Timeless Style is Never an Accident
Authentic. Sustainable. Unique.
​Welcome to Accidental Antiquarian. We love jewelry, history, collecting, and authentic self expression. Our jewelry assortment is curated by art director-turned-jeweler, Lillian, and features an assortment of hand-selected antique, vintage, and estate jewelry pieces. The collection includes both fine and "fun" jewelry. In a world of fast fashion, we bring you slow fashion. We offer you self expression, history, and most importantly, we bring you beautiful jewelry! Here you will find pieces you can collect and wear for a lifetime.
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ANTIQUE
Specializing in antique jewelry, we offer exquisite pieces from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau eras. We believe antique jewelry is for everyone—certain treasures endure the test of time for a reason: to find you.
We love to decode the symbolism, clues and craftsmanship, uncovering the history and whispered legacy behind each jewel. There’s something extraordinary about the hidden stories and cultural nuances woven into jewelry design through the ages. When you collect antique and vintage jewelry, you become a custodian of history.
VINTAGE
In addition to antique jewelry, we offer timeless pieces from the Retro, Mid-Century, and late 20th-century eras. Vintage jewelry carries the charm of its time—each piece reflecting the trends, artistry, and craftsmanship of its decade. Vintage items need to be 20+ years old. You will feel fantastic in true-vintage jewelry!
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ESTATE
In addition to antique and vintage, we also handle and stock estate jewelry pieces. Any preowned jewelry, whether it is antique, vintage, or contemporary is considered estate jewelry. Estate jewelry can be a great way to collect brand names and coveted styles secondhand, the sustainable way!
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So whether you’re looking for a little piece of history, or looking to make a statement with some unique vintage pieces, we’ve got you covered. Our collection is curated by hand, and we stock one-of-a-kind antique (and vintage!) pieces for everyone. You may be a serious collector or maybe you are at the beginning of your jewelry collecting journey; you are welcome here.
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Each piece has a story, but the adventure continues with you.
GIA AJP
ASJH Society Member
Hi, I'm Lillian
I started Accidental Antiquarian by accident. I wish that were a joke, but it's not. This small business was born out of an obsession with history, collecting, and a magpie-like attraction to old world sparkle! I’ve always been an antique collector and art history nerd, but something changed when I started collecting antique jewelry. I became addicted to the research and the HUNT. I don't know exactly how it happened, but suddenly I was sourcing, selling, and curating antiques online. I had been working as an art director in fashion and apparel, and before that, I was a fine arts professional, painting and curating. I decided to follow my daydream: Jewelry with a side of history. My little obsession has now grown into a full grown business. I spend my days treasures hunting, helping others find their dream pieces and offering estate jewelry services. ​I love the idea of saving beautiful old pieces from being melted down for scrap. I now offer full jewelry services with many trusted local partners in the Twin Cities Area and beyond!
When I’m not out hunting for antique sparklies, I can usually be found hanging with my family, watering tons of house plants, yelling at cats knocking over antiques, or drinking tea with my face stuck in magazines from the 1800s. If you're reading this now, thanks for being here with me. Consider me your jewelry friend! - Lillian
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Ethos
Our core values lie at the heart of every business decision we make. Here at Accidental Antiquarian, we are committed to the following:
Kindness
Education
Equity & Inclusion
Community > Competition
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Education / Preservation
Accidental Antiquarian is here to share and celebrate timeless antique jewelry, history, and the human experience. We are here to serve both established and novice collectors alike. Our mission is to provide a safe and trustworthy estate jewelry shopping experience. We are excited and passionate about history and want to share that with you. Educational content is found on our blog, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
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Sustainability
When you shop for Antique jewelry, you also shop for pre-loved jewelry, which is always a more sustainable option. We care deeply about both the environment as well as preserving history. Shopping and collecting preowned jewelry is not only a great way to curate your personal style, but also a way to share and preserve the past. We are the custodians of this planet, and we're all in this together! So, stick it to the man and shop vintage, shop small.
Transparency & Honesty
Antique and Vintage jewelry, is most of the time, pre-loved. Some pieces are well over 100 years old. Because these pieces are antiques, they may sometimes show signs of age-related wear. As part of our transparency policy, we provide a detailed condition report in the description for every piece. This can be found on the product pages. If you have further questions about a piece, please reach out; we are always happy to answer your questions or provide additional product images by request.
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