Jewelry is considered in many respects to be a valuable commodity, an art form, even a means of expression. Sylvia’s is a resource for antique jewelry buyers, collectors, aficionados, and sellers. We primarily offer article resources and shopping recommendations.

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The oldest articles of jewelry date back thousands of years ago when mankind first started to create adornments. But most of the items circulated among collectors today date back to within the past three hundred years or so.

There are a few distinct periods which form widely recognized classifications for commonly traded vintage jewelry.

Georgian (1714-1837)
Early Victorian (1837-1855)
Mid Victorian (1856-1880)
Late Victorian (1885-1900)
Arts and Crafts (1894-1923)
Art Nouveau (1895-1915)
Edwardian (1901-1915)
Art Deco (1915-1935)
Retro (1945-1960)

Vintage jewelry frequently has substantial value due to the combination of precious diamonds and stones, precious metals, degree of rareness, age, period, and features. Values fall within the range of near nothing to several hundred thousand dollars, in exceptional cases, even millions. The vast majority of pieces are valued at under $5000.

Sometimes there may be uncertainty about the accurate value. Conveniently, for those seeking a means of valuating a vintage jewelry item(s) there are books available which provide established appraisal guidelines. Additionally, many experts and antique jewelry brokers offer services which can provide insight and valuation.