Look into the Past and Find a Vintage Bracelet
Whether you are seeking the perfect gift, basking in self-indulgence, hoping to enhance your collection, or simply accessorizing, you will find that there is a vintage bracelet to satisfy your desires. The only problem that you may encounter is making a decision. Vintage bracelets are available from hundreds of vendors displaying their wares anywhere from E-bay to 5th Avenue. A wide variety of materials, styles, designers, and prices, make your selection virtually limitless. Whether you choose a $49 used vintage silver bracelet or a $5000 Cartier 22K gold vintage tennis bracelet, you will find that shopping for vintage bracelets transports you back to the classic eras of the past.
Although the large selection of vintage bracelets available makes it easier for you to find just what you are looking for, it should also make you wary about getting the appropriate value for your purchase price. Particularly if you are shopping online, be sure to read the vendor’s return policy and any feedback offered by previous buyers. Since you will be limited to seeing a photo of the bracelet, the return policy is doubly important should you be dissatisfied with your purchase once you have received the bracelet and are able to try it on.
Buying vintage jewelry can be addicting, and if your casual purchase of a vintage watch bracelet becomes an initiation into the world of serious collecting, you will realize that many dealers use the term “vintage” rather loosely. For example, a vintage diamond bracelet may be advertised as “vintage estate” but would not necessarily have come from an estate. Rather, the term “estate” should refer to the fact that the item was previously owned. Calling an item “vintage” simply means that it comes from a particular historical period, and each of these periods is characterized by its own particular style, not only in jewelry but in art, literature, architecture, and music as well.
Vintage bracelets from the Georgian period (1714-1837) are truly antiques and difficult to acquire because of their rarity. It was an age of respect for the richness of the natural world, and a typical vintage silver bracelet might feature leaves or birds decorated with precious gems. The Victorian era spans the years of Queen Victoria’s reign, 1837 until her death in 1901, but subtle differences can be seen in artistic expression during the early, middle, and late periods of that era. The Early Victorian period retained the Georgian period’s homage to nature but simplified its expression. A vintage gold bracelet from this era might be etched with vines or clumps of grapes. The Mid-Victorian period was marked by the untimely death of the queen’s husband, Prince Albert. A vintage bracelet from this period of mourning would probably display heavy, dark stones such as onyx or jet. By the Late Victorian period at the turn of the century, bracelet designs had become much more ornate, featuring brightly colored gemstones and later, during King Edward’s reign (1901-1915), becoming quite expensive. A vintage diamond bracelet could easily come from this era. Art Deco is the style attributed to the period between the World Wars (1915-1935) and is characterized by geometric designs reflecting the growth of the industrial world. Estate jewelry, which was introduced by Hollywood and features showy bangles and large stones, is currently enjoying great popularity and has come to be synonymous with the Retro period, commonly designated as 1940-1970. A vintage charm bracelet from the 1950’s would typify this period. Besides satisfying your aesthetic appetite, shopping for vintage bracelets can also offer an interesting glimpse into the past.