Email me at dcthisweek@gmail.com and be sure to include a jpeg image of you rockin' your vintage find. The winner will be announced March 16th on my site and tickets mailed to them. And even if you don't win, I'll post a few of your entries to DC This Week.
I love vintage shopping (especially in Philly). Shecky's Girls Night Out has a chic Diamonds in the Rough: Vintage Jewelry Shopping Guide. Here are some ways to stock your jewelry box from Laura Kennicutt at Shecky's with gorgeous vintage jewelry on a recession-era budget. Read her full article HERE.
* Do your homework. Know what terms like ‘clarity,’ ‘Edwardian,’ and ‘sterling’ mean, and if you’re looking for something in particular, gauge the market value as best as you can so you don’t get ripped off. The same goes if you’re attempting to sell jewelry.
* Think beyond rings and necklaces. Jewelry items like pins, watches, combs, and compacts are equally gorgeous but not as widely sought-after in many cases. This is especially true for high-end brands like Tiffany, Cartier, and Harry Winston—i.e. you probably can’t afford a diamond-and-platinum Tiffany solitaire, but a brooch (or a sterling silver telephone dialer, perhaps?) may be within your budget.
* Similarly, don’t just focus on diamonds and rubies. Lower-value metals, gemstones, and faux or costume materials can also be beautiful, and in many cases, quite valuable. And most of the time, you can’t even tell the difference.
* When you’re shelling out for a valuable or collectable piece of jewelry, get a certificate of authenticity or appraisal if you can. If there isn’t a certificate but the seller has a lengthy story about where they got the piece, ask them to write up a letter explaining the jewelry’s provenance. It will make reselling all the easier, should you ever want to part with your new bauble.
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