Diamonds - A Collector's Best Friend
Antique diamond jewellery has been a favourite for collectors and wearers alike. There’s nothing more stunning than showing off your prized Victorian brooch or giving her your grandmother’s Edwardian engagement ring. Here you will discover the richness of history and the wonders of finding your special antique diamond jewellery.
So what makes jewellery antique? It depends on who you ask. According to the world’s largest online antique jewellery store, eBay, antique diamond jewellery is any jewellery before the 1930s, while others would pre-date beyond a hundred years. The eras are fairly standard and give an indication of when the piece was made. These are the most common time frames for antique jewellery:
1760-1837 Late Georgian
1837-1901 Victorian
1890-1915 Art Nouveau
1901-1915 Edwardian
1920-1935 Art Deco
1935-1950 Retro
When shopping for antique diamond jewellery, you will oftentimes see these names in descriptions. An avid collector can look at a piece and know the era it was crafted. They typically can determine by the material, cut of the diamond, the type as well as the style of the jewellery.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of imitation pieces that looks genuine to the untrained eye. If you are looking for antique diamond jewellery, the best place is at a reputable jewellery dealer that guarantees authenticity of each piece they sell.
That would be the most expensive way to go, which could easily blow your budget. Other sources of jewellery to consider would be flea markets, estate sales, antique stores; even a garage sale can offer a few treasures worth checking out!
The next question most people ask is how can you spot a good find? Here are a few points to look for when shopping for antique diamond jewellery.
Do a bit of research to learn about the materials used in the era you prefer. Look at some samples online to get an idea of what they should look like. If time allows, become a quick expert in the era period and it will become easier to know the real piece from that era as opposed to the popular vintage pieces out there today. For example, early pieces were constructed from ivory; uneven polished diamonds were quite popular during the 1800s.
If the stones are hand-cut, then that is another indicator of an antique piece. Try to compare some of these pieces with the pictures you have from your research.
A craftsman always marks his pieces, especially diamonds. Take a look with a loupe and see if there are any markings in the back to indicate the amount of carats used in the piece or the artisan markings.
Use a price guide such as Antique Trader's Jewelry Price Guide to help you get the best deal. You will also find pictures of each piece so you can easily make comparisons.
These are just a few ideas to get you started on an antique jewellery exploration. You may want to bookmark antiquediamondjewellery.com as we are often adding new articles and updates to give you the best in diamond jewellery.