Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Midnight Relique source its jewelry?

Every piece has its own journey.

Midnight Relique jewelry is discovered through estate sales, antique shops, thrift stores, online marketplaces, private collections, and treasures passed along by neighbors, friends, and family. We source throughout Texas and beyond, always keeping an eye out for pieces with character, history, and a little mystery.

Because many pieces come to us secondhand, their complete history or original owner is often unknown—and sometimes, the mystery is part of the allure.

Is everything vintage or antique?

Not everything.

Midnight Relique is rooted in vintage and antique jewelry, with a small selection of contemporary pieces chosen for their distinctive design and old-world, gothic, revival, folkloric, sculptural, or globally inspired influences.

When we know or can reasonably identify the approximate era of a piece, we'll include that information in the listing. Unless specifically stated otherwise, dates and eras should be considered our best assessment rather than professional authentication.

Modern pieces will be identified as contemporary when known and can be found within our After Midnight Collection.

What is the After Midnight Collection?

After Midnight is our collection of contemporary adornment that captures the spirit of Midnight Relique.

These pieces may not have decades of history behind them, but they possess the same qualities we seek in our vintage finds: unusual details, distinctive design, old-world influence, and a sense that the piece is anything but ordinary.

Expect gothic, revival, folkloric, talismanic, sculptural, antiquity-inspired, and other evocative designs.

After Midnight — modern adornment for old souls.

Is your jewelry real gold, silver, or gemstones?

Unless a listing specifically states otherwise, please assume our jewelry is costume jewelry and does not contain precious metals or genuine gemstones.

If a piece bears a mark such as “925,” “Sterling,” “14K,” a maker's signature, or another hallmark, we may include that information in the description. A stamp or hallmark alone does not necessarily constitute independent authentication.

Materials, stones, makers, and metal content that have not been professionally verified will be described accordingly.

Are your pieces authenticated?

Unless explicitly stated in the individual listing, pieces sold by Midnight Relique have not been professionally authenticated or appraised.

We research our finds and share identifying marks, signatures, construction details, and other information when available, but we never want to present an educated identification as a guarantee.

When something remains unknown, we'll tell you.

What do terms like “attributed to,” “circa,” or “in the style of” mean?

Vintage jewelry doesn't always arrive with paperwork.

Terms such as “attributed to,” “believed to be,” “possibly,” “circa,” “revival,” and “in the style of” indicate our best assessment based on the information available to us. They should not be interpreted as professional authentication or a guarantee of maker, age, origin, or material.

What condition should I expect?

Vintage and pre-owned jewelry has lived a life before reaching us—and we think that's part of its charm.

Pieces may show signs of age and previous wear, including patina, tarnishing, scratches, discoloration, plating loss, worn finishes, aged stones, or other imperfections.

We make every reasonable effort to photograph and disclose noticeable condition issues. Please review all photographs, measurements, and descriptions carefully before purchasing.

Do you clean or restore the jewelry?

Pieces may receive gentle surface cleaning when appropriate, but we generally avoid aggressive polishing or restoration that could damage finishes, patina, plating, stones, or other original characteristics.

Some treasures are best left with a little evidence of the life they've already lived.

Are earrings cleaned and sanitized?

Pre-owned earrings are cleaned and sanitized before being offered for sale when their materials and construction safely allow for it.

Because vintage jewelry can be delicate, cleaning methods may vary depending on the piece.

Do you sell repaired or repurposed jewelry?

Yes. We believe beautiful pieces deserve another chapter.

Pieces that have been repaired, restored, restrung, or otherwise altered will be disclosed in the individual listing whenever known.

Jewelry intentionally repurposed or reimagined by Midnight Relique can be found in our Phoenix Collection—a collection devoted to forgotten, broken, or overlooked pieces given new life.

Rather than letting beautiful remnants disappear, we transform them into something ready to be treasured again.

The Phoenix Collection — relics reborn.

Are items sold as-is?

Yes. All Midnight Relique pieces are sold as-is and in their current vintage, pre-owned, repurposed, or contemporary condition.

Please carefully review the listing description, measurements, photographs, and disclosed condition before purchasing. You're always welcome to contact us with questions about a piece before placing your order.

Do you accept returns or refunds?

Due to the vintage, pre-owned, one-of-a-kind, and curated nature of our inventory, all sales are final. We do not accept returns, exchanges, or refunds, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

If your order arrives damaged in transit or you believe you received the wrong item, please contact us as soon as possible with photographs of the item and packaging so we can review the situation.

Will my piece look exactly like the photos?

Unless a listing specifically states otherwise, the photographs show the actual piece you will receive.

We do our best to represent colors, finishes, stones, and details accurately. However, appearance may vary slightly depending on lighting, photography, and individual screen settings.

How do I know the size of a piece?

Measurements are included whenever relevant.

Because vintage jewelry sizing can differ from modern standards, we recommend reviewing the listed measurements rather than relying solely on terms such as “small,” “medium,” or “large.”

All measurements are approximate.

What does “signed” or “unsigned” mean?

A signed piece bears a visible maker's name, logo, hallmark, or identifying mark.

Unsigned means we have not found a visible maker's mark on the piece.

Signatures, stamps, and hallmarks are reported as found and do not necessarily mean a piece has been independently authenticated.

Are your pieces one of a kind?

Often, yes.

Much of Midnight Relique's inventory consists of individual vintage, antique, pre-owned, and repurposed finds, meaning we frequently have only one available.

Once a piece is gone, we may never find another quite like it.

Contemporary pieces within the After Midnight Collection may occasionally be available in multiples.

Why does my vintage jewelry have patina or discoloration?

Patina is a natural change that can develop on metals and finishes over time. Depending on the piece, we may intentionally leave it intact rather than polish it away.

Patina, oxidation, plating wear, and other signs of age are not necessarily considered defects in vintage and antique jewelry.

They're often evidence that a piece has a story older than ours.

How should I care for my jewelry?

Vintage and costume jewelry deserve a little extra care.

We generally recommend keeping pieces away from water, perfume, lotions, hairspray, household cleaners, and other chemicals. Put jewelry on after applying beauty products and remove it before bathing, swimming, exercising, or sleeping.

Store pieces separately in a cool, dry place to help prevent scratching, tangling, tarnishing, and unnecessary wear.

For delicate or unknown materials, avoid chemical jewelry cleaners unless you know they are safe for that particular piece.

Can you tell me the history of my piece?

Sometimes, but part of vintage jewelry's allure is what we don't know.

When provenance, maker information, approximate era, or other history accompanies a piece, we'll share it. Otherwise, we won't invent a story simply to make an item sound older, rarer, or more valuable.

It may have crossed decades, states, closets, jewelry boxes, estate sales, and generations before finding its way here.

What happened before it found us may remain a mystery.

And perhaps that's the best part.

Embrace the Enigma.