Vintage Jewelry Antiques helps you answer the questions people actually have staring at a box of inherited jewelry — is this real gold or costume, who made this brooch, and is it worth more as a wearable piece or as scrap gold. We cover identification, value, care, and where to buy and sell with confidence.
Found a piece of jewelry? Find out what it really is.
Real gold and well-made costume jewelry can look nearly identical at a glance — and the value gap between them can be enormous. Here’s how to tell the difference before you do anything else.
Real Gold or Costume? →Gold, silver, and platinum — know what you’re really holding.
Precious metal jewelry carries real intrinsic value, which also makes it a frequent target for fakes and alterations. Knowing the marks is the first line of defense.
All Fine Jewelry Guides →Not real gold — but not worthless either.
Signed, well-made costume jewelry from the right era and maker can rival fine jewelry in collector value. The signature and craftsmanship matter more than the materials.
All Costume Jewelry Guides →Know the name, know the value.
A handful of costume jewelry makers built devoted collector followings of their own — and their signed pieces routinely outperform unsigned jewelry of similar age.
All Maker Guides →Real stone, glass, or something in between?
From rhinestones standing in for diamonds to genuinely antique-cut stones, knowing what’s actually set in a piece changes everything about its value.
All Gemstone Guides →Keep it wearable, or bring it back from years in a drawer.
Vintage jewelry needs gentler care than modern pieces — from restringing pearls to storing metals that tarnish differently. Here’s how to care for it without reducing its value.
All Care Guides →Sometimes the gold is worth more than the design.
Gold jewelry carries real melt value tied to the gold market — which means deciding whether to sell a piece intact or for scrap is a genuine financial question.
All Value Guides →Build a collection, or let one go, the smart way.
Whether you’re hunting for your next signed piece or ready to sell an inherited collection, knowing where to look and what things are actually worth makes all the difference.
All Buying & Selling Guides →This site participates in affiliate programs, including the eBay Partner Network and the Atique affiliate program; see our Affiliate Disclosure for details.