Tiffany & Co. 18k and platinum diamond earrings, $11,000 from Botier on 1stdibs

1940s platinum and diamond wing earrings, $19,450 from Pampillonia on 1stdibs

French from the 1950s in platinum and 18k gold with rubies and diamonds, $4,600 from Lawrence Jeffrey

Try an Estate Sale
If you’re worried about buying antique jewelry from a dealer or online, be your own dealer and hit an estate sale in your area. You can find estate sales by combing your local classifieds or by checking out gslar.com for local events.

Peruse the goods and look for the signs of a true antique piece. If a piece of jewelry is being presented as genuine, ask to see the jewelry certification. If there isn’t any documentation, negotiate a better price before purchasing, then head to an appraiser to make sure you bought the real thing. Estate sales are perfect because you know that the pieces came from a personal collection, which usually gives you a better chance of netting a gem of a deal.