Certain parties highly sought after vintage jewelry, and if you find yourself in possession of some, you may be considering selling. After all, you are free to make such a decision whether or not the item holds some kind of sentimental value.
Selling estate jewelry is not the same as selling particular other possessions. First, there’s the matter of ascertaining who may find them valuable. Next, you must consider the value you may need to have professionally determined since the last thing you want is to be shortchanged.
This is meant to be an easy-to-digest yet helpful set of information to help you navigate how to sell estate jewelry, which could otherwise be a tedious process.
Preparing to Sell
As you prepare to sell your antique jewelry, there’s a checklist of sorts that you’ll want to get through, which will not only help you to find a buyer, but you’ll also get a better understanding of what your asking price should be while ensuring that you make the items be seen as valuable as possible.
Appraisal Opinions
Precious metals are all over, and while your estate jewelry may have elements of uniqueness to it, the chances are that there are other pieces out there that at least closely resemble the one that you have.
This allows you to browse marketplaces, particularly online ones, to see what others may consider a fair price for similar items.
Of course, this isn’t going to form your opinion completely. You’ll also want to get an expert appraisal done. it’s recommended that you get about three different professional appraisals when selling jewelry so that you can get as balanced a perspective as possible.
Clean Jewelry is Recommended
Even though you’re dealing with fine jewelry, buyers will likely find the piece more attractive if it’s visually pleasing. Your estate jewelry may not have been cleaned in a while. If you’re hoping to sell, there’s no better time to get things cleaned up.
You can research methods to do the cleaning yourself, but if you can afford it, the best route is to do a professional cleaning and polishing. A good idea is to take it to a good family jeweler you know and trust in the industry.
Grading Report
Getting a Gemological Institute of America report on the grading is also a recommended course of action. You can think of it as the jewelry industry equivalent of a birth certificate for humans. Not only does this help you to prevent your valuable jewelry from being switched, but it also means that getting a lower value than you should becomes way more unlikely.
Original Packaging
You may have several pieces in a jewelry box, but just taking the one you want to sell and doing so in hand or some alternative packaging may reduce the amount you could be selling the item for. Of course, there are various reasons why the original packaging may not be available, but if you can get your hands on it, you should.
this will ensure that your gold, silver, or platinum jewelry has greater prestige and can attract a higher value. Take a piece of Tiffany jewelry, for example. What if you were told that there are cases in which the box is more valuable than the jewelry inside it?
What Factors Should You Think About?
You’ll likely be trying your best to find trusted estate jewelry buyers. The question is, what should you have in mind as you try to do this? Your mindset needs to revolve around having as successful a transaction as possible.
From costume jewelry to some of the most sought-after pieces in the world, any transaction can go downhill if the buyer is not up to a certain standard. Reputation is key. If you’re the kind of person who uses online storefronts, then you know how vital the review system and seller ratings are. In a way, it’s the same kind of scenario here.
You may find that a jewelry buyer has a reputation on the market through testimonials, reviews, customer satisfaction ratings, and more.
Remember that most estate jewelry is not the norm, so relevant experience is mandatory. You’ll want to deal with someone with explicit experience in estate jewelry. This is invaluable since such persons will have a much better understanding of the actual market value.
Transparency and excellent communication are also attributes that are desirable in these kinds of situations.
What Should You Be Asking Buyers of Antique and Estate Jewelry?
As you aim to sell your jewelry, you’ll want to research potential buyers as indicated above. You can start things off by making a reputation-based list.
Social media, search engines, and review sites are excellent sources of information on different buyers. Look for certificates and affiliations, which are great indicators of the extent to which these buyers are credible.
You’ll also want to ask the right set of questions of potential buyers as you aim to sell your inherited jewelry. Of course, these queries are based on information you want to gather. Here are some essential examples:
- What’s your value determination method?
- What are your affiliations or certifications?
- How long have you been buying estate jewelry?
- Are you an online-only operator, or do you also have a physical location?
- What does your appraisal process look like?
- How do your payment terms and options work?
- What methods do you use to guarantee a secure and confidential transaction?
- How is the transportation of valuable pieces handled?
- Do you have any testimonials or reviews from previous clients that you can show?
Whether it’s something as sentimental as an ancestor’s wedding ring or another valuable piece of jewelry with less emotional weight, you should never underestimate the importance of doing everything possible to find the right buyer.
Don’t Jump at Offers
This is an essential point to cover, especially for those who are not the most familiar with the jewelry industry. Even when you find reputable buyers, it doesn’t always mean that the price you get is the best one you can. This is one of the reasons why you get multiple appraisals.
Just because it sounds amazing to you, it doesn’t mean you probably aren’t being shortchanged. Apart from the cost, you also want to dive into the terms of the offer.
A good buyer will take the time to provide justifying information for the offer that has been made.
You want the true value of your estate jewelry to be understood.
Tips to Making the Process Smooth
Here are a few essential tips to bear in mind. Even beyond estate jewelry, you can use these tips when selling other valuables:
- Ensure that records of the transaction are kept. Such records include communication history, agreements, offers, and more. You’ll want to have this if it needs to serve as evidence later since disputes are not impossible.
- The information you get from appraisers will form a big part of your ability to do this. Your knowledge should be at the forefront of your mind as it will help you explain the reasons behind any expectations you have. A lack of confidence can result in buyers attempting to take advantage of you.
- Ensure that your jewelry is well documented. Inventory all your pieces, pictures, and other relevant documentation.
- Proper transportation and insurance are non-negotiables. This is especially true if you plan to sell your jewelry in person. You need secure transportation and the right insurance coverage. If you plan to sell online, ensure that you use a shipper with adequate tracking.
Different Selling Alternatives
The Consignment Method
This is one way to ensure you get the right buyer and sell for the right price. Consignment has a dealer sell on your behalf, meaning they don’t need to buy from you outright and mark the price down because of the risks they’re taking.
You Could Sell Online
Online marketplaces are great places to sell everything from scrap gold to intricate pieces of fine jewelry. There are luxury consignment sites that you can leverage, which do all the necessary work on your behalf. This is especially desirable since there’s a level of anonymity to benefit from.
Using an Auction House
Selling your estate jewelry at an auction is also an option. You want to carefully think about the starting price, though and accept that you may get way more or less than the item is worth if you go about it this way.
The Bottom Line
Selling estate jewelry is not the most straightforward process in the world. You need to take the time to gather data on the jewelry and the buyers you are considering. Additionally, it would be best if you chose a selling methodology that is comfortable for you.