Is My Vintage Jewelry Worth Any Money?
Previous generations kept a hold of their jewelry and have passed it down. If you have received vintage jewelry and it is not to your taste, you may be wondering if it is worth any money and what you can do with it.
Vintage jewelry that is just sitting in a box or stored away is of no use to you and while you may not be interested in wearing it, some people collect it, and you can cash in on what you have.
Below, we will discuss more about what vintage jewelry is and whether yours may be worth anything.
How Is Vintage Jewelry Defined?
Vintage jewelry is any piece of jewelry that is more than 20 years old. That may not seem like a true “vintage” piece if you are 30 years old, but by definition, it is.
The biggest difference between vintage and antique (two confused terms) is that antique refers to jewelry that is more than 100 years old.
Is My Vintage Jewelry Valuable?
As you start to pull your vintage jewelry out and look at it, there are some things to keep in mind and inspect to determine the true value of what you may have.
- Look for Any Signature Marks
Take some time to inspect each piece of jewelry and look for any signature marks on it. Any jewelry that has a stamp or tag will help tell you what it is made of, or it will help you determine if it holds any value. All jewelry will have some type of marking on it unless the markings have been worn away from heavy use over time.
Locating signature marks is easy and you can usually find them in the following areas:
- Posts of earrings
- Inside a ring’s band
- Clasps on a bracelet
- Back of a brooch
- Clasps of a necklace
- Consider the Finish and Weight
Vintage jewelry that is worth money is usually made from sterling silver, gold, or platinum. You will be able to tell the difference between these pieces as they will be heavy to hold. You will be able to feel the weight of the item, even if the item looks like it would not weigh a lot.
You also want to spend some time looking over any gemstones that may be present in the piece. Gemstones that are real are not going to be glued onto the setting or ring and will naturally be placed onto it. Costume jewelry is often mistaken for vintage jewelry.
Costume jewelry is jewelry that is made from imitation gems and low-quality materials.
- Check the Clasps
Did you know that identifying the clasps used on your jewelry can help date it? Take a look at the clasps to try and determine when your jewelry was made.
Sell Your Vintage Jewelry Today
The exact value of your vintage jewelry will need to be determined on an individual basis as no one valuation can be placed on jewelry. What determines the value of your vintage jewelry will ultimately be the rarity, quality, and cut of the gemstones.
If you are interested in selling jewelry in New York, come to NYC Jewelry and Watch Buyers. We are ready to buy your unwanted vintage jewelry today and give you the fairest valuation.