Antique and vintage jewelry are all the craze today, With the prices of gold and silver soaring many people have started to dig threw the jewelry box to see what they have tucked away. Some of us have pieced that have been passed down by other family members bring back fond memories. This very thing has revived the collectors of Antique and Vintage Jewelry.
Antique jewelry is considered 80 years or older, many say it must be at least 100 years old but with the Love for vintage jewelry the time lines have changed for different items. For example a cameo is considered a Antique only after it ages 100 years. But a gold bar pin may be considered antique after 80 years. So when your looking at Antique jewelry you should be looking at pieces made during 1930 or before.
Regardless the love for Antique jewelry is here and if your a admirer your in the right place. www.jewelry-auctioned.com offers some of the finest Antique jewelry at wholesale prices and below!
Many people buy it to collect it. Other buy it to wear. Or they may buy it to present to a loved one on a special occasion, as antique jewelry is often considered even more sentimental and meaningful that new jewelry.
Some antique jewelry is marked with what is called a hallmark to show whether it is gold, silver or who made it. All Antique jewelry is collectible in some way. But sometimes we stumble across a piece that may be worth a great deal of money, more than we ever imagined due to the person who made it or the design or age of the item.
Hallmarks not only show who made a item, or what it is made of but may also show what year it was made or what country it came from.
There are many ways to tell the age of a antique piece of jewelry. For example:
Look at the type of fastener used on the piece. Brooches made in the 1800s generally have "C" catches on the back, while screw-back earrings came about in the 1890s. Riveted hinges on pins and lever-back earrings were not developed until 1900. Tongue-in-groove clasps were designed in 1910 and barrel clasps came along in the 1930s.
Study the cut of the gem, if applicable. For example, old mine cut diamonds are irregularly shaped and appear lumpy, but are brilliant under low lighting, and were very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. European and rose-cut gems are often seen in antique pieces. Gems were hand-cut until the 1800s.
Look at the craftsmanship of the piece. Jewelry was handmade until the mid-19th century, the sides of jewelry pieces made during that period are not generally identical.
The back of a piece of antique jewelry is just as intricate and ornate as the front of the piece, and antique jewelry that is a well-made piece is smoothly finished on the front and the back. You should be able to run your fingers over the front and back of a piece without feeling your fingers "catch" on anything. This is the case on many bar pins, but when it comes to very intricate filigree pieces from France and other countries that may not be so. A simple piece should be smoother though.
If you have questions about a piece your looking at on www.jewelry-auction.com make sure you ask your seller about it. And don't forget this particular site is offering prices well below retail!! So when you find that piece you just love indulge and treat yourself to a piece of the past.
