Jewelry often holds great sentimental value, and when someone passes on, leaving you the option of selling their antique jewelry, it’s essential to ensure that you aren’t making any rash decisions. After all, you want to honor the memory of your loved one and ensure that their inheritance is put to good use. We can help you sell estate jewelry at Abercrombie Jewelry for the best price. Whether you have an antique diamond ring or a 1970s necklace with excellent intrinsic value, we will ensure you get a good deal.
This post by our team in Abercrombie Jewelry offers important key tips for selling jewelry inherited from an estate.
If you want a more detailed process, read more at: Here’s What You Should Know About How to Sell Estate Jewelry
Steps to Take for Selling Jewelry
The jewelry industry is a complex and ever-changing environment, so it’s easy for sellers to feel like a fish out of water when it’s time to sell vintage jewelry. Fortunately, we’ve devised a list of tips to help you know where to start.
Here’s what you will need to do to make a sale:
Step One: Have Your Antique Jewelry Cleaned
Before you show the piece to an appraiser or potential buyers, it’s essential to get it cleaned. Years of dirt and grime can cause the piece to lose its appeal. If you are selling a watch, now is an excellent time to change the watch’s battery.
We recommend taking your jewelry to a professional dealer to ensure it is not damaged during the process.
Step Two: Get an Appraisal (or Two)
The next step in selling fine estate jewelry is having your estate jewelry appraised by a professional. Although this may appear to be a needless expense at first glance, an appraisal will help you determine the value of your pieces.
We don’t recommend stopping at just one appraisal. Take your pieces to at least two or three dealers and consider obtaining a report from reputable institutes like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
When appraisers look at fine diamond jewelry, they will consider the following factors:
- Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat
- The precious metals used
- Gemstones
- The overall condition of the piece
- Its historical significance
Step Three: Do Your Research
We also recommend conducting some research to understand the market value of your estate jewelry. This will come in handy when bargaining. Look for similar pieces that were recently sold. Great places to try are online marketplaces and auction houses. You can also go to a local dealer.
Step Four: Decide on a Selling Method
There are several ways you can sell your antique jewelry. The method you choose will depend on your personal preferences, the urgency of the sale, and the type of jewelry you’re selling.
Local Pawn Shops or Jewelry Stores
This is arguably the easiest and most fuss-free way to sell your vintage jewelry. However, ensuring you’re working with reputable establishments specializing in buying and selling jewelry is crucial.
When you choose Abercrombie Jewelry, you can rest assured that you’re working with the best in the industry.
Sell Your Eco Estate Jewelry Online
Another option is to use online marketplaces to make a sale. To do this, you’ll need to take a few high-quality photographs of the piece, craft detailed descriptions, and set a competitive price based on your research before you wait to hear back from potential jewelry buyers.
Try Auction Houses If You Have a Rare Diamond Jewelry Piece
If your estate jewelry is valuable, rare, or historically important, you could consider selling it through an auction house.
Estate Sales or Consignments
You could also choose to participate in estate sales or consignment arrangements. Estate sales involve selling several items from an estate. Conversely, consignment involves leaving your antique gold jewelry with a dealer to sell on your behalf for a commission.
Top Tips for Selling Estate Jewelry
Here’s some advice to ensure that you have a good selling experience:
Never Throw Out the Original Packaging
Include the original jewelry case with the item, especially if it is in good shape and comes from a reputable company such as Cartier or Tiffany, which will raise its value. Sometimes a vintage Tiffany box will fetch more money than the jewelry it contains.
Work with Reputable Jewelry Buyers
Although you could sell your piece on your own, we highly recommend working with a professional dealer to buy jewelry once held in an estate. Not only will you get professional service and a pleasant experience overall, but you’ll also get a reasonable price.
Another thing to remember is that antiques are often fragile, so it’s best to take them to a professional jeweler for cleaning rather than trying to clean them on your own, as they can break or end up with fine scratches.
Don’t Forget Security
It’s also imperative to think about security when it comes to antique silver or gold jewelry. While waiting for a potential buyer, ensure you have adequate measures to safely store the piece.
Moreover, take reasonable caution when meeting with buyers in person. Avoid accepting cash offers and use reliable payment methods. It’s also a good idea to meet buyers in public places.
Be Patient
Keep in mind that selling any jewelry can take time, especially if you have a sentimental or valuable piece and are looking for a buyer who will appreciate its worth.
Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate
Negotiation is an important part of the selling process. A good tip here would be to do as much research as possible and present evidence to the potential buyer of similar pieces that sold at higher prices. This will give you greater leverage for negotiating a better deal.
Final Thoughts
Selling estate jewelry can be a fun and rewarding experience. With this guide and selling tips on hand, you can make the most of your antique jewelry and get the highest possible price for it.
The good news is that you’re not alone in selling – we are here to help!
Whether you require assistance with one eco-estate jewelry piece or need to wrap up entire estates, Abercrombie Jewelry will provide guidance at every step. Contact us today to sell your estate jewelry for the best price!
Frequently Asked Questions
In the section below, we take a look at some of the most-asked questions about selling estate jewelry.