FAQs

The quest for beautiful jewellery is a passion and pursuit of happiness for dealer and collector alike. There is no specific source. Generally speaking, our jewellery comes from the contacts we have made with many people in different countries in our 30+ years' in business. Also, some clients sell us jewellery they have inherited or no longer want as it may not be their taste. Jane Vining Antiques also sells jewellery on consignment.

Antique is defined as being 100 years old or older. We always ask an expert as there are many reproductions. Determining authenticity is related to style, material, providence and workmanship. Jewellery marks, or "maker's marks", can also be an indication of authenticity and age.

The main factors affecting value are age, condition, rarity and popularity. Because many factors can affect the value of antique jewellery, it is important to have it appraised by an expert. When buying antique or estate jewellery, there are huge variances in price from dealer to dealer and around the world. Small town Ontario has a completely different price from New York, for example. You will also see variations from dealer to dealer in Toronto.

Some antique jewellery should not be cleaned at all as it removes the patina and decreases the value. For others, it depends on the elements of the piece. Gold, silver, hard gemstones and soft gemstones are all cleaned differently. This article provides more details on cleaning antique and estate jewellery.

We offer a full money back guarantee on most items we sell if we are contacted within 3 days of purchase. Some exceptions may apply for a few individual items.