What’s so great about antique jewellery? A better question might be ‘What isn’t great about antique jewellery?’

The popularity of vintage jewellery never wanes. Instead, it seems to grow with each passing year. Rings, brooches, necklaces, charms, bracelets, lockets and other adornments quickly become families’ most precious heirlooms as they pass from one generation to the next.

What makes antique jewellery so admired? Is it love’s conquest? The glimmering mystery? Jewellery's radiant elegance? Perhaps it’s all of these things and more. What is more awe inspiring to a young girl than to poke about in her grandmother’s jewellery box searching through the wondrous treasures contained therein? The memories alone of such ventures, coupled with the historical accounts of each item of jewellery, can endear grandparents to their descendants in unexpected ways, forming close personal ties forever.

The astonishing thing about antique jewellery heirlooms is that such items don’t need to be created from expensive materials. Even inexpensive trinkets can bind lives and hearts. Cheap beads can become a woman’s most cherished possession if they once belonged to her mother, her grandmother or her great-grandmother.

Antique jewellery doesn’t have to be a family heirloom to seize the imagination. Visualize the stories a mind can forge when a person examines a piece of jewellery created two hundred years ago somewhere deep in Europe, the Middle East or Asia. Thankfully, you don’t have to know the entire history of a given piece of jewellery for it to spark mental imagery of the people who once owned and donned it for formal or not-so-formal settings.

Of course, although antique jewellery can be fun to flaunt in front of friends, family and associates, it can also be a great investment. Even if the component parts of jewellery have little inherent value, it can become something of value by virtue of its maturity. Jewellery can become valuable just by surviving to a ripe old age. Can you imagine what 14th century beads would be worth today? Jewellery designs and styles change regularly. Many people love to smarten themselves up with jewellery from various periods such as Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro and Art Nouveau, or even older when it can be found.

There are people all over the world willing to sell you pieces of antique jewellery. If you plan to make purchases from jewellery dealers, make sure you use reputable ones. There are unscrupulous dealers who will make false claims about the products they are trying to pawn off on you. On the other hand, with reputable dealers you can be more certain that you are buying authentic pieces.

If you want to check out yard sales and estate sales, you may be able to find some nice antique jewellery items. However, if you aren’t a jewellery expert you may be disappointed with some of your purchases. Some items may not be as valuable as you hope. Still, much of the pleasure comes with the search. Take a friend or relative with you. It’s double the fun.