“Your money is not gone, it just looks better”, is what we would say if you’d invest in antique jewellery. Want to know why? Read the blog below!
We all know that today’s world is a world of rapid change. And especially the current time is a time of uncertainty and challenge. Next to the major events that are taking place in the world, money is slowly losing its value. Because of this, we can imagine that you’re having a hard time trying to spend your money wisely. Fortunately, there are alternatives to safeguard your wealth. Antiques, for example, are often one-of-a-kind, and therefore very valuable. In this blog, we will explain why investing in antique jewellery can be a smart idea and we will give you some tips to get started yourself.
Unique, well-made pieces
A first big advantage of antique jewellery, both for investment and aesthetic purposes, is the uniqueness of the pieces. Many pieces, especially from before the industrial revolution, were handcrafted by skilled artisans. Because of this, the pieces are often one of a kind, so you’re not likely to meet someone wearing the same piece as you are. Because the pieces were made with excellent craftmanship, they’re often of better quality than pieces that are mass-produced nowadays. Because of its durability, antique jewellery is perfect to pass down from generation to generation. Probably the best thing here, is that unlike newly created jewellery, antique jewellery will not lose its value over time. When you buy newly created jewellery, you pay the ’new price’. When you’ve bought it, this purchase value automatically drops, simply because the piece is not new anymore. This is not the case if you buy antique jewellery, because antique jewellery has already gone from new to old. In a sense, antique jewellery can be compared with classic cars: it will always be collectable and desirable, and thus retains its value!
When you’re looking for a good investment that can be very profitable, there is definitely a merit to investing in jewellery that is in high demand in a certain region or at a certain moment. On the other hand, it can be a good idea to make your investment more reliable, by going for designs that are more globally appealing. Additionally, when investing in antique jewellery, it can be a good idea to think about the long term as well. A piece that is very well-made and has a striking design can be excellent to pass on to the next generation and accumulate value.
Materials that retain their value
One of the reasons that antique jewellery can be a very dependable investment, is the fact that it’s often made from materials that hold their value. Gold, for example, is very often used in antique jewellery. Gold has been a desirable material for ages and will not likely lose its desirability in the years to come. Therefore, especially solid gold jewellery is a good long-term investment. It is important to keep in mind that the value of the pieces relies heavily on the purity of the gold. The highest purity of gold is 24 karats, meaning that the piece consists for 99.9% of pure gold. However, gold with this purity isn’t used in jewellery, since it’s too soft. Generally, the highest purity you will find is 22 karats. Considering all this, you can sell gold jewellery, even if it’s damaged, just for the gold content. But since gold has been reliably value for a long time, you can also invest in high quality pieces which you can wear yourself for a long time.
Just like gold, gemstones can increase the value of an antique piece of jewellery dramatically. Especially precious stones like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires have been very valuable for a long time already, of which diamonds remain the most popular. Generally, the 4c’s, namely colour, cut, carat, and clarity of the stones determine how valuable the specific stone is. So, make sure to closely inspect a gemstone if you want to buy it as an investment piece.
Eco-friendly
Next to the uniqueness and valuable materials, another major advantage of investing in antique jewellery, is that it’s eco-friendly. There’s no denying that it’s hard to produce jewellery in an environmentally friendly way, since it takes a lot of resources to mine gemstones and precious metals. Mining diamonds, for example, has a huge carbon footprint and is very destructive for the earth. Therefore, buying an antique piece of jewellery is more sustainable, since no new materials have to be used. Thus, buying and wearing antique jewellery would make you a conservator rather than a consumer. Moreover, especially in today’s fast fashion world, unique and handcrafted pieces have become rare and thus more valuable.
Tips for investing in antique jewellery
When it comes to the ‘how’ of investing in antique jewellery, it’s most important that you follow your heart. After all, you’re the person who has to wear the pieces! If you’re not entirely sure about the type of jewellery you want to invest in, it might be a good idea to go for bracelets, earrings, necklaces, or rings, because brooches are generally a bit harder to sell again. When you’re completely new to the world of antique jewellery, it’s good to be aware of the fact that there’s also fake antique jewellery in circulation. So, make sure to do a bit of research on antique jewellery, so you know what to expect when you go hunting for the perfect pieces. It’s also a good idea to do a background check on the shop or person you’re buying from. Finally, we have one extra tip for you: go take a look at our clearance sale! Here, you can find a collection of unique antique pieces of jewellery that you can now pick up for a very friendly price. While we’re not planning on directly raising our prices, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that our prices will stay the same, since purchase prices are rapidly rising at the moment. Our clearance sale is only up on the website until the end of March, so if you’re planning on investing in antique jewellery, this might be the right time!
“Also planning to make your money look better? Start your search for the perfect pieces of antique jewellery now and don’t hesitate to ask us for help!” -xxx- Sophie