What Are The Differences Between Antique, Vintage And Estate Jewellery?
The Cuttings Blog
‘Antique’, ‘Vintage’ and ‘Estate’ are all terms used to distinguish between pieces of fine jewellery, and also to date them. It is important that you know which era the piece you are purchasing dates from, as this can determine its value and individuality.
If you are new to purchasing fine jewellery and would like to know a bit more about what ‘Estate’, ‘Vintage’ and ‘Antique’ mean, we’ve outlined the terms for you here:
Estate: This refers to jewellery which is second-hand and was produced within the last thirty years. Estate Jewellery is fairly unique as it will not have been mass-produced. Estate pieces are often available at sales held by auction houses and private estate auctions, but they can also be found at good independent jewellers.
Eras Included: Modern, Contemporary.
Vintage: Vintage jewellery is a minimum of 40-50 years old, and is the most common of the three categories as it encompasses a vast number of years. It can be exciting to purchase a piece of vintage jewellery as, over time, you may find that it falls into the Antique category. Typically these pieces are sold by private collectors and available in vintage showrooms or specialist jewellers.
Eras Included: Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Retro, Art Deco.
Antique: According to government guidelines, Antique jewellery is a minimum of 100 years old. This means that it is precious and pieces will often display impressive artistic workmanship. If you’re interested in buying an antique, make sure to ask the seller lots of questions about where the piece came from, and look for a jeweller’s mark somewhere on the piece, such as the maker’s initials.
Eras Included: Art Deco, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Victorian, Georgian and earlier.
For more details of jewellery from the specific periods, we invite you to read our earlier blog post, “A Beginners Guide to Jewellery Design Eras”.
It is important to be aware of certain terms and descriptions on a piece of jewellery such as “Vintage-Style” or “Antique-Style”, as this often means that it is a modern replica and not genuine. All reputable jewellers will be able to advise you on the specific era of a piece. If you are unsure, however, then the experts here at Cuttings are always happy to help you.
For some stunning examples of Estate, Vintage and Antique jewellery, come and visit us at one of the Cuttings branches in either Margate or Ramsgate.
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