Dating Vintage Jewellery

When was these different pieces of vintage jewellery manufactured and how can we be sure that they were not produced in the 1930s or in the 1940s?

Vintage dropper earrings

Vintage fifties clip earrings

How do you date vintage jewellery?

Sometimes it is easy and at other times it can be very difficult.

It is far easier to be able to pick up the vintage necklace or brooch and examine it in detail.
But without this luxury on the internet, this is a simple dating technique that is often displayed inaccurately.


Vintage beads


The coating on these beads is called aurora borealis. It gives this glorious multi coloured effect under lights. These beads are blue and amber coloured. but you may see red coloured glass stones as in this brooch.

Vintage rose pink brooch

Vintage statement brooch

Vintage aurora borealis brooch

Vintage angel wing brooch

Or on clear crystals as with this pair of modern shoe clips



This coating was patented in the mid 1950s - so any piece of vintage jewellery with this on would have to have been produced after this date.
Many brooches and especially necklaces were manufactured in the late fifties and in the early sixties as the coating was new and everyone wanted to own one of these brooches or necklaces.
In the mid seventies there was a revival of the use, but it still remains popular today.

Vintage carnival glass necklace

Diamante owl necklace

Aurora borealis coating can be used on crystal, glass and plastic beads or jewellery
Shown are just a few pieces of vintage jewellery that have the aurora borealis coating.
The loose beads have been sold and are no longer available.