Where should you buy vintage jewelry in DC?
The answer: Charles Schwartz & Son
Charles Schwartz & Son has been in the jewelry business for over 130 years, specializing in one-of-a-kind vintage and estate jewelry. Our expert jewelers work hard to curate the finest selection of vintage jewelry in the nation’s capital.
Vintage jewelry is unique. Each piece holds their own story and features characteristics from the various time periods they were created in. These pieces are typically anywhere from 50 to 100 years old and sometimes referred to as collectables. There’s something special about having a piece not available on today’s modern market.
Explore vintage jewelry from every designer and every era
Charles Schwartz & Son is an estate vintage jewelry store that takes pride in bringing older designer pieces back to life. The pieces in our collection have stood the test of time and will continue to bring beauty to the world for many years to come. Some of our vintage jewelry designers include:
- Bielka
- David Webb
- Effy
- Erte
- Gem Platinum
- Gumps
- Jose Hess
- Judith Ripka
- Paul Morelli
- Robert Wander
- Seaman Schepps
- Tanya Farah
- Angela Cummings
- Beaudry
- Boucheron
- Bruno Guidi
- Bulgari
- Burle Marx
- Cartier
- Chimento
- Elizabeth Locke
- Kwiat
- Mikimoto
- Robert Procop
- Roberto Coin
- Rolex
- Schlumberger
- The Mazza Company
- Tiffany & Co.
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Weingrill
- William Ruser
These designers belong to various time periods where trends and techniques differed. Our vintage jewelry spans era such as:
- Art Deco (1920-1935): Clean, rigid, geometric shapes made with pearls, gemstone mosaics, lacquer, and invisible setting. This jewelry was meant to be simple, elegant, and practical.
- Retro (1940s): Plastic, glass, wood, enamel, and synthetic stones with motifs of animals, bows, and flowers were used to make eye-catching costume jewelry. Charm bracelets, cocktail rings, and bold stackable bangles were popular.
- Mid-Century (1950s): Costume jewelry from the Retro era was refined and produced with expensive materials. Large, colorful gemstones surrounded by diamonds and long strings of real pearls were popular.
- Modern (1960s and onwards): This era encapsulates all of the powerful trends that came with the 90s, 80s, and on. Jewelry has seen more and more commonalities with sculpture and design.
Buying vintage jewelry in DC
Looking for genuine vintage jewelry can be a difficult task. It can be hard to know what features to look for, what a fair price might be, and ultimately what you want. Our team will walk you through every step of the process. The jewelry experts at Charles Schwartz & Son are well-versed in dating and classifying vintage jewelry and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Started by the Schwartz family in 1888 and passed on to the Pastor family in 1984, Charles Schwartz & Son is your family jeweler. We have had the honor of serving the dignitaries of Washington and the world. Along with them, we welcome you to be a part of our family. We invite you to stop in and visit us at any time.
If you’re interested in buying vintage jewelry in Washington, DC explore our website or visit one of our locations!
