Where to Find Vintage Jewelry Bargains

There is a huge current trend for vintage bridal jewellery or vintage inspired bridal jewellery. Brides are looking for unique and one-off pieces to accompany their wedding gown. They are also delving deep into grandma's jewellery box to seek out an antique treasure to use as their "something old" or "something borrowed".

Alternatively there are an abundance of fabulous genuine vintage items for sale at internet bridal boutiques ranging from stunning geometric art deco designs to glamorous 1950's diamante pieces. You can't beat 1950s diamante.

Today's diamante pieces just do not compare with the quality, design and workmanship put into vintage diamante necklaces, brooches and the like of yesteryear. You can usually judge the quality of a vintage jewellery item by it's weight. Genuine vintage pieces can be pricey but if they are looked after, they will never lose their value over time and can be passed down generation after generation. Vintage wedding jewellery designs work best with antique lace or simple chiffon gowns. A beautiful elaborate diamante brooch can look stunning placed on a ribbon waist sash or to secure a faux fur stole for your winter wedding theme.

Pearls are also a popular and favourite choice for vintage wedding jewellery. Women of all ages love pearls. They never date and always looks elegant, classy and timeless. If your wedding gown is adorned with tiny pearls then it is a must to carry on this theme with your jewellery. Bridal jewellery designers are always on the lookout for magnificent vintage jewels to transform into statement bridal tiaras, bridal combs and bridal headbands. For instance a beautiful diamante vintage brooch can be customised into creating a unique headband by adding modern gems and pearls to form an exclusive piece for you on your wedding day!

Over the years, I have acquired many pieces of vintage jewellery that has some wear to the enamel. Many of these pieces were relegated to my jewellery box, where I could not bring myself to throw away or wear. It wasn't until I purchased an interesting vintage Christmas brooch that someone had already repainted but in quite a gaudy green, that the idea of re-enameling came to mind. So off I went to the large craft shop in town and edged my way through the men buying small pots of enamel paint for their model soldiers and vehicles.

I now buy my little pots from a local model shop and so far I have been the only woman in there! But do not let this put you off. The enamel pots are not just available in Khaki and army brown but bright gloss colours that are ideal for jewellery. Gather your paints, brushes, kitchen paper and newspaper together first

Then I am looking to see if there is a signature. With familiarity to various signed vintage costume jewellery pieces, I can now identify who the company or manufacturer is at first look for many pieces, without picking it up and looking at the back. So when you have a spare few minutes take a trip through the vintage jewellery websites and look at the photographs and companies.

If there is no signature - the jewellery's construction and the findings used can give valuable clues to dating. But more of that in a later article.