The belt buckle prior to the 1920s was used primarily for decorative purposes.
The history of the belt buckle dates back to the 2nd and 3rd century B.C., with the semi nomadic Chinese. By the 1920s, men wore belt buckles primarily for function, as trousers sat lower at the natural waist, which required a belt often accompanied with a buckle. Collecting belt buckles can be a great investment as many belt buckle collectors pay thousands of dollars for buckles manufactured and worn during notable and historic times, including the Civil War and World War II. Identifying an antique buckle based on specific characteristics is possible.
Instructions
1. Familiarize yourself with construction styles and buckle material associated with historic periods. For example, in Nazi Germany during the 1930s, aluminum, steel and brass were plentiful and often used for buckle construction.
2. Turn the belt buckle over and look for manufacturer markings. There are notable belt buckle manufactures regarded as industry pioneers and expert craftsmen. These companies include Michael Srour, Al Pecetti, William Nelson and Robert Schaezlein.
3. Join vintage belt buckle collector forums. You can locate these forums by searching for vintage belt buckle collectors. Expert collectors can often assist with identification. You can post detailed pictures of buckles if you have questions about age, time periods and manufactures and get helpful responses from users with extensive collecting backgrounds.
Tags: belt buckle, belt buckle collectors, belt buckles, buckle collectors, vintage belt, vintage belt buckle
