Are Brooches Back in Fashion? The 2025–2026 Guide
Short answer: yes — emphatically. Antique brooches have been the breakout fine-jewellery trend of the past two years. Here's why they're surging, who's wearing them and the antique styles collectors are chasing.
If you have noticed brooches everywhere — on lapels, scarves, bags and even hats — you are not imagining it. After decades as a forgotten heirloom, the brooch has become one of the most talked-about pieces in fine jewellery, and antique brooches in particular are, in the words of the trade, "going gangbusters".
Yes — and here is why brooches are surging
Three forces have converged. First, social media: the "brooch aesthetic" and "grandmacore" looks have racked up huge numbers on Pinterest and TikTok, putting antique pins in front of a young audience. Second, the runway and red carpet: designers and stylists have leaned into brooches as statement pieces, often grouped or worn in unexpected places. Third, a broader antique revival — buyers want character, sustainability and one-of-a-kind pieces over mass-produced jewellery, and the brooch is the ultimate individual statement.
The result is real demand, not a flash in the pan. The antique-brooch interest cluster runs to tens of thousands of UK searches a month, and the pieces moving fastest are exactly the characterful antiques that cannot be reproduced. Our full antique and vintage brooch collection shows the breadth, but the styles below are the ones collectors ask for by name.
Who's wearing them — and how
The modern way to wear a brooch is relaxed and a little subversive. The classic lapel still looks wonderful on a blazer or coat, but the pieces feel fresh worn:
- On a scarf, shawl or knit — anchoring a wrap or adding a jewel to a chunky jumper.
- On a bag, belt or hat — an unexpected place that reads as styling, not formality.
- Grouped in clusters — two or three pinned together, mixing eras and motifs.
- As a pendant — many antique brooches have a fitting, or can be adapted, to hang on a chain.
We cover the styling in full in our companion piece, how to wear an antique brooch. The point is that there is no longer one "correct" way — which is exactly why younger buyers have embraced them.
The antique brooch styles collectors want
Victorian mourning & sentimental
Jet, onyx, seed pearl and hairwork pieces, plus naturalistic flowers, hearts and birds. Deeply personal and very collectable.
Art Nouveau figural
Sinuous, naturalistic designs — insects, faces, flowers and figures, often in gold with enamel or carved stone. The artistic high point.
Edwardian filigree
Delicate platinum and white-gold lacework, millegrain and garland motifs set with diamonds. Light, white and supremely refined.
Mid-century gold
Bold Retro bows, ribbons, leaves and abstract gold designs from the 1940s–60s. Strong, wearable and increasingly sought-after.
Naturalistic early-20th-century pieces — birds, insects, flowers — are resonating especially strongly right now, bridging the gap between collectable antique and everyday wearable. You can browse by period in our Victorian and Edwardian jewellery collections.
Current pieces from the collection
A live selection of the antique and vintage brooches we have in stock — from signed Cartier, Boucheron and Fabergé to Victorian naturalistic gold:
A brief history of the brooch
The brooch is one of the oldest forms of jewellery, beginning as the practical fibula that pinned clothing in the ancient world. It became purely decorative over the centuries, reaching extraordinary heights in the 19th and early 20th: Victorian sentimental and mourning brooches encoded love and loss; Art Nouveau jewellers turned them into miniature sculptures; and the Edwardians made them lace-like in platinum. Understanding that lineage is part of the pleasure — when you pin on an antique brooch, you are wearing a piece of design history, not a passing trend.
Where to buy — and what to avoid
Because brooches are hot, the market has filled with reproductions, "in the style of" pieces and over-restored examples. Buy from a dealer who dates and describes each piece honestly, discloses any repairs or replaced stones, and stands behind authenticity. Be wary of unmarked pieces sold as older than they are, brooches with modern safety catches passed off as Victorian, and heavy polishing that has erased the patina and detail. A genuine antique should show its age gracefully, not look brand new.
Brooches as an investment
A fine antique brooch is one of the few pieces of jewellery that combines fashion momentum with genuine rarity. Signed pieces by Cartier, Boucheron, Tiffany and Fabergé hold value strongly; so do exceptional Victorian and Art Nouveau examples, simply because so few survive in good condition. As with all antique jewellery, quality, condition, maker and originality drive value — see how to tell if jewellery is worth money for the fundamentals.
How to spot a quality antique brooch
- The pin and catch — period-correct fittings (a C-clasp or early safety catch) help date a piece and show it is original.
- Hand-finishing — look for hand-engraving, hand-set stones and the slight irregularity of genuine old work.
- Hallmarks and signatures — carat marks and maker's marks add confidence and value.
- Condition — secure stones, a sound pin, and enamel or hairwork without major loss.
At Mozeris, every brooch is vetted, dated and described honestly, so you buy on fact, not hope.
Explore Further
Frequently Asked Questions
The brooch revival, answered.
Are brooches in fashion in 2026?
Yes. Brooches — antique ones especially — have been one of the strongest fine-jewellery trends of 2024–2026, driven by social media, the red carpet and a wider antique revival. Demand for Victorian, Art Nouveau and Edwardian pieces is particularly high.
What kind of brooch is most fashionable right now?
Naturalistic antique pieces — birds, insects, flowers — and Art Nouveau figural designs are especially in demand, alongside Victorian sentimental brooches, Edwardian filigree and bold mid-century gold.
How do you wear a brooch in a modern way?
Beyond the lapel, brooches look fresh on a scarf, knit, bag, belt or hat, grouped in clusters, or worn as a pendant on a chain. See our guide to how to wear an antique brooch for ten ideas.
Are antique brooches a good investment?
Fine and signed antique brooches hold value well thanks to their rarity and current popularity. Maker, era, condition and originality are the main drivers of value.
Where can I buy a genuine antique brooch in the UK?
Mozeris Fine Antiques stocks vetted antique and vintage brooches, from signed designer pieces to Victorian gold, viewable by appointment in Mayfair and Essex.