The Journal · Topic

Collecting & Value

An honest view of value: what antique jewelry holds, what it does not, how resale really works, and how to build a collection you will keep.

An antique gold locket with a star-set pearl, a diamond spray brooch and an Art Deco onyx and diamond ring on green velvet, beside an old book with an engraved portrait and a magnifying glass.
October 2026

Memento Mori Jewelry: Skulls, Coffins and the Georgian Art of Remembering Death

Memento mori jewelry explained: sixteenth and seventeenth-century skull and coffin rings, Stuart crystal slides, Georgian mourning rings with names and dates, how...

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A hand wearing an antique old European cut diamond ring on green velvet, with two antique halo rings and a diamond necklace nearby.
October 2026

Old Money Jewelry: The Pieces That Look Inherited, Even When They're Not

Old money jewelry explained: the signet rings, pearls, gold chains, tank watches, diamond studs, antique engagement rings and cufflinks that look inherited,...

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A Victorian gold locket with a pearl star, an old-cut diamond spray brooch and an Art Deco onyx and diamond ring on green velvet.
October 2026

Marina B Jewelry: The Cult 1980s Jeweler Collectors Are Hunting Again

Marina Bulgari left the family firm and founded Marina B in 1978. The story, the Pneu, Cardan and Onda designs, bold colored...

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Antique jewelry on green velvet in a gilt tray: a star-set gold locket, diamond cluster brooch, pear drop earrings, emerald ring, cameo and a brass loupe.
October 2026

Boucheron: The First Jeweler on Place Vendôme, and What to Collect

Boucheron opened at the Palais-Royal in 1858 and became the first great jeweler on Place Vendôme in 1893. The history, the Question...

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A Victorian gold locket with a pearl star, an old-cut diamond spray brooch and an Art Deco onyx and diamond ring on green velvet.
October 2026

David Webb Jewelry: Enamel Animals, Hammered Gold and 1960s New York Glamour

David Webb built a New York house on enamel animal bracelets, hammered gold and big cabochons. Who he was, how signed WEBB...

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Hands inspecting the hallmarks inside an antique gold ring with a jeweler's loupe, beside calipers and a sketchbook.
October 2026

How to Tell If a Vintage Rolex Is Real: What Buyers Should Check

A detection-only checklist for buyers of vintage Rolex: serial and reference between the lugs, cyclops, dial and lume, caseback, crown and bracelet...

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A hand placing an antique diamond cluster ring into a velvet ring box beside pencil design sketches of the ring.
October 2026

JAR Jewelry: Joel Arthur Rosenthal, the Most Secretive Jeweler in Paris, and Why Collectors Chase Him

JAR jewelry explained: Joel Arthur Rosenthal's Place Vendôme house since 1978, colour-graded pavé, titanium and aluminium, tiny output and no advertising, the...

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Loose emerald, ruby, sapphire, citrine and amethyst gemstones on an antique tray with tweezers, a loupe and cut diagrams.
October 2026

How to Tell If a Gemstone Is Real or Glass: Rubies, Sapphires, Emeralds

How to tell if a ruby, sapphire or emerald is real, glass, synthetic or a doublet. The loupe signs that give imitations...

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A hand placing an antique diamond cluster ring into a velvet ring box beside pencil design sketches of the ring.
October 2026

Buccellati Jewelry: The Hand-Engraved Gold of Milan, and What to Buy Pre-Owned

Buccellati jewelry explained: Mario Buccellati's 1919 Milan shop, the D'Annunzio connection, rigato, telato and segrinato engraving, the silver animals, how pieces are...

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