Where can you find unique vintage jewelry?

You’ll love seeing the heirloom treasures you can find on Etsy. In fact, Etsy sellers say sourcing vintage jewelry for their shops is a bit like treasure hunting. Vintage jewelry is inherently unique because modern production methods cannot duplicate each piece. Let Etsy jewelry shops do the hard work scouring the globe for accessories you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, making it easy for you to find items for your collection.

What types of vintage jewelry can you buy?

Like modern jewelry, you can shop for vintage jewelry of all sorts, whether you want to draw attention to your stunning facial features or show off a dazzling vintage wedding ring that could make kings and queens green with envy. For some of the most popular types of vintage jewelry, consider: Vintage earrings : From gorgeous dangle, drop, and chandelier earrings to the timeless stud and iconic hoop, the list goes on for the many earrings to be had. Choose clip-on earrings if you don’t have a piercing or ear jackets and climbers for a look guaranteed to get noticed in all the right ways. Vintage necklaces : Often the epitome of vintage elegance, necklaces could be anything from simple, cute chains to completely covering the piece in jewels and brilliance. Vintage bracelets : From bangles and cuffs with studded rhinestones to intricate designs carved in brass, bracelets offer a wide range of wrist accessories to complement your outfit. Stand out with a bold brass piece with intricate engravings, or complete your look by matching a charm, chain, or beaded bracelet to other items in your jewelry collection. Vintage rings : Known for being well-crafted and often steeped in known or unknown histories, many couples love to use vintage rings for wedding or engagement rings for a truly unique symbol. Discover Victorian jewelry or Art Deco rings which may be adorned with many gemstones, including diamonds and pearls, or feature a single wedding band made from precious metals. Vintage body jewelry : Including a large variety of jewelry, body jewelry encompasses most jewelry worn on your body that isn’t the wrist, fingers, neck, or ears. These could include anklets, nose rings or studs, nipple or belly rings, or any other location to which you may want to add a little shimmer-shimmer. Vintage watches : From rare timepieces to unique and novelty, browse shops for wristwatches or pocket watches always to have the time on hand—or wrist. Vintage brooches, pins, and clips : As clothing accessories, these sometimes underrated types of jewelry pack a punch with stunning colors and designs from gemstone animals and flowers to abstract shapes that draw the eyes closer and closer.

What gemstones are used in vintage jewelry?

You’ll find many timeless favorites like diamonds, pearls, and opals among vintage jewelry and classics like sapphires, rubies, and aquamarine. Many vintage jewelry lovers collect birthstone jewelry from eras past. Vintage citrine jewelry is popular for its orangish hues in pendants, while vintage rhinestone jewelry —though not technically a gemstone—is a prevalent decorative stone. Green jade beads may wrap around your wrist, or you could prefer some quartz or onyx earrings for your next gala dinner or holiday party.

How do you shop for vintage jewelry on Etsy?

Shopping for vintage jewelry on Etsy begins with browsing for inspiration, discovering styles you love or didn’t know you loved, and then focusing on your search to include more of those styles. If you already know the style of jewelry you love, you can use the filters and search tools on Etsy to narrow down your searches like vintage Art Deco jewelry that has a sense of grandeur and a flair for bold, intricate designs. Whether you’re browsing for luxurious vintage fine jewelry to wear on a grand occasion or vintage costume jewelry for the fun of it, take note of shops you like and favorite them with the heart icon. This saves them to your list of amazing shops on your profile to revisit later or show your trusted second-opinion friends for their input. When you have a solid collection of unique shops and pieces to decide from, use ratings and look for Star Sellers who are identified for having outstanding customer service as well as a track record of consistent five-star reviews.

What’s the difference between vintage costume jewelry and vintage fine jewelry?

Both styles of jewelry, fine and costume, can dazzle onlookers with sparkle and jaw-dropping designs, but there is one significant difference: costume jewelry tends to use less expensive stones or plated and coated metals, while fine jewelry is made of precious materials. Fine jewelry might be made entirely from attractive metals like gold or silver, while a costume piece might be gold- or silver-plated. Costume jewelry can look incredible with a simulated crimson ruby shooting up and rising high on a ring. In contrast, a fine jewelry ring could feature the same style but feature a ruby from dug up in a mine, high up in a cave in the Himalayas.

How do you store a vintage jewelry collection?

With all the amazing jewelry you’ve found on Etsy, having a vintage jewelry box is a popular choice for housing all of your valuables. As a treasure chest of accessories, some of the best jewelry boxes display your collection openly to help you decide what to wear and pack up tightly when not in use to save space. Jewelry boxes often look just as good on the outside as they do inside, and you can use finely decorated porcelain boxes to keep all of your vintage treasures while using a more modern box with velvet lining for your newer pieces. If you have an extensive collection, consider a vintage jewelry armoire as a kind of cabinet for your jewelry with drawers and hooks to separate your rings from your necklaces or your frequent favorites from your special occasion jewels.