The glossary of vintage jewelry

Art Deco is a major movement that emerged in Paris in the interwar period between the 1920s and 1930s.

This style is characterized by jewelry with geometric, architectural, and refined shapes, as well as the preponderance of the use of white gold, white gold, and platinum. Art Deco rings are technically sublime and completely timeless pieces of jewelry.

The rose-cut diamond is a hand-cut diamond, rather flat and irregular in shape.

This old charm cut is only found on antique jewelry before the 1950s, often present on Art Deco jewelry.

This royal ring, made famous by Princess Diana, in the shape of a flower represents femininity, grace and elegance.

The daisy ring is crafted in yellow, white, or rose gold. This piece of jewelry is centered with a precious or semi-precious stone surrounded by diamond petals. The daisy ring makes a beautiful engagement ring, birthstone ring, or anniversary ring. It's a vibrant vintage style that's easy to wear every day.

Resizing is a process that allows the ring size to be enlarged or reduced.

The process is performed on 18-karat gold by setters. The ring is cut to add or remove a tiny amount of gold. The jewelry is then resoldered and repolished. A slight difference in gold color may be visible as the resizing is done by hand. Resizing is very practical, but it should not be overused to avoid weakening your jewelry.

18-carat gold, or 750 gold, is an alloy of 75% pure gold with silver, copper, or palladium to strengthen it. It corresponds to the gold content, that is, the quantity of gold traditionally used in French jewelry. 9-carat or 14-carat gold, with a lower percentage of gold, was used in other countries such as Great Britain.

Platinum is a precious material that is very durable and harder to work than gold. It is more difficult to work with.

Its color tends toward matte white, giving it a unique charm and character. Jewelry from the Art Deco era typically combines platinum with white or yellow gold. This is a particularly technical combination that reveals the expertise of jewelry from the Roaring Twenties.

The hallmark is an engraving affixed to a piece of jewelry by the assurance office which allows the gold, silver or platinum content of the piece to be known.

Hallmarks on vintage jewelry are sometimes erased, given the age of the piece. Indeed, a hallmark is often located at the cut point during resizing. The certificate is the definitive proof of the material of a piece of jewelry, as it attests that the piece has been appraised by a gemologist.