What exactly is estate jewelry?

Estate jewelry is in fact vintage, or antique, jewelry. However, nowadays, estate jewelry most commonly refers to estate sold jewelry, i.e. jewelry pieces that were previously owned and were sold off as part of the deceased general estate. Generally speaking, estate jewelry is categorized into nine historical periods: Georgian Jewelry, Early Victorian Jewelry, Mid-Victorian Jewelry, Late Victorian Jewelry, Arts and Crafts Jewelry, Art Nouveau Jewelry, Edwardian Jewelry, Art Deco Jewelry and Retro Jewelry. Each era is characterized by differing artistic styles and concepts. For instance, Edwardian jewelry was grandiose and flamboyant, commonly set with precious gemstones such as diamonds. sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Edwardian jewelry was designed to celebrate the crowning of Prince Edward following Queen Victoria's demise. The pieces were meant to be decadent and vibrant, so as to convey the jubilance of that particular era. Arts and Crafts Jewelry was the by-product of the industrial revolution. Jewelry was made to look heavier and bolder. Many of the pieces were intricately designed, using new and innovative technologies made possible by the industrial revolution while Georgian jewelry was concerned with purity and nature, and was worked with nature inspired designs, such as vines, flowers, waves, leaves, etc.
Due to its collectability and its unique aesthetics, estate, or antique, jewelry has become highly popular in recent years. Therefore, estate jewelry doesn't necessarily mean inexpensive pieces. The value of a piece of jewelry not only depends on its history and its popularity, but also on the materials and the design involved in making the piece. For instance, if the jewelry was set with precious gemstones (such as diamonds, sapphires and rubies), made with precious metals (gold, platinum or titanium) and has a relatively intricate design, it would be worth more than jewelry made with inexpensive metals and gemstones and with poor or plain craftsmanship. Estate jewelry can sometimes cost you less, you can sometimes find bargains, especially if the broker does not know the true value of the piece, which is often the case. I suggest you read up a little on antique jewelry through the ages, decide which period jewelry you might like, and whether you would like it to be mounted with precious gemstones. Get a clear idea of what you are looking for and how much it should be worth before you go out shopping. The best shopper is an informed shopper. And, most importantly, don't be afraid to haggle. When it comes to estate jewelry, you have some room to bargain since the broker does not have to answer to a retailer and doesn't have any overhead. Good luck!

• 0
• 0