Estate jewelry is a term you’ve probably heard in the world of fashion or collectibles, but what does it actually mean? Why should you care?
The term “estate jewelry” refers to any item of jewelry that has been previously owned. It doesn’t necessarily mean the item is old, antique, or vintage. It just means it has had a previous owner and includes a wide range of styles, time periods, and value.
While all antique and vintage jewelry is generally accepted and seen as estate jewelry, not all estate jewelry falls into those categories.
Antique Jewelry: This refers to pieces that are at least 100 years old. Think Edwardian, Victorian, or Art Nouveau styles. These items are usually handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry often showcasing old-world craftsmanship.
Vintage Jewelry: Typically, vintage jewelry is twenty to ninety-nine years old. This would include pieces from the ever-popular Art Deco era of the late 1920s through the early 2000s. Vintage styles vary widely and were more influenced by the design trends of the decades in which they were created.
Contemporary Estate Jewelry: These are more recently made pieces of jewelry that were previously owned. For instance, even if a ring was bought just a year ago and resold, it would be considered estate jewelry.
Why should estate jewelry matter? It’s not just about style. It carries personal, cultural, and historical significance.
Many estate pieces were made in eras when jewelry was more commonly handmade, often with techniques or attention to detail that can be quite rare to find today. Jewelry from different eras, like Victorian or Art Deco, even reflect the cultural aesthetics, values, and customs of the time and place in which it was created or worn. Jewelry is a wearable snapshot of the art, fashion, and social movements of their time.
Each piece of estate jewelry has its own history. Whether it’s a century-old brooch, a ring with a family crest, or a passed down engagement ring, there’s a story embedded in every gem and setting. Every item’s history is shaped by the lives of the people who wore it before.
Plus, choosing estate jewelry is a more sustainable option. We all know the term, “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” Estate jewelry helps to reduce the demand for newly produced items and mining of limited materials by giving existing jewelry a second life. It can also help with price accessibility making high quality, luxury jewelry more affordable and attainable for a wider range of buyers by avoiding some retail markups and brand premiums.
All of these reasons are why we find this little corner of what we do as private jewelers incredibly interesting, important, and profoundly intimate. Having such a deep appreciation for the history and craftsmanship behind each item of jewelry makes it personal. Whether we have found a remarkable piece to add to our Curated Finds collection or a client’s beloved jewelry is entrusted to us for restoration or a repurposing project, it’s not only about beauty at that point. It is about the history and emotion of more than just an accessory, but of an heirloom.
Whether you’re drawn to the timeless elegance of antiques, the charm of vintage styles, or the modern flair of contemporary designs, estate jewelry offers more than just beauty- it offers a meaningful connection to the past with a lasting impact on the future. In a world of mass production and fast fashion, estate jewelry is a reminder that jewelry is evocative, personal, and permanent- inviting you to imagine the life it lived before and to make it a part of your own story.
