The specifics of antique jewellery

Author: Magdalena Kořínková

From the moment you walk into an antique shop, you can feel the spirit of times gone by. Each item on display has a history, has been a part of someone's life, and may have even been present at a significant historic moment. What is the charm of antique jewellery compared to contemporary jewellery?

Let's start by talking about what antiques actually are. Simply put, they are objects that are at least 100 years old.

Historical value

What's valuable about an antique piece of jewellery is not only its age, but also where it came from and often who its previous owner was. A beautiful 150-year-old ring is certainly worth something in its own right, but if it belonged to a nobleman from a well-known family, its value will undoubtedly rise.

TIP: We definitely do not recommend buying or selling items whose value has not been confirmed by experts or authorities, simply "over the internet". There is a risk of being deceived as a buyer and as a seller. Especially with jewellery, it is always important to evaluate it carefully so that you do not end up buying, for example, a necklace with blue glass instead of a sapphire.

Technique and manufacturing

The older a piece of jewellery is, the more likely it is to have been handmade. It is therefore very important to evaluate the object also with regard to the date and, in the case of jewellery, the hallmark or craftsman's mark, if traceable. With the rise of jewellery machine production, also grew the popularity of handmade jewellery, which became increasingly unique. Thus, if you come across a piece of jewellery made by a renowned jeweller/designer such as Marie Křivánková (1883-1936), you should not hesitate to purchase it.

The certainty of natural stone

It is a fact that you cannot tell the difference between synthetic and natural stones with the naked eye, but nowadays the majority of jewellery is decorated with synthetic stones. Their use has been widespread, especially in rubies, spinels and sapphires, since the early 20th century. Honestly, wouldn't you look at a piece of jewellery differently if you knew that the gemstone set in it was created by nature itself millions, maybe even billions of years ago?

But since the first synthetic stones were made in the first half of the 19th century, it's always a good idea to check what type of gemstone is set your jewellery. In the case of clear diamonds, the unique Yehuda Sherlock Holmes 3.0 device can detect it, but you will find very few of them in the world, and in the Czech Republic. In fact, you can easily count them on the fingers of one hand. Nevertheless, you can have rest assured that Antiques Cinolter is one of the few proud owners of this device, which can recognize whether a diamond is natural or synthetic in a matter of seconds.

The uniqueness of each piece

If you buy a piece of antique jewellery, you can be almost certain that you won't find another piece like it in the world. So if you love originality and pride yourself in uniqueness, antique jewellery is the right thing for you.

On the other hand, it does have its negatives - especially, as the old saying goes: He who stood still for a while is standing still. Precisely because an antique piece of jewellery is simply one of a kind, if you hesitate with the purchase, the item will most likely sell quickly and you'll never be able to find it again. Although as another saying goes "hurry slow", this is definitely not true when buying antique jewellery.

Emotional value

Jewellery is often passed down in families from generation to generation. A great-grandmother's earrings, a grandmother's ring, a mother's bracelet, a grandfather's watch or an uncle's cufflinks not only have historical value, but also carry with them the spirit of beloved family members.

If you don't have one of these pieces in your family, you can be the one to bring this tradition into the family circle. Whether you choose to purchase a "ready-made old piece" or have a piece of jewellery custom made, you are sure to start something new and beautiful in your family.

TIP: A new young member has joined your family, and you don't know what to gift their lucky parents? Do you want to give your junior a stylish and valuable gift for their first, second or third birthday? You can get these kids a historical coin or a small collection of precious stones, which they can latter have made into a custom made jewellery piece.

Sustainability and slow fashion

Fast and cheap fashion from multinational corporate store chains is become more and more controversial. A large number of consumers are already choosing clothes, shoes and accessories that are original and environmentally friendly, last for years and have added value. As we wrote in one of our earlier articles, the high purchase price of jewellery from some of the major brands is due, among other things, to the high cost of their presentation and marketing. You can get an equally beautiful piece of antique jewellery, which is also often set with a natural stone with an old cut, for a significantly lower price. 

What if...

There might be something holding you back from buying antique jewellery. Let's take a look at the most common arguments againts antique jewellery.

... won't fit me– the argument we hear most often when buying a ring. Don't worry - our skilled jewellers are here for you, and if the ring allows it, they will adjust it to fit you perfectly.

TIP: How do I find out my ring size? If you want to give (or be given) a ring, the easiest way is to take a ring that already fits and compare it to the ring you have chosen, or adjust the size to fit the existing ring. But be careful about the type and shape of the ring. If your existing ring is wide and the one you want is narrow, the size may differ!

Another option is to secretly measure the ring in a jewellery box. Measure the inner dimension in millimetres. Whether you measure the circumference or the diameter is up to you.

If you are an adrenaline enthusiast, measure the giftee's finger in his/her sleep. Or just simply ask.

... it has a bad or sad story attached to it– yes, we encounter that in our shop too. We don't know if the owner's story is imprinted on the jewellery, but we always check according to the law who we buy the jewellery from.

However, if you believe in the spirit imprinted on the jewellery, then remember that it is up to you what story you will imprint on your vintage jewellery.

...I want to sell it? In that case, your situation is definitely better than if you wanted to sell a newer piece of jewelry from a traditional jewelry store. Antique jewellery does not lose its value - quite the contrary. Most of the time the older it is, the more valuable it is.