Today's world of style encompasses all sorts of looks and tastes. Collecting vintage designer jewelry can be both a fiscally rewarding as well as an esthetically rewarding experience. The word "vintage" normally denotes something of antique status or something that harkens back to a memorable or fun era. Vintage clothing, for example, can be as recent as styles worn in the 1980s or 1970s. The same goes for jewelry, where items from as recently as 25 years ago are appreciated by collectors and fanciers.

Some things wear well no matter how old they are. Because of their timelessness, we've always loved vintage jewelry pieces. Beautiful brooches, hair care items like bejeweled mirrors, brushes and combs of almost any era are usually highly prized for their beauty, if not the composition of their jewelry.

Vintage designer jewelry like cameo pendants or gold and silver brooches look appropriate on even the most modern of jackets or blouses. They have a timeless elegance and sense of style that even the youngest fashion maven would enjoy and appreciate. If you're on the hunt for items like these, check out second-hand stores or even flea markets and garage sales. You'd be surprised at what you'd find.

If you're really serious about jewelry like this, be sure to add estate sales to your list of places to visit. Also large auctions run by auction houses can be a nice source, though prices can get a little steep. Always remember that the Internet today is the single best source for finding out where vintage jewelry might be. If you hunt enough, you might be able to find a few inexpensive items once in a while.

Nowadays, you can also recreate the look of vintage designer jewelry. There are plenty of accessories and even whole designer kits available for sale. With one of these, you can design your own pieces that bring back a popular or mythic era, such as the Edwardian or Gothic years of fashion. It's up to you. Classic art-deco or "golden age of Hollywood" reproductions are also sought after.

Vintage designer jewelry - either real or reproduction - makes a good addition to a jewel box or as part of just about any collection. Pieces from a certain age or era can help bring a fond sense of remembrance and a warmth and vibrancy that's hard to explain.

Take a peek at some of the popular auction houses both online and offline and you'll see a collection of vintage designer jewelry that commands highs premiums. Certain designers such as Krementz, Schiaparelli, Trifari, or Dior remain tops on vintage jewelry lists as being highly collectible.