How to Start a Vintage or Antique Jewellery Collection

Collecting Antique and Vintage Jewellery

Educate Yourself

Before you start collecting, you need to know what you are looking for. So, educate yourself on the eras and styles. There are lots of eras, such as Edwardian, Victorian, and Georgian. Each era has its own style within it. Find out what the preferred materials and stones were in each period. Learn about hallmarks and how to assess jewellery pieces.

You can do this in a number of ways – visit museums and antique jewellery exhibitions, read books and blogs, and talk to people who have knowledge of jewellery. Find out as much as you can before you start collecting.

Related: The Difference Between Vintage and Antique Jewellery

Set a Budget

Jewellery can vary greatly in price; vintage and antique jewellery are no exception. Although most antique and vintage pieces are preowned, so they tend to be cheaper in price than newer pieces, age, condition, rarity and designer can greatly affect the price. So, before you start collecting think about how much you can afford overall and what's the maximum you would like to spend on each piece.

Remember, antique and vintage jewellery can increase in value over time, so think of your collection as an investment.

Read More: How to Tell if Your Old Jewellery is Valuable

Network

A good way to find out about antique and vintage jewellery is to find other enthusiasts to support you on your journey. Create a supportive network of enthusiasts and experts with whom you can chat about what you are looking for. Go to jewellery events, join online forums and get involved with the community to start your network of jewellery lovers to help you.

Attend Fairs and Auctions

Antique fairs, auctions and other jewellery-related events are great places to research antique and vintage jewellery, as well as find like-minded people for your network. Here you can find out who the experts are and get advice from collectors. These are also good places to find jewellery pieces at bargain prices.

Think About Your Preferences

Consider what types and styles of jewellery you are drawn to; these are what you should have in your collection. Whether you prefer a certain era, a certain style, or a specific jewellery type, think about what appeals to you. Once you know what you like, you can ensure you are fully clued up on what you love and know what to look for in a piece.

Find Sellers

Although auctions and fairs are great for finding antique and vintage jewellery for your collection, you should also look to find reputable sellers and dealers whom you can trust. Whether that’s a specialised antique or vintage dealer or a pre-owned jewellery seller. Check out reviews to find sellers with a good reputation and look for dealers that have been in the business for a long time. Check the credentials of the dealer if possible, and if you’re buying from a seller online, they should be certified. Sellers and dealers should also be able to tell you about any piece you are interested in, so be sure to have a conversation with them.

When you have a dealer or seller that you can trust and are confident in, you can let them know what you are looking for, and they can inform you when they have something that may suit your preferences.

Start Small

When you begin collecting antique and vintage jewellery, start small. Acquire a few pieces that are well within your budget that you love. You don't need to have a huge collection overnight. Start with less valuable pieces to build up your confidence, knowledge and experience without financial risk. Once you gain confidence, you can then start to look for the more valuable pieces as you'll know what to look for and have experience in buying old jewellery. Build up your collection as and when your budget allows.

Before you start buying, check out our guide to buying second-hand jewellery.

Care for Your Collection

Once you've started your vintage and antique jewellery collection, it's vital that you care for it properly. Proper care will ensure the longevity of the pieces, preserving the beauty and value of each.

Store your antique and vintage jewellery in a clean, dry place, away from sunlight and moisture. Clean your pieces regularly – the cleaning method will depend on the item itself but never use any harsh chemicals or abrasive materials.

You should also consider having the jewellery professionally cleaned and maintained when necessary – so ensure this is considered when setting your budget.

Popular Pieces to Start Your Antique & Vintage Jewellery Collection

As knowing where to start when collecting antique and vintage jewellery can be difficult, here are our top picks for styles and types to consider for your first item:

Rings

Rings are a classic choice to collect, they often have meaning attached to them, and there is a wide range of styles.

For example, signet rings are often connected to a family, and so will usually feature a family crest, initials, or motifs. Signet rings have been used as long ago as 3500 BC; in the Middle Ages, influential people would have a signet ring, but these tended to be destroyed after a person died so that documents could not be forged after a nobleman's death. In the 19th century, they became more ornate. Our pre-owned signet ring collection is a good place to find some striking pieces.

Another popular ring to look for is the Victorian five-stone ring. These rings have five of the same stone on them, adding a splash of colour. Georgian rings often have intricate designs and bold styles, whereas Edwardian rings tend to have a more delicate design.

Have a browse of our second-hand rings for some inspiration.

Necklaces

Intricate designs and unique motifs are what you should look out for when looking for antique and vintage necklaces to add to your collection.

To go with your necklaces, pendant drops will add something extra to a plain chain. Different periods will have different styles of pendants and figures depicted, such as animals and flowers. Lockets are a pendant with a romantic twist. Victorian lockets will be rift with symbolism, and the sentimental and popular "flower language" influenced designs in this period.

Georgina chains are also a popular item to start a vintage and antique jewellery collection. These are often light and delicate, but finding one with its original length and clasp can be difficult.

Head over to our second-hand necklace range to see what pieces you can find.

Earrings

Elaborate earrings are a great start (or addition) to a vintage and antique jewellery collection. Georgian styles often have single drops, and Victorian styles often have openbacks.

If you prefer stream-lined looks over chunky, the Art-Deco era might suit your collection better. The Art Deco movement brought colour to earrings at a more affordable price.

Check out our second-hand earring range for starting your collection. And if you're planning on wearing the used earrings, find out how to disinfect second-hand earrings before you wear them.

Bracelets

Bracelets will add elegance to a vintage and antique jewellery collection. You can wear different styles together, stacking them for a unique look.

Look out for pairs of Victorian hinged bangles – one was given as an engagement gift, and the second for a wedding day gift. Actual pairs are rare, as they were often broken up between sisters, but you might get lucky!

Edwardian and Victorian padlock bracelets are also popular vintage and antique pieces. These were traditionally given to a woman when her husband had to travel – he would lock the padlock and keep the key, unlocking the padlock upon his return.

Our second-hand bracelet range is a good place to start when looking for some of these styles.

Brooches

Brooches are often overlooked items of jewellery, but they have a place in any vintage and antique collection. Depending on the era, you will find different symbolism and shapes. Victorians were fans of symbolism, so brooches of different animals and flowers have various meanings.

Watches

Another piece of jewellery that is often overlooked, antique and vintage watches have a place in any collection. Older watches are not only a practical item to have in your collection but can be just as beautiful as other jewellery pieces and have just as much history, as designs and fashions changed, and technology improved through the years. From dainty dress watches to chunky sports watches, you can find vintage watches to match your jewellery collection.

If you want to include watches in your vintage or antique jewellery collection, it's important you know what to look for, so check out our guide to buying pre-owned watches. You can also browse our range of second-hand watches that often has vintage styles to be found.

Start Collecting

Starting a vintage or antique jewellery collection is as exciting as it is rewarding. Just remember to set yourself a budget and start small as you build up your collection. Be sure you do your research and have fun as you find and buy beautiful jewellery pieces.

To get started, head over to our full range of second-hand jewelley where you can find modern and vintage pieces perfect for any jewellery collection.