Vintage jewelry is a great option for unique and sustainable jewelry. EraGem makes it easy to buy vintage jewelry online and there are so many benefits to doing so.
This post is sponsored by EraGem. EraGem is an estate and vintage ring store. It’s a great alternative to new jewelry for those wanting to reduce the ethical and environmental impacts of jewelry.
I love jewelry and have a nice collection of pieces. My first nice piece of jewelry was an emerald ring my grandma gave me when I was 13 years old. It had been her ring when she was young. My grandma has passed down other beautiful pieces as well and they are some of my favorite pieces of jewelry.
In addition to the pieces given to me by my grandma, my husband has also purchased me some vintage jewelry. I have several vintage pearl pieces that are some of my favorites.
There are so many benefits to buying vintage jewelry that you may not have considered. So if you are looking to buy jewelry anytime you will want to think about these things when deciding to buy vintage jewelry or modern pieces.
The Benefits of Buying Vintage Jewelry
Vintage jewelry is sustainable.
Commercial mining is very harmful to the environment. Gold mining can displace huge amounts of the earth for just a small amount of gold using open-pit mining techniques.
Gold mining also uses chemicals like mercury and cyanide to help extract the gold which can result in a lot of waste that is not always properly disposed of. These chemicals can end up in rivers and poison wildlife.
Diamond mining is somewhat less harmful to the planet but there are still effects from it. Just one carat of diamonds can displace 3.1 tons of earth, and use 8.9 liters of fuel, and 2543 liters of water.
Vintage jewelry is a more ethical choice.
The movie Blood Diamonds helped bring some of the human rights concerns around the jewelry industry to light and has helped make changes in the industry but there is still so much more work to do.
“For millions of workers, gold and diamond mining is an important source of income. But the conditions under which gold and diamonds are mined can be brutal. Children have been injured and killed when working in small-scale gold or diamond mining pits. Indigenous peoples and other local residents near mines have been forcibly displaced. In war, civilians have suffered enormously as abusive armed groups have enriched themselves by exploiting gold and diamonds. Mines have polluted waterways and soil with toxic chemicals, harming the health and livelihoods of whole communities.” – Human Rights Watch
Even though some companies are working to make changes there is still a long way to go and it can be hard to make sure you are buying from good sources.
Vintage jewelry is unique.
A lot of jewelry now is mass-produced, at least the more affordable pieces. When you buy a vintage piece it will often be a one-of-a-kind piece or at least rare.
This can pose a bit of a problem if you lose an earring but in general, is a positive and great reason to buy vintage jewelry. It’s especially a good reason to buy antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings.
Wearable art history.
Vintage and antique jewelry is a fun way to explore an era. I love going to a small antique shop near me that sells antique jewelry. The man that owns it is often there and can share when the pieces are from and lots of great history about the pieces.
If you are someone that loves the look of an era there is nothing more fun than having an authentic piece of jewelry from that era.
It’s often higher quality.
Jewelry was usually handmade or at least hand-finished in the past. The skills used were amazing and often more detailed than the mass-produced pieces now.
Pearls are also a great example of how vintage pieces can be of higher quality. Mollusks are highly susceptible to ocean pollution. The higher the levels of pollution in our oceans the lower the quality of pearls become.
Where to Find Vintage Jewelry- EraGem
You may be able to find vintage and antique jewelry at your local, smaller jewelry stores but it can take a lot of hunting to find the perfect piece.
Another great option is EraGem. It’s an online vintage jewelry store with amazing estate jewelry and vintage jewelry all in one place that is easy to browse from the comfort of your own home.
They also offer free overnight shipping, a 60-day money-back guarantee, and a lifetime warranty. Be sure to check it out if you are on the hunt for vintage jewelry.
Common Questions About EraGem
- Are there any EraGem reviews I can read? You can see testimonials on their website or check out EraGem reviews on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
- If you are asking is EraGem legit, the Better Business Bureau is also a great way to confirm that they are legit. You will also be able to check to see if there are any EraGem complaints.
Karla says
Hi Lisa, love your blog and that is beautiful jewelry from the Era Gem collection 🙂
Deanna Piercy says
I love vintage jewelry!