As with anything to do with jewelers, vintage brooches are a hot commodity. Many people find the older jeweler more aesthetically pleasing than todays. And given that a lot of vintage brooches are made with precious metals and stones, it’s no wonder why they continue to be popular among jeweler lovers. If you’re looking to add a vintage brooch to your collection, here are four tips on how to date one:
1. Check the condition of the metal.
Vintage brooches are often made with gold, silver, or platinum. If the metal is in good condition, it’s likely a vintage brooch. If the metal is tarnished or has dents in it, the jeweler may be just old. You can remove tarnish from metals with a jewelry cleaning cloth. Dents, on the other hand, are harder to fix
2. Check for signs of a serial number or name.
Many vintage jewelers include their name or a serial number somewhere on the jewelry piece, usually engraved onto the pin backing of brooches or stamped directly onto pendants and necklaces. If this is the case, you may have a more accurate estimate of the piece’s age.
2. Inspect the stones.
Precious and semiprecious stones were often used in vintage brooches. If the stones are set in a metal bezel, that is a good sign that the piece is vintage. If the stones are glued in place or held in with prongs that look to be made of a different metal, the brooch is likely not vintage.
3. Check the closure.
Vintage brooches often have a pin and clasp closure on the back. Most modern brooches have a simple pin backing. An intricate clasp or a “C” catch can be a good indicator that the brooch is vintage. With a “C” catch, the pin slides into a small opening in the clasp to secure it.
4. Research the jeweler.
If you can find the jeweler’s name, look them up online or in antique jewelry books. This will give you a better idea of when the piece was made and will also help you determine its value. Usually, the more well-known the jeweler, the more valuable the piece.
