Culture & Style
Why Gen Z Is Flocking to Antique and Vintage Jewelry
Gen Z is showing appreciation for a natural diamond’s rarity and rich history.
Written by: Anna McFillin
June 20, 2025
For many jewelry lovers, their passion for sparkling gems often begins with a cherished memory—seeing a diamond ring adorning the hand of a family matriarch or sifting through a loved one’s vintage jewelry box. I will never forget my mother’s shiny, round, natural diamond surrounded by a jacket of bright red rubies, set in a yellow gold ring – a nod to the popular engagement ring style of the 1920s and 30s. Little did I know that ring would shape my taste in jewelry and spark a love for vintage.
At 25, I’ve realized I’m not the only one my age with a passion for timeless treasures. For natural diamonds, whether it’s the old-world charm of an antique cut or the sleek precision of a modern cut, each stone is cherished for its rare beauty and special connection to the wearer. Across Generation Z, there’s a clear pull toward vintage jewelry and diamonds, as it resonates with their unique, personal styles.
Meet the Experts
Grace Lavarro, owner of LA-based retailer Jewels by Grace, specializes in vintage and antique engagement rings.
Ashley Zhang is a jewelry designer who founded her eponymous label in 2016. She specializes in vintage diamond jewels that have a modern feel.
Briony Raymond is the founder of her namesake New York atelier. She is a distinguished expert in fine jewelry, renowned for her bespoke designs and curated estate collections.
Lauren DeYoung is a sixth-generation jeweler and vintage and antique curator.
Why Vintage Jewelry Is Resonating
Even Gen Z stars are embracing storied pieces from the past on the red carpet. Actress Mikey Madison wore a vintage diamond necklace from the Tiffany & Co. Archives at the 2025 Oscars, where she won Best Actress for her role in Anora. The Edwardian era piece features a 3.9-carat Old European cut diamond at its center—proving that even after a century, true elegance never goes out of style.
With the world at their fingertips, Gen Z’s access to information and inspiration has affected how they purchase luxury goods, including vintage natural diamond jewelry. Gen Z is a conscious, thoughtful generation, often leaning toward investing in sustainable, unique purchases that resonate with them. Only Natural Diamonds spoke with four vintage jewelry experts who have taken notice of the rise of Gen Z’s thoughtful consumption and how family heirlooms have influenced their jewelry journeys.
This younger generation appreciates history and character more than what was traditionally valued: the biggest, whitest, best clarity diamonds.
Grace Lavarro, owner of Jewels by Grace, specializes in vintage and antique engagement rings. Lavarro says that there is an apparent shift toward vintage diamond engagement rings. “This younger generation appreciates history and character more than what was traditionally valued: the biggest, whitest, best clarity diamonds,” she says. “The word they most often use when I ask what they are looking for is ‘understated.’”
Lavarro’s daughter, Julia, works alongside her mother and is a fellow Gen Z. Lavarro sourced a 9.33-carat old mine-cut diamond and transformed it into a yellow gold, gypsy-set ring. “The ring is inspired by the Victorian era, and it lived on my mom’s hand and our website until we realized it felt too close to home, too much ‘ours.’ So it’s been off the site ever since,” Julia says. She adds, “We were not the kind of family that had jewels passed down, so it feels special and fitting that our first family jewel is one that my mom sourced, designed, and created herself.”
Vintage Jewelry & A Sense of Nostalgia
In addition to being mindful consumers, this generation is deeply nostalgic and drawn to history. Their interest in vintage jewelry transcends the virtual world they live in, including a curiosity about previous eras ranging from the Victorian Era to the ’90s. Jewelry designer Ashley Zhang specializes in vintage diamond jewels that have a modern feel. Zhang says, “Vintage jewelry taps into the nostalgia of a pre-digital world,” allowing them to express their individuality through unique, one-of-a-kind designs.
Zhang works closely with clients who want to transform their heirloom jewels. One young client of hers inherited a special diamond. “She had a fabulous grandmother who owned many diamonds that were meant to be split up amongst the family when she passed, but one of the larger diamonds was missing,” Zhang says. “When it was time for my client to get engaged, the missing diamond was found.” Zhang explains that the stone was meant to be passed on to someone in the family and adds, “It was always meant to be hers, so we set it in a stunning custom-cut emerald setting for her to cherish and continue passing down for generations.”
Vintage Jewelry & Slow Fashion
In a world of mass consumption and the constant need for newness, Gen Z feels called to slow the process down. An expert in jewelry design, Briony Raymond is known for sourcing estate jewels and transforming heirlooms. She tells Only Natural Diamonds, “Gen Z cares about where their jewelry comes from and the impact it has.” She continues, “There’s a growing awareness around minimizing waste, which makes repurposing existing materials, like heirloom diamonds, even more appealing.”
Lauren DeYoung, a sixth-generation jeweler and vintage and antique curator, speaks to her younger clients’ eco-conscious buying habits. “Jewelry is something that is purchased to make a client happy and feel good, so it’s really important that it aligns with their core views on sustainability,” she says. “At the end of the day, there is no more sustainable option than a vintage piece that isn’t creating a new carbon footprint.”
DeYoung adds, “These pieces often feel more personal, giving a sense of individuality that new mass-produced items can lack.” DeYoung also notes she has seen a broader shift toward more thoughtful consumption overall. “Gen Z tends to make mindful, intentional purchases. Jewelry isn’t just about status; it’s about connection, self-expression, or marking a significant moment in one’s life,” she says.
The jeweler finds that her young clients enjoy the journey of finding the perfect vintage piece with a story that resonates with them. “It’s usually not just about the piece, but how it got there, why it speaks to them, and how its past becomes interwoven into their narrative once the two find one another,” she says.
For Gen Z, it’s in with the old. The younger generation appreciates a natural diamond’s rarity, timeless beauty, and rich history. Each vintage jewel comes with a story, and another one waiting to be told.
