Antique Jewellery: A Sound Investment?

Antique jewellery looks very pretty, yes. But did you ever consider buying it as an investment? With the current world-wide financial market, many people are wondering what their safest investment options are. Recent changes in the world economy created scary investment losses for individuals and business alike. It was a very frightening time as people were worried about how they could conserve their wealth and people are still nervous. Antique jewellery is one form of investment that has been around for thousands of years.

The antique jewellery market is pretty hot right now. Worldwide reports show that there has been a 19% spike in just gold jewellery sales alone and that increase is expected to rise, with most jewellery sales being antiques. Antique jewellery has always been a popular niche market and, with the current economy, more buyers are jumping on the bandwagon. So what's so great about antique jewellery anyway?

Think about it. When you go to the bank and open a investment account, you are at the mercy of the market. One day your shares may be riding high, the next they can crash. Some investments are slow to generate interest and you still run the risk of losing due to inflation. Then you have to deal with bank fees that will take small saps of your capital. With antiques you don't face any of these obstacles. Your jewellery does not decrease in value; instead it is almost guaranteed to increase in time, providing you buy carefully. An investment in antique jewellery is practically recession-proof.

Celebrities are also helping to make antique jewellery trendy. And while antique jewellery doesn't necessarily follow fashion, celebrities start trends. Big names such as Jay Leno, Elton John, and Barbara Streisand are listed by actual auction houses as being antique collectors. When celebrities start buying certain items, those items will become popular and people will began to open their wallets to follow their favourite celebrities. What this means to you, is now you have more buyers in the market.

But hold on - it won't all be plain sailing. First, yes beware of counterfeits. The best way to avoid this problem is to buy solely from established stores. This will guarantee that if you happen to find yourself in a rare situation of having bought a fake piece, they will refund your money.

Another thing to consider is when you are scouting for antique jewellery, think name brand. Jewellery that was made by Kutchinsky, Van Cleef & Arpels, or Cartier for example is going to sell for a much higher price than a piece made by an unknown maker. It would serve you well that before you buy any antique pieces, that you are familiar with the types of pieces, precious metals and gems, and jeweller makers. It is also a good idea to use the services of an investment advisor to help aid you in building your antique jewellery collection. If you can't afford well known brands, then look for hallmarks which should tell you the maker's name, the gold purity and where and when the piece was made. You can investigate hallmarks easily through any number of hallmark guides on the internet.

Finally, antique jewellery is not a get-rich-quick investment. While antique jewellery can be a stable investment, it is still an investment that can take some time before you see a return; you're purchasing a long-term investment. Different things can sway the popularity of a certain type of jewellery. One season everyone may show interest in gems, while the next season there may be more of an interest in white gold. So a good rule to practice is only buy jewellery that you like. Not only will you have an investment that may someday bring in a high return, but you or your loved one will look absolutely stunning wearing it.

And, if you're still not convinced, just compare the current price of gold per gram with the asking price of gold antique jewellery. You'll see you really can't lose.

Based on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, Rebecca works for David Frith Jewellery - creator of handmade jewellery for clients all over the world. Specialist also in collecting and restoring antique jewellery. For affordable antique jewellery visit => http://www.davidfrithjewellery.com