When purchasing antique jewellery, you have to make sure that your pockets are ready. You will have to spend a significant amount to acquire such a valuable piece. Because of the hype that antique pieces can be expensive, there are many people who try to reproduce it and later sell replica pieces.


Since replicas almost look the same as real antique jewellery, it can be difficult to determine what is real and what is not. Before you purchase from a dealer selling antique jewellery, here are some tips:


Check its quality.

Most replica jewellery are created through castings. It has been moulded from an original piece. When the cast is ready, the jeweller will do finishing touches to the jewellery to ensure that it looks the same as the original. Even if they properly "clean" it, you will still see certain issues with it. You will notice that it's too perfect to be handmade considering that antique pieces weren't made with the help of advanced technology.


Check the metal.

The metals used in making antique jewellery are not as varied as the metals used in modern jewellery. There are metals that weren't used until a certain period. For example, during Victorian era, no jewellery were made from platinum or white gold. These metals weren't available during that time.


Check the cut of the gemstone.

The cut of diamonds or gemstones during the ancient times are not similar to the cut you see in modern times. For example, an old brilliant cut will have a higher crown and smaller table. If you see that the diamond has a lower crown and a large table, then it's probably a modern brilliant cut.


Check the setting.

In different periods, the settings of the jewellery changes. For example, during the Georgian period, gemstones are encircled by the metal and looked like it has been pressed down in it. During the Art Deco period, bezel and grain settings became popular.



Consider the points we've discussed to make sure that you can purchase a real antique jewellery and avoid buying reproduced pieces.