Nothing is more difficult to assess with your bare eye than a piece of jewellery. Some pieces might look as if they were worth millions, but upon closer inspection, you realize that its quality is rather poor. On the other hand, you can stumble upon, for example, a simple-looking, elegant pair of earrings and find out that they are quite valuable.
In addition to that, you constantly hear about various brands, and cannot seem to distinguish among them and choose the best one. And then, there’s also provenance. But, when buying vintage jewellery, are brand and provenance really all that matters? This might sound like an unpopular opinion, but no, these are not the most important factors to consider.
That being said, let’s see how you should go about shopping for some stunning and invaluable pieces.
Forget About Origin
Tell me something. Does it really mean that much to you if the Queen herself wore it? Well, to some of you, it might, I guess. But, in the end, any ring, necklace, or bracelet is just that – a ring, a necklace, and a bracelet. No matter where it came from – it is an object, meant to be worn. And it sure won’t give you superpowers if it was previously worn by a celebrity.
Most of these famous creations are immensely hard to find. There is a rather obvious reason for this. They tend to stay in the family. Of course, you might find yourself looking at a “necklace worn by Cameron Diaz” and at a fairly reasonable price. But, let’s face it, it’s a knockoff. Finding the real one would cost you a lot of nerves.
Plus, nerves wouldn’t be the only cost. These pieces are so expensive that, if you decide to go on a hunt for one, you might consider selling your left kidney first. Or the right one, whichever you feel like you don’t need so much. But, seriously, don’t do that, don’t sell your kidney. Since, although this jewellery comes with a special sentiment attached to it, it’s just not worth it.
Find out more about provenance: http://www.executivestyle.com.au/price-of-provenance-jewellery-with-a-valuable-story-gnvzyf
Give Unbranded Pieces A Chance
We are all aware of the quality and the prestige that goes with branded jewellery. In fact, nobody can deny the brands’ excellence, superiority and rightfully earned reputation. None of those makes and trademarks would be where they are today if they lacked in quality value.
Once again, these pieces can be quite pricy for a mere mortal. Admittedly, though, it’s a price that wouldn’t require you to sell your organs. But, it could still significantly drain your budget. That’s why, you should give unbranded jewellery a chance.
After all, if there is a really nice vintage piece that you really like, it would be a shame not to get it simply because it isn’t stamped with a recognizable name. Remember, what’s most important is workmanship. Take a look at the back side of any piece to see the settings. Usually, the less metal it has, the better its quality should be. So, that is one of the things to consider when shopping. Additional info.
Personal Preference And Wearability Are Key
In the end, all that really matters is whether you will wear what you buy. This goes for jeans, shirts, dresses, jackets, as well as jewellery. What are you going to do with it if you don’t like it, lock it in a safe? Well, that time has long passed.
Sure, it doesn’t hurt to check out the latest fashion trends before you shop for anything. However, that’s not of utmost importance. All things considered, you don’t want to spend money on a highly modern and trendy piece and end up hating it afterwards. This does happen, believe me when I say it. You get carried away by the latest fashionable styles and in the end, you don’t know whether you are buying something because you personally like it, or because it is state-of-the-art.
When you look at it this way, what would you say is the key factor when buying vintage jewellery? Is it brand, or provenance? Is it the price? Not really. The crucial factor is your personal preference. In few words, you will rarely go wrong with your gut feeling.