- Interest in genuine early 19th century clothing and jewellery surges by up to 500 percent
- ‘Regencycore’ trend sparked by immense success of newest season of hit Netflix show Bridgerton
Demand for authentic Regency-era items has rocketed by up to 500 percent following the latest season of Bridgerton as Brits cash in on vintage wear, latest data reveals.
According to experts at specialist retailer Vintage Cash Cow, interest in genuine early 19th century clothing and jewellery has reached an all-time high in the weeks since the hit Netflix show aired.
As a result, bargain hunters are increasingly on the search for authentic years-old dresses, gloves and necklaces, with sales of vintage writing instruments and furniture also up.
The trend has been sparked by the immense viral success of Bridgerton, experts say, which is famed for its distinctive period aesthetic and costumes – dubbed ‘Regencycore’ by fans – which has seen online searches for ‘Bridgerton jewellery’ rocket by 494 percent in recent weeks.
As a result, Kristiana Georgieva from Vintage Cash Cow, has advised that Brits could be sitting on a gold mine of cash as prices of potentially forgotten vintage items increase rapidly.
Kristiana said: “We’ve undoubtedly witnessed a newfound demand for Regency-era items since the latest season of Bridgerton aired. There’s been a marked spike in demand for genuine early 19th century items, as clothing and jewellery in particular attract significant interest.
That means now is the perfect time for people to delve into their wardrobes, attics and garages in search of an old, forgotten treasure that could now be worth hundreds if not thousands of pounds.
Interestingly, very specific items relating to the show have displayed a stark uptick.”
According to Kristiana, this is best evidenced by a growing interest in feather quills and inkwells, which are famously used by the show’s protagonist Lady Whistledown as she chronicles the goings on of the Ton.
While modern quills cost between £10 and £100, antique inkwells from the early 1800s can fetch up to £700 and quill and inkwell sets can sell for nearly £200.
Perhaps the biggest riser in value, Kritsiana says, is the jewellery category – and in particular pearl necklaces like those worn by many of the show’s stars.
Genuine saltwater pearl necklaces from the 1800s could be worth a small fortune at £4,000 while drop earrings’ value varies massively between £100 and £16,000 depending on materials and brand.
Elsewhere, 19th century embroidery tools like those used by Bridgerton dressmaker Madame Delacroix are also booming, with antique scissors worth up to £200 and full French embroidery kits fetching up to £4,000.
