There are two strange aspects of antique jewelry: First, finding it is a herculean task. Second, there is a sense of eerie attached to them as they were once worn by ladies who have kicked the bucket a long time ago. Understandable, antique jewelry is not soothing to everyone's eyes. However, the hive mind says that the antique gems are the best. Their approach, intrinsic detailing, their color, and their magnificence remain unrivaled even today. 

Everyone dreams of sporting a bracelet like the Duchess of Cambridge and a necklace like Duchess of Sussex, but it's more like building castles in the air because you don't know where to find them. Even if you somehow manage to find a bargain for antique, you have no assurance as far as its authenticity is concerned. 

Then there is e-bay but we all know it's more like a gamble, a hit or miss. Counterfeits these days are so much like the originals. Well, we have come to your rescue. Here's a complete guide on buying antique jewelry which has come to life once again and is the word on the streets.  

People often mix up antique jewelry with antique designer jewelry. However, these are two different entities. There is always value in your Grandma's gold accessories, but a quality chain from your favorite luxury brand could mean the best of both worlds; classic stuff weaved in state of the art design. 

Undeniably, Chanel and Versace are the market leaders in the segment, but you need to broaden your mental horizons. There is a whole new world beyond these two brands. 

Lacroix made some enticing chains back in the day, and Givenchy joined the party. Cartier made some enigmatic watches as well.     

Just like you wouldn't hop a car with a stranger, you wouldn't mindlessly buy a design without knowing its roots. Designs vary depending on when jewelry was made or sold. 

Chanel, a good case in point, has used various markings since the 1960s, including oval and circle signature plates, etched directly on the piece. The pioneer pieces of the Chanel jewelry were not marred by cartouches. 

Pieces from the 1930s to 1950s rarely ever come up for sale in the second-hand market. Since the older pieces are the costlier and more difficult to find, the design markings lower the value of the piece comparatively. Enlightenment is bliss in this case. 

This is rather mundane but important too. When you are on a hunt for antique jewelry, look for important markings both on the inside and outside of the piece. Recognition of the brand's signature will come in handy, but common sense would suffice. If Chanel looks like Chonel then you know that the brand isn't authentic. It's strange that we are discussing piracy practices by fraudulent makers in jewelry today. Earlier, such practices were confined to the FMCG industry. 

Ensure that you go through minute detailing as counterfeits are getting better at imitating the original pieces. 

This may come off as a no brainer but you will be startled to know that most people overlook this critically important detail. Just like a misspelled logo, the place of manufacturing goes a long way in reflecting whether the pieces are a genuine one or not. You also ought to know where the brand's manufacturing unit actually is. For instance, fake Versace will read Made in Taiwan whereas the authentic ones are produced only in Italy. 

Just like you wouldn't buy a ramshackle car on the price of a new brand car, you wouldn't buy a piece of used jewelry (antique though) on the price of fresh. If you wish to make your every buck count, you have to consider the condition of the piece. Worn plating, missing pearls, scratched outer covering of the metal tend to dip the prices. So, don't fall for the ostentatious pieces just because you are standing in a very precious brand's showroom. Keep your bargaining chip intact and look for details on which you can bargain a lower price. 

No doubt, you'll need an expert eye that can assess the piece and perhaps even repair it for a reasonable price. In this case, you can always rely on reputable jewelry shops that can provide expert jewelry repair and give you the most bang for your buck.  

The antique pieces that you would find at thrift market are as good as authentic and considerably lower in prices than what you may find at branded stores. 

Don't ever undermine the value of antique, thrift stores, and markets. Believe it or not, there are people who have got absolutely no idea of what they are selling. 

The only downside is that it will be harder to make sure that the piece is authentic

When you have set up your mind as to what you are looking for, it's time to browse through various shopping sites on the internet. The ubiquity of the internet, and more importantly the changing paradigms of business have given us the luxury of shopping everything from the comfort of our homes. However, there are many sites which claim to be selling antique jewelry; they are a hoax, right? The price of antique designer jewelry on fake sites is too good to be true. If you can pull up a Cartier watch for less than $100, there is definitely more to it than what meets the eye. 

The Vintage tom carries a ton of antique jewelry - eloquent people visit this site cop theirs. You can also sell your old man's piece here; you just need to do your research and quote the price you are intending to receive. 

If you want to see the jewelry before you buy it our store by the name of Charles Hart in the town of Frome in Somerset is your Utopia. It is one of the UK's oldest family-run stores. 

The shop not only has antique and vintage jewelry, but it also has a good selection of pre-owned prestige watches, jewelry brands, beautiful diamond rings, and many more items., Most of these retailers have representatives who are knowledgeable and can answer your questions.