What Is My Vintage Jewelry Worth? Gold, Silver, Costume

The Three Categories of Vintage Jewelry

Fine jewelry — made with precious metals (gold, platinum, silver) and genuine stones. Value comes from both materials and craftsmanship. Always worth checking.

Costume jewelry — made with base metals, glass, rhinestones, or plastic. Most costume jewelry is worth $5-20. But signed designer costume pieces (Trifari, Weiss, Eisenberg, Miriam Haskell) can sell for $50-500+.

Fashion/designer jewelry — branded pieces from fashion houses. Chanel, Dior, YSL, and Hermès pieces hold value well regardless of materials.

Valuable Vintage Jewelry Brands

Trifari Brooches & Necklaces (1940s-60s)

$30 – $500+

Crown Trifari pieces with the crown mark above the "T" are most desirable. Jelly Belly figural brooches can hit $300-500+.

Eisenberg Original Brooches (1930s-40s)

$100 – $800+

Large rhinestone brooches marked "Eisenberg Original" (not "Eisenberg Ice") are the most valuable. Fur clips are highly collectible.

Bakelite Bangles & Brooches

$30 – $300+

Carved and multicolor Bakelite commands the highest prices. Test with hot water — real Bakelite smells like formaldehyde. Polka dots and figural shapes are premium.

Chanel Costume Jewelry

$100 – $2,000+

Vintage Chanel pieces with the CC logo, especially from the 1980s-90s Gripoix era. Authentication matters — fakes are everywhere.

How to Identify What You Have

Check for hallmarks. Flip the piece over and look for stamps. "925" = sterling silver. "750" or "18K" = 18 karat gold. "GF" = gold filled. "GP" = gold plated (least valuable).

Look for maker's marks. A signature, logo, or brand name stamped on the back or clasp tells you the manufacturer. Google the mark to identify the brand and era.

Use a magnet. Real gold and silver are not magnetic. If a magnet sticks strongly, it's likely base metal with plating.

Weigh it. For precious metals, weight determines melt value. Gold at $2,300+/oz means even small pieces have significant material value.

Not sure what you're looking at?

Snap a photo of any jewelry piece. AI identifies the maker, era, and pulls real sold prices.

Try finna — it's free

No download required. Works in your browser.

Where to Sell Vintage Jewelry

eBay — largest audience for vintage jewelry. Good photography is essential. Use "vintage" and the maker's name in your title.

Etsy — strong market for vintage jewelry (must be 20+ years old). Buyers expect detailed descriptions of materials and measurements.

Ruby Lane — upscale marketplace for antiques and vintage. Higher-end buyers, higher selling prices, but monthly shop fees.

Local jewelers/pawn shops — for fine jewelry with precious metals. They'll pay based on melt value, which is a floor price. You'll almost always get more selling online.