Finding the Right Vintage Jewelry That Fits You!

There are many reasons that a person may want to find vintage jewelry. Maybe this is the jewelry of choice for them and this is what they like to wear. Or maybe they are just collectors and finding quality vintage pieces is just a hobby.

Another big motivator is money. Vintage jewelry is in high demand and maybe you want to find it for resale purposes. Regardless of the reason, it is apparent that competition to acquire good quality vintage jewelry is there and you must have experience and knowledge to really get good pieces.

So, where can you find these vintage pieces? First of all you have to know what you are looking for. It is not enough just to say a piece of jewelry is "vintage." A collector or entrepreneur should be somewhat of an expert in vintage jewelry to really get a good deal.

They should be knowledgeable about the different eras. This is important to its value. In addition there should be some basic jeweler's knowledge when it comes to the different markings of different precious metals and gemstones, as well as knowledge of some of the more prominent designers for signed pieces.

A signed Christian Dior piece is much more in demand than a piece that is not signed at all. And some well known designers of the past are in greater demand than other past designers. In essence, to get a good deal you have to know what a good deal is.

Where to find? One of the best places is estate sales. Look for these in the classified add section of your local newspaper, usually posted near the end of the week for the sale on the weekend. This is where you can find good quality pieces and signed as well. Sometimes even at your local garage sales you may find some decent items.

The next best place is at consignment or Goodwill stores. What happens a lot is that someone may die and the family will leave the estate jewelry to the store. They get to write it off on their taxes and a percentage of the proceeds go to charity.

Thus, here you can find good quality pieces as well. If you are a connoisseur, you may be able to find a very valuable piece and buy it cheap because usually these salespeople are unaware of the real value of the jewelry.

And then of course there is the internet. Just type into your search engine browser "antique or vintage jewelry" and a ton of websites will appear selling all kinds of jewelry. They usually give you descriptions about the piece. However, be weary.

It is best to be able to hold the jewelry and look at it with your own naked eye and see if it is good quality craftsmanship or just a piece of junk. A lot is sold on the auction site eBay. Again, you must be very careful. Even with a great description of the item, it may not always be as described.

Whatever your reason for collecting antique jewelry, just remember it is important to educate yourself before you buy. This is true just about true for anything of value that you buy, but with jewelry and all the variables involved it is of most importance. Go to where the treasures are hiding, and then pick out the golden eggs.