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Defining Antique, Vintage, and Estate Jewelry
It is common practice in the jewelry industry to use the labels "antique," "vintage," and "estate" to describe older items of exquisite jewelry. What constitutes vintage jewelry and antique jewelry? Many people wonder about this, and the answer differs from what we would say about ancient vehicles or buildings.
However, not every piece of estate jewelry is classified as vintage or antique; only a small percentage is. The difference between antique and vintage jewelry is based on the time period in which it was manufactured.
Estate Jewelry
The term "estate jewelry" refers to jewelry that has been used. All second-hand jewelry, whether antique or vintage, falls under this umbrella phrase. It doesn't matter if the piece is just a few weeks old; it's still regarded as estate jewelry.
Consider the following scenario: you were engaged four years ago with a gorgeous new diamond ring, but you have chosen to call it off. You finally got around to selling your ring to a jeweler last week. The jeweler would designate this ring as estate jewelry when reselling it.
Estate jewelry is often limited to items manufactured within the last 30 years, rather than designating all previously owned jewelry as such. When this word is used to define a piece of jewelry that appears to be much older than it actually is, make sure to ask the vendor to confirm the actual age.
The word "estate" alone might be a reproductive indication. Whenever a jeweler uses the term "estate" without mentioning the item's age, it is reasonable to presume that the piece of jewelry in question is not extremely old.
Vintage Jewelry
A vintage jewelry piece is one that has been around for at least 20 to 30 years or more. This might include everything produced in the 1990s or even earlier in the decade before. Since vintage spans a wide range of time periods when jewelry was mass-produced, it is the most often used word of the three.
What do you think of an engagement ring from the 1800s being deemed vintage? In a technical sense, it could be. Most merchants, however, would name the ring antique rather than describe it as vintage in order to emphasize exactly how ancient the ring is.
Consider your grandmother's 1940s-era engagement ring. An antique engagement ring would be one like that.
Antique Jewelry
Jewelry pieces older than a century are often referred to as antiques. A large number of art deco objects from the 1920s, particularly those from the beginning of the decade, are now classified as antiques. If a reputable merchant describes an item as "antique," you can be confident that the artifact is quite ancient.
Avoid terms like "antique style," which might be a sign of a reproduction piece. When the word "style" is used to describe an item of jewelry that seems to be ancient but does not indicate its age, this might suggest the item is a reproduction piece.
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"Estate Jewelry" Can Often Be a Misleading Term
Because the phrases "vintage" and "estate" might be misconstrued, it's crucial to know how trusted dealers use them and how unreliable sellers do so that you don't end up wasting your money on a replica.
For example, even if it is legally estate jewelry, a reputable antique dealer would not label a 300-year-old cameo an "estate cameo."
Instead, a reputable dealer would simply refer to the item as an "antique cameo" to prevent any misunderstanding on the part of the customer.
To trick an inexperienced customer into believing that a brand-new replica that appears just like a 300-year-old cameo is an "estate cameo," an untrustworthy dealer can term it an "estate cameo."
If you're unsure about what kind of estate jewelry you're dealing with, seek the advice of an expert you can rely on. Fashion and trends repeat themselves from time to time, therefore it requires a great deal of refinement and knowledge to date an item appropriately.
Wrapping Up
Exploring old jewelry pieces and diving into their history can be a very exciting thing! Vintage jewelry offers a great way for you to make a personalized style statement while wearing pieces that have their own history.
However, it's essential to remember that not every piece of vintage or antique-looking jewelry is legitimate, and there are countless reproduction pieces out there too. Always be on the lookout for imitations or "revival" jewelry, which are imitations of historical jewelry styles. Cheaper materials and poor craftsmanship are typically a dead giveaway, even if they are difficult to spot in the first place.
If you've come across a piece, you really like but are unsure about how old it is, taking it to a professional appraiser or jeweler can also help you to establish whether or not the piece is genuine.