Art Nouveau: Generally contemporary with Edwardian, Art Nouveau remain existing from 1895 to 1915 and featured strong influences from Japan and the natural world. Many articles are asymmetrical and display off flowing curves.
Edwardian: Popular from 1901 to 1915, Edwardian pieces feature a unique white-on-white flair in cut diamonds and platinum. Platinum was particularly popular in this period because its strength enabled jewellers to focus on excellent detail that would have been impossible with softer metals.
Art Deco: Moving toward vintage pieces fashioned between 1915 and 1939. Hallmarks of the period were bold designs in linear and geometric forms. Both platinum and white gold were popular.
Retro: Enamel came to the forefront during the 1940s with the outburst of war. Curves and animal figures remained used to offset the reduced availability of gemstones and precious metals.
