How to Start Out As a Vintage Jewelry Collector (Part 3)

At this point, your hobby may start to become more serious and time intensive. If you wish to become a specialist in vintage jewelry, you should be making every effort to begin making money from your passion.

In this final part of How to Start Out as a Vintage Jewelry Collector, we teach you how to bring the personal and professional worlds together.

Make Money Doing What You Love

You may have had a few years of experience either working in retail, in an apprenticeship or taking classes at your nearest jewelry university – but the worlds of the Artist and the Businessperson should be coming together. That is, the worlds between your personal and professional life should start to meld together. Whether they fuse together harder than titanium alloy is up to you.

No one said it was easy to turn Art Deco engagement ring collecting into a profession, but if you truly love your field, understand your market, and work with similar minded people you will be able to become a professional collector.

Step 4: Become a Resource in Your Community

Similar minded people will begin to seek you out. You may have a talent for exposing fake Victorian mourning jewelry, or you may be extremely detail oriented and be able to re-assign clasps to broken period jewelry in the historical fashion of the time. Regardless, if you have the talent, the community will come to you.

Others will want to learn what you have to teach them. Here are some ways you can pay it forward and further develop your resume, inspiration, and network list:

1. Showcase your expertise on social media.
2. Become a board member of an association related to your fine estate jewelry specialization.
3. Start a blog and update it continually. Invite your new friends to write stories on it.
4. Create an Etsy, EBay or Amazon account and sell your wares online.
5. Join an antique jewelry university. We recommend the GIA, Revere Academy, or the American Society of Jewelry Historians.
6. Work for a boutique that sells the type of vintage jewelry you are most interested in. By interacting with clients, vendors, and other staff members you will grow in your craft, becoming a super collector! This will also expose you to the best deals in the industry as you will be at the intersection of trade and e-commerce.

We hope that this guide has been helpful. If you wish to know more about how others in the industry got to where they are at, ask professionals at local stores or make inquiries at websites like Lang Antiques. You can do it if you stay diligent and put your mind to it!

Read Part 1 here, and read Part 2 here.

Hairwork in Mourning Jewelry: The Beautiful World of Mourning Jewelry (Part 2)

In the first part of this article, titled Love after Death: The Beautiful World of Mourning Jewelry, we gave readers an introduction to mourning jewelry. We talked about the historical climate in which it sprung and highlighted the different features that made mourning jewelry appealing. In this article, we extend the topic and go into further detail about one of the most fascinating aspects of mourning jewelry: hairwork.

Hair: A Construction Material With Longevity

During the Victorian era, locks of hair were very popular and symbolic in nature. Hair from children, loved ones, and the deceased were kept, exchanged, and made into antique jewelry. One has to remember that during this period photos were very rare, and only the wealthy elite could afford to have portraits done of their family members. Therefore hair offered a sentimental keepsake that survived the death of an individual.

It was common for bereaved members of the family to keep locks of hair in small jars, books, or lockets as they served as a pleasant reminder of a loved one. Hair was a keepsake and construction material that did not degrade over time. For example, a lock of Beethoven’s hair, cut from his head in 1827 shortly before his funeral survived until 1994. In 1994 the lock was sold through Sotheby’s, after which pathologists discovered that the composer’s cause of death was due to lead poisoning (Source). Notwithstanding, hair’s longevity (in combination with the sentimental value individuals attributed to it) continued to be one of the main reasons it was used by jewelers in this time.

Hairwork in Antique Jewelry

Large wigs fell out of fashion during the 18th century. However, there still existed many artisans who had the skill and craftsmanship of working with hair. One source reports that in the mid-19th century, 50 tons of hair was imported to jewelers in the U.K. for hairwork pieces. So besides being fashionable, it gave people a job. The socioeconomic climate of 19th century Europe paved the way for hairwork as being used in all types of fine estate jewelry, and even antique wedding sets.

Hairwork in jewelry was used in a time when death rates were high. Disease, unsanitary conditions, and global skirmishes made death a daily occurrence. Its reminder was everywhere people went, affecting both the norms and zeitgeist of its citizens. Following the onset of World War I, the popularity of mourning jewelry began to fade, as individuals didn’t want to think so much about the subject. Nevertheless, the subject remains an interesting time in human-kind’s history. One that should be remembered with grace.

A Brief History of Gold Part 3

Welcome to part 3 of a brief history of gold. For parts 1 click here; for part 2 click here.

Historically, gold may have been maintained by the well-to-do, but that has never stopped the rest of the world from trying to acquire it.

Early gold craftsmanship was crude and rough. Ancient techniques consisted of simple chasing and repousse work as done by the Indians and Egyptians. Jewelry craftsmanship became more complex in the Roman era as artisans began to experiment with more techniques that further elevated gold as a status symbol. Filigree, soldering, piercing, granulation and casting began to add further complexity to a precious metal that had no equal.

The jewelry worn during the successive ages, including the Medieval and Renaissance periods, reflected an intense hierarchical and status-conscious society. Royalty and nobility were among the only members of society who could be found with gold, silver or precious gems. Gold made up the fine estate jewelry of the times including vintage engagement rings and other types of antique jewelry. Lower ranks of society adorned themselves with cheaper materials including beads, shells, or easier to find base metals like pewter and copper.

Pure gold was difficult to find and secure, especially for the lower classes of society who wished to adorn themselves like lords and magistrates. Families who did not belong to the wealthy merchant class oftentimes did not have jewelry that was passed on from generation to generation, as we see multigenerational lineages doing now. However, gold rushes in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries allowed individuals, irrespective of status, an opportunity to enrich their lives. If one got to the site early enough, before competitors got a chance to deplete the region, an individual could sift for gold with low startup capital.  The discovery of gold in Australia (1851), California (1848), and South Africa (1886) spurred worldwide travel, industry booms, and large investments of capital. Sometimes prospectors got rich, other times they failed to turn a profit. One geological theory (see part 2) states that all the gold on the earth came from space, making it difficult to spot and secure. One thing is for certain, we will keep looking.

Professions in the Jewelry Industry – Part One

If you’ve ever watched a home shopping channel and seen the salespeople on TV rave about how gorgeous their jewelry is and thought to yourself “Hey, I could do this,” then read on. Maybe you dream about working with diamonds, rubies and pearls and wish to design the latest trends. Or perhaps you see yourself an expert on fashion and wish to help soon-to-be married couples put a vintage diamond engagement ring on each other’s finger.

No matter your preference, there are a variety of roles you can join when choosing to work in the jewelry industry. Whether you choose to apprentice at a local jewelry store, master craftsman or retailer outlet – or choose to gain your experience through education there are a plethora of tracks open for you.

Gemologist

A gemologist studies gems. Using tools like microscopes, refractometers and other optical instruments a gemologist studies the qualities of diamonds and gemstones. A gemologist needs to have a passion for geology and mineralogy and have a basic understanding of the environmental impacts that go into creating a gem. He or she will use these tools to detect inclusions and find rare specimens.

Jeweler Craftsman

A jeweler craftsman (or woman) needs a steady hand and a focused eye to produce works of dazzling beauty. The craftsman is in charge of setting gemstones into bands of gold, silver, and other materials, and is tasked with the big responsibility of making sure the work survives wear. A craftsman may also work with a lapidary, who is in charge of polishing stones in order for them to look their best. A working knowledge of metalworking, setting, fitting and fusing is needed in order to make sure a modern ring made today survives to be the fine estate jewelry of tomorrow.

If you have a passion for the finer things in life read part 2 for more professions in this world-class industry.

Beautiful Vintage Jewelry for the Modern Bride

Marriage is one of the most memorable occasions in a young woman’s life. On the day of her wedding she wants to look and feel like the most gorgeous girl on the planet. She wants to choose the best outfit as well as the most stylish ornaments to look outstanding. There are some brides who want to not only look stylish and modern but also unique. They want their wedding to be special. Thus, they prefer vintage jewelry instead of more contemporary pieces. They know that these pieces can help them look gorgeous and attractive.

Vintage, Antique and Estate

It is very easy to dream of wearing antique jewelry on that special day, but it is tough to get the genuine products if you do not have any prior knowledge. You need not start learning the history of fashion and jewelry to purchase these items for the marriage, but you do have to have a general knowledge of what you’re buying.

In the jewelry industry, a piece that is more than 25 years old can be considered vintage jewelry. On the other hand, a piece that is 100 years old can be called antique. Be aware of the difference, because generally, the older the piece of jewelry the more expensive it will be. Of course, the stone and materials that went into making the piece of estate jewelry will be considered as well, but age is important. It can take gemologists and restoration specialists hundreds of hours of work to find these pieces and restore them back to their original beauty.

Find Your Next Wedding Jewelry Online

If you’re still wondering about what to do next, don’t worry. There are plenty of reputable online stores that sell vintage, antique, and estate jewelry. The best thing you can do to ease your mind is to speak to an expert today.

There are online stores that sell vintage collections and also help you get a better understanding of the various eras and their fashion trends. In no time you’ll be looking your best. And on your final day, as the sunlight dances across your white gown, and the vintage earrings catch the light of onlookers at your wedding, you’ll be ready to say “I do!”