When talking jewellery, the term ‘vintage’ refers to any item that is more than 20 years, but less than a century old and this covers many periods, including Art Deco and Art Nouveau. When looking to purchase vintage jewellery, your best port of call would be an established antique dealer, one that specialises in jewellery that is either vintage or antique.
Online Solutions
With the current pandemic, the best way to source vintage jewellery is through an online antique dealer and for vintage engagement rings. Sydney dealers are known have very extensive catalogues of genuine jewellery items, all at affordable prices, but you can also check your local dealer for the exquisite pieces.
If you are curious as to how the antique dealer acquires vintage jewellery, they attend house auctions and antique fairs, while also visiting flea markets, looking for bargains. When an individual is bequeathed old jewellery in their parent’s will, they often make contact with an antique dealer who makes an offer for the jewellery collection.
Sourcing Specific Jewellery Pieces
If, for example, you are looking for a diamond engagement ring, dealers like Kalmar Antiques have vintage diamond rings that may interest you. If you have an image, antique dealers can put this out on their global network, which should result in success. Dealers might have extensive connections with similar dealers who catalogue their inventory, greatly increasing the chances of sourcing the exact piece.
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Art Deco Jewellery
Around the 1930s, a bold new style emerged from Paris, which used geometric shapes and rich colour to create stunning jewellery that is very much sought-after. Search online for a leading Australian antique dealer, who would have many fine Art Deco pieces and you can search by price, style or maker, which is the easy way to view what you are looking for. If you know she would love an Art Deco diamond engagement ring, there are vintage Art Deco rings at the online antique dealer’s website.
Avoid Private Sellers
There are so many great replicas out there, you could easily be deceived and end up buying an item that is not genuine, rather a reproduction. An established antique dealer, on the other hand, would have his good reputation to consider and would never sell items that are not genuine. The dealer would know a lot about the history of the piece and can familiarise you with that history, while informing you about the maker and date of manufacture.
Physical Viewing
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If you are planning to acquire an expensive item, you would prefer to have a physical inspection before making any decisions, to see if you would need the services of an expert who specialise in repairing antique items and to know how much would a restoration cause. The viewing can be arranged via the dealer’s website. A private viewing means you get a full description of the piece, while at the dealer’s premises, where you can browse other fine jewellery.
If you use the Internet to source a local antique dealer, you can be sure that the pieces are genuine and fairly priced. Browsing online is very convenient and there are no pushy salespeople pressuring you into making a purchase. Shop at your own pace and with a secure online payment, the item will be sent by courier to your home address.
