While people frequently confuse vintage jewelry with antique jewelry (and vice versa), the two are actually quite distinct, and if you’re looking to buy either type of jewelry, the distinction is quite important as well.
Antique Jewelry
Antique jewelry must be at least 100 years old and it is most often made of a very high level of craftsmanship as well as high-quality materials. This means, for example, that many Art Deco jewelry pieces from the early 1920s can now be considered antique. Baroque jewelry as well as jewelry from the Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian eras, of course, are also considered antique.
While true antique jewelry is actually quite rare and often too valuable to even be worn, you can get antique-style jewelry, that is both beautiful and wearable. Antique-style jewelry might replicate or be similar to an actual antique piece of jewelry, but if it does not have a certain age or year of production associated with it, a jewelry piece will not considered antique and will not have the monetary value that authentic antique jewelry has. Nonetheless, antique-style jewelry can be beautifully crafted and quite impressive as the examples below demonstrate.
Pearl ring set with color gemstones and diamonds
Antique gold scroll pendant set with ruby emerald and sapphire
Antique emerald cocktail ring inspired by a spring garden
Vintage Jewelry
In contrast to antique jewelry, to be considered vintage jewelry, the jewelry pieces must be at least 20-30 years old, with some saying even 50 to 100 years old. Vintage jewelry is far more common than antique jewelry simply because vintage jewelry is associated with a great number of periods when jewelry was mass produced. Good examples of vintage jewelry are Hollywood-inspired pieces from the 40s, Retro-era pieces, also from the 40s and 50s, the slightly more recent Mid-century Modern era pieces from the 50s to mid 60s, Jackie Kennedy inspired jewelry, from the 60s too, and even Hippie and disco styles from the 70s. Certain iconic style pieces from the 80s and early 90s are considered vintage as well.
Vintage pieces are easier to come by than antique pieces and most people who own vintage jewelry happily wear them too. Vintage jewelry is also easier to wear with changing fashions, especially when fashion is so often about creating a personal statement and expressing yourself. Because its style is relatively current, vintage jewelry can easily complement today’s fashions, and still add a unique flavor to a look.
While easier to come by than antique jewelry and not nearly as valuable, finding vintage jewelry does take some effort. You usually have to shop at yard sales or flea markets, or even attend auctions. If you just like the look of vintage jewelry, but aren’t interested in the hunt, you might consider vintage-style jewelry, which can be equally beautiful and just as eye catching. The pieces below are just a sample of beautiful vintage-style pieces.
Vintage style gold and diamond ring with center cabochon
