Antique, vintage, or second-hand jewelry? A guide to avoid getting lost in the terms.

When someone searches for jewelry online, they encounter a range of words: antique, vintage, pre-owned, retro, jewels, collectibles… They all sound familiar, but they don't mean the same thing. Knowing how to differentiate them not only helps you buy with discernment, but also allows you to better understand the value of each piece.

Contemporary jewelry: the latest trends

These are jewelry pieces designed and manufactured within the last 20 years. They represent recent production, sometimes by independent designers and sometimes by major brands. They may be new or pre-owned, but always current in style and techniques.
If you're looking for high-quality pieces, attention to materials, or craftsmanship, you should know that these requirements aren't always met in contemporary jewelry.

Second-hand jewelry: with a previous life

What matters here isn't the age, but the use. A second-hand piece of jewelry could be a ring from two years ago or a necklace from 80 years ago. The key is that it has belonged to someone before.

Pre-owned jewelry: the trade term

In the jewelry industry, this term refers to secondhand pieces sold at prices lower than the original. It could be a contemporary ring or an antique brooch; what defines this term is the opportunity to buy.

Retro: New design, past inspiration

A retro jewel doesn't have to be antique. They are recent pieces that reproduce styles from previous decades, like a necklace made today with a 70s feel.
Although many people confuse the term with vintage, it is not the same: retro is a recreation, vintage is authentic due to its age.

Vintage: between 20 and 100 years of history

The most commonly used term in online jewelry. A piece is considered vintage when it is at least two decades old, but not yet a century old. Earrings from the 1950s, necklaces from the 1980s, or rings from the 1990s fall into this category.
There is some confusion: it is often said that “vintage” only covers pieces that are 20–30 years old, but in professional use it extends up to 100 years. Although it is often used incorrectly, this is the most widely accepted definition.

Ancient: more than a century

Here we're talking about genuine antiques: jewelry over 100 years old, such as Victorian brooches, Art Nouveau pieces, or rings from the early 20th century. Their value lies in their history, rarity, and craftsmanship.
It's a dynamic term: every year, items that were vintage become antiques. What's considered vintage today as a necklace from the '80s will be an antique in 2080.

Vintage jewelry: style and context

This term doesn't always depend on age, but rather on the artistic movement and historical period in which they are situated. We speak of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, or 1950s pieces because they represent a recognizable aesthetic and a specific cultural context.

Jewelry: the classic word

A traditional term that was used to refer to jewelry in general. Today it is obsolete, but it still appears in literary texts or in long-established businesses.

Costume jewelry: non-precious materials

It includes pieces made of common metals, glass, resin, or plastics, instead of precious materials such as gold, silver, platinum, or gemstones.
Some may be vintage or even antique, such as the Art Deco jewelry from the 1930s, highly valued in collecting.

Collectible jewelry: rarity and signature

Age is not always what determines value. A piece of jewelry can be considered a collector's item because of its design, because it belongs to a limited edition, because it bears the signature of a renowned brand, or simply because of its rarity.

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Conclusion

Distinguishing between antique, vintage, retro, or pre-owned jewelry is more than just a play on words. It's the key to understanding the origin, value, and history of each piece. The next time you're looking for jewelry online, you'll know what you're reading really means.