Vintage Jewelry Price Guide

Now that you are on your way to having a fabulous vintage jewelry collection, it is important to make sure that each and every piece holds its value.  Knowing what makes vintage jewelry valuable and the value of your existing collection is necessary and helpful for a couple different reasons.  One very important reason is that it helps you to protect your collection in the event of a catastrophe such as natural disaster or a robbery.  When filing a police or insurance report, you must be able to claim what pieces are missing or destroyed, and how much they are worth.  Trust me, as time goes on and your collection grows, you won’t remember each and every piece you own and how much you bough it for. Be sure and save all of your receipts and digitize your collection on iTaggit by uploading photos of your jewelry and its accompanying documentation.  iTaggit also makes it easy to print reports of your collection with one click.  You will be happy you took these few extra steps to protect your treasures!

Another reason it is important to know the value of you collection is when it comes to selling individual pieces.  Whether you are selling your jewelry to make room for new pieces or selling it to make a little extra cash, knowing what makes vintage jewelry valuable can be very helpful when it comes to preserving the value of your own pieces and naming your prices.  The more you know, the more information you can use to back up your prices with valid selling points.  And when it comes to vintage and costume jewelry, buying low and selling high is part of the trade.

So what exactly makes vintage jewelry valuable?  I have done a little research on the topic and would love to share with you what I have learned.

Below are some basic criteria considered when valuing vintage and costume jewelry:

The physical condition of the piece.  Is the piece well cared for?  This does not mean that it has to be all shiny and new.  This is vintage jewelry we are talking about here, meaning it was made in the past. The difference between a old, tarnished vintage piece and a valuable vintage piece is whether or not the jewelry actually looks its age. Signs that a piece is not well cared for can include missing, dirty, or discolored stones, broken clasps and links, chipping gold or silver plating.

Was it well crafted?  You can tell if you are looking at a piece that was well made by looking for things such as an artists signature or asking for additional information about the piece when you purchase it.  Invest in a jeweler’s loupe (small, but powerful magnifying glass) to carefully observe jewelry.  If you find a “made in china” signature somewhere on a piece that you know was not hand crafted in china, chances are that piece isn’t going to hold its value too much.

Weight.  Does the piece feel heavy in your hand?  Does it have substance?

Quality of the metal.  Is the item genuine gold or silver?  If it is costume jewelry, does the plating look cheap, discolored or chipping?

The quality of the stones.  Are all of the stones in tact, unbroken, clear, and free of chips?

The settings.  Are the settings of good quality?  Pronged are the most desirable settings.

Keeping your jewelry stored correctly and in good condition can greatly affect their value.  Check out my blog post, “Keeping Your Vintage as Good as New: How to properly care for antique and vintage jewelry” for tips on how to properly store you jewelry!   Remember to keep your jewelry in mint condition by keeping it in a dry, cool climate, preferably neatly in a jewelry box!

Be aware that the market for vintage jewelry is ever-changing.  The value is always subject to market fluctuations.

Here is a list of today’s most popular vintage jewelry pieces being bid-on and sold on eBay: