Vintage vs. Antique vs. Retro
Jewelers who deal in the resale of older heirloom and estate jewelry tend to be well-versed in the language used to describe these items. With newly made jewelry, terms like vintage-style, antique-style, and retro-style all describe different design aesthetics, often inspired by past eras. However, they each have distinct meanings and characteristics.
Vintage-Style Jewelry
- Vintage-style refers to newly made jewelry that mimics the look of actual vintage pieces, typically 20 to 100 years old.
- Common influences include Art Deco (1920s-1930s), Mid-Century Modern (1950s-1960s), or the tail-end of the Art Nouveau era (1890s to 1910).
- Designs often feature intricate metalwork, milgrain detailing, filigree, and romantic motifs like floral or geometric patterns.
- Materials may include modern stones and metals, but are crafted to resemble older techniques.
- Vintage-style is commonly used to describe graceful engagement rings with floral or ornate decorative design elements.
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Antique-Style Jewelry
- Antique-style jewelry is inspired by designs that are more than 100 years old.
- Unlike true antique jewelry (hand-made or commercially manufactured in past centuries), antique-style pieces are newly made but follow the craftsmanship and aesthetic of historical periods like Georgian (1700s), Victorian (1800s), or Edwardian (early 1900s).
- Key features include hand engraving, ornate metalwork, old-cut diamonds (like rose cuts or mine cuts), and an overall aged appearance.
- Many antique-style pieces use oxidized or patina-finished metals to give them an authentic aged look.
- Consumers may confuse the terms antiqued with antiquities. Antiquities refer to genuine artifacts from 'antiquity' — which can mean any period before the European Middle Ages (5th to 15th centuries), but still within the history of Western civilization.
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Retro-Style Jewelry
- Retro-style refers to items or fashions that were popular in more recent decades, often evoking nostalgia for our own childhood or youth. Think #throwbackthursday…
- Retro jewelry is often characterized by large, sculptural gold settings, oversized gemstones, and a mix of rose, yellow, and white gold in one piece.
- Popular motifs include bows, ribbons, fans, as well as highly polished, chunky metalwork.
- Many retro pieces are inspired by Pop Art, pop culture or counterculture. Think mood rings and boho-chic.
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Vintage, Antique, and Retro Style jewelry are commonly searched terms. When discussing or marketing these styles, put the emphasis on style! It’s always good to clarify whether a piece is truly vintage or antique or simply inspired by those eras, and using the terminology correctly is a testament to expertise and credibility.
