Antique jewelry spans centuries of craftsmanship — from Georgian mourning rings to Art Deco platinum bracelets. Each era has distinct characteristics in metalwork, stone settings, and motifs that our AI is trained to recognize.
Typical Value Range
$50 – $500,000+
highly dependent on materials, maker, and rarity
What to Look For
How to Identify Antique Jewelry Authenticity & Value
Hallmarks
Look for stamps inside rings or on clasps. British hallmarks include date letters, assay office marks, and maker's initials. American pieces may have karat stamps (14K, 18K).
Setting style
Bezel settings dominate Georgian and early Victorian pieces. Prong settings became standard in late Victorian. Milgrain edges and geometric lines signal Art Deco.
Stone cuts
Old mine cut and old European cut diamonds are pre-1930. Rose cuts indicate Georgian or early Victorian. Modern brilliant cuts are post-1940s.
Metal type
Gold was dominant through Victorian era. Platinum became fashionable in Edwardian and Art Deco periods. Silver was common for mourning jewelry.
Construction
Hand-fabricated settings with slight irregularities indicate age. Cast pieces with machine-made uniformity are more modern.
Common Items
Popular Antique Jewelry Items We Identify
Victorian brooch
Art Deco ring
Georgian mourning locket
Edwardian pendant
Arts & Crafts enamel piece
Cameo brooch
Seed pearl necklace
Platinum Art Deco bracelet
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
British hallmarks show the metal purity, assay office, and year. Use the date letter to pinpoint the year. American pieces typically show karat (10K, 14K, 18K). Our AI can decode hallmarks from a photo.
Signed pieces by known makers (Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari) command premiums. Unsigned antique jewelry is valued on materials, craftsmanship, and condition.
Rarity, maker's signature, stone quality, historical period, and condition are the main value drivers. Art Deco and Georgian pieces tend to fetch the highest prices.