A Comprehensive Guide To Choosing Vintage Jewelry

This era can actually be divided into three different periods; The romantic, grand, and aesthetic periods.

The romantic period symbolizes the Queen’s marriage with Prince Albert. Thus, symbols of love and romance were common. Also common was the symbol of the snake, which symbolized eternal love and wisdom. Colorful gems such as amethysts, garnets, topaz, chrysoberyl, emeralds, and turquoise were abundant. 

Common materials: Gold, colourless stones, silver, jet, ivory, pearls, opals, emeralds, and amethysts. 

Common techniques: Hand-carved conch shell cameos, typically carved by Italian artisans. 

What To Look for: Keepsake lockets, heart and flower motifs, snakes, bow brooches, and jet black brooches.

During this era, jewelry was designed to match the eloquent standard of women’s fashion. 

Edwardian Era jewelry can be recognized by its intricate filigree and milgrain work. Filigree work gives jewelry a lacey look while milgrain work produces a border of tiny beads.

Common materials: Platinum, diamonds, pearls, gold, sapphire, emerald. 

Common techniques: Lace-like filigree work and milgrain borders.

What To Look for: Diamond and pearl tiaras, long pearl rope necklaces, and long glittering earrings, gold knot rings.

Although this era overlaps with the Edwardian Era, they are two very different styles. 

The Art Nouveau Era embraced free form and organic designs. This style is very distinct with its sweeping curves, whimsical elements, and enameling. Art Nouveau artists used pique-a-jour enamel which allowed light to shine through its back, giving the pieces a soft, glowing effect.

Common materials: Silver, low-grade gold, steel, garnet, citrine, amethyst, pearls, agate, opal, and moonstone. 

Common techniques: Enameling. 

What To Look for: Female form cameos, translucent enamel, fairies, butterflies, dragonflies, flowers, and sweeping curves.

Think flapper girl style — these pieces were bold, bright, and modern. Commonly used stones were sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. 

Yellow gold was out of style at this point, instead you’ll find white gold or platinum used in pieces from the Art Deco Era. The Art Deco jewelers used antique diamond cuts such as the Old European Cut.

Common materials: Platinum, chrome, rubies, sapphire, white gold, pearls and emeralds. 

Common techniques: Calibre-cut gemstones.

What To Look for: geometric shapes, bright designs, and platinum with opaque stones.

The need for weapons during World War II limited the amount of metals available to fine jewelers — they turned to yellow gold and sterling silver. 

The war also caused a shortage in gemstones, causing jewelers to use synthetic gemstones and semi-precious stones like amethyst, peridot, citrine, aquamarine, topaz, and tourmaline. Pieces were often designed with one or two large, bulky stones. 

Common materials: Synthetic gemstones, silver, and yellow gold. 

Common techniques: Woven, braided, and coiled gold. 

What To Look for: Light blue sapphire, bow or flower brooches, convertible jewelry, and patriotic themes. 

A quick google search will direct you to your local vintage and antique shops. Their convenient location means you can stop by often to see if new pieces have come in.

These rings are some of the most sought-after vintage jewelry pieces. They are romantic, delicate, and make beautiful engagement rings. But these rings aren’t just for brides; try layering them for a modern bohemian look. The rosy warmth of gold found in most Victorian rings look great on all skin tones.

Want to make a statement? Edwardian rings will do just that. Their bold and glamorous design will surely catch the eye of everyone in the room. If your style is sleek and sophisticated, an Edwardian vintage ring may be the perfect piece for you. 

A celebration of the female form and natural word, these rings are feminine and organic. A vintage Art Nouveau ring makes a precious gift to hand down to a daughter or granddaughter. Anyone with a closet full of bohemian style dresses should add a vintage Art Nouveau ring to their collection.

Beauty meets function in vintage Art Deco rings. Sharp geometric shapes symbolize the strong foundation that every engagement needs to succeed. Intricate filigree work and diamonds complimented by white gold will absolutely wow your loved one. These rings can transform your basic dress into an elegant outfit. If you’re the girl with multiple solid black dresses in her closet, consider buying a vintage Art Deco ring to turn your cocktail dress into something more elegant.

If your style is minimalist but you like having the option to add some pizzazz to your outfits, look for a vintage Retro ring to add to your collection. These rings are minimalist by nature, utilizing limited materials available during the war but they still add a stunning pop to any casual outfit.

Brooches in the Victorian era were commonly designed as mourning jewelry. These pieces represent a connection to loved ones and are commonly made with jet or black glass. They are solemn pieces that carry lots of sentimental value. Consider buying a vintage Victorian brooch for a loved one in mourning, or pick one out for yourself to help you through the grieving process.

Iconic brooches from the Edwardian era feature dangling, draping, and swooping diamonds held by platinum. If your outfits are generally solid color with sharp defined edges, consider adding a vintage Edwardian brooch for some fluidity.

The whimsical designs of these brooches add a natural touch to your collection. Use these organic brooches to clip your flowy dress at the waist, giving your outfit a vintage look without appearing too formal. These also make wonderful gifts for your loved ones who live holistic lifestyles.

Straight, symmetrical designs found in vintage Art Deco brooches are the perfect compliment for any wavy or curly hair style. We love the way these brooches balance a bride’s natural curves and wavy hair.

Looking for something fun and casual? Vintage retro brooches are for you. The versatile materials used to make brooches during this era have led to some really vibrant and interesting pieces.

A vintage gold Victorian bracelet is a beautiful and elegant addition to your collection. Similar to Victorian rings, these bracelets can also be layered for a modern bohemian look. Search for these bracelets if you are looking for a piece to pair with your flowy white dresses.

For those with shiek styles, a vintage Edwardian bracelet is the perfect compliment to your outfit. The popular gold and platinum woven bracelet of this era goes great with a sophisticated black dress.

If you love cuff bracelets, look for a vintage Art Nouveau bracelet. These designs are bulky yet graceful, giving your outfit the perfect balance of refined and free.

When you want to make a show-stopping first impression, a vintage Art Deco bracelet is what you need. These diamond bracelets will dazzle any crowd and take your outfit from functional to elegant. 

If you’re looking for a more versatile bracelet that can match a formal or casual outfit, you want to look for a vintage Retro bracelet. Bulky yellow gold bracelets were popular during this era and they are still elevating outfits today.

Given the length of this era, earrings were produced in a variety of styles. Dangle earrings were popular in gold as were earrings that contained seed pearls to symbolize mourning. These earrings are a great choice for someone who cares about the sentimental value of their jewelry, there’s just so much history and symbolism packed into these pieces.

Dangling diamonds were the popular earring choice of this era. Chandelier and cluster drop earrings perfectly complete a sophisticated outfit and draw attention to your neck and shoulders. If you love wearing dresses that show off your shoulder and collar bones, try adding a pair of vintage Edwardian earrings to your collection.

If you love dangling earrings but want something that’s not too flashy, vintage Art Nouveau earrings are for you. These earrings dangle with a natural free form and earthy colors that can be worn every day. 

Going to a Gatsby-themed party? You’ll want to pop on a pair of vintage Art Deco earrings to fit in. These earrings are bold, bright, and feature plenty of geometric shapes to give your outfit a ‘roaring twenties’ vibe.

If you describe your style as bold and fun, consider adding some vintage Retro earrings to your earring collection. You’ll find Retro earrings in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and bright colors. These are a great choice for people who don’t wear earrings often, as they are usually made with lighter material which is good for sensitive ears.

Locket necklaces were popular during the Victorian Era and make excellent gifts for loved ones. These lockets were often given with photographs of loved ones who had passed away and this trend is still seen today. If you want to give a sentimental gift, take a look at vintage Victorian locket necklaces.

These elegant droopy necklaces create a stunning look on an open chest. Vintage Edwardian necklaces are the perfect accessory to wear with a strapless sleeveless dress. 

Necklaces designed during the Art Nouveau Era are perfect for loose fitting styles that embrace a free flowing form. These pieces tend to hang lower on the chest and should be matched with outfits that have either very high or very low necklines. 

The sharp edges of geometric shapes in these designs compliment the natural curves highlighted by form-fitting outfits. If you enjoy wearing tight dresses or blouses, consider adding a vintage Art Deco necklace to your collection for a more balanced look.

Retro necklaces are so versatile, you can find a thick gold chain for a formal event or a bulky single pendant necklace for something more fun and casual.

If you’re buying vintage jewelry for a loved one, you might consider searching for a piece with their birthstone included. You can read up on the ins and outs of buying birthstone jewelry or see this quick list of the months and their corresponding stones. Give your loved one a personalized name and birthstone necklace or order a multi-stone piece to represent your family.