All signs point to antique and vintage jewelry as having a moment in 2026 as retailers, dealers, and shows are investing heavily in the public’s fascination with celebrity collectors and their own jewelry fantasies.
Whether it is For Future Reference showroom founder Randi Molofsky creating her vintage brand, Greenwich St. Jewelers debuting its first-ever estate capsule collection, or KIL Promotions adding a new winter edition of its NYC Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show (NYCJAOS), all signs point to a “new to you” jewelry trend sweeping into the new year.
NYCJAOS and KIL Promotions founder Konstantinos I. Leoussis says the show’s sold-out autumn edition in November convinced him to add a January edition, which will run Jan. 23–25 at the New York Hilton Midtown.
“Almost 7,000 attended NYCJAOS in November, proving the growing consumer interest in luxury thrifting and vintage jewelry and watches,” Leoussis says. “We decided to move to Midtown, making our show more accessible to the various transportation hubs in New York City, and we are thrilled to offer both the dealers and consumers a uniquely curated shopping experience in the traditionally quiet month of January.”
Call it the Taylor Swift effect—the pop singer’s vintage-style old-mine brilliant cut diamond engagement ring set the internet on fire when she accepted her beau’s proposal in August. Maybe it is the thrifting trend—where Gen Z prefers quality over quantity and are buying secondhand holiday gifts, according to The New York Times.
Perhaps it is the ongoing trend toward brooches, as these old-style fashion statements have been going gangbusters for months now. Even Pinterest predicts the “brooch aesthetic” will continue to dominate in 2026.
In its sixth edition of the Clair Report, luxury resale platform Rebag credits global tariffs for shifting consumers’ behaviors toward antique, vintage, and resale. Global tariff shifts in 2025 raised primary market prices across handbags, watches, and fine jewelry, reinforcing the resale market’s position. Rebag predicts consumers will snap up Van Cleef & Arpels, Rolex, and Cartier across the secondhand marketplace.
Whatever the reason, clients will be searching for something like their grandmothers wore, so jewelry retailers should boost their estate and antique case content. That means vintage brooches, pearl necklaces, old diamond cuts, and bold 1970s-style gold.
It also could be about sentimentality. Jewelry shoppers have been piling on personalized jewelry and charms throughout 2025, as it is the perfect way to tell their story, according to designer Maya Brenner. She’s been creating new designs in classic styles, such as choker necklaces, to follow these trends within her collections. “It’s a trend that feels fresh but still timeless,” Brenner says.
With her For Future Reference Vintage brand, Molofsky shares her personal collection of jewelry and watches dating back to the Victorian, Edwardian, and art deco periods. Although For Future Reference Vintage is only a year old, it is now available through retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, Twist in Seattle, and Department in Nashville. It also recently debuted at Bloomingdale’s in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif.
“I always say: Nothing haunts you like the vintage you don’t buy. Especially with unsigned—these are one-offs that you may or may not ever see again,” Molofsky says. “If you fall in love with something, don’t hesitate, because the next something similar you find could cost twice as much.”
Greenwich St. Jewelers in September released its limited-time Estate Capsule collection of 54 vintage, antique, and estate jewels covering multiple eras including Victorian, midcentury, and art deco.
“This moment felt like the perfect time to introduce our first Estate Capsule,” Jennifer Gandia, co-owner of Greenwich St. Jewelers, said in a statement. “We are in the midst of celebrating 100 years of art deco jewelry, and more than ever, people are drawn to the archival styles and the artistry of craft from the past.
“Estate jewels embody what we call conscious luxury—they are rare, storied pieces, crafted to last, and already loved. By reintroducing them now, we honor history while giving our clients the opportunity to carry it forward,” Gandia said.
Top: Hana Kaneko with her vintage and fine jewelry is one of the exhibitors at the January NYC Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show (photo courtesy of Hana Kaneko and NYCJAOS)
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