Antique Necklaces & Pendants

First, look for a hallmark. Hallmarks are used to distinguish the level of purity within the metal used in jewellery, as well as to indicate when and where the piece was produced. Chances are you won’t find one as they are rae in antique jewellery, but this is the best place to start. (Check out our guide on hallmarks and how to read them to find out more.)

Then, analyse the cute of the gemstone, the purity of the gold, the style, the chain, the closure. To assess the age of a piece, you must be a detective. These are your clues.

Jewellery between 20 and 100 years old (for example: mid-century jewellery, late Art Deco jewellery) is considered vintage, while pieces which are over 100 years old (for example: Victorian jewellery, Georgian jewellery) are categorised as antique.

The best way to clean your antique necklace will depend on the metal and gemstones used, so take a check out our guide to cleaning antique jewellery to select the appropriate method.

You could also have your jewellery inspected and cleaned by a professional jeweller.

Necklaces can and do feature every gemstone going. We offer a wide range of antique gemstone jewellery here at Gatsby Jewellery, featuring vintage ruby jewellery, vintage sapphire jewellery, vintage emerald jewellery, vintage diamond jewellery and more.

The advantages of buying antique and vintage necklaces rather than mass-produced include increased quality of craftsmanship, sustainability, and the knowledge that each antique necklace has its own unique and intriguing history to it.

For a deeper look at these reasons, take a look at our guide to the benefits of buying pre-loved jewellery.

Antique jewellery is handmade and displays a quality of craftsmanship not seen in modern mass-produced jewellery. Purchasing antique or vintage jewellery also means you won’t encounter another person with the same piece as you, making your jewellery collection that little bit more unique.

Birthstones are gemstones representing the month of the year that we are each born, with a different gemstone assigned to every month. For example, sapphire represents September, while emerald is the birthstone for May. A birthstone necklace is a necklace featuring the wearer’s own birthstone, making birthstone necklaces a very popular gift.