Buying, Wearing and Collecting Vintage Jewellery - What You Should Know

The word 'vintage' in the context of jewellery covers a whole range of looks, styles and eras. Not to be confused with antique which is generally pre-1920s jewellery. Basically, it means jewellery of a bygone era, but different types of vintage come in and out of fashion all the time. For example, recent trends have been watches - no, not wrist watches, but watch pendants hung from necklaces, brooches, bracelets and even earrings! Celebs have also been wearing a lot of pearls and so this is a huge vintage trend right now. But any jewellery from a recognisable era - the swinging sixties, glitzy seventies, excessive eighties to take some examples - can properly be called vintage.

To get the vintage look, you don't have to buy authentic old pieces. Which is a good thing, since their popularity has driven prices sky high. The high street is constantly mimicking the catwalk trends and this is good news for you because it means you can keep up with the latest trends without spending a fortune. You can get a piece of vintage couture for an off-the-rack price, without even going into double figures.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't keep an eye out for the real deal. Good places to look are antiques markets and charity shops where the prices tend to be lower. Charity shops in trendy locations are especially good for great finds, where obsessed fashion followers regularly clear out boxes of stuff that you'd never dream you could otherwise afford. If you're buying the real deal, you'll be paying a bit more and you want to make sure your investment doesn't go to waste.

Naturally, the condition of the jewellery is going to affect its value so check carefully for damage, ensuring stones or enamel aren't chipped or cracked and are held securely in place. Keep away from pieces that are corroded, have discolouration, cracks, or chips - especially plated pieces as these cannot be repaired cheaply (plating starts at about $50). A little scratching on metal is acceptable for age though - you're not buying new jewellery and it does add to the overall vintage feel.

Finally, watch carefully for fakes if you're buying as an investment as well as to wear the jewellery. A good idea is to look up list prices before you purchase what you think is a branded item so you can have an idea of what you should be paying. Famous name brands like Chanel are often forged so do ask for evidence of authenticity and take special care when spending a little more on these items.

For a beautiful collection of affordable vintage jewellery try ShopForJewellery.net's vintage jewellery and do check out their tips on buying vintage jewellery if you're planning to splash out on the real deal.

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