How to Differentiate Between Antique Jewellery & Replica

Are you an antique enthusiast? Do you like to collect antique jewellery? Have you discovered an antique item in your attic, while cleaning it? If you answered 'Yes' to any of the three questions, then keep reading this blog post.

Finding out whether the item is antique or a replica is not easy at all. It takes experience and a keen eye for detail. Also, we would suggest getting probate jewellery valuation done for your coveted pieces. This would ensure that you know the true worth of your collection.

Before we discuss the tips on how to differentiate between original and replica, you must also know the difference between antique and vintage.

Antique vs Vintage Jewellery

An authentic antique jewellery piece is aesthetic and has historical significance. An item is called antique if it is at least 100 years old. On the other hand, vintage jewellery is a piece from an earlier generation. It includes items crafted during the 1930s to 1980s, retro-style pieces and jewellery inspired by Hollywood. An antique piece is also vintage but a vintage item may not be antique.

The seller should mention whether the item he is selling is antique or vintage or it a customised piece crafted by mixing an old jewellery piece with modern design.

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Clues To Look At

When buying antique jewellery, you must make sure that it's an original piece and not a reproduced one. It is very difficult to distinguish antique from a replica. You have to be very careful at noticing the clues, such as hallmarks, crafting technique, setting and finish, metal and gemstones quality.

Always buy from an authentic or certified seller. This will ensure that the person from whom you are buying is trustworthy and in case of any issues, you can easily ask them to refund your full amount.

Before you make the final decision to buy, ask the seller a lot of questions, especially the age of the item. You should also do your research to get an idea of its cost. It will also ensure that you don't get cheated.

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The replica would miss these

Take a closer look at the piece you are interested in buying. As mentioned earlier check for the hallmark. You will find the maker's name somewhere. Even the place and manufacturing date are also mentioned. From the date, you can easily make out whether the item is a genuine antique or not. But a replica might miss all these details.

Check out the stones used, if they look a little discoloured, they for sure are real but if they look perfect with no inconsistencies, they might be machine cut. In that case, it is not a unique piece rather mass-produced.