A treasure in the drawer
It is well known that ancient jewels hold immense value. But have we ever wondered how much a jewel from bygone times can truly be worth? Let’s find out together if we too have a treasure tucked away in a drawer!
Jewels at auction
According to the British auction house Bonhams, vintage jewels have appreciated more than any other asset. No matter the house: a quality trinket has gained more than 80% over its auction value in the last decade. A true record, considering that houses have only risen by 47% in Great Britain (and have fallen in many other countries, including Italy!).
Which eras
It is important to clarify, however, that the jewels with such value on the auction market are the ancient ones, especially those dating back to the Belle Époque (1890-1915) or the Art Deco (1920-1930) periods. The classic family jewels, in short, that might have belonged to our grandmothers and great-grandmothers.
The makers
The increase in value in jewels applies only to quality pieces, especially from houses like Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, which are the most prized. That said, even jewels from lesser-known or artisanal houses, if resold, have a good market value.
An example
A slip-up worth 83,188 dollars, experienced by an English lady. The elderly woman resold a necklace she believed to be costume jewellery, which Bonhams valued at auction: the necklace turned out to be a rare example from Chanel, designed by Coco Chanel herself and bearing a small engraving with the designer’s name. A true treasure mistaken for trinkets!
The most important value
We have spoken of economic value and money: it is important to know how much our belongings might fetch on the market, certainly. But we must also and above all remember the emotional and personal value of the jewels we own and that our ancestors have left us. Perhaps bought with sacrifice, the jewels of our grandmothers are an important witness to a bygone age, full of charm and memories. So, let us always think carefully before putting our treasures up for sale!
We will meet here again very soon, with many more curiosities!
