What vibe do vintage jewelry wearers give off?

[nala]

So I know there is an antique and vintage forum, but want to address a broader audience for this question.
I love love love vintage and antique jewelry. I wear if for myself, obviously. But I’m a lot curious as to how others view vintage jewelry, especially if you do not care for it. I find that when I’m going to a special event, or even a social gathering (pre Covid) I tend never reach for my vintage or antique pieces. I’m trying to understand why , so would love to hear your thoughts! How do you react to vintage jewelry if you ever notice it on others? Do you appreciate it? Regard it as dated? Consider it unique?

 

[tyty333]

I would think a speical event would be the perfect time to wear antique jewelry. I always think of Downton Abby and
their dinner parties where everyone is bejeweled. Of course, I'm glad you wear them for yourself and think anytime a
piece fits in with the atmosphere is a great time to wear it. I dont have any antique pieces as of yet but hope to own some
in the future.

(FYI- I dont fit into the category of not-loving antique jewelry so maybe I'm not a good one to post!)

 

[seaurchin]

To me, it would likely depend on the specific piece. If it looked more unique or hard to find, my first thought might be that the person has more sophisticated tastes than average. If it looked rather generic and just "dated" and the person was older, I might think they weren't all that into trends and still wear whatever pieces they've had for decades. I also might wonder if a vintage/antique piece was an heirloom and had special meaning to them because of that.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

My two vintage pieces are my grandma's and my great aunt's ERs
The diamonds are small by PS standards

but If im going somewhere special - especially lunch times - i like to treat them to a day out

Possibly not the answer to the question!

But i also mix modern with vintage and my mum's retro
Its my hand, I'll wear what i want to for me to enjoy

 

[Sunstorm]

I think they are very classy and royal and timeless. I prefer antique and vintage jewelry especially for special occassions. How would others view me? I have a very unique, bold and somewhat eccentric style. That’s just the way I am. Always been that way and always loved antique jewelry. Love the history and one of a kind pieces. I am also elegant when it comes to dressing but most definitely not mainstream. I do not think others view it as dated. My friends and I are designers in fashion and many of them are open and love antique pieces, just previously thought they were out of reach to them.

 

[Made in London]

I love genuine antique jewellery but I don't like dated styles in gold, like soverign rings & pendants, gate bracelets with heart locks,those jointed & movable clown pendants that were so popular 20-30 years ago. Certain people where I live tend to wear this kind of jewellery stacked up with big chunky chains & huge dollar sign gold pendants as a way of displaying their "wealth".To me it looks trashy not wealthy. I do have some antique jewellery that is very beautiful that I enjoy wearing

 

[Missy]

So I know there is an antique and vintage forum, but want to address a broader audience for this question.
I love love love vintage and antique jewelry. I wear if for myself, obviously. But I’m a lot curious as to how others view vintage jewelry, especially if you do not care for it. I find that when I’m going to a special event, or even a social gathering (pre Covid) I tend never reach for my vintage or antique pieces. I’m trying to understand why , so would love to hear your thoughts! How do you react to vintage jewelry if you ever notice it on others? Do you appreciate it? Regard it as dated? Consider it unique?

This is an interesting question @nala. Since I love antique jewelry I cannot answer it from the perspective of not caring for it.
Personally I do notice it on others and where we are located there are way more modern pieces and modern diamonds than antique ones so when I see beautiful antique pieces I swoon. LOL. Antique pieces are more special to me and more unique than modern pieces IMO. And I think what great taste that person has. But, of course, I am biased.

 

[Ally T]

I love genuine antique jewellery but I don't like dated styles in gold, like soverign rings & pendants, gate bracelets with heart locks,those jointed & movable clown pendants that were so popular 20-30 years ago. Certain people where I live tend to wear this kind of jewellery stacked up with big chunky chains & huge dollar sign gold pendants as a way of displaying their "wealth".To me it looks trashy not wealthy. I do have some antique jewellery that is very beautiful that I enjoy wearing

I'm with you on the Sovereign rings & huge chains! Both very trendy when I was about 15 & lots of my friends had them. I hated them. For my 18th I got a pear cut Amethyst ring in 9ct yellow gold, which I loved to death. I still have it, but I would never wear it now as it's very 1990's & the ammy isn't great. I do sometimes still wear my heavy 18ct yellow gold bracelet that I got for my 21st though. It looks quite retro worn with my watch.

@nala When I am heading out somewhere fancy, I always reach for my Great Aunts pearl & OEC ring from circa 1900. The fire on that thing is immense in low lighting & someone will always comment on it. It's so pretty & different to anything else I own. If it was less delicate & I was less heavy heavy handed, I would wear it every day.

 

[Roselina]

I love antiques in general so not from the point of view you asked. I have antique pieces as well as very modern ones. What I recognised is, that people always comment on the older pieces, hardly ever on the modern ones. Comments go from oh wow, what an incredible piece to oh my, I got a brooch just like that from my grandma... maybe I should wear it too... it does look cool! So many people might think it‘s outdated to wear „old jewellery“ and only realise it‘s rather nice when they see it on someone. Then there is those who would never wear such a thing just like my best buddies wife who refuses to wear anything that someone else wore or even worse from „dead people“ as she puts it.

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

No vibes! Pretty jewellery is pretty jewellery to me!

I think for me if I think the piece is beautiful I will swoon. Plus I'm terrible at classifying things so it's unlikely I'd look at something and think it was vintage or non vintage.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I love genuine antique jewellery but I don't like dated styles in gold, like soverign rings & pendants, gate bracelets with heart locks,those jointed & movable clown pendants that were so popular 20-30 years ago. Certain people where I live tend to wear this kind of jewellery stacked up with big chunky chains & huge dollar sign gold pendants as a way of displaying their "wealth".To me it looks trashy not wealthy. I do have some antique jewellery that is very beautiful that I enjoy wearing

Hmmmm while i like retro
I like tasteful retro (as in the stuff i liked first time around never too trendy)
I think i wouod burst out laughing if i lived in your neighbourhod and saw some of that layered on someone
I wouldn't say no to a nice soverign ring though

 

[MeowMeow]

Hmm I'm not sure I feel any vibes based on jewellery. My only question is, is the jewellery pretty to me? If yes yay! If no, welp. Im not paying their bills so they can do what they want even if I hate it. I'm totally sure most people hate what i wear too and that is ok. And jewellery can be ugly antique or modern. I tend to prefer the more antique jewellery. So I'm more likely to like it if it's vintage or antique anyway.

 

[Bron357]

I think it’s more the style / look of certain eras of jewellery that I don’t like on myself. I don’t judge others choices!
Pet hates include the “bark finish” on gold watchbands and bracelets and I’m not a fan of those 3 colour gold pieces.
With rings I don’t like those sky high solitaire settings nor illusion settings.
The chunkiness / heaviness of most 70s through to 90s leaves me cold. Most Georgian / Victorian pieces don’t appeal either and part of that is because there is so much reproduction stuff that lacks the charm and honesty of genuine antiques.
However I’m sprinting across the room for a closer look if I spy an Art Nouveau or Art Deco piece.

 

[Lookinagain]

I prefer antique jewels but not necessarily "vintage" if what you mean is from the 50's to 70's. I do like some of that, which I would deem "retro" but I don't like the bulky pieces from those years. To me, antique might mean Georgian or Art Nouveau or Deco, as @Bron357 mentions, and I notice those pieces on others and often envy them and also often go for that vibe when I have pieces made for myself.