Terms like vintage, estate, or antique are quite common in the world of jewelry. Yet, people still become confused about their meanings. But now you don’t need to worry. We are here to clear all your doubts regarding vintage vs antique vs estate jewelry. Keep reading to satisfy your intellect.
Vintage vs Antique vs Estate Jewelry
People use the terms like vintage, antique, or estate jewelry interchangeably. But let us tell you that there are a few differences between all of them. And it is important to know these differences if you are planning to sell your antique-style jewelry or old vintage jewelry. It will help you understand everything whenever you speak to professional jewelers.
Let’s get into the details of each one of them.

What is Vintage Jewelry?
Vintage jewelry is also called second-hand jewelry. These are timepieces between 50-100 years old. You must have seen the pieces from the retro era, Hollywood era, and dramatic jewelry. Such accessories come under vintage pieces. Old vintage jewelry mixes well with modern clothing styles. You can definitely consider wearing them at the events. Moreover, such accessories do not break easily. You can look ravishing with vintage jewelry designs that are enough to add an extra flair to your dress
What is Antique Jewelry?
Antique pieces are the ones that are more than 100 years old. Due to their age mark, they are invaluable pieces whose value increases over time. These are second-hand jewelry derived from the Gregorian era, Victorian era, or Edwardian era. Talking about it, these are the pieces that came into this world before 1922. High-quality materials are used for creating antique gold jewelry or antique jewelry as compared to the materials used in modern accessories. Some people refrain from wearing such pieces due to their extreme value. Thus, there is no denying that selling them can fetch you a good amount of money.

What is Estate Jewelry?
The estate jewelry is somewhat different from the 2 mentioned. It is simply a piece that comes from a previous owner. It could be a six-week-old piece or a 100-year-old piece if it has a previous owner. However, experts limit the usage of the term “estate jewelry” and consider such pieces should be more than 30-50 years old. There is a common misconception associated with estate jewelry. People have the notion that these are the pieces of someone who has died, but it is not necessarily to be true. The owner might be alive too.
How much is my vintage Jewelry worth?
The age and the material used in the jewelry determine the worth of your old vintage jewelry. For instance – the jewelry pieces designed in the 1910s will be more valuable than that designed in the 1970s.
How much is my antique Jewelry worth?
The factors affecting antique jewelry are – time period, condition, and type. Moreover, you can find the true worth of your jewelry pieces with the help of antique jewelry experts. What’s more? DJP Diamonds is proud to provide reliable jewelry appraisal services to its customers. We use professional tools to measure the worth of your valuable possessions and give you the amount you deserve. No wonder, we are the premier jewelry buyers in Houston where you can sell every kind of jewelry and also get them appraised.

Know from a Jewelry Expert
Selling old, estate, vintage, or antique jewelry is not an easy task as many of you have your emotions associated with such pieces. But, knowing the story related to such pieces can even bring you closer to the people who belong to such jewelry. And knowing their value will make you take better care of the items. Furthermore, selling them becomes easy if you know the difference between such jewelry pieces. It is advisable to take assistance from jewelry experts to know the real value of your timeless possessions. It has become easy with DJP Diamonds to sell you old jewelry items or get their appraisal from our experienced technicians.
Browse our website and schedule an appointment for further details. We would be more than happy to help you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What classifies jewelry as vintage?
Vintage jewelry has a broad definition in the fashion kingdom. Pieces that are 50-100 years old come under the category of vintage jewelry.
How can you tell if the jewelry is antique?
Antique jewelry is defined as pieces that are 100 or more years old. So the jewelry pieces made in 1922 or before that can be recognized as antique jewelry pieces.
What is special about antique jewelry?
Antique jewelry holds an outstanding value and it is like an investment. So, if you are looking for monetary gains, you can definitely consider selling your antique jewelry as an option.
What is the difference between antique and normal gold?
Jewelers use different ratios to make gold. And this ratio is responsible to change the composition and hue of the gold metal. You can recognize the difference between the two once you visit a professional jeweler. Antique gold is warmer than normal gold and comes in different types like – gold-filled antiques, rolled gold antiques, or gold-plated antiques.