Tips for collecting ancient jewellery
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The Charm of Ancient and Antique jewellery is everlasting. Demand for it is as strong now as it’s ever been. Along with being hundreds of years old,hand made, one of a kind pieces of true beauty, they also tend to come at very reasonable prices that make it easier for collectors to get started and grow a collection. Gathered here is everything you need to know if you would like to get into collecting antiquejewellery.
● Are you going to wear it?
Before spending money on these items, this is the first question you need to ask yourself. If you are planning to wear it religiously and more regularly, then you have to be careful and cautious about buying them. Most ancient jewelleryare much softer then today’s pieces, and require a delicate knowledge of how to handle them correctly. Look for hinges, and stone settings, as these would be the first to break or come apart. Fixing ancient jewellery can be quite costly, as it requires a goldsmith with expertise.
How to overcome the fear of being priced out
It is a common notion that ancient jewellery is overpriced. However, there is a way you could buy them at wallet-friendly prices. Lot’s of auction houses, including Harrington’s Auctioneers provide a steady stream of ancient jewellery to the public. Most of the pieces sold at auctions are very reasonably priced. Althoughsome spendhuge amounts to buy their object of effection that they “must have”, it is still possible to be a prudent buyer and get your money’s worth by looking at comparable sales from previous auctions and bidding wisely.
Old but fashionable
Most collectors gather these antique items because they are old and give a vintage look. However many old items are sold which even though being hundreds of years old, still look vibrant and modern. They have bold colours with conspicuous looks making them desirable for everyone.
● Change you should make depending on the material
Every civilization and culture, like today, always valued gold and silver. They were highly-priced even in older days. However, here is another thing to consider; in older days the gold used in jewellery was extremely pure, almost 24-carats. The purest gold is very soft; it is extremely difficult to resize it further. For this purpose, few impurities are added or it is mixed with a little of the modern gold. This makes the gold soft or less rigid, and it can be moulded in your desired size.
● The symbols
Many ancient pieces of jewellery show off some symbols. These symbols have a very strong historic background and deep meaning. When you buy an ancient item, look for an engraved symbol. These symbols could be animals, portraits, or any ancient gods. The most popular symbols used are Mercury, god Jupiter Ammon, goddess Athena and Greek hero Hercules.
● Ask for origin and background
Knowing the origin of the ancient item you are buying makes it all the more interesting. Because every piece carries a story behind it; about the civilization of its time, the prevalent traditions, their gods, and many more.
● Original Vs. fake
Selling antiques has become such a large business all over the world. So many people are interested in these items and ready to spend of dollars for their collection. This has also paved the way for many to try to sell items that are reproduced, fakes, or simply an antique inspired piece, misrepresenting the age, and thus cheating customers. Many have also adapted to create almost perfect copies of ancient items with different styles. But there are ways to know if the items are ancient or fake. A good dealer or auctioneer will be able to guide you to understand the ways to spot fakes. You need to have full knowledge of different styles used back in the days and the ways used now.
Starting an antique jewellery collection can be fun and rewarding. With a little research and lot of passion, a jewellery collection can be an investment that pays off by not only growing in value, but also by giving the collector a sense of joy and beauty of history.
