Jewelry is a mainstay in many people’s lives. It can act as a centerpiece of your outfit or a small addition that brings just a bit of sparkle to the party. If you’re married, you likely wear at least one ring every day, and many women wear both their engagement and wedding rings. One way to make sure that you have a truly unique and meaningful collection of jewelry is to look into vintage and estate jewelry options.
The Ethics of Jewelry
One of the most common reasons people invest in pre-owned jewelry rather than buying new is that it’s considered the more ethical option. The jewelry industry, as well as the fashion industry as a whole, has an unfortunate reputation for being unsustainable, both for the environment and for society.
Jewels have to be mined from the ground, which is damaging to the environment, and can result in unsafe practices for workers. While standards for modern jewelry are a lot more stringent than they once were, this still presents a problem for people who want to make more ethical choices, but who still love their bling.
Lab-grown gemstones are a popular option for people who want a lower environmental and societal cost for their jewelry, and you can ask for custom pieces.
But another way to invest in jewelry is to get pre-owned jewelry. While older jewelry pieces might have been produced unethically, you aren’t supporting further problematic practices by reusing these pieces. Instead, you can give them a new lease of life. After all, they can last for decades if you take care of them.
Signature Pieces for Less
Another benefit of pre-owned jewelry is that it can be less expensive than investing in brand-new jewelry. Of course, some vintage pieces do cost more than things you can find in the store, but often you get something that is of much higher material value.
This is especially true if you’re able to shop in places that offer good deals on real jewels. One option is to buy potentially valuable jewelry in a style that isn’t popular or well-liked. These are often cheaper, even though they contain valuable gemstones and metals.
You can then have the older piece reworked into a style that you prefer, or that would be better to sell on. This is a great way to find fantastic deals and then give a perfectly good gemstone another chance. In keeping with the past point, this is also a more eco-friendly way to get seemingly brand-new jewelry.
A Touch of History
One of the most compelling reasons to invest in vintage jewelry is that you can integrate history into your collection.
Some pieces are timeless, and they’re definitely worth investing in. These standout pieces often cost more than other pre-owned jewelry, because their history and story are part of their value. You can find jewelry that was owned by historic figures or celebrities and that are famous in their own right.
On a more personal note, you can also look into heritage jewelry, either from your own family or from other families. This might be jewelry that you’ve inherited from others, or even things that you’ve bought to make sure that they continue to tell their story. As mentioned before, even reworking a gem from an older ring can be a nice way to keep someone with you.
Family engagement rings are a common option for this reason. They’re sometimes passed down from mother to son, so he can use the ring to propose to his future wife. This tradition keeps this jewelry in the family and adds a new layer of meaning to it, especially if it sticks around for generations.
Another benefit of pre-owned jewelry is that it can be less expensive than investing in brand-new jewelry. Of course, some vintage pieces do cost more than things you can find in the store, but often you get something that is of much higher material value.
This is especially true if you’re able to shop in places that offer good deals on real jewels. One option is to buy potentially valuable jewelry in a style that isn’t popular or well-liked. These are often cheaper, even though they contain valuable gemstones and metals.
You can then have the older piece reworked into a style that you prefer, or that would be better to sell on. This is a great way to find fantastic deals and then give a perfectly good gemstone another chance. In keeping with the past point, this is also a more eco-friendly way to get seemingly brand-new jewelry.
A Touch of History
One of the most compelling reasons to invest in vintage jewelry is that you can integrate history into your collection.
Some pieces are timeless, and they’re definitely worth investing in. These standout pieces often cost more than other pre-owned jewelry, because their history and story are part of their value. You can find jewelry that was owned by historic figures or celebrities and that are famous in their own right.
On a more personal note, you can also look into heritage jewelry, either from your own family or from other families. This might be jewelry that you’ve inherited from others, or even things that you’ve bought to make sure that they continue to tell their story. As mentioned before, even reworking a gem from an older ring can be a nice way to keep someone with you.
Family engagement rings are a common option for this reason. They’re sometimes passed down from mother to son, so he can use the ring to propose to his future wife. This tradition keeps this jewelry in the family and adds a new layer of meaning to it, especially if it sticks around for generations.
Finding The Perfect Jewelry
If you’ve decided that you do want to invest in older jewelry, the next step is finding a good source for it.
If you’ve decided that you do want to invest in older jewelry, the next step is finding a good source for it.
There are loads of ways to build
your collection.
The first and most common way that people build a heritage jewelry collection is through inheritance. This isn’t something you can plan for, but it can be the start of your collection. This is also often a nice thing to consider when creating your own collection. You can then think about passing your jewelry on to your children or other people who might appreciate it.
Another method of finding pre-owned jewelry is through estate auctions and purchases. When someone dies, their jewelry might be left as part of their estate. You can enter auctions to purchase a lump sum, or you can specifically shop for vintage estate rings if you want to have more power over your choices. You can find some real gems in estate sales.
You can also shop in vintage and antique stores to see if you can find some good pieces. Some thrift stores and pawn shops can also have some surprisingly good deals on quality jewelry, if you know what to look for. This can take time, but it adds to the story of your collection.
The first and most common way that people build a heritage jewelry collection is through inheritance. This isn’t something you can plan for, but it can be the start of your collection. This is also often a nice thing to consider when creating your own collection. You can then think about passing your jewelry on to your children or other people who might appreciate it.
Another method of finding pre-owned jewelry is through estate auctions and purchases. When someone dies, their jewelry might be left as part of their estate. You can enter auctions to purchase a lump sum, or you can specifically shop for vintage estate rings if you want to have more power over your choices. You can find some real gems in estate sales.
You can also shop in vintage and antique stores to see if you can find some good pieces. Some thrift stores and pawn shops can also have some surprisingly good deals on quality jewelry, if you know what to look for. This can take time, but it adds to the story of your collection.
How to Care for Your Pre-Loved Jewelry
So, you’ve built up a collection of jewelry to treasure. While jewelry should last for decades, if not centuries, it can get damaged over time.
High-carat gold is beautiful, but it’s infamously soft, meaning that it can get scratched and damaged over time. It’s best not to wear this kind of jewelry all the time, but invest in harder alloys for your everyday jewelry.
Avoid needlessly exposing rings to potential risk by wearing them while cooking, applying lotions, or other activities. This is an easy way to potentially lose valuable jewelry or damage it. Depending on your job, you might need to remove or cover your rings to prevent them from getting caught in machinery.
If you suspect that your gems are getting loose, make sure to take your jewelry to a jeweller right away. They can repair jewelry or even resize it as you need it, which might be helpful when you’re investing in jewelry designed for someone else.
So, you’ve built up a collection of jewelry to treasure. While jewelry should last for decades, if not centuries, it can get damaged over time.
High-carat gold is beautiful, but it’s infamously soft, meaning that it can get scratched and damaged over time. It’s best not to wear this kind of jewelry all the time, but invest in harder alloys for your everyday jewelry.
Avoid needlessly exposing rings to potential risk by wearing them while cooking, applying lotions, or other activities. This is an easy way to potentially lose valuable jewelry or damage it. Depending on your job, you might need to remove or cover your rings to prevent them from getting caught in machinery.
If you suspect that your gems are getting loose, make sure to take your jewelry to a jeweller right away. They can repair jewelry or even resize it as you need it, which might be helpful when you’re investing in jewelry designed for someone else.
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