Old and antique jewelry is selling in modern ways at some well-known London showrooms. The pieces are presented like art in an environment that suggests personal attention and discreet transactions. Vintage Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, pieces by designers like Suzanne Belperron, and other signed 20th-century designer jewelry is popular. Rare antique jewelry with great provenance and precious stones also sells well. A London dealer quoted in the Financial Times said: "It's easier to sell something for 500,000 British pounds ($839,000) than for 5,000 pounds ($8,397). People are looking for bigger and better." Prices include a 1780 paste moth brooch for $25,000, and a 1922 bold turquoise, onyx, and diamond brooch by French jeweler Fouquet for about $240,000. Similar great pieces in the United States, at least in the Midwest, sell for much less. We commented in our newsletter, "Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles," about some pricey artist jewelry sold at the December 2013 Design Miami show. We predicted rising prices in the United States for modern designer jewelry. Now we are suggesting you buy great antique jewelry soon because it, too, will be selling for higher prices.
Photo credit: Jewels du Jour
I have spider! It is like a ittybitty jewelerybox? yes? It is however slightly damaged; bottom edge of one of spiders legs broken off:( I however thought it was pretty but I HATE SPIDERS..I would give it away.I will have to look for it possibly contact you.
In the 1960’s, I was given a lot of neat costume jewelry from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Maybe older. I lost one of my favorite pieces, a gaudy pot metal spider covered in multicolored rhinestones. I’ve been searching for a replacement ever since only to discover spiders, bugs, & snakes were desired during the Edwardian period and, whew! are they expensive! A ton of reproductions out there, too. Having a terrible time finding ANYTHING reasonable. Buy it while you can!
My family thought I was crazy when I started buying up vintage/antique jewelry a few years back. I saw the trend coming and I have followed it on eBay and other sites, it is happening now. Thanks for the article.
Article was very interesting, will heirloom pieces be more valuable. I am assuming if they are unusual and of good quality they will. Rose cut diamonds, white gold, fire opals, items I think of as unusual.
Any other thoughts?
So the USA markets are behind and not there with the selling prices, why?