These days, estate, or vintage
jewelry, has become increasingly popular due to its collectability,
unique aesthetics, and retro designs. Vintage jewelry dating all the way
back to the Georgian era is exceedingly rare, hard to find, and, as
such, is extremely sought after. The price of a given piece of vintage
jewelry depends on a number of factors including the materials used in
making the jewelry, as well as its history and its nostalgic value. For
example, jewelry set with precious metals and precious gemstones,
intricately designed and well-made would be have a higher value than
jewelry made with semi-precious metals, mounted with semi-precious
gemstones, glass beads or inexpensive birthstones, poorly crafted or
simply designed. In addition, the jewelry's past owners or history can
directly impact the item's value. For instance, if the jewelry was
previously owned by a famous Hollywood actress, a socialite or a member
of the royal family, it would be considered a highly collectible and
valuable piece of jewelry.
Here are a few useful tips on how to successfully sell estate
jewelry:
- The first step in selling estate jewelry is having the various
pieces appraised by a licensed jeweler, experienced in working with
pieces vintage of vintage jewelry. The appraisal will give you a rough
estimate of the jewelry's worth, which will help you to determine the
pieces' asking prices.
- After you've had your estate jewelry appraised, I recommend taking
the pieces in to a local jeweler for a little care and maintenance. Ask
your jeweler to inspect your vintage pieces for loose settings, loose
gemstones, or possible damages which may be apparent on the jewelry's
metal surfaces. An experienced jeweler should be able to easily detect
any imperfections. Have him/her repair and tighten loose settings, buff
out scratches and dents and thoroughly clean the jewelry. The jeweler
will verify that your estate jewelry is fit to be sold.
- Now that you're all set to sell your vintage jewelry, you have a
number of mediums available to you. The first being a local auction
house. If your vintage jewelry is of sufficient quality and value then
an auction house will agree to sell your jewelry off for you. However,
auction houses may charge a percentage of your sales as a handling and
brokering fee. If you are unwilling to pay the auction houses' handling
fees then perhaps you should consider selling your estate jewelry at
online auction houses such as eBay.com, Bidz.com, etc. Online auction
sites will allow you to electronically monitor the bidding and the sale
of all of your items in a direct and simple way. Another option is to
try and sell your vintage jewelry to local pawn shops or antique shops.
This is where your jewelry appraisal comes in handy. By having your
vintage pieces pre-appraised, you'll know the precise value of your
jewelry, which will stop local proprietors from low-balling you with
their offers.
When selling estate jewelry, it is important that the pieces come
equipped with a carbon copy of the jewelry appraisal and a GIA or AGS
approved a certificate, or a letter of authentication.
