Vintage Silver Jewelry
Vintage silver jewelry can be classified as precious or non-precious. With regards to this, lets explore the non-precious style that is known as costume jewelry. Although, costume jewelry is sometimes said to be vintage, this term should only pertain to costume jewelry that is at least twenty years old, and thirty years old would be more like it. Also, vintage has an added term the is called antique. This antique term should only apply to pieces that are, at the very least, fifty years old or more. Another aspect that well will discuss is the fake jewelry aspects. This has become a very hot topic in more recent days and a collector should be aware of it.
This vintage silver jewelry can be found at many places. It could be any style piece from a necklace to earrings to a brooch to a bracelet. It can have precious and semi-precious stones, and most of this type of jewelry is marked. Keep in mind that sterling silver is just about ninety three percent pure silver and will be marked with the 925 to indicate it. If someone tries to sell you something that is said to be silver and it does not have that mark, odds are that it is not sterling silver.
As far as costume jewelry is concerned, many collectors have sprung onto the collecting scene in more recent days. These collectors, collect many different aspects of this field, and many specialize in certain types or designers. It would not be very hard to hunt down a sterling silver collector.
However, as there are good collectors and dealers, there are just as many bad collectors and dealers too. If you are new to collecting, it would be most advisable to keep one thing in mind at all times. This is to always do the research. This can be the difference in actually getting a collectible piece or getting a knock off or fake. It can also be the matter of saving or wasting your money. Lets discuss this a bit farther.
Collectors take pride in obtaining the original pieces that they set out to collect. This is where the many shady characters come into play. They will attempt to say that the piece is and original, and you may fall for it. However, if you have did your research and know the differences between a real piece and a fake piece, this will save you much heartache in the long run.
Where do you research? There are many places a person can research this highly collectible genre. One would be the many books that are now on the market. Some of these books specialize in the many different types of costume jewelry and will include pictures, as well as, how to spot the fakes. Another great place to check is the internet. Many collectors have their own websites and will host a bevy of information. Some even alert people to the many fake scams that are currently out there.
Therefore, when it comes to vintage silver jewelry, or any vintage costume jewelry, it certainly pays to do your homework.