The rising popularity of second-hand (East European post-WWII) jewelry as a smart investment

In times of uncertainty and instability - both of which we’re not short of at the moment - demand for gold steadily rises, as it’s seen as a safe and stable store of value. While currencies weaken with inflation and crises, gold tends to hold its worth.

Data shows that many users of second-hand trading platform OLX already understand this. In Poland, where OLX is especially big, demand for second-hand jewelry is growing fast. That makes trading in vintage jewelry not only profitable but also quite enjoyable. It’s an investment you can actually wear.

Tapping into this growing demand for second-hand jewelry could be a smart move. One way to start is by browsing online or in antique shops for pieces of jewelry you expect to hold - or gain - value. Buy, hold for a while, and then sell at a profit.

But perhaps an easier way to start is to open your mother’s or grandmother’s old jewelry box. In Poland, a great deal of artisan jewelry was produced in state cooperatives during the communist period between 1944 and 1989. Although few people miss communist Poland, the remarkable jewelry it left behind is quite the treasure.

As Mariusz Janik, editor of the daily Rzeczpospolita explains: jewelry from that period doesn’t stand out for its fine details or expensive materials. In fact, it’s more recognized by visual traces of manual metalworking and sometimes clumsy workmanship. But that’s exactly what makes it so attractive. Whereas these traits were once considered ugly, the cyclical nature of fashion now tells us that they’re beautiful, unique, authentic and stylish again.

Jewelry created in Poland’s cooperatives like Warmet, Agmet, Imago Artis, ORNO, Juwelia, Resovia and Plastyka is well remembered by enthusiasts, and quickly regains popularity. Pieces - with mouth-watering names like “candy” and “golden strawberry” - can easily sell for €1,300 on OLX (PLN 5,600). Silver bracelets from ORNO that were once seen as basic, today cost thousands of PLN. And they just might be gathering dust in a forgotten drawer somewhere.

Demand and supply for jewelry priced above €250 listed on OLX in Romania, Portugal and Poland hints that the second-hand jewelry market is worth watching. Or better yet: being part of.

OLX Poland leads with over 24,000 active jewelry ads, followed by Romania with no less than 5,700 active offers, while Portugal contributes 5,200 pieces.

OLX data shows that roughly every one in three jewelry listings generates genuine buyer interest. If one in three doesn’t sound like a lot to you, then know that this is exceptionally high for items that require trust-building and are associated with authenticity concerns. Demand peaks around gift-giving season, which makes now the perfect moment to list or buy.

These numbers underscore an interesting point. With thousands of jewelry listings and an actively circulating second-hand jewelry market, the data suggests that jewelry represents a significant (often untapped and dust-gathering) asset class for European households.

Inherited pieces, unworn wedding gifts, or jewelry that no longer fits someone’s style are finding a new life through re-commerce platforms, proving that when it comes to valuable items sitting unused in our homes, jewelry truly represents gold waiting to be found.

The strong engagement with listings shows that the appetite for premium accessories is very real. So maybe it’s time to dust off that family heirloom or set foot in an (online) second-hand shop, because in today’s second-hand jewelry boom, what’s been sitting idle could turn out to be pure gold.