ANTIQUE & ESTATE
At Underwood’s in Jacksonville, Florida we offer Estate, vintage and antique jewelry in our Avondale location on Saint John’s Avenue. Each piece of Estate Jewelry tells its own story and history through its timeless beauty. You may pick up a ring in our Estate case in Avondale and wonder, “who was the original owner, and for what occasion did they receive this piece.”
Definitions of Estate, Antique & Vintage Jewelry:
The definition of “Estate Jewelry” means previously owned. It could be one hundred years old or a couple months old. An antique piece of jewelry is over one hundred years old and vintage jewelry is much younger, but typically manufactured before 1999.
How is Estate Jewelry Valuated?
Each item in our Jacksonville, Florida Estate Department is hand selected by one of our Certified Gemologists and assessed for its rarity, quality and beauty. The items are then refurbished by our Master Jeweler for daily wear. Some of the valuation factors that come into play when pricing our Estate jewelry are market demand, current gold and diamond prices, age, condition, hallmarks, signatures, origin and style.
ANTIQUE & VINTAGE JEWELRY PERIODS
Victorian Jewelry
(mid to late 1850 to 1890)
The Industrial Revolution under the reign of Queen Victoria left people with new money wanting to flaunt their wealth with jewelry. Victorian jewelry was very feminine and used seed pearls, strands of pearls, shell cameos and small colored gemstones. After the death of Prince Albert, the style evolved to reflect the Queen’s mourning. This included the use of black onyx, jet and tortoise shell set in heavy metal gold frames.
Art Nouveau Jewelry
(1890 to 1915)
Art Nouveau was a reaction to the Victorian period mass produced products from the Industrial Revolution and was more romantic and joyous. One of the most famous jewelers from the Art Nouveau period was René Lalique who specialized in enamel, glass, horn and ivory, with motifs such as dragonflies or flowers. The use of opals and moonstones was also very popular in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Edwardian Jewelry
(1901 to 1915)
The Edwardian period marked the reign of a new King: Edward VII. The jewelry in this period is defined by delicate filigree platinum work featuring milgrain to mimic the lace worn at the time. It can also be recognized by the extensive use of diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls. Jewelry in the shapes of bows, garland, wreaths and tassels are signature styles from the Edwardian period.
Art Deco Jewelry
(1920 to 1935)
Originating in France, the Art Deco period came from women’s newfound freedom stemming from doing men’s jobs during the war. As women started to shorten their skirts and wear pants, the jewelry also got bolder through large geometric shapes and big colored gemstones. Jewelry from this period was inspired from cultural influences and the old European cut diamond was prominent. The angular designs enhanced the fashion of the times with large emerald and ruby brooches, coral, lapis and jade. Platinum was typically used in Art Deco jewelry.
Retro Jewelry
(1935 to 1949)
Think BIG when it comes to Retro jewelry. During World War II when platinum became scarce, America entered the jewelry scene with Hollywood influences. For the first time gold was used on its own to create beautiful, bold jewelry, sometimes without the use of diamonds or gemstones. Convertible jewelry is a signature style of the Retro period: necklaces that turn into bracelets or brooches that turn into pendants.
Underwood’s in the Avondale neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida proudly offers an Antique and Estate jewelry case with beautiful items from the past which have been refurbished for daily wear. We would love for you to visit and browse our Estate collection of Vintage, Art Deco, Edwardian jewelry and pieces from many different eras. Wearing vintage, antique and estate jewelry is a wonderful way to show your unique and timeless style.
