What should I look for when buying estate jewelry?

Here are a few useful tips on buying estate, or vintage, jewelry:



1. When it comes to buying estate jewelry, the best thing you could do is thoroughly educate yourself on vintage jewelry. Its eras, its characteristics, and most importantly, its values. Look for online jewelry education sites containing information on the various aspects of estate jewelry. Learn about the different periodical jewelry (including Georgian jewelry, early, mid and late Victorian jewelry, Edwardian jewelry, Arts and Crafts jewelry, Art Deco jewelry, Art Nouveau jewelry and retro jewelry), investigate the differences in values and prices, etc.

2. It's not enough to educate yourself on antique jewelry and its eras. You also need to make sure that you have a sufficient understanding of jewelry and its components in general. Read up on the different materials and techniques used in the making of jewelry. Look for information on precious metals and their characteristics, precious gemstones and their various aspects (including carat weight, clarity, color and cut), smelting and casting techniques and various jewelry designs and styles.


3. If the piece you have selected is set with diamonds or other precious gemstones, make sure that the jewelry comes with a GIA or AGS approved certificate, with details the gemstone's unique characteristics and guarantees its authenticity. You do not want to pay for what you thought was an expensive gemstone only to later discover that it was made out of glass or synthetically made (synthetic stones are valued at less than genuine, natural gemstones). Also, if ever you decide to sell off you estate jewelry, if it does not come equipped with a certificate you will have a hard time selling it, as vendors and private consumers alike do not like dealing in uncertified precious gemstones (for the exact reasons listed above). If the diamond, or precious gemstone, is an antique and was not certified, ask the salesman for a letter of authentication, which lists the piece's history and its previous owners.


4. Have a good look at the jewelry you are thinking of getting. Make sure that there is no visible damage to the piece's metal surfaces, check and see if there are any visible scratches and dents, examine the settings and confirm that there are no loose prongs or bits, that the settings are intact and that the gemstone mounted into the stetting isn't loose in any way. A damaged setting may result in the loss of the precious gemstone set into the jewelry. If the piece is damaged in any way, ask the salesman whether they can fix the damage. If they do not make repairs, and you're still interested in the piece, ask for a discount on account of the sustained damages. If you think that the selected piece is still a bargain, even though it is visibly damaged, and you're thinking of purchasing the jewelry anyways, perhaps it would be wise to consult with a jeweler before making your final purchase. Ask him whether the damage can be fixed and how much it would cost you.

5. Don't be afraid to haggle with the salesman. You're not buying jewelry from a retailer, with a fixed price point. You have a chance to try and lower the price of your selected item.



After you have completed your purchase, I highly recommend you take your newly acquired estate jewelry to a qualified appraiser and have it appraised for insurance purposes.

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