How do I wear a vintage brooch today?

These pieces pin securely onto jacket lapels, heavy wool coats, scarves, or the shoulders of evening dresses. You can also thread certain designs onto a chain to wear them as pendants. For convertible items like double clips, you can separate the components to wear on two lapels simultaneously or join them back together for a statement centrepiece.

Are these brooches suitable for daily wear?

Platinum is an exceptionally durable and wear-resistant metal, making these items robust enough for regular use. However, the delicate settings and antique gemstones require mindful care. You should avoid wearing them during physical activities or housework to protect the delicate millegrain work and prevent stone loss.

How do I tell an Edwardian brooch from Art Deco?

Edwardian pieces date from the early 1900s and lean towards organic, garland, and lace-like motifs inspired by nature, utilising platinum-topped gold and old-cut diamonds. They often feel lighter and more ethereal in their construction. Art Deco items emerge in the 1920s and 1930s, favouring strict geometric lines, symmetry, strong colour contrasts with onyx or enamel, and pure platinum settings.

What is a platinum-topped gold brooch?

This construction method involves bonding a thin sheet of platinum to the front of an 18ct gold base structure. Goldsmiths used this technique before platinum working techniques were fully developed or to reduce the overall weight and cost of the item. The front face presents the bright white surface required for diamonds, while the gold reverse provides hidden structural support.