Vintage Jewelry Watches Buyer’s Guide

Vintage jewelry watches are a collectible with a purpose. More often than not, these watches are in working condition and they make amazing conversation starters as well as serving as a subtle yet perceptible hint that the wearer has exquisite taste and does not buy “off the rack.”

Say what you mean and mean what you say
For the beginner in need of a vintage jewelry watches buyer’s guide, terminology is the key to finding the kind of watches desired without missing a great find due to a lack of clarity in communication.

Vintage jewelry watches are sometimes referred to as estate watches. If you were to enter an antique mall looking for watches, the odds are good that you will be directed to the estate jewelry section. Do not be thrown off by this moniker!

Additionally, know the period you are looking for. Victorian jewelry is perhaps the most commonly sought after commodity, and since it spans from about 1837 to 1900, the odds of finding pieces are very good. Edwardian watches, on the other hand, are confined to a nine year period dating from 1901 to 1910 and thus make for a more challenging period to find.

Where to look for classic time pieces
No collection of vintage jewelry watches is complete without the addition of at least one pocket watch. When it comes to pocket watches, the Antique Jewelry Exchange website is your first point of contact. With the inventory changing frequently and the site run by bona fide jewelers who know what they are talking about, even newbies can visit and shop with confidence. Those who would like to visit in person will need to travel to 4854 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Arizona 85712. Call ahead to 520-881-6525 for store hours. Pricing is low to moderate.

Lang Antique & Estate Jewelry is your address for a plethora of both ladies’ and gents’ watches, but this is one of the few venues where you can find Edwardian, Victorian, and Art Deco side by side. This is another great site for the beginner since you are not only treated to the finest vintage jewelry watches but by following a link that takes you to Antique Jewelry University, the site also provides an introduction to the various periods which makes collecting a much easier experience. To visit them in person come to 323 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California 94108. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Pricing is high to moderate.

For vintage jewelry watches but also accessories, such as watch fobs and keys, visit Janeliunas Jewelry. This is a site to peruse for the advanced beginner who can differentiate an early Victorian from a Romantic Victorian without the help of a guidebook. A member of the Estate Jewelers Association, this is an online store only and thus it is vital you understand the return policy (seven days, no more) and agree to abide by it. Pricing is moderate.

Sources:
http://www.antiquejewelryexch.com/Departments/Pocket-Watches.aspx
http://www.langantiques.com/content/search_w.php
http://www.jansjewells.com/vintage/vintwatch.htm#bands

Do not stop here! Read more of Sylvia Cochran‘s antiques and jewelry articles.
Tiffany & Co. Silver Jewelry Cleaning and Polishing Tips
Where to Go for Antique Radio Repair Parts and Clever Reproductions
The What, How, and Where of Antique Tools Collecting
De Beers Diamond Lawsuit Could Entitle You to Substantial Refunds

Reference:

• www.antiquejewelryexch.com/Departments/Pocket-Watches.aspx