gioielli vintage

How much does investing in vintage jewelry make?




According to the British auction house Bonhams, there is a treasure in your drawers: vintage jewelery has appreciated more than any other good ♦
Investing in jewels, provided you keep them for a long time, can be a bargain. The British auction house Bonhams claims it. According to an analysis conducted some time ago by the auction company, vintage jewelry has gained more than 80 percent in value over the past ten years. Yet, most of the owners of these jewels don’t fully realize it. Jewelery from the Art Deco period (1920s and 1930s), as well as pieces dating back to the Belle Epoque (1890-1915), have increased in value by 88 percent over the past decade. And post-war jewelry has gone up 70 percent in value. The auction house also makes the comparison with another capital asset: your own home.

Bracciale in oro e diamanti circa 1925, venduto do Bonhams
Bracciale in oro e diamanti circa 1925, venduto do Bonhams

In Great Britain, for example, average house prices have increased by 47 per cent over the same period considered. And in other countries, such as Italy, in the same period there was even a drop in property prices, even if they are now recovering. Attention: the increase in value of vintage jewels works for quality jewels, certainly not for jewels of unknown brands or uncertain workmanship. Maisons like Cartier or Van Cleef & Arpels, for example, according to Bonhams are a guarantee of value that is preserved over time, even if sometimes the jewels are without labels. Therefore, it is advisable to carefully preserve the inherited jewels, even if they seem out of date. They could be of substantial value, although not all period jewelry is truly valuable.

Bracciale in oro, diamanti, perle coltivate
Bracciale in oro, diamanti, perle coltivate

Jean Ghika, head of the jewelery sector for the United States and Europe of Bonhams, also gave an example: that of an elderly lady who thought she had a useless piece of jewelery in her drawer, but which turned out to be a rare Chanel necklace designed by Coco Chanel herself. The necklace was appraised by Bonhams (who spotted a small engraved Chanel name) and sold for $83,188, based on a pre-sale estimate of $4,858-7,287. You better start looking in your drawers right away: maybe there is a treasure.

Bracciale con ametiste di Suzanne Belperron
Bracciale con ametiste di Suzanne Belperron

If you want to buy a vintage jewel as an investment, however, you must not choose at random. A vintage or period jewel is not necessarily something that is revalued over time. It is necessary to carefully evaluate the quality of the jewel, if it is worn, if it has damaged or worn elements, if it has precious gems. Another factor that greatly influences is the origin, which must be certified. Finally, it must be taken into account that a vintage jewel is more likely to increase its value if it was made by a large Maison, or if it was designed by famous jewelers or designers.

Spilla con diamanti del 1885
Spilla con diamanti del 1885

Much of the purchase of vintage jewelry is done through auctions. Often jewels of great value come up for auction and it is not uncommon for interesting prices to be found. But that’s not always the case. First of all, it is likely that those who trade in jewelry and are experts in the vintage market have already set their sights on the most interesting pieces and are willing to spend more. You also have to consider that the prices established during an auction must be supplemented by the mark-up for the auction house that organized the sale. Taxes must be added, if provided for by local laws, and above all the auction fees which vary but can even reach 25% of the clearing price. An aspect to take into account before buying a vintage jewel at auction.

Collana girocollo in stile vittoriano con diamanti e perle South Sea su argento e oro
Collana girocollo in stile vittoriano con diamanti e perle South Sea su argento e oro Collana girocollo in stile vittoriano con diamanti e perle South Sea su argento e oro
Collana vittoriana in turchese a forma di serpente
Collana vittoriana in turchese a forma di serpente






 

Preview of GemGèneve

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GemGèneve preview in New York: here are the first jewels presented to the media ♦

Countdown to GemGenève, the elite fair which will open on May 9, in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was previewed in New York: a non-random choice, aimed at increasing media interest even overseas.

Collana vittoriana con zaffiri e frange di diamanti
Collana vittoriana con zaffiri e frange di diamanti

GemGèneve is also an opportunity for vintage jewelry lovers. In New York, for example, some pieces were shown at the Geneva event: a Victorian necklace with sapphires and diamond fringes by Gros Diffusion, a double-necked chain with two pendants by the Art Nouveau master , Rene Lalique, dated about 1895, also by Gros Diffusion. Composed of intricate enameled bonds, with a neo-Renaissance flavor, the initials E and M are intertwined on the necklace, and set with amethysts and pearls, the chain, two necklaces, has an aristocratic origin. Originally it belonged to Count Edmond de Pourtales and his wife Melanie de Pourtales.

Pendente con pavé di zaffiri e diamanti di Alexander Laut
Pendente con pavé di zaffiri e diamanti di Alexander Laut

The Art Deco style, and in particular Orientalism, was represented by a magnificent enamelled gold cigarette case, made by the Parisian master of jewelry, Lacloche Frères, around 1925, by the New York retailer, Palais Royal. The scene depicts a Geisha, set in a Japanese landscape, which tells Lacloche’s specialty in creating orientalist-style boxes.

Opera di Lacloche Frères
Opera di Lacloche Frères

Another vintage jewel was shown at the preview by the New York antique jewelry merchant, Pat Saling: a coral beaded sautoir, with a multi-gem center with a lion’s head inspired by the African mask, made by Cartier, London, 1975 for Antonio O. Fernandez, diplomat, businessman and passionate collector. But the preview was even richer: the appointment of GemGèneve promises well, we’ll see.





Collier di René Lalique
Collier di René Lalique

Sautoir con perline di corallo e centro multigemme di Cartier
Sautoir con perline di corallo e centro multigemme di Cartier

Preview a New York: Pat Saling
Preview a New York: Pat Saling

Preview a New York di GemGèeneve
Preview a New York di GemGèeneve

L.J. West Diamonds
L.J. West Diamonds







At the Brafa the Phoenicians with Cartier




The new pieces exhibited at the Brafa 2018, in Brussels from 29 January: from the Phoenician necklace to Cartier ♦ ︎
Do you want to buy a Phoenician necklace in gold with turquoise and amethyst of late sarmatian origin and dated during the first years of the Roman Empire? Or do you prefer a Cartier necklace with enamels, diamonds and amethyst from 1905? Or, again, a contemporary pendant with the shape of a mermaid in gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, moonstone and amethyst? You just have to book a flight to Brussels, where from 29 January starts the Brafa (until February 4).
Read also: Precious Brafa
Since 1956 the Brussels Art Fair (Brafa) is one of the oldest and most prestigious art fairs in the world. The exhibited pieces are of particular value, from antiques to modern and contemporary art, to fine arts and jewels. Among the exhibitors, in fact, there are those who offer unique or vintage pieces, all of particular value. Like a Cartier necklace with enamel, gold, diamonds and amethysts, ending with collectible jewelry like a Phoenician gold necklace dating back to the early Roman empire. An opportunity to make tourism combined with jewels. Lavinia Andorno




ANtiche demi parure di collana e orecchini in crisoberillo e argento. Portogallo, circa 1700
ANtiche demi parure di collana e orecchini in crisoberillo e argento. Portogallo, circa 1700

Da Chamarande, un bracciale in oro, smeraldi, zaffiri, rubini e diamanti. Circa 1890
Da Chamarande, un bracciale in oro, smeraldi, zaffiri, rubini e diamanti. Circa 1890
Collana fenicia in oro, turchesi e ametista
Collana fenicia in oro, turchesi e ametista
Eau Revante Belle Impossible pendant Sylvie Corbelin Bourg en Bresse 1958 design jeweller since 2000 18 carat gold silver diamonds brown diamonds ruby moonstone beetle wings amethyst Unique piece
Galerie Martel-Greiner, Eau Rêvante – Belle Impossible, pendente. Sylvie Corbelin (Bourg-en-Bresse, 1958). Oro 18 carati, argento, diamanti, diamanti brown, rubino, pietra di luna, ali di scarafaggio, ametista. Il Beetlewing è un’antica tecnica artigianale che utilizza ali di scarafaggio iridescenti praticate tradizionalmente in Tailandia
Galerie Montaigne, anello di Cartier in oro bianco con diamanti e zaffiri
Galerie Montaigne, anello di Cartier in oro bianco con diamanti e zaffiri

Galerie Montaigne, collana in oro, smalto, ametiste e diamanti. Cartier, circa 1950
Galerie Montaigne, collana in oro, smalto, ametiste e diamanti. Cartier, circa 1950