Antique and Vintage Jewelry

More and more people are discovering the value of collecting antiques, antique and vintage jewelry is becoming very popular among those new collectors.  The terms on what makes an item vintage versus antique can vary, the term “vintage” is usually associated with a particular decade or period, while “antique” usually refers to an item a hundred years old or older.  The dates from from the 1900’s to the 1950’s, the early to mid-half of the Twentieth Century, are the periods which produced most of the best vintage jewelry available today, although there are some beautiful and valuable vintage jewelry from the more current decades also.

Vintage and antique  jewelry come in many different styles and materials, and are as unique as the people who collect them.  Some collect vintage jewelry simply for it's beauty, others collect for the value that can be found in vintage jewelry to buy and resell. There are many people that make an extremely high profit from collecting vintage jewelry because of the materials and craftsmanship used in fine quality vintage jewelry, and the unique period designs that are not available today from contemporary jewelry lines.

Though not "antique", most people consider vintage jewelry made before 1960 to be antique jewelry.  The charm and value of vintage and antique jewelry is here to stay, so whether collect vintage jewelry to wear it or display it, it is a smart and fun investment that can be passed on to family and loved ones.

Shopping for vintage jewelry requires a good eye and a sharp mind. eBay sellers offer antique items, vintage items, and a diverse selection of vintage and antique reproduction jewelry to meet your budget. Before you shop, learn how to spot each type of jewelry.

 Gemstone Antique & Vintage Jewelry

You'll never run out of gift ideas with all the rainbow colors that vintage gemstone jewelry offers. There are gems to commemorate your anniversary year, your wife or husband's birthstone, three stone rings, eternity bands and vintage jewelry styles from quietly elegant to fabulously funky and vintage gemstone jewelry. The key to creating the image you want is in selecting just the right vintage jewelry to match your personality and lifestyle and the first step, according to jewelry styling experts, is to determine the different aspects of your lifestyle.  Nostalgic and timeless vintage gemstone jewelry encompasses an aesthetic bordering on quirky and attractive. Wearing vintage jewelry, paired with retro clothing, will make you feel transported to a different era.

Antique & Vintage Gemstone Jewelry Collection

 Agate Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Agate gemstone jewelry hues of range from the light shades of creams and whites, to astounding blues, purples, and reds. Agate vintage jewelry looks surprisingly gorgeous and accentuates the appearance of the wearer.  Antique Agate pendants and Agate earrings can add vibrant charm to any antique and vintage jewelry collection.  The agate is known for its gorgeous stripes of color and has been the inspiration to astrologers and jewelry designers for centuries.  Agate vintage jewelry is often associated with prosperity, power and wealth and are a symbolic gesture for happiness and a good life. Agate vintage jewelry also elicits a sense of confidence as well as elegance to the wearer as it is one of the varieties of quartz that are distinguishably fine and brightly colored. Many Agate vintage jewelry items are available in both gold and silver .

Antique & Vintage Agate Jewelry Collection

 Alexandrite Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Natural alexandrite gemstones are very rare and uncommon in modern jewelry because it is hardly ever available and because it is too expensive for the general public to buy.  Alexandrite Antique Jewelry is the epitome of royalty and blue blood, and is found in many crowns and jewelry of princesses, queens and czars.  Alexandrite was used in antique Russian vintage jewelry and smaller alexandrite gemstones were also occasionally used in Victorian vintage jewelry from England.  The few stones that are produced today are usually snapped up by collectors or jewelers and mounted in special settings by designers. Alexandrite gemstones are not a mass market item and each piece of alexandrite vintage jewelry is individual. It is almost impossible to find two stones that display exactly the same colors under a variety of lighting conditions unless they are cut from the same crystal.  Top quality alexandrite gemstones are very rare indeed and uncommon in modern jewelry because it is hardly ever available and, because it is too expensive for the general public to buy.   The few stones that are produced today are usually snapped up by collectors or mounted in special settings by designers.  This is why alexandrite vintage jewelry is one of the more highly sought after antique jewelry items in today's vintage jewelry collectors market

Antique & Vintage Alexandrite Jewelry Collection

 Amber Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Amber antique jewelry has been found that dated to the Paleolithic area, around 12,000 B.C. Both the Celts and the Romans used amber as a rare commodity in trading. In the 1100's Gdansk was the major center of amber production, and the Baltic area continues to be the largest producer of amber to this day.  For thousands of years, amber jewelry has captivated humans around the world.   Amber is one of the most basic, natural gemstones in existence, yet it retains a raw beauty that is prized in vintage jewelry.  Amber is the ancient resin of pine trees.  Like diamonds, true amber takes 20-50 million years to be created.  The result is an exceptional gemstone with extraordinary properties.  Amber vintage  jewelry is considered organic because the amber comes from the resin of ancient trees.  This makes antique amber jewelry very precious gemstone for vintage jewelry collectors

Antique & Vintage Amber Jewelry Collection

 Amethyst Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Although amethyst vintage jewelry comes in various shades of purple like lilac, violet, lavender or mauve, the dark purple is considered the most valuable and precious color.   Nevertheless, there are many collectors that prefer a lighter tone of amethyst or perhaps a multi-toned amethyst vintage wedding ring.

Vintage amethyst, once considered more valuable than diamonds, is a member of the quartz member that occurs naturally as crystals within rocks. The amethyst gemstones are mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Zambia, Australia and in the mountains of Russia American amethysts gemstones are mined in Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Montana and Colorado.  Amethyst gemstones from Maine are usually dark with North Carolina amethyst having a unique bluish tint.   Amethyst can lighten if exposed to strong sunlight for a long time. When heated to 550-560 Centigrade, the color changes to dark yellow or reddish brown. (They are then called citrines. These are more richly colored and more expensive then natural citrines) Ideally deep medium purple with rose-colored flashes, amethysts generally range in hue from pale lilac to nearly black purple.

Antique & Vintage Amethyst Jewelry Collection

 Aquamarine Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Antique aquamarine vintage jewelry has stood the test of time.  Aquamarine is a gemstone that has been loved through the generations, and vintage aquamarine jewelry is one of the most sought after designs in vintage jewelry.  Aquamarine is a stone that has long been used in jewelry making but really came into major popularity in the jewelry designs of the early 1900s. There are some exquisite vintage art deco jewelry items from the 1920s and 1930s. The historic beauty of antique aquamarine jewelry continues to fascinate people today, so much so in fact, that many jewelry designers and manufacturers have resurrected the styles of eras past, mimicking those designs in contemporary aquamarine vintage style jewelry.  Aquamarine vintage jewelry has become very popular in wedding and engagement rings.

Aquamarine gemstones are blue, pale blue, blue-green, or sea-green in color and range from quite light to extremely dark, the most sought after deep-blue aqua color.  Aquamarine gemstones are colored by trace amounts of iron that find their way into the crystal structure. The darker aquamarine vintage jewelry is associated with more value, given that darker stones are rarer, but the much of the lighter aquamarine vintage jewelry is the most beautiful.  Aquamarine gemstone can was frequently discovered in very large carat dimensions, thus many aquamarine vintage jewelry items such as vintage engagement rings can be found with large carat dimensions.

Antique & Vintage Aquamarine Jewelry Collection

 Carnelian Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Carnelian jewelry was once viewed strictly for the use of the noble classes. In fact, figures high in society were often buried with their carnelian necklaces and jewelry. Carnelian is a reddish brown to orange gemstone frequently used in vintage jewelry such as beaded necklaces, engraved brooches, and rings. The distinctive reddish color of the carnelian gemstone, derived from the impurities in iron deposits, is quite elegant, especially when the gemstone is used in larger settings which showcase the delicate color variations,usually have translucent shades, and striations found in carnelian vintage jewelry.  Carnelian has held a strong presence in the history of the world. It has been found in some of the oldest known antique jewelry, inlaid into the robes of Pu-Abi, a Sumerian Queen from the third millennium, B.C, among Egyptian tombs, in the breastplate of High Priest Aaron and in many other ancient cultures. One of its most popular uses was by the Romans. They used the stone for cameos, intaglios and as seal rings for imprinting seals with wax on correspondence and documents.

Antique & Vintage Carnelian Jewelry Collection

 Citrine Antique & Vintage Jewelry

The Citrine gemstone is a colored variety of quartz. The name comes from the Latin word "citrina" which means "yellow." Its colors are ranging from pale yellow to gold to brownish orange. When the size of citrine is bigger, it is more golden. The most sought-after citrine vintage jewelry gemstones have a clear, radiant yellowish to brownish red. citrine has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and is thus, like all crystal quartzes, to a large extent, insensitive to scratches. Although this yellow form of quartz can be found in nature, it is quite rare. In fact, most of the Citrine jewelry sold today uses amethyst and smoky quartz which has been turned into Citrine by a burning process. This alters the stone’s internal chemistry, creating a more appealing yellow color which can then be used to create some beautiful pieces of jewelry. These artificial stones look almost identical to their natural counterparts and it requires an expert eye to truly tell the difference. A unique characteristic of Citrine vintage jewelry is its versatility in being perfect for all seasons. Varying in shades, citrine jewelry in a more lemony-yellow color is ideal for spring and summer while the more orange-tinted stones complement the shades of fall and winter perfectly. With the variety of hues to choose from, citrine sparkles at any time of year, and will make a great addition to your vintage jewelry collection.

Antique & Vintage Citrine Jewelry Collection

 Coral Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Precious coral jewelry is the oldest form of gemstone jewelry with pieces as old as 25,000 years in museums. It predates the later use of pearls. Each coral gemstone color , white, black, or red, has its own specific quality. The most prized and valued colors of coral vintage jewelry are red, black, and pink, which is also known as angel skin coral. It grows in branches that look like underwater trees. The main origin for most antique coral was the Mediterranean Sea. It was often traded to countries in exchange for spices and other items that were highly valued in Europe. Italy was well known for its antique coral jewelry. Great care must be taken when wearing coral jewelry. Unlike other gemstones it is a soft material with a Mohs’ scale rating of 3 to 4. It is important to store it carefully to avoid scratches. Coral is porous and it should be kept away from chemicals. Beautiful coral vintage jewelry was made and worn in many parts of the world.

Antique & Vintage Coral Jewelry Collection

 Diamond Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Both Antique Diamond Jewelry and Vintage Diamond Jewelry have an allure that goes beyond the mere sparkle of their diamond gems.  Recent diamond jewelry sales reports and red carpet events prove that the popularity of vintage jewelry designs is on the rise.  Many of today's diamond jewelry designers are recreating these vintage pieces in their contemporary jewelry designs inspired by classic looks of antique and vintage diamond jewelry. Why are so many people drawn to these romantic designs from the past? These historic designs have an attention to detail, an unsurpassed beauty, and there is an individual uniqueness to each and every vintage diamond jewelery piece that you can find. Contemporary diamond jewelry will always be in demand with it's beautiful and fresh designs, but antique and vintage diamond jewelry will always have their own place in the hearts and minds of fashion conscious women and collectors alike. In particular, antique and vintage diamond engagement rings has been enjoying something a boom in popularity.

Antique diamond jewelry draws inspiration from many past eras.  For centuries jewelry has been coveted by all levels of society and has symbolized status, power, religious affiliation, and culture. About 300 BC, Plato used gemstones to illustrate flora, fauna, and celestial beings.  Around the same time, Aristotle wrote about the magical power of precious gemstones, and kings and queens throughout history have used diamond jewelry and other precious gems to display status and wealth, and commemorate significant events. Antique diamond jewelry designs created during the Georgian Era , circa 1700-1800s, are very difficult to find today, but contemporary designers are creating new pieces inspired by the period’s love of Classical design. Much of the jewelry produced during this era was hand made, so original pieces often demonstrated slight irregularities making every one unique, but less perfect then designs from later periods.  Georgian jewelry influences include ancient Greek motifs, cameos inspired by Napoleon’s wife Josephine, tied ribbon necklaces, girandole earrings which include a stone at the ear and three drops that dangle, stylized floral designs, and rose cut diamonds. Romantic designs created during the Georgian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras serve as the primary influences for today's vintage inspired contemporary jewelry pieces. Today, creative jewelry designers draw intricate details, delicate patterns, and beautiful diamond and gemstone arrangements from designs created in the last three hundred years.

A more thorough knowledge of the history of diamonds is necessary to select vintage diamond jewelry than modern pieces. Buyers who use contemporary brilliant cuts as their standard will fail to appreciate the unique qualities of antique diamonds. Their character is largely derived from the artisans who crafted them, rather than simply their innate mineral properties. It is wise to buy vintage for these attributes, in order to appreciate the investment fully. A little advance education can result in a more successful purchase. Vintage Diamond Jewelry makes great gifts for special occasions, such as anniversaries and birthdays. The unique intricate design of vintage diamond jewelry has a timeless grace that will makes it a priceless possession to the receiver for many years to come.

Antique & Vintage Diamond Jewelry Collection

 Emerald Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Emerald is a form of beryl, a mineral that includes other varieties like aquamarine, golden heliodor and pink morganite. There is also a very rare red beryl. In its purist form beryl is colorless.  The green color of emerald originates from impurities, mainly chromium. Deep green emerald is easily the most sought after and also the most valuable type.  The deeper the green color, the harder and more valuable the stone is. Paler varieties are less valuable and also the paler types usually are known by the name green beryl. Emeralds are frequently combined together with all the blue aquamarines in gemstone vintage jewelry. Among all the green gemstones, emerald is the most preferred and popular for antique and vintage jewelry. Vintage emeralds rings have been an extremely popular piece of jewelry for many many years. Vintage emerald jewelry is popular mainly because of their unique green color can only be seen on an emerald gemstone, and many feel emeralds are a very natural stone that looks best worn next to the skin. Vintage emerald jewelry can be difficult to maintain properly as they are very fragile, and emeralds need to be cared for all the time to keep their natural beauty. Antique emerald rings make beautiful wedding rings, engagement rings, and gifts. Emerald is one of the most popular vintage jewelry gemstones and it is green color looks especially good when joined with sterling silver.

Antique & Vintage Emerald Jewelry Collection

 Garnet Antique & Vintage Jewelry

The deep rich burgundy garnet is certainly sensual in appearance. There are some very sophisticated styles of garnet vintage jewelry, especially rings, available for men. The selection of garnet jewelry for women is vast. There are garnet rings for any occasion, numerous styles of earrings, and many choices of necklace, pin, and bracelet styles. You might want to pursue an investment in garnet vintage jewelry. Vintage garnet jewelry often has diamonds or pearls included in their setting to enhance their beauty.

Antique & Vintage Garnet Jewelry Collection

 Jade Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Suffice it to say, women know what they want and why they want it. A woman may choose an antique Jade Victorian ring or vintage Jade Victorian ring to add glamour to her outfit.  Or she may opt for a Jade engagement Victorian ring to symbolize her being betrothed. In both cases, let it be known that her decision was influenced by the elegance, beauty, symbolism, classic design and rarity of a vintage Jade ring.

Antique & Vintage Jade Jewelry Collection

 

 Lapis Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Lapis Jewelry Collection

 Malachite Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Malachite is generally a beautiful deep green color and characterized by a swirly banded pattern. The name "malachite" is derived from the Greek word molochitis , meaning "mallow-green stone." Malachite is a form of copper ore, or hydrous copper carbonate that is an opaque, banded semi-precious stone which is a carbonate mineral, copper, and carbonate hydroxide. Hydrous copper carbonate is responsible for the green color of tarnished copper and bronze. The colors in the individual bands range from a very light green to deep forest green, with occasional irregular black banding. By 3000 BC Egyptians were well aware of its existence. It became exceedingly popular with Ancient Greeks and Romans, who would create Malachite jewelry or even crush it up to use as eye shadow. Malachite is not a very hard stone. It rates a 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs hardness scale. Malachite can scratch or chip easily, so treat it with care. Malachite and azurite are closely related, and malachite can actually morph into gems resembling azurite given the right conditions. Like vintage turquoise, beautiful green vintage malachite jewelry can be found in both vintage gold jewelry and sterling silver jewelry.

Antique & Vintage Malachite Jewelry Collection

 Moonstone Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Moonstone Jewelry Collection

 Onyx Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Onyx Jewelry Collection

 Opal Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Opal Jewelry Collection

 PearlAntique & Vintage Jewelry

Vintage pearl jewelry can be worn in many different ways. You can find a long vintage pearl necklace to wear with open necked shirts to the office. Then for evening out you can find classic short strings of vintage pearls which could complete your fall wardrobe. There is a wide range of demand for vintage pearl rings with modern replicas advertised in stores.  Many of these designs are classic, and they are sometimes more affordable than new jewelry.  You can find vintage pearl jewelry in all different price ranges.  My favorite part about Vintage Pearl jewelry is the fact it is personable .

Antique & Vintage Pearl Jewelry Collection

 Peridot Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Peridot Jewelry Collection

 Quartz Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Quartz Jewelry Collection

 Ruby Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Vintage Ruby jewelry in antique patterns has a timeless beauty. It is resplendent with the romance and artistry of a bygone era. In fact a bride will feel special and treasured to be gifted with an antique filigree ruby ring or handcrafted ruby earring.  Be it bracelets, brooches, pendants or crosses, antique and vintage ruby jewelry comes in patterns that appeal to all.

Antique & Vintage Ruby Jewelry Collection

 

 Sapphire Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Vintage sapphire rings  typically originate from the 1930's.  Jewelry at that time was often hand-made, so you will find one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.  Part of the draw of finding a vintage sapphire ring is the history that comes with it, since someone from that time period would have also worn it.  Since authentic vintage rings can be difficult to find and costlier, there are jewelry makers who produce vintage-looking modern rings.  This is for those who like the look and style of vintage jewelry, but aren't necessarily as concerned with having an authentic historical piece.

Vintage sapphire earrings are also quite popular among women and they love to pierce their ears with it. There are different types of designs, sizes and shapes available to choose from. These types of earrings are around 2000 years old and are mostly available in silver gold or platinum. These days Vintage earrings are considered as the most preferred jewelry and most women are trying this to look beautiful. Apart from this, Vintage bracelets, band and wedding rings are much popular among people

Antique & Vintage Sapphire Jewelry Collection

 Tanzanite Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Tanzanite Jewelry Collection

 Topaz Antique & Vintage Jewelry

If you love the look of vintage jewelry, then check out these great vintage topaz rings. You'll find classic art deco vintage topaz rings, stunning and splashy vintage topaz cocktail rings, and delicate looking filigree vintage topaz rings. Whatever gemstone color you prefer, you'll find it, from smokey topaz to blue topaz. Looking for a beautiful topaz necklace to celebrate a November birthday, then here's a great collection for you to choose from. But topaz doesn't have to be your birthstone, to love it. The most popular topaz necklace is a blue topaz necklace followed by a black topaz necklace. A David Yurman topaz necklace is a prized piece of jewelry for many topaz collectors and he is featured prominently in this colleciton. Many more colors of topaz are available than just blue or black, you'll find many green topaz necklaces or yellow topaz necklaces as well.

Antique & Vintage Topaz Jewelry Collection

 Tourmaline Antique & Vintage Jewelry

 

Antique & Vintage Tourmaline Jewelry Collection

 Turquoise Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Vintage turquoise jewelry is adored across the entire world, but what exactly is vintage jewelry? The definition of vintage jewelry is that which is from the 1920s to the 1980s. These styles have become very popular as we see more and more celebrities wearing them. These kind of jewelry are very rare and hard to find, and most often when you do find them, you are going to pay a hefty price for them. Instead, you can achieve the beauty and effect by adorning yourself with "vintage style" jewelry of modern design and style. This is "vintage inspired" without the extra high cost and added effort. The variation of this style which combines turquoise color with design is empowered by the color's beauty.  You can find  vintage turquoise  jewelry here on this site through our eBay vintage turquoise jewelry listings and other auction sites on the internet.

Antique & Vintage Turquoise Jewelry Collection

 

Antique and Vintage Jewelry Listings

Thank you for visiting  Unforgettable Gems.  We collected extensive listings of your favorite Antique and Vintage Jewelry items so that you can find that perfect unforgettable vintage jewelry gem for you gemstone collection.