Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:31 pm
Last Updated on May 2, 2024 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
People often use the terms estate jewellery, vintage jewellery, and antique jewellery interchangeably, but they mean different things.
Estate jewellery has had at least one owner, meaning that vintage jewellery and antique jewellery are both different types of estate jewellery. Antique jewellery is at least 100 years old, while vintage pieces are at least several decades old but less than 100.
When shopping for that perfect and unique gift there are many excellent reasons to purchase vintage jewellery as opposed to new. Below we share some reasons why you should check out our wide selection of pieces at Colonial Acres Coins and what makes this shopping experience fun.
1. Better Quality
In the past, jewellery was typically made by hand by a skilled artisan who trained in the craft for decades. The more refined work they did resulted from the time they invested in crafting each piece. Even in the case of newer vintage jewellery, pieces were at least hand finished if not hand made.
It is rare to find that level of quality in modern jewellery, even when the pieces were custom-made for a particular person. Today, it is more common for jewellery to be cast rather than hand made.
2. Uniqueness and Authenticity
Today, it is common for jewellery pieces to not only be cast but to be mass-produced, making it more difficult to find a modern piece that is truly unique. Each piece of vintage jewellery is more likely to be one of a kind.
There are modern pieces that are designed to look vintage or to mimic the style. However, the people who produce these modern copies do not use the same techniques or employ the same level of craftsmanship. They may not even use the same materials. It is so much more satisfying to be able to look at a piece of vintage jewellery and know that it is authentic.
3. Individual Stories
Part of the appeal of owning an authentic piece of vintage jewellery is the knowledge that it has a history. Sometimes the provenance of a piece is known to you; in other words, you know exactly who else owned it and when. However, even when you do not know the provenance in detail, you still know that the piece has existed through some remarkable times in history. If you wish to research more about the piece itself, you may find out more about the historical era it came from in the bargain.
4. Joy in Searching
Shopping for vintage jewellery is a little like a treasure hunt. Perhaps you are looking for something to wear yourself or for a gift for someone else. At first, you may not know exactly what you are looking for, but when you find it, you know immediately, and there is real satisfaction in the knowledge.
5. Greater Sustainability
A consumer is someone who has to keep purchasing new things, while a conservator is someone who takes responsibility for something of value that already exists. When you purchase vintage jewellery, you can be seen as a conservator rather than a consumer because you are giving an existing piece a new home.
Precious metals and gemstones are mined from the ground in a way that is often environmentally unfriendly because of the resources expended. Buying certain gemstones, such as diamonds, may help to promote armed conflict in developing countries. Buying vintage pieces in which the materials were mined long ago helps to break out of these cycles of unsustainability while indulging your aesthetic tastes.
Find Estate Jewellery at Colonial Acres Coins
We offer a wide selection of both antique and vintage jewellery. Whether you are buying a gift for someone else or a piece for yourself, we can help you find what you are looking for. Check out our online store or come by for a visit to try on these amazing pieces for yourself.
