Jewellery has been around for as long as we have and like many fashions the type, style and materials used to make jewellery has changed along with social and cultural advances. Antique jewellery is typically any item of jewellery that was manufactured during six main time periods dating back as far as the Georgian times. The six main eras include Georgian, Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Edwardian and Art Deco.
Over the next few weeks we will look at each of these eras in more detail alongside the ways in which online jewellery auctions play a role in the popularity and collectability of antique jewellery, starting with the Georgian era.
In today’s market genuine Georgian jewellery is incredibly rare therefore highly desirable and collectable and can command very high prices when sold at auction. Dating back as far as 1714, jewellery made in this time period was hand made and highly detailed with nature forming its main inspiration.
The birds, flowers and leaves that are common with Georgian antique jewellery were encrusted with gems and precious stones and were considered more important than the metal used to form the jewellery. These days unique hand made Georgian pieces can be hard to find and many specialist pieces remain with collectors who have spent a great deal of time and money restoring and caring for antique jewellery.
One of the main attractions of antique jewellery and in particular Georgian jewellery is that many pieces are unique and handmade making them perfect pieces for special occasions but also making pieces extremely expensive. Over recent years antique jewellery has become more available through online auction sites and specialist jewellery auctions.
