How To Tell If Your Vintage Jewelry Is Worth Any Money

Jewelry has been treasured since ancient times, with amazing baubles found at archaeological sites around the world dating back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks. Today, that obsession is still going strong, and connoisseurs of beautiful things prize every piece of their collections, from fine jewels and gold and silver to trendy costume jewelry and everything in between. Often some of our most prized pieces of jewelry are inherited or gifted and some of our most unique finds come from the unlikeliest of places, like flea markets and garage sales. But apart from sentimental value, does your vintage jewelry have any actual value?

It turns out that, like vintage Christmas displays, there is definitely a market for vintage jewelry and it can be worth quite a bit of money. Just like or the old Pyrex you've tucked away in your kitchen cupboard, old doesn't mean worthless. The vintage ring market, for example, is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% between 2023 and 2030. Here's how to tell if you're vintage jewelry is worth any money.

For jewelry to qualify as vintage a piece must be at least 20 to 30 years old or older, and although some pieces only have sentimental value, there is more likely than not an opportunity to make some money if your jewelry meets certain criteria. Whether you want to sell your vintage jewelry or are simply curios about its value, there are a few telltale signs you can look for so you know what you've got on your hands.

If you can tell who the designer is, that's a good start to finding out if your jewelry has monetary value. For example, luxury brands like Tiffany and Co., Dior, Bulgari, and Cartier have impressive reputations and equally impressive followings. If you are lucky enough to have one of these pieces there is a strong likelihood it will have a good resale value as long as it is authentic. You'll also want to pay close attention to the materials used and the quality of the craftsmanship. You can check the authenticity of the metal with a simple at-home test: put a magnetic up against the metal and if it sticks, it isn't real gold.

You should also check for stamps on the metal, which will tell you if you have a genuine precious metal or not. Silver, for example, will have a stamp somewhere reading 925, platinum will have a stamp reading "PLAT," and gold will have a karat stamp indicating if it is made from 14, 18, or 24 karat gold.

Not everyone wants to part with their vintage jewelry, whether it was an inheritance from an ancestor with impeccable style or a prized find in a vintage boutique or a flea market. But whether you want to sell your jewelry (and hope to make a nice profit) or are simply curious about what you've got on your hands, it is helpful to have an informed idea of its true value.

It is important to remember, like old perfume bottles, that both fine luxury jewelry and costume jewelry can be valuable. But although you can conduct your own amateur inspections, one of your most useful tools will be a professional appraiser. Having a professional appraisal of your jewelry will generally cost you anywhere from $50 to $350 depending on the type of jewelry, the designer or brand, and the experience of the appraiser, but the money will be well-spent in giving you an accurate understanding of the value of your jewelry. This can help both in selling your collection or insuring your collection, and can give you valuable information such as if you can expect your vintage pieces to retain their current value or go up over time.