Vintage is the new ‘new’ this season!  For those of you who think you don’t know who Rachel Zoe is, you have probably been influenced by her fashion sense in one way or another by now.  “Rach” (as my friends and I call her, as if we know her on a personal level…) is the queen of style in Hollywood and the star of her own reality show “The Rachel Zoe Project.”  She styles Hollywood’s most famous starlets for photo shoots, parties, and every major red carpet event.  Not only is she the stylist of the celebrity world, but a national trend-setter, with her signature looks painted across the pages of nearly every fashion magazine on the rack .

So why should we, as aspiring collectors, care?  Thanks to her, vintage is back in a big way, especially when it comes to jewelry!  What better time to start your own vintage jewelry collection than now, when the demand is high and the look is hot!  I have done a little research on starting a “to-die-for” vintage jewelry collection of my own and in this post, I am going to share with you what I’ve learned.  Your collection is going to be “Bananas!” as Rach would say!

* Check out your local vintage stores for unique finds.  You can also find vintage jewelry in most antique stores, online at places like eBay and specialty vintage jewelry sites, and at estate sales (check the newspaper and craigslist for these).  Live auctions are great for good deals on expensive items and don’t forget about flea markets for fun jewelry, too.  Get out there and start shopping!  That vintage Chanel pearl necklace isn’t going to buy itself, ladies!

*  Do you love it?  If you are going to collect vintage jewelry, you need to absolutely “die” (sorry, another Rachel Zoe-ism!) over each and every piece.  Love what you are collecting!  Ask yourself: Would I wear this out of the store right now? And love every minute of it?  If the answer is yes, buy that one of a kind antique pendant.  Each of your pieces will remind you of where you were when you bought it or what night you wore it, etc.  Jewelry is pretty and might accent your outfits every now and then, but more importantly, each one is a memory.  That’s what is so much fun about starting this collection!

*  Is the piece in good condition?  Before you run out of the store wearing that piece you just had to have, make sure it isn’t going to fly off your neck, ears, or wrist in a million different pieces! If you are purchasing the piece strictly as an investment, carefully observing the jewelry for cracks, worn metal, or anything that could depreciate the value of the piece.  Antiques are special little pieces of the past and sometimes, time can take its toll on clasps, links, and stones.  Look for weaknesses in the chains and clasps and gently shake the jewelry to detect if any stones are loose.  Remember, if you find a great piece you are dying to wear that may not be in pristine condition, you can always take it to a jeweler (if you are willing to spend an extra few bucks) and he/she can make adjustments to make sure your piece will stay in tact.

*  Look for the artist’s signature and stay in the ‘loupe.’ Invest in a small jeweler’s loupe (a small magnifying glass) and carefully inspect potential collector’s items for the artist’s signature.  Jewelry artists will sign their pieces just like painters sign their canvas. Having an artist’s signature increases the value dramatically. If you find a “Made in China” signature, your piece may not be as valuable as you thought!  

*  If you find a piece of jewelry you love, check to see if it is part of a set.  Because vintage jewelry has been passed down from hand to hand over the years, it is common for a matching set of jewelry- bracelet, earrings, necklace, etc- to be split apart and sold or lost.  If you find a piece you love and there is a set to go with it, it would be a good investment to buy the whole set.  Matching sets are very valuable in the world of vintage jewelry.  If it comes with the original box, the value increases even more!



Tune in next time for more tips on valuing and maintaining your collection!  Check the iTaggit Blogs for updates!

Don’t forget to protect your ever-growing vintage jewelry collection by digitizing it on iTaggit!  Sign up today!