Written by Cynthia Findlay Antiques

Are you on the hunt for antique or vintage jewelery? Some of the best antique jewelery collections are owned by the elderly, men and women who were born in the 1930s and 40s. But many of these pieces are family heirlooms or sentimental pieces that they would never sell. Outside of an antique jewelery shop one of  the only ways the general public can gain access to these unique treasures is at an estate state. In fact, some of the best vintage finds have been at estate sales. If you’re interested in buying estate jewellery, here are three tips for a successful hunt.

Get There Early

An estate sale is similar to a garage sale: it starts early and the good things go fast. The only difference is that estate sales usually feature better quality items, which means there will be bigger crowds, including collectors who know what they’re searching for. To ensure you get to browse everything they have, get there early. Some estate sales start as early as six a.m., which means you will have to get up even earlier to beat the crowds.

Know Your Jewelery

In order to know the value of a vintage piece, you will need to know the various types of jewelery styles created within different time periods. For example, a Georgian piece that was created in the late 1800s might be more of a find that something made in the 1950s. Of course you will also need to know your precious metals and stones.

Visit an Estate Jewellery Retailer

Even if you arrive early and know your jewelery inside and out, it’s rare to find a genuine treasure at an estate sale. Most people go to dozens of sales before finding something that is worth talking about. Instead, consider visiting an estate jewelery retailer such as Cynthia Findlay Antiques, a retailer that does all the hard work for you! All you have to do is pick the treasure of your choice.

Cynthia Findlay Antiques offers a hand-picked selection of estate and vintage jewelery, including vintage rings, pendants, earrings, and necklaces.