Antique Jewelry Buyers NYC —
100+ Year Pieces, Properly Valued

The strict definition is 100+ years old. As of 2026, that means anything pre-1926 — Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, and the very early years of Art Deco. Anything younger is technically "vintage" or "estate." Beyond age, look for hand-fabrication marks, old cut diamonds (rose, old mine, old European), period-correct setting styles, and hallmarks. Reproductions are common — bring the piece in or send clear photos and we'll confirm.

Antique means 100+ years old. Vintage is generally 25 to 100 years — Art Deco from the late 1920s onward, Retro (1940s), Mid-Century, and 1980s designer pieces. The collector markets are different, the pricing logic is different, and the buyers are different. Estate is broader still — it just means previously owned, regardless of age. JS Diamonds buys all three categories, but we price each correctly rather than lumping them together.

Two reasons. First, most jewelry buyers don't have the era expertise — they can't tell a genuine Edwardian piece from a 1970s reproduction, so they default to safe pricing (scrap weight). Second, even when they recognise a piece, they don't have the collector network to resell it at premium — so they price it for melt and move on. JS Diamonds spent years building both the expertise and the network, which is why we can offer collector-tier pricing instead.

Often, yes — when properly identified. Original-cut diamonds in their period mountings have seen significant collector demand growth since around 2018. A 1.5ct old European cut in an original Edwardian platinum setting can sell at a premium over a modern equivalent because the cut itself is the desired feature. Most generic buyers don't know this and will recut the stone for "improved" appearance, destroying both historical value and stone weight in the process.

Restoration is common and not necessarily a problem. A Victorian ring that had its shank rebuilt in 1950 is still a Victorian ring, but the value adjustment depends on what was changed. Replaced stones, modernised settings, or significant alterations reduce value more than period-appropriate sympathetic restorations. We'll tell you exactly what we observe and price accordingly — restoration is rarely a deal-breaker, just a pricing factor.

Both. Signed pieces from major houses carry premium — typically 3 to 5 times unsigned value — but unsigned antique work from the same era can still be highly valuable based on quality, condition, and rarity. A finely made unsigned Edwardian platinum brooch can outprice a workshop-grade signed piece. We assess every item on its own merits before considering signature.

No — and this is important. Patina on old gold and silver is itself a value indicator. Aggressive cleaning (especially ultrasonic or chemical) can damage closed-back foiled settings, dislodge fragile prong work, and remove the surface patina collectors specifically want. Bring pieces as they are. We handle cleaning carefully and only when appropriate, after evaluation.