Old-World Pieces, New-World Chic

Vintage jewelry is more than meets the eye, it’s a fantastic investment.

When shopping for vintage jewelry, whether you’re at a flea market or a posh boutique, remember to examine each piece with a keen eye. I’m a huge fan of vintage jewelry, I have many pieces from my great-grandmothers and my great-aunts. My fiancé even bought an antique diamond and had a setting designed to look vintage for my engagement ring. The artistry of vintage pieces are amazing, but I also love the stories they hold. I imagine who owned the piece, where it came from, and the history behind the woman who wore it before me. Most of all, I love the strength and power vintage jewelry possesses.

When purchasing pieces pay close attention to the details; the clasp, the stones, the settings… each one of these will give you a clue to the authenticity and the value.

I have my favorite spots to purchase all over the country, but my favorites in San Francisco are TORSO (where I found my giant 1960’s turtle named Irwin) and MDVII (at 1507 ½ Vallejo St.). Susie, the lovely English shopkeeper of MDVII, will be the first to tell you that the best pieces are costume from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. During the war, America had a huge middle class, while European women already had family treasures, and would snap up great costume pieces from Chanel, YSL, Lanvin and Kenneth Jay Lane (his original pieces were amazing and very different from the mass produced line that carries his name today). “I have many favorites but I truly love the early Chanel pieces,” Susie gushes. She recommends research for women wanting to start a true collection. Some designers stamped and marked their pieces while others did not, good information to have when shopping. Susie is very eager to help anyone pick the perfect piece, as she did me on my latest purchase of a late 70’s bracelet out of Paris.

Vintage may need a little cleaning and tweaking but when you are buying from a retail setting the main and major parts of a piece should all be original. Beware of glue, different color metals (that are contrasting to the main pieces), or anything that looks too perfect.

Remember you do not have to be the Duchess of Windsor (who had the largest private jewelry collection in history, including the Windsor Diamonds, and was sold in 1987 by Sotheby’s for a record breaking 53.5 million), or Elizabeth Taylor (who holds the ownership to the Taylor-Burton Diamond and the La Peregrina Peral) to start a collection. Vintage costume pieces are very affordable! Don’t be afraid to mix and match your current collection of baubles with your vintage pieces.