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Antique Jewelry, Restored and Ready to Wear

Explore the antique and vintage jewelry in our Federal Way estate cases, learn how to tell one era from the next, and book a visit with our accredited gemologist and GIA-trained team.
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Our antique and vintage collection has been curated since 2016 by Brandon Jenkins Moak, an accredited gemologist, and our GIA-trained team.

Trusted by Our Federal Way Community

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Stacey Hall
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Excellent customer service! The jewelry is so beautiful and lots of choices. I took my wedding ring to be fixed and I received it back and it was gorgeous the repair and the shine. I will definitely be back!
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Kevin Vander Weide
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We cannot express enough how incredibly grateful we are for the outstanding, FREE jewelry valuing service provided by Brandon Jenkins Moak at Federal Way Custom Jewelers. We have already referred this amazing business to others - as it is truly a GREAT PLACE to learn about and purchase jewelry. From the moment we walked in, we were met with a warm welcome and an unmatched level of professionalism and graciousness. Then, for nearly two hours, Brandon meticulously went through all of our family members’ jewelry. His patience and precision were evident as he carefully examined each piece, estimating its age and educating us on the history and value of the collection. We had no idea what we had or if it was worth anything until Brandon took the time to educate us. We had items made of gold, silver, various gems, diamonds, rubies, and more, and Brandon’s expertise shone through as he shared his immense knowledge with us. His obvious dedication to his craft and to his clients is truly inspiring. Brandon went WAY above and beyond. Despite the extensive time and effort he invested in valuing our jewelry, he provided this service - as noted above - completely free of charge. This level of generosity and commitment is rare and deeply appreciated. We were so impressed with Brandon’s service that we offered to buy him a restaurant gift card as a token of our gratitude. However, Brandon humbly declined and simply asked for an online review. It is our absolute pleasure to write this review and sing his praises. Federal Way Custom Jewelers is a gem in the community, and Brandon Jenkins Moak is a shining example of what exceptional customer service looks like. We are so very grateful for his time, expertise, and kindness. So, for a jeweler who is knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely cares about his clients, Brandon and Federal Way Custom Jewelers is your man. Thank you, Brandon, for your amazing service. You have earned our highest praise and deepest gratitude.
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Daniel Nasharr
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Brandon is a professional who is punctual with his communications, accurate with his estimates and treats his customers like - well gold! Definitely a wonderful experience working with him and I highly recommend Federal Way Custom Jewelers!
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Michael Hodges
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Great Customer Service! Many thanks to Donna, who helped go through a shoe box full of inherited jewelry with me. Donna patiently went through each piece knowing that my experience level and understanding of the items were minimal. She even cleaned a few pieces for free, and let me know which items might be worth selling - maybe 5 % of the hundreds of items she looked at. Thank You!!
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Rita profile picture
Rita
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The best jewelry store in the entire Puget Sound area. The customer service, the superb quality of their gem stones, their designs, the friendliness of the personnel in this store - and of course the trustworthiness. Federal Way Jewelers has it all. They have been our go to store for over 30 years. Even when we lived 2000 miles away. We are three hours away from them now, but they are still the ones we reach out to with our needs or desires.
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Tyler Wells profile picture
Tyler Wells
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We trusted Federal Way Custom Jewlers with designing my wife’s wedding ring over 11 years ago. They did an absolutely amazing job. It was a very complicated and intricate design that they knocked out of the park. We’ve since been back to add bands and upgrade the center stone. They continue to be friendly and trustworthy. I recommend them to anyone looking for a jeweler you can trust that has impeccable quality and class. Thanks!
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Liz Daldalian profile picture
Liz Daldalian
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I had a great experience at Federal Way custom jewelers today! I came in looking for a gift for my husband, but wasn’t quite sure what I wanted. The sales associate showed me several options and asked me a lot of questions to ultimately help me decide to purchase a ceramic ring. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the sales associates name, but I had an overall wonderful experience and will be returning again for my next jewelry purchase. Thank you!
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Krista Hinzel profile picture
Krista Hinzel
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Great experience working with Donna at fwcj to create a custom sapphire ring. It turned out so incredibly stunning and I’m absolutely in love with it. She was so patient working through the design and the stone selection and so great with my toddler in tow for all of my appointments. Would highly recommend her and this jewelry store to anyone!

A Resource for All Things Antique Jewelry

Antique jewelry carries the work of the people who made it and the people who wore it. This page brings together what we know: how to tell the eras apart, how to choose a piece, how to care for it, and what to do if one has been handed down to you. Browse the collection, read the articles, or come see it in person.

Find the Right Antique Piece

In our cases, antique and vintage jewelry covers the named design eras, from Georgian pieces through the Mid Century Modern movement. Anything newer than 1975 we sell as modern estate or pre-owned. Jewelry from before 1800 is exceptionally rare and fragile, so we rarely offer it.

Every era has its own look. Georgian pieces are sentimental and hand made, Victorian jewelry is full of halos, pearls and lockets, Art Nouveau and Edwardian jewelry moves from flowers to platinum lace, and Art Deco is bold and geometric. Our eras guide explains each one.

Not sure where to start? Our guide to selecting vintage and antique jewelry walks through what to look at, and the old mine cut vs. old European cut diamond article helps you read an antique diamond.

Every antique we sell is inspected and restored by our master goldsmiths before it is offered, and it is backed by our warranty. You are welcome to stop in and see the pieces yourself.

Shop Antique Jewelry

A look at what is in our estate cases right now. Each piece is one of a kind, inspected and restored by our master goldsmiths before it is offered, and backed by our warranty. If you like something, it is best not to wait.
  • old european cut diamond stud earrings in platinum

    Old European Cut Diamond Stud Earrings- Platinum

    $2,775
  • oval gold striped locket with rope trim

    Vintage Gold Photo Locket with Intricate Ribbed Details

    $795
  • edwardian diamond princess ring set with 2ctw old euro cut diamonds 5.JPG

    Edwardian Princess Ring with Old European Cut Diamonds

  • rose cut diamond rose gold solitaire engagement ring

    Antique Rose Cut Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring in Rose Gold

  • classic diamond three stone anniversary ring mid century

    Classic Diamond Three-Stone Ring Estate Deal

  • art deco royal blue sapphire platinum solitaire engagement ring

    Top Quality Art Deco Royal Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring

Antique Ceylon blue sapphire and diamond halo engagement ring

Ready to Wear Antiques

Pieces in Stock: Online and In-Store

Our estate cases hold antique and vintage rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets and brooches, and we carry antiques such as old mine cut and old European cut diamonds. Browse online, or come try pieces on at our Federal Way showroom.

Antique demantoid garnet and opal ring

Care and Restoration

Antique Jewelry Repair

Antique pieces were made by hand, and they show it. Our master goldsmiths repair, reinforce and restore antique jewelry with its age in mind, and restorations include our 1-year warranty. Our guides to caring for antique jewelry at home and reinforcing heirloom pieces are a good place to start.

Appraisal and Estate Advising

Heirlooms, Estates and Inherited Jewelry

If a piece came to you through family, we can help you understand it. Our GIA-trained staff identify and authenticate antique jewelry, and Brandon Jenkins Moak is an accredited gemologist and qualified appraiser. Verbal identification while you wait is typically at no charge, and written appraisals are available.

Jewelry appraisal services

Antique Victorian ruby and rose cut diamond ring in yellow gold

Antiques Meant to Last

An antique has already survived a hundred years or more of wear. Our job is to make sure it is ready for the next stretch, and to tell you honestly what you are buying.

  • Inspected and restored by our master goldsmiths before sale
  • Backed by our 1-year warranty
  • Straight answers about condition, including normal signs of age
  • Expert identification from an accredited gemologist and GIA-trained staff

Walk-in browsing is always welcome. We are at 1810 S. 320th St., Suite B in Federal Way, next to Trader Joe’s and Crumbl Cookies, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm (last client at 5:45). For an unhurried look at specific pieces, or to talk about an heirloom, book a time and we will set it aside for you.

Your Guide to Antique Jewelry Eras

Jewelers name antique jewelry by the period it was made in, because pieces from the same period tend to share a look. Here is a quick guide to the eras we see most often. Our full eras and periods guide goes deeper.

Georgian Jewelry

1715 to 1830. Georgian jewelry is a very rare find today. It was made by hand, often looks its age, and is full of sentiment, from initials and hidden symbols to lockets that held a lock of hair.

Victorian Jewelry

Halo rings, snake rings, lockets, mourning pieces and brooches. Diamonds often played a supporting role around a pearl, sapphire or ruby, and old mine cuts and rose cuts were common.

Art Nouveau and Edwardian

Art Nouveau 1890 to 1920, Edwardian 1900 to 1920. The two eras overlap. Art Nouveau looked to flowers, birds and flowing lines, often in pearls, enamel and colored gems. Edwardian jewelers moved to platinum and the round old European cut.

Art Deco Jewelry

1920 to 1935. Bold, geometric and symmetrical. White gold and the die-struck process made detailed filigree affordable, and Art Deco is one of our most requested eras.

Retro Jewelry

1935 to 1960. Wartime shortages pushed jewelers toward yellow and rose gold and the gems they could get. After the war, the look turned big, bold and curved, often called cocktail jewelry.

Mid Century Modern

1960 to 1975. Yellow gold returned and designs got bolder and more varied. Cast gold, diamond cluster cocktail rings and large colored stone rings were popular, and more women designed and bought jewelry.

Vintage style natural ruby ring with white and yellow diamonds

Antique Jewelry Advice and Inspiration

Our team writes about the things clients ask us most: how to tell eras apart, how to wear antique pieces, how to care for them, and what to do with jewelry you have inherited. Start with the articles below.

Old Mine Cut vs Old European Cut Diamonds: How to Tell the Difference

Vintage and Antique Jewelry: Eras and Periods

Selecting Vintage and Antique Jewelry

The Do's and Don'ts of Caring for Antique Jewelry at Home

How to Style Antique Jewelry for Modern Outfits

Antique Ring Boxes and Vintage Jewelry Cases

Best Practices for Repairing and Reinforcing Heirloom Pieces

Wearing a Stranger's Story: How to Connect with Estate Jewelry's Past

Schedule an Antique Jewelry Appointment

Tell us what you would like to see, or what you have inherited, and we will set aside time with our team. Walk-ins are always welcome, and we are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm. We will contact you within 48 hours to confirm your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Antique Jewelry

What counts as antique jewelry at FWCJ?

Our antique and vintage collection covers the named design eras, from Georgian pieces through the Mid Century Modern movement, and the estate cases hold pieces spanning 250 years of history. Jewelry from before 1800 is exceptionally rare and fragile, so we rarely offer it. Anything newer than 1975 we sell as modern estate or pre-owned. When a piece does not fit a named era, we give a circa date within 10 years.

What condition are your antique pieces in?

Every antique is inspected by our master goldsmiths, and any necessary repairs are done before it is offered for sale. It is backed by our 1-year warranty. Antique, vintage and estate pieces are pre-owned, so it is normal to see some prong wear, minor metal scuffs and small abrasions or chips on gems. For a detailed condition report on a piece you are considering, contact us.

How can I tell if my jewelry is really antique?

Bring it in. Our GIA-trained staff identify and authenticate antique jewelry by looking at design, construction and signs of age, and Brandon Jenkins Moak is an accredited gemologist. Verbal identification while you wait is typically at no charge. If you need a written appraisal for insurance, an estate or a sale, we can arrange one, and our jewelry appraisal services page explains how it works.

Can antique jewelry be repaired or resized?

Often, yes. Our master goldsmiths repair, reinforce, resize and restore antique and inherited pieces with their age in mind. Restorations are done by expert goldsmiths and include a 1-year warranty. Our pages on repair and resizing and vintage and estate jewelry have the details. Bring the piece in and we will look at it with you.

Do you buy antique jewelry?

Yes. We have been a trusted buyer of antique jewelry, and any precious metals, for over 40 years. Our GIA-trained staff evaluate each piece individually and will tell you the best way to sell it, which is sometimes to us and sometimes through an estate sale or auction. We tend to pay the most for original Art Deco, Edwardian and Victorian pieces and signed items.

What should I do with jewelry I inherited?

Before you sell, alter or discard it, find out what you have. Our heirloom and estate advising service can identify the metals and gemstones and explain your options: keep it as it is, have it appraised, repair or restore it, resize or redesign it, reuse its stones, or sell or trade it. Our article on what to do with inherited jewelry walks through seven options.

Do I need an appointment to see your antique jewelry?

No. Walk-in browsing and shopping is always welcome, Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm. An appointment is recommended if you want to see specific pieces, talk about an heirloom, or have an estate consultation. We are at 1810 S. 320th St., Suite B in Federal Way. Use the form above or call us at 253-839-7389, and we will contact you within 48 hours to confirm an appointment you request online.

Sell or Trade Your Antique Jewelry

Heirloom and Estate Advising