Vintage Jewelry: beauty that transcends time

Jewellery as personal heritage

Jewellery are the most personal objects people create and wear. They mark moments — an engagement, a birthday, an inheritance — and carry the energy of those who wore them before you. Vintage jewellery are therefore more than accessories: they are small monuments of human life.

Europe: from Victorian to Art Deco

The European jewellery tradition is rich and varied. In the Victorian era (1837–1901), jewellery was heavy, symbolic and often made of gold, garnet, coral or hair of loved ones. Mourning jewellery, cameos and lockets tell stories of love and loss.

The Belle Époque and Art Nouveau around 1900 brought a revolution: organic forms, inspired by nature and femininity. Dragonflies, flowers and flowing lines in enamel and semi-precious stones. This was followed by Art Deco — geometric, sleek and glamorous — with diamonds, onyx and platinum as favourite materials. An Art Deco brooch or bracelet is timelessly elegant.

The Netherlands: Silver tradition

The Netherlands has a special silversmithing tradition. Zeeland buttons, Volendam ear irons and Frisian jewellery are iconic examples of regional jewellery art passed down for centuries. Antique Dutch silver — with its hallmark and maker's mark — is both beautiful and historically valuable.

Asian gold and gemstones

In India, Thailand and the Middle East, jewellery art has another dimension. Indian gold jewellery is often heavy, colourful and set with rubies, emeralds and sapphires — made for ceremonies and as a sign of prosperity. Thai niello silver, Turkish filigree and Arabian gold bracelets bear witness to a refined craft that is centuries old.

Costume and fashion jewellery

Not all vintage jewellery is made of precious metals. Costume and fashion jewellery — made of gilded metal, glass, bakelite or plastic — have their own charm and collector's value. Brands like Miriam Haskell, Trifari and Chanel made fashion jewellery in the 20th century that are now sought after by collectors worldwide. A bakelite brooch from the 1940s or a gilded Trifari necklace are pieces with personality.

Gemstones and their stories

Every gemstone in a vintage piece of jewellery has made its own journey. Amber from the Baltic Sea, coral from the Mediterranean Sea, turquoise from Persia or lapis lazuli from Afghanistan — the origin of a stone adds an extra layer of meaning to each piece of jewellery.

Vintage jewellery at 2nd Hand Bargain

At 2nd Hand Bargain you will find carefully selected vintage jewellery — from antique silver and gold to charming fashion jewellery. Each piece is unique and carries a history. Wear something that has already lived a life, and make it part of your story.