My Affordable Antique/Vintage Jewellery Tour [Mostly Under £20 (~$28)]

Around a month ago, I released a historical fashion wardrobe tour, where I showed my day-to-day historical replica, historically-inspired, and historybounding ensembles. One aspect of my daily historical fashion that I did not cover was jewellery.

In this video, we explore my antique and vintage jewellery collection. This video serves as a means to not only quench any curiosity but also to show others that it does not have to cost an arm and a leg to curate an antique jewellery collection. Most of the items in this collection cost less than £20 (around $28) and some are even as affordable as £5 or lower. The key to curating an affordable antique jewellery collection is to be diligent with searching through online (or physical) auctions, as well as becoming clear on what exactly you might be looking for, as there is often a mass amount of real gems waiting to be found.

Antique jewellery IS affordable, we just have to keep an eye out for the deals.

Next Thursday I’ll finally be releasing a video about a project I have been meticulously working on for the past 2-3 months. I am very excited to share it with all of you and am looking forward to releasing next week’s content.

Thank you so much for watching.

Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:40 How This Video Is Structured
1:56 The Buckles
4:00 The Brooches
8:59 Miscellaneous
14:13 Final Words

Music sourced from Epidemic Sound.

Image Sources:
1820s Belt:
1830s Belt:
1860s Belt:
1890s Belt:
700 AD Brooch:
Early 18th Century Brooch:
1844 Brooch:
1860s Brooch:
1870-75 Jet Hairpin:
1880s Jet Black Earrings:
1870s Choker:
Woman with Choker 1870:
Jewelled Choker:
Chatelaine with Useful Appendages:
Chatelaine:
1860 Chatelaine:
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Late 19th Century Gilt Chatelaine:

[VBirchwood]

Thank you for watching everyone! Be sure to stay tuned for next week's very special video. (P.S Subtitles are now available.)

[maureenfitzgerald]

The ring has far more value that you might guess, the MOP bird pin is a bird of paradise. Your collection is absolutely incredible. Well done!

[CopenhagenDreaming]

I like that you emphasize that collecting antique and vintage jewellery doesn't have to be expensive. And perhaps unlike historical clothing, old jewellery can perhaps be more easy for most people to fit into a contemporary style, so it's in many ways a more accessible hobby.

Also, an interesting little collection you have. I do like to look at pretty things...

[nataliestanchevski]

My heritage is eastern European and buying or being gifted with gold coins or jewelry for celebrations and milestones is very familiar to me! None of my pieces are antique but are still very precious to me since they are from my grandmother and mother. You have a lovely collection!

[katherinemorelle]

That ring! Wow! And here I was, thinking I’m not a big fan of larger rings. I was wrong. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for a ring similar to that, because it truly is gorgeous. And how wonderful that you’re able to hold such precious memories with it.

As I’m in Australia, finding true vintage and antique jewellery is much more difficult than it would be in Europe or the US. We do have antique stores, but they mark up their prices quite a bit. So I’ve found the easiest way to find antique jewellery is on Etsy. It just means I need to be willing to pay the truly ridiculous shipping costs to the bottom of the world. Often, the shipping will cost more than the actual piece. $25 for a small package containing jewellery is pretty common. But- it’s worth it.

That being said, I’m also more than happy to wear reproductions. It doesn’t have to be “real” for me to love it. It’s more about the look or the vibe. And it is easier to find (cheap) reproductions. As I would rather spend my money on fabric and dressmaking books, I tend to go more for cheap replicas than the real thing which is always more expensive due to needing to ship it from overseas, or pay the exorbitant markup at antique stores.

[gloriahanes]

3:54 ....The three holes were to sew each buckle to a cloth belt securing the buckle, one for the left side and one for the right. Cloth belts were popular well into the 1930's though I believe this to be Victorian. Cameos from Italy were made until 1948 and were still quite popular until the early 1950's when they fell out of style.

[maureenfitzgerald]

I love that you had your prescription put into that antique frames. I shall do the same!

[susanstage]

I am a jewelry lover. Your pearls are fresh water pearls, still very pretty. Love your collection. I collect certain pieces myself, there is a secret joy of ownership involved. Precious pieces, thank you for sharing!

[LiljaHusmo]

what a lovely collection! I especially love the glasses, and it's amazing that you managed to get lenses in them! The chatelain is stunning as well!

[dollknight]

You're random jewelry catagory is gorgeous I love the hair clip and ring.
Being a jewelry collector and enthusiast I can say the stone in you're ring is probably an amethyst and you can find the karat of gold you're ring is by a stamp in the inside of the ring.

[reginaromsey]

Your delightful cameo broach with the spirited lady with the hat I’d love to own is probably not carved shell. She’ll cameos are made with an open back so that the light can show through like a window. This was a way to prove that it was actually two layers of shell. It is lovely and I have one like it for that reason! Of course the resin and poured pins were less expensive so no woman need be without for her wardrobe!

[gloriahanes]

I have been fascinated with the Victorian era since I was five years old, and I have never swayed from my love for all things Victorian. Furniture seems to be my weakness, and I have a passion for unique pieces especially dark walnut which is my favorite. I subscribed to your channel as you are an excellent speaker and your true love for all things Victorian is quite evident.

[rachelann]

My husband runs an Auction House. The amount of vintage and antique jewelry that comes in is very very tempting every single time! He had a few auctions a couple of months ago that was STRICTLY antique and vintage (up to the 1950s) with most of it being Edwardian or older. I ended up with a third of one of the auctions! I just couldn’t help myself. I have a particularly strong weakness for Art Nouveau pieces. I rarely dress up, and I am certainly not one to wear brooches, but man did I get quite a few! Honestly, I rarely ware jewelry to begin with. Its a good thing I missed his first one of those auctions completely! I’m still trying to figure out how I can wear the clip on earrings when I have very sensitive ears (they turn BRIGHT red and turn very itchy.) I’m hoping to either cover it up, or figure out a way to add a post or hook that won’t ruin the integrity of the pieces. I would definitely get far more use of the earrings than the other pieces if i could figure out how to wear them safely.

I ended up with a beaded choker that looks much like the necklace you shared! It needs some good cleaning up, but it does show a ton of promise. Most of the pieces ended up being 25 or under each, though I did sneak in a $45 bid for a art nouveau style set of earrings and a matching necklace.

If only he came across antique clothing! Its usually more vintage. The only antique clothing we’ve found is military outfits, stole/fur coat or hats, and a particularly massive ensemble that mustve been a wedding dress (though that could’ve been at the edge of vintage.)

In our house, we do have a few antique pieces of furniture—its hit and miss for them selling. In our Dining room we have a pump organ that I was able to date to 1898.. I think he paid like $25 for it, and a few other random pieces throughout the house. I wish it all was, but man would that be a HEAVY move! Those pieces are not light to move around.

[c.s.]

The Victorian style was revisited in the 1970s and there were lots of Victorian-style jewelry and accessories in the 90s as well. Lovely pieces and I enjoyed the story of your grandmother and Russian heritage.

[Becky_Theroux_Gockel]

Your collection is absolutely wonderful!! Something to treasure for a lifetime. I have a marcasite collection because I was told that Queen Victoria wore it. It is at a price level that I can afford or that family members can afford to get for me as a gift. I have always wanted a Chatelain, so far what I have found is way too expensive.

[justcurious]

one extra tip, if you want to know if it is old, then the needle/pin is longer then the broch, so C calsp T part en longer needle. Becasue the fabric of the clothes were thicker then now a days
Good luck and remember longer pin or
needle

[zoesmith]

Great video, I have a lot of similar pieces and wasn’t sure of the ages but I can use your tips to work them out now. Coincidentally I have the exact same bracelet which I thought was maybe 1980’s or 90’s. I love collecting old jewellery from charity shops as it’s so affordable. 😃

[nataliesaunders]

Wow, you have some really beautiful pieces!

[CharlotteIssyvoo]

3:22 That's guilloche, a type of metal working and enameling that I absolutely love. You got an amazing deal on this!

[kb]

Very, very nice! I especially love you had the glasses set with your Rx. That is dedication!