While brand new jewelry is certainly a joy, after a while it can seem that it all looks alike. If you long for a different look, why not explore the possibilities of antique and vintage jewelry? Everything from Victorian brooches to art deco pins from the thirties are available. Here are a few places to look for stunning antique jewelry. Happy hunting.
Antique Shops
Antique shops frequently carry beautiful and high quality antique and vintage jewelry. This is where you'll frequently find good quality pieces, but prices tend to be on the high side.
Antique Malls
Antique malls are like dozens of antique shops in one. Vendors rent booths and set them up with their wares, everything from old fishing lures to embroidered tea towels to antique jewelry. Browse around and locate the booths with jewelry, or ask at the counter. Pricing frequently varies from vendor to vendor, so make sure to compare and see who's offering the best deals.
Antique Auctions
See if there's an antique auction house in your area, and keep an eye out for when jewelry goes on the block. You get the fun of experiencing an auction, and you can get good deals on jewelry as well.
Garage Sales and Resale Shops
When people don't want their stuff they, throw a garage sale or box it up and take it down to the Goodwill or Salvation Army store. The down side of this is that they're not as selective as the antiques places, so you'll have to sift through tons of junk to find the good stuff. The up side is the prices can be obscenely low.
Online
There's plenty of vintage and antique jewelry to be had online. Try your luck on eBay, or search for reputable web sites dealing in antique jewelry. If there's a particular style or piece you're after, this is most likely the fastest way to find it.
Grandma's Jewelry Box
My Grandma's jewelry box is one of my favorite sources of vintage jewelry. The woman doesn't throw any jewelry away, even if she hasn't worn it in three decades. And she's always more than willing to donate it to me, since nobody else in the family is interested in it. Their loss, there's some incredible stuff in there. If your Grandma isn't a jewelry buff, try an aunt, your mother, your mother-in-law. They may be surprised and pleased to see that you like it, and willing to part with it, particularly if it's costume jewelry.