antique lockets - not too expensive

[kimikocat]

My grandparents both passed away recently. There are 3 girls in my family, and I would like to give each a small locket with photographs of our grandmother and grandfather, as a memento. (This was a popular practice in the Victorian era, I like the sentimentality of the gesture).

I would be so grateful if someone could point me towards a few sites that sell antique or vintage lockets for a reasonable price? At first I thought I might try to get 3 Victorian mourning lockets, but I''m not sure I could do that, if they are very pricey.

Thank you so much for your help!

kimi

 

[glitterata]

I'm so sorry you lost your grandparents! Memorializing them in this way is a great and very sweet idea.

It's not hard to find quite nice gold-filled Victorian lockets for not much money on ebay. Solid gold Victorian lockets are more expensive. Another possibility is silver, but those are usually pretty big--there was a fashion for large (1 1/2 or 2 inch long) silver lockets on thick choker chains in the 1870s-1890s. Lockets that still have the original owners' photos or locks of hair from their loved ones may go for a premium, which you might want to avoid since you intend to use your own photos.

If you search the "victorian-edwardian" section of the "vintage, antique" section of the jewelry/watches section of ebay for lockets (or search "vintage, antique" for "victorian locket") and see something you like, post a link and I'll give you advice if you like. I'm kind of a Victorian locket fanatic, and it would give me a lot of pleasure to actuallly use my knowledge to help someone! Make sure you check the "Include Store Inventory" and "Worldwide" boxes in the search. I've found good deals on Victorian jewelry from Britain, especially when the exchange rate is favorable.

You might also try Rubylane.com, an online antiques mall where many different sellers have "shops." They may be more expensive there than on ebay, but they usually have better pictures and you don't have the anxiety (or fun) of bidding.

Local flea markets and antiques malls also often have Victorian lockets.

Depending on size, condition, design, and age, I think a reasonable ebay price for a gold-filled Victorian locket is $30-$100. Silver is $50-$200. 9k or 10K gold is $50-$150. 14K is $100 and up into the thousands. It's possible to get great deals if you're patient and know what you're looking for.

The smaller lockets are often men's watch fobs. Some of the older lockets will be made of a gold-plated brass frame with 10K gold front and back.

Make sure whatever you buy has its original fittings--glass on both sides and metal to hold it in. Those are difficult, expensive, or impossible to replace. Also make sure it isn't too dinged up, make sure it closes securely, make sure any enamel decoration isn't too damaged. (The big silver ones are often missing their glass or maybe didn't have glass to begin with, which is okay with me, as long as they still have the metal piece to hold the photo in place.) And make sure you pay attention to how big they say the locket is, because they vary from the size of your smallest fingernail to several inches tall, and you don't want to be surprised.

 

[glitterata]

Oh, I forgot that ebay now breaks "vintage, antique" jewelry down into "fine" and "costume" before breaking it down further into eras. It''s a good idea to run your search in both categories.

 

[kimikocat]

Date: 8/13/2009 12:27:01 AM
Author: glitterata
I''m so sorry you lost your grandparents! Memorializing them in this way is a great and very sweet idea.


It''s not hard to find quite nice gold-filled Victorian lockets for not much money on ebay. Solid gold Victorian lockets are more expensive. Another possibility is silver, but those are usually pretty big--there was a fashion for large (1 1/2 or 2 inch long) silver lockets on thick choker chains in the 1870s-1890s. Lockets that still have the original owners'' photos or locks of hair from their loved ones may go for a premium, which you might want to avoid since you intend to use your own photos.


If you search the ''victorian-edwardian'' section of the ''vintage, antique'' section of the jewelry/watches section of ebay for lockets (or search ''vintage, antique'' for ''victorian locket'') and see something you like, post a link and I''ll give you advice if you like. I''m kind of a Victorian locket fanatic, and it would give me a lot of pleasure to actuallly use my knowledge to help someone! Make sure you check the ''Include Store Inventory'' and ''Worldwide'' boxes in the search. I''ve found good deals on Victorian jewelry from Britain, especially when the exchange rate is favorable.


You might also try Rubylane.com, an online antiques mall where many different sellers have ''shops.'' They may be more expensive there than on ebay, but they usually have better pictures and you don''t have the anxiety (or fun) of bidding.


Local flea markets and antiques malls also often have Victorian lockets.


Depending on size, condition, design, and age, I think a reasonable ebay price for a gold-filled Victorian locket is $30-$100. Silver is $50-$200. 9k or 10K gold is $50-$150. 14K is $100 and up into the thousands. It''s possible to get great deals if you''re patient and know what you''re looking for.


The smaller lockets are often men''s watch fobs. Some of the older lockets will be made of a gold-plated brass frame with 10K gold front and back.


Make sure whatever you buy has its original fittings--glass on both sides and metal to hold it in. Those are difficult, expensive, or impossible to replace. Also make sure it isn''t too dinged up, make sure it closes securely, make sure any enamel decoration isn''t too damaged. (The big silver ones are often missing their glass or maybe didn''t have glass to begin with, which is okay with me, as long as they still have the metal piece to hold the photo in place.) And make sure you pay attention to how big they say the locket is, because they vary from the size of your smallest fingernail to several inches tall, and you don''t want to be surprised.

Hi Glitterata!

Wow, thanks! This is fabulous information. I guess step 1 would be to explore my options and see what appeals to me. None of the girls are very tall, so one of the larger silver lockets might be out. I have seen some of those big lockets on thick choker chains, and thought they looked very "punk" - it''s amazing to imagine Victorian ladies wearing those pieces. A few of those chains remind me of the "curb chains" that the boys used to wear...

I had not thought of checking into the fittings, that is a good point.

Thank you so much for your advice!

kimi

 

[glitterata]

Glad to help!

What''s your budget, if you don''t mind sharing? That will make it easier to look for lockets for you.

 

[jewelerman]

glitter gave some very expert advise on buying lockets!I would add that there are still some good inexpensive finds in gold filled lockets in antique and collectors shops.Lockets have been one sentimental jewelry item that has always been made in large quantities...there may not be alot of high grade victorian or even edwardian lockets out there for sale but there are the 1940s and 50s(through mid 60s )lockets to consider for your family gifts which look antique.Good Luck and i think its a great idea!

 

[oddoneout]

I would also recommend Etsy. If you look under Vintage Jewelry I sometimes see some nice lockets there for sale. I don''t know if some places on Etsy might do some custom lockets for you as well.

 

[kimikocat]

Date: 8/13/2009 11:10:31 AM
Author: glitterata
Glad to help!


What''s your budget, if you don''t mind sharing? That will make it easier to look for lockets for you.

Hi Glitter!

Sorry, I haven''t logged onto PS in a few days and missed your response. I was thinking of simple sterling or gold-fill circular lockets for the two younger girls, keeping the budget to no more than 100 but perhaps staying closer to 50?

The girls are 18 and 20. The 20-year-old is studying Japanese literature and Business in college, and very trend-conscious. The younger girl is in boarding school and starting her first year of college next year. Something smaller would be appropriate - they are both petite.


kimi

 

[kimikocat]

Date: 8/13/2009 8:31:43 PM
Author: jewelerman
glitter gave some very expert advise on buying lockets!I would add that there are still some good inexpensive finds in gold filled lockets in antique and collectors shops.Lockets have been one sentimental jewelry item that has always been made in large quantities...there may not be alot of high grade victorian or even edwardian lockets out there for sale but there are the 1940s and 50s(through mid 60s )lockets to consider for your family gifts which look antique.Good Luck and i think its a great idea!

Thanks for the tips, Jewelerman! Gold-filled is a good idea, especially for the younger girls, whose taste will change as they mature. (They can always transfer the photos to new lockets, or just keep the whole kit as a memento.)

Kimi