10 tips for making money from antiques Here, we look at what novice antiques investors should watch out for, as well as some of the investments the experts believe could generate the best returns in years to come. Buy from established dealers If you want to be certain that any antiques you buy are the "real deal," buy from a dealer and check to see if they are a member of one of the two top UK trade associations, either the British Antique Dealers' Association (Bada) or the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers (Lapada). Invest only in things you like You should invest only in antiques that you are happy to have in your home for years to come. A spokesman for Miller's Antiques Handbook and Price Guide said: "Although you will no doubt have some interest in the financial value of your collection, this should be seen only as a bonus. Just like any market, fashions and tastes change over time. This means that something that is not valuable now may become so in the future, and vice versa. Look for original untouched furniture Furniture that hasn't been restored, preferably with provenance, is likely to be among the best investments. John Hansord from Hansord Antiques said: "Look for small, useful pieces such as Georgian and Regency desks priced from around £5,000. Chests of drawers in early walnut of good colour and patina, priced from £10,000 to £50,000, are especially desirable. These should be seen as a 10-year investment. Choose prewar pieces if buying glass If you are buying glass for investment purposes, look out for prewar Lalique items, as this will mean they have been designed and overseen by René Lalique himself. Be wary of signs of over-polishing or damage, as this will have an impact on value. Mark West, a specialist glass dealer, said: "Eighteenth-century English glass at the top end is still a good buy. Large sculptural items from the late 19th century through to Art Deco are a good investment, having seen gains of probably up to 50pc in three years. Stick with big name jewellery designers Dealers advise going for signed pieces by major designers such as Cartier, Tiffany or Van Cleef & Arpels if you can afford it. Rather than being tempted by what's popular now, they suggest trying to spot the next big thing; for example, natural pearls went up dramatically five years ago, but Mediterranean coral is starting to go up now. Look for rare items Rare items are usually the most valuable, so invest in antiques that are unusual. Anthea Gesua of Anthea AG Antiques, which specialises in jewellery, said: "Look for the quirky and something with an edge, something that will be noticed, such as animals, an unusual shape or real craftsmanship." Beware of fakes If you suspect something is a fake, resist the temptation to buy until you can get confirmation that the piece is authentic. A spokesman from dealer Van Kranendonk Duffels, which specialises in European and American antique jewellery, said: "An expert will be able to tell if pieces from different periods have been put together, which does happen. Anyone checking jewellery must have a loop [eye glass] to be able to see properly. Watch out for signs of restoration Restorers use clever techniques to repair antiques, which can easily go unnoticed by the untrained eye. Mr Hansord said: "With furniture there are some simple giveaways to look for, such as obvious use of machinery or tools not available when the piece was made - bandsaw blade marks, for example. If you buy a piece with original colour and patina it is much less likely to be restored as French polish and waxed finishes can hide restoration. Remember to factor in auction costs If you buy antiques at an auction house, you will need to pay a "buyer's premium" on top of the cost of the item you've bought. This will be a percentage of the final hammer price. For example, in the forthcoming auction of fine silver and gold boxes taking place at Bonhams in London on June 19, the buyer's premium is 25pc up to £25,000 of the hammer price, 20pc from £25,001 up to £50,000 of the hammer price and 12pc from £50,001 of the hammer price. You must also pay VAT on anything paid to the auction house. Insure your collection You will need to insure any antiques you buy, but premiums needn't be expensive if you have only a few items. Steve Smith, managing director of specialist insurance broker Smith Greenfield, said: "A £5,000 chest of drawers would cost about £10 to £20 to insure on the fine art section of a typical mid or high-net-worth policy." Bear in mind that many standard contents policies will require items to be specified if they are worth more than a defined amount, such as £1,000. Specialist high-value policies, however, tend to need items to be specified only if items are worth more than £5,000, £15,000 or even £25,000 individually. Make sure you keep an up-to-date valuation of the items insured. Andrew Boldt, managing director of brokers Insurance Tailors, said: "For particularly high-value items, insurers may require evidence of a valuation before they will offer cover in the first place." The 41st Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair runs until June 16. Tickets cost £15. Visit olympia-art-antiques.com for more information RICK BLEARS, 72, and his partner, Ruth Shearn, 51, from Altrincham, Cheshire, have been collecting Art Deco antiques in the hope that they will eventually provide a nest egg for their daughter Alexis, 11. Mr Blears, a director at a public relations agency set up by Ms Shearn, said: "We have been dabbling in Art Deco collecting for quite a few years and have built up a collection of about 50 or 60 items, including figurines, lamps, a bit of glass and porcelain." Among the couple's biggest successes to date is a terracotta figurine made by the German factory Cortendorf, which they bought on eBay.co.uk six months ago for £19.95. It had some damage to the fingertips which they had professionally restored, and the figurine is now worth between £600 and £800. Mr Blears said: "We buy things at auction too, although these are always longer-term investments as the buying costs are high. One of the items we bought a few years ago was a bronze figure by the sculptor Josef Lorenzl, which we paid £7,500 for but is now worth £10,000 plus. The idea is to build up a collection as a nest egg for our daughter where the investment will hopefully have outstripped most others, and to have a bit of fun and excitement in the process. More due to the turn of events than good management, it seems to be working out that way. Deco is doing quite well, while lots of other savings and investments are not.