Antique and vintage jewellery has an allure all of its own! When you think of antique jewellery, you tend to think of the sort of thing that turns up on the Antique Road Show, the Faberge jewellery that is valued in the thousands of pounds, but of course the majority of vintage pieces are far more modest and affordable. I started in antique fairs some years ago, and jewellery was always popular, whether rings, brooches, or necklaces or bracelets.
Antique jewellery is normally defined as being 100 years old or more, whereas vintage is often defined as older pieces made after the Retro Modern period of the 1940s and up to and including the 1980s buy gold in dubai. It is a very wide field, and often the terms are interchangeable.
Indeed, for those of you on a budget, pre-owned, or pre-loved jewellery as the trade prefers to call it, is a great alternative to buying new jewellery. I found that vintage jewellery is usually well-made and attractive, especially since, with the rising price of gold and other precious metals, the more unattractive and/or damaged pieces are now melted down for their scrap metal value, leaving the better pieces intact. The thought of owning an unusual engagement ring or wedding ring that is vintage or pre-loved is something that can be considered as very often these rings will be cheaper than the modern equivalent but just as good quality if not better. I think that it’s nice to perhaps reflect on the past history of a vintage piece and speculate on the history behind it!
So where do you find antique and vintage jewellery? Some jewellery shops sell second-hand jewellery, and you can buy online. eBay is a popular source, but be careful – it’s easy to get carried away and bid more than you intended! And the rule of caveat emptor applies – that means ‘buyer beware’ and I find that if something looks too good to be true, then generally it is!
When buying antiques, you need to make sure of what it is you are buying, so always get a proper receipt from the vendor which shows that the item is genuine. It should state the gems used, and that any diamonds are genuine and not substitutes such as cubic zirconium. Gold and silver should be hallmarked – all British silver and gold is, but foreign items such as Indian jewellery may not be. An independent appraisal may be worth obtaining in the case of valuable items.
My advice to anyone interested in buying antique or vintage jewellery is to learn as much as you possibly can. Read up about it and get to know what you are looking for. Knowledge is power. It’s also fun!
London is a major world city that is also a hub for fashion, design and shopping. There are many stores in London selling fine jewellery and that makes choosing the right one hard to do. Even though it is possible to visit several during one day, this is time consuming and since London is a large city, it can also be an expensive endeavor.
One of the best ways to avoid wasting time when planning a London shopping trip is to first do some online research. Many stores that specialize in selling jewellery are listed in shopping directories and many of the serious retailers have their own website. Browsing websites is a great method of determining which jewellery store London stops to make when in the city and can also influence what pieces would be suitable for a special occasion or everyday use.
Since many retailers do have their own internet presence, jewellery shopping can also be done from the comfort of one’s own home. This is because many stores not only show their product selection on the site, but also allow visitors to order anything that they want to directly from the web page and have it delivered to any address. This is not only convenient, but also gives people who do not live near London or even in the United Kingdom the opportunity to purchase designer jewellery store London items.
The jewellery shopping experience should be special, and this means that the product range should also be varied and interesting. Common jewellery items that customers should be able to find in any good jewellery store include earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces, but in order to stand out a jewellery store in London must also have something unique. Unique items are often very specific and target certain groups or interests. For example, religious products can be designed and sold by upscale jewellery stores in London and this would include products like rosaries, crosses or gifts suitable for communions.
A variety of materials should also be taken advantage of by a jewellery store owner or designer, such as different colors of gold and sterling silver. Gemstones are also important for any jeweler and a wide variety should be included in the designs in order to appeal to as many potential customers as possible. Standard gemstones like diamonds or sapphires can be found in pieces from any jewellery store, but in London it is also possible to obtain harder to find gemstones