Written by Cynthia Findlay Antiques

Finding an authentic piece of vintage jewellery isn’t easy. It can be hard to find a shop local to you that specializes in vintage jewellery specifically, and mass-produced jewellery doesn’t have the same level of quality and craftsmanship. Art deco rings, for instance, aren’t that hard to duplicate in style. However, vintage jewellery has certain qualities that costume jewellery does not. Certain metals, metal stamps, designs, handiwork and craftsmanship help to define vintage pieces.

Ask Questions

When you try and buy antique engagement rings, it’s important to ask a lot of questions about concepts like the time period the ring was produced. If you have even a basic knowledge of jewellery styles from the time, it would be easier to identify a piece as authentic. You can also pinpoint pieces from a specific year or decade if you understand what kind of metal working was available at the time. Questions like these help you avoid paying too much for jewellery that isn’t worth it.

Visit a Professional

An estate sale run by private parties may sound tempting, but there can be risks associated on the buyer’s end. Vintage engagement rings, for example, can be difficult to find in the style you might want as the owner’s collection was most certainly limited to the styles they liked and what they could afford. These deals are often done person to person, so they also don’t come with any kind of insurance or return policy in most cases. Professional collectors will visit estate sales from time to time, but licensed jewellery dealers are best for most consumer transactions. Pros can explain what makes a piece unique, why it belongs in your collection and where it came from. That bit of history helps give the piece its charm, true, but it also helps resolve any questions of authenticity.

Bio: Cynthia Findlay Antiques is located in Toronto, Canada offers a wide selection of authentic vintage jewellery in many different designs.