As people desire to connect with the past in the increasingly modern and fast-paced society, estate jewelry has gained prominence. It stands out with its quality gemstones, skilled artistry, rarity, and eco-friendliness compared to newly-made pieces. Also, antique and vintage jewelry are time capsules and serve as windows to the eras and people of the wondrous past.
If you inherited estate jewelry, perhaps your great-grandmother’s wedding ring or your father’s graduation watch, and wish to sell it, you may wonder how. Unlike most items, you take photos of and post in online marketplaces, selling jewelry is a bit different. Doing some homework and note-taking can help you fetch a higher price for your valuable estate jewelry.
Read on to learn how to value your estate jewelry and where to sell it for top dollar.
Getting the Most of Your Estate Jewelry
Do not sell your estate jewelry blindly; get the most out of it in several ways. First, determine the value of your estate jewelry so you know how to price it. Seek the help of a certified jeweler to price correctly and then sell diamond ring and other precious stones for maximum profit.
Here are some factors determining an estate jewelry’s worth.
- Condition: Jewelry in top-notch condition will likely sell for more than damaged and broken ones.
- Style: Jewelry can be old and out of style or classic and antique, with the difference being thousands of dollars.
- Gems: The gems in inherited jewelry contribute to its worth, with some worth more than others. You can expect jewelry with a diamond to sell for more than one with an amethyst. The gem’s value varies with grade, rarity, and condition.
- Intrinsic value: It is the value of the jewelry’s raw materials- metal and any gems. In most cases, you sell severely damaged jewelry for its intrinsic value.
Second, clean or polish the jewelry. There are tons of DIY methods online for cleaning jewelry. Nevertheless, some cleaning methods can damage your estate jewelry or cause dents and scratches that hurt its value.
For instance, chlorine can wreak havoc on gold and gems, while a stiff brush leaves unsightly scratches. Use lukewarm water, gentle dish soap, and a soft brush for the best results.
Third, inherited jewelry experts recommend getting an appraisal from several vendors. It offers insights into the piece’s worth and the expected cost. In addition, maintain your jewelry’s original packaging to increase its appeal and perceived value. It is particularly effective for prestigious brands like Cartier and Tiffany.
Selling Your Estate Jewelry
While there are many avenues for selling your jewelry, the best one depends on how much you want to get from the jewelry and how quickly you need the money. Below are the common options.
1. Sell Online
Statista reports that 80% of the American population –263 million people, shop online. You can leverage this huge number to sell your estate jewelry online. When selling online, you have many commerce platforms, from eBay to Amazon and Poshmark.
Poshmark, for instance, is fashion-oriented, thus an excellent marketplace for trendy jewelry. Also, it has a bundling option, so you sell multiple pieces, and it features an authentication process for luxury jewelry.
Similarly, eBay appeals with low site fees, free authentication, and a vast audience. Make your jewelry more enticing by including its history and appealing phrases like authentic and vintage. You can opt for luxury consignment sites for a convenient and hassle-free sale but at a cost.
2. Auctions
Auctions are a good option if your estate jewelry is high-end. The most significant benefit of an auction is the possibility of getting high sales figures and the best prices. Your pieces can sell at incredible prices you can’t get anywhere.
When you use a leading auction house like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, you gain from their incredible reputation, vast marketing, huge audience, and legal transactions to get high cash returns. However, these auctions have high set-up costs and standards that may discourage some sellers. You can also try online auctions with an equally colossal audience, increasing the likelihood of a sale.
3. Jewelry Brokers
Make the process of selling estate jewelry easier using a jewelry broker who links you to a buyer. They do all the legwork of finding a buyer in exchange for a fee, typically a percentage of the cost.
Since the broker is experienced in the jewelry market, they can help you price and market your precious stones. However, find a trustworthy and reliable broker to maximize value and avoid headaches.
4. Pawn Shops
When you need to sell your estate jewelry fast -perhaps in an emergency, pawn shops are an excellent walk-in and sell option. They value your jewelry and pay the equivalent cash value. Unfortunately, you get less money for your valuables than most alternatives. You can get the most cash from your jewelry by visiting numerous pawn shops for a quotation.
5. Newspapers
The old-fashioned newspaper offers an excellent opportunity to reach a retail consumer and get a high price for your estate jewelry. You advertise your pieces to many people and could get many leads culminating in a sale. Other ways to sell your estate jewelry include networking with friends and family and using public bulletin boards.
Conclusion
Estate jewelry is unique, skillful-designed, and portrays the aesthetic sensibilities of past eras. While you don’t have to become a gemologist to sell your estate jewelry, the tips above are invaluable, allowing you to get the top dollar for your treasurers.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
