What is the difference between Vintage, Estate, Antique and Repurposed?

In May 2024, Krombholz Jewelers announced its planned transformation from a "one-stop shop" selling all categories of jewelry to a store focused on antique, estate, and vintage jewelry exclusively. Many of it's client have asked the questions, what is vintage, estate and antique jewelry. Their clients have also asked about what repurposed jewelry is. 

To clear up these words, Krombholz offers these definitions.

Estate jewelry is anything that was previously owned. It can also be called second-hand jewelry. It is possible that estate jewelry is neither vintage or antique. See their descriptions below.

Antique jewelry under a strict definition would be jewelry that is 100 years old or older. Antique jewelry is often characterized by the period in which it was made. Those periods would include Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Retro and Mid-century. The last two periods would not fall under the strict definition of Antique, but we would consider them antique.

Vintage jewelry for us is previously owned jewelry that is at least 20 years old but not an antique.

Repurposed jewelry is jewelry that is new jewelry composed of second-hand parts. Often it is made from an antique or vintage gemstone who’s original setting was well loved, but not in wearable condition. That gemstone is reset into a new setting for future enjoyment. The photo at the top of this page is of a repurposed Old European cut diamond in a modern mounting.