If you are a newbie in buying old pieces, you might be confused by the terms “antique” and “vintage”, as well as the difference between the items of the past days. On the whole, these terms determine the item's value according to its age. However, there may be other factors that affect the value of an item, such as relative rarity, unique features, beauty, and how the piece has aged. Delving further into the meaning of the terms can help you become more confident in your next treasure hunt.

What is an antique

This term is used to refer to a work of art, furniture, jewelry, or decorative objects. Most items that antique professionals label as “antique” are a hundred years of age or even older. An antique is considered a collectible item due to its age, rarity, condition, uniqueness in craftsmanship, design, and other features.

What is vintage

The term vintage is associated with specific genres like clothes, jewelry, cars, postcards, or even wine collection, and other goods that are not old enough to be called antiques. Vintage refers to a rare collection of items that are unique and the best of its kind in a particular period. There are several meanings for the term vintage. Whereas some use the term for items that are older than 20 years and define them as a new vintage. True vintage can be called an item that is over 50 years old. This descriptive word can be also used to the outdated goods that are still functional, bring nostalgia or memories to individuals, and have relative collectible value.

It is worth remembering that the scale slides each year as time passes: more and more things fall into the antique and vintage range.