Throughout the history of mankind, people have adorned themselves with precious metals and stones. Today's realities allow you to use more than one piece of jewelry. However, antique products are able to emphasize the status of a person or even become his talisman in life. What are the features of antique jewelry, what should I look for when choosing?
Distinctive feature
Antique jewelry is distinguished by age - they must be over 75 years old. If the jewelry is younger - this is vintage, also old, but not so unique and expensive. Those jewelry that was made before the appearance of the first jewelry factories that mass-produce products are especially valued. In those days, jewelry was made to order by a jeweler, who always left a brand on the product.
In most cases, antique jewelry already had one or more owners, but this only adds to their significance. Antique jewelry is a product with a history that sometimes has more value than the product itself.
Value formation
As in the case of modern jewelry, the cost of antique jewelry depends on the precious metal from which it is made, the number of stone inserts, as well as the size of the product. In addition, the final price is significantly affected by the fame of the jeweler who made the jewelry.
Age also matters and influences the formation of pricing policy. For example, a product that is 200 years old will be significantly more expensive than one that is only 75. However, each case should be considered individually, because much depends not only on the age of the jewelry and the name of the jeweler, but also on the history of the product, its former owners.
How to choose
When choosing antique jewelry, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:
- The product should contain style elements that were inherent in a particular era. If the description of the jewelry means one historical period in which it was made, and the appearance speaks differently, then most likely it is a fake.
- Antique jewelry cannot be cheap, especially if the exact names of the jeweler and previous owners are indicated.
- When buying, you can ask the seller for an expert opinion on the value of the metal and stones that were used in the product. If the purchase is made in an online store, the administration must send scanned copies confirming the authenticity of the jewelry.
When choosing jewelry as a decoration, one should listen to one's own feelings when examining one or another option.
Varieties of antique jewelry
Specialists divide antique jewelry into the following categories:
- Silverware. In olden times, many ladies' toilet articles were made from this metal, which today can be considered jewelry. These were all kinds of powder boxes, pocket mirrors, hair combs, and cream jars. Products were rarely decorated with precious stones, but jewelers decorated them with natural minerals, enamel, filigree.
- Products with precious stones. Antique jewelry with diamonds or other expensive minerals was made mainly of gold. The jeweler approached such products especially responsibly, since most often they were made to order. Accordingly, the nameplate of the manufacturer was placed on these jewelry. It should be noted that in the old days precious stones were fixed in two ways: by means of arms or under them metal was adjusted so that it firmly clasped the stone.
- Hair jewelry worthy of a place in a separate category. At the beginning of the last century, they were at the peak of popularity, so every jeweler tried to do his job as high as possible in order to get exquisite and exquisite things at the exit. Today you can find many beautifully preserved hair ornaments in the form of hairpins, decorated with enamel and stones, combs.
- Rings and rings. Antique jewelry with diamonds and other valuable stones was a great success for both men and women. Many unique specimens from famous and not very masters have survived to this day.
- Pendants and brooches were in the collection of any noble lady of the century before last. At the same time, the pendants were opened, so often they stored a lock of hair of a loved one, and a little later they inserted a photo.
The classification of antique products is very arbitrary and is intended only to divide things into familiar categories.
Wearing rules
Most people who cannot be called collectors purchase antique gold jewelry for personal use. It is worth noting a few unwritten rules for wearing such products:
- It is not recommended to mix metals. For example, if your choice fell on a silver ring, a brooch or earrings need to be purchased from the same metal.
- It is important not to mix products from different eras, if in doubt, you should give preference to only one decoration.
- When choosing a massive jewelry should emphasize its uniqueness with a simple cut of clothes.
The most important thing in wearing antique jewelry is the relevance in this case, because it would be ridiculous to look like a massive necklace or brooch in the office.
Jewelery Energy
There is a belief that a thing is able to absorb the energy of the former owner. The same applies to jewelry, since precious metals and stones have long been considered good conductors of subtle energies. No wonder so many urban legends are associated with ancient jewels, whose owners were killed or unhappy in life.
Superstitious people are often afraid to buy antiques, so as not to cause disaster. As you know, most of the problems have roots in the subconscious, so when choosing antique jewelry, prejudices should be thrown away. If the desire to possess a unique thing is great, but borders on anxiety, experts recommend a simple ritual of purification, which is designed to calm a person.
Where could I buy?
Buy antique jewelry in Moscow is not difficult, because in the capital there are many antique shops, auctions, shops. In smaller cities, this is more problematic, but here online stores will come to the rescue, which send your favorite thing to anywhere in the country and abroad. It is important to carefully check the seller or the trading platform before buying. Today, instead of genuine antiques, there is a risk of getting a modern fake of good quality if you do not check the relevant documentation.
In addition, in “flea” markets you can sometimes find a unique little thing, the cost of which will be an order of magnitude lower than in a store. However, here, without a thorough check, you can buy antique-styled items.
Purchasing Reviews
People who ventured to buy a unique antique product are often satisfied and even proud of having an interesting little thing. Antique jewelry often becomes personal talismans, bringing good luck, or family value, which is passed on to subsequent generations.
As a rule, those who want to look status and original (and can afford it) acquire old jewelry, because an exquisite little thing gives charm to the image, makes it unique, and is also able to raise self-esteem and mood. The main thing is that the purchase is meaningful and carried out competently.