If you are into antique and vintage brooches and other types of vintage jewellery, it is worth your time and effort to educate yourself on how to date these items, especially if you are looking to make a purchase. Below are some of the things that you can look out for which will help you to identify the available different types, helping you to get ready to go out and spend your money on adding to your collection.

The Sash Pin

The sash pin dates back to the late 1800s when it was fashionable to imitate Queen Victoria and wear a sash across the shoulder or around the waist. It is typical for vintage brooches from this period to have a thick pin stem which allows them to pierce through several layers of clothes to hold the item in place. Brooches with this type of pin are usually larger and do not have a safety clasp to stop them from coming loose.

The C Clasp

The C clasp can be found on brooches from about 1890 up to the early 1900s, and it is a simple clasp that is typically seen on large bar pins and sash pins. The C clasp is used on many different jewellery types throughout the ages, and since the 1930s it has altered slightly to look more like a D than a C. There are many excellent examples of beautiful brooches using this style of clasp, and your local antique dealer or jewellers will most likely have plenty of stock from which you can choose.

The Duette Clasp

The Duette clasp first came about in the early 1930s and was created in the Art Deco style, which was popular at that time. The design had two small dress clips to hold the brooch in place, and they could be clipped together as a pair, or individually. These styles of brooches proved to be popular during the 1940s up to the early 1950s, and there are still plenty of excellent examples available for collectors to buy at a reasonable price.

The Dress Clip

The dress clip was also popular during the 1930s, and unlike other styles of brooches, it had a clip on the back instead of a pin. The dress clip was extremely popular and was not only worn on clothing but could also be worn with other jewellery, such as attaching it to a necklace. These can also often be confused with shoe clips because of the size, although dress clips can also be found in larger sizes.

These are a few of the different types of clasp that you can find on brooches which can help you to identify them, and help you to decide whether you wish to purchase it or not. Ensure that before parting with any money that you ask plenty of questions about the brooch and ask for provenance, if available. Collecting brooches can be a lot of fun, and because of the size of them, they do not have to cost a fortune, meaning that anyone can start to collect them.