The Difference Between Antique, Vintage, and Estate Jewelry

The Difference Between Estate Jewelry, Vintage Jewelry, and Antique Jewelry

This is a relatively controversial topic in the jewelry industry. People will often bend the terms to fit their needs, so knowing the basic determining factors will help you in the long run, whether you are a jeweler trying to sell a piece, or you are a customer shopping or selling something. Basically, vintage jewelry refers to anything between 20 and 80 years old. Antique jewelry is anything older than 80 years. While, estate jewelry is technically anything that is pre-owned.

Unfortunately, these are not the only factors you should take into account when thinking about buying or selling older pieces of jewelry. A common mistake made by jewelers and customers alike is giving a distinction to a piece based on when its style was most popular. This might be a fun piece of trivia to use when talking up a ring or set of earrings, but the only factor that truly matters is when it was originally made. Another thing to consider is whether the jewelry has had any work done over the years. Maybe a clasp broke, maybe the center stone was replaced, or maybe the stone is the only remaining piece from the original. A rule of thumb most jewelers will heed is that at least 50% of the original piece must still be present. If any more than half of the jewelry item (this can be slightly subjective) has been replaced or repaired, the date of those changes becomes the piece’s new age.

This brings us to the final, often forgotten category of estate jewelry, Vintage-Style Jewelry. These pieces tend to be composed of older diamonds or gemstones that are removed from their original setting and placed in new rings, necklaces, or other kinds of jewelry. However, these new settings will often allude to popular styles of the past, such as Art-Deco style.

When it comes to purchasing or selling a piece of second-hand jewelry, knowing the determining qualities is extremely valuable for both the jeweler, and customer. If something is improperly labeled, the price difference can be astounding. Understanding these differences can save everyone money, and will only give you more confidence when the time comes to make a decision. Be sure to ask when the piece was made, exact year, decade, or at least an estimation. Always double check, because if a piece is mislabeled for more than just a few years, you should be cautious when buying or selling an estate jewelry piece.

Malak Jewelers has a wonderful collection of estate jewelry with pieces that range in age from 10-100+ years. Antique jewelry? Yes. Vintage jewelry? Absolutely. All of it is estate jewelry, so just ask your salesperson to point you to the estate jewelry showcase. We also have over 200 pieces of estate jewelry, gemstone jewely, diamond jewelry, and more listed on our website under the “Estate Jewelry” tab. So, when it comes time to sell that family heirloom, or make a purchase based on your loved-one’s birthstone, stop by Malak Jewelers in Charlotte, NC or view our collection online. We offer free shipping, and will ship to anywhere in the continental United States. We look forward to seeing you soon!