Archive for the ‘Used Jewelry’ Category

Save on Designer Prices, Get Your Jewelry Custom Made!

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Whether you are looking to buy jewelry for yourself, spruce up an old piece, or create a special gift for a friend or loved one, customized jewelry can not only save you cash, but it can help you produce a piece of jewelry that is a one-of-a-kind item created with your particular style in mind. Hand-crafted and custom-made jewelry is becoming more prevalent in recent times where the need for new and creative jewelry is rising, but the price of designer pieces has become too heavy for most of our wallets.

Independently owned custom jewelry retailers are a great place to seek out customized jewelry at affordable prices. Handmade designs and reworking of older pieces of jewelry can help you create a piece that is stunning, unique, and affordable. At a fraction of designer prices, a custom-made piece of jewelry can surpass any generic designer piece sure to be worn by hundreds or thousands of other people.

Clean Out Your Closet for Customized Flair

Redesigning old pieces of jewelry is a great way to cut costs and also bring a little bit of your history into your future. With the right jeweler on your side, you can take an old piece of jewelry and transform it into something beautiful that can be passed on from generation to generation.

Even pieces that were given to you that you don’t particularly care for can be reworked into something you don’t want to take off. Styles can also change over time, which makes it difficult to frequently re-outfit a wardrobe with new pieces to match an adjusted style. Customizing jewelry offers the ability to rework old pieces to fit a new feel without shelling out the hard-earned cash necessary to buy a whole new set of jewelry.

Smaller is Better

Smaller jewelers have a more unique and carefully considered inventory, and are geared toward attentive customer service, not pushy sales tactics. Local jewelers tend to take a keen interest in every customer, and also have a longstanding history in the business and exceptional pride in their work and craftsmanship. Larger jewelers can be intimidating and pushy.

A local, family-run jeweler will be able to offer you guidance in the custom design process, offering unique insight and a true interest in your piece of jewelry.

Buffering the Budget

The economy these days is tough. Purse strings are tighter, wallets are lighter, and the need to buy new items is offset by the ability to make ends meet. Designer jewelry is simply off the books for most of today’s society. But this doesn’t mean that no changes can be made to everyday wear. Customized jewelry can give you just the boost you need without breaking your budget. Even a small change to a piece of jewelry can be enough to give it a whole new look and feel. Communicating with a trustworthy and skilled jeweler can help you explore your options before you go digging into deep reserves to pay for entirely new pieces of jewelry.

Trusting Your Designer

Communication and trust are key factors in finding the right jeweler to help you customize your jewelry. Oftentimes this is just as important as the cost. Try one piece of customized jewelry and see how you feel before moving on to other pieces. A good jeweler will be able to do wonders within the confines of your price range. Your jeweler can also identify alternative metals to use in order to lower the price without risking the quality.

Big chains are less likely to carry customized jewelry or have the craftsmen on staff to take your ideas and bring them to life with the skill and care of a smaller family jeweler. Family jewelers can often cut out the middlemen and help bring facets to you for a lower price than larger distributors. Look through your old pieces of jewelry and talk to a skilled jeweler about revamping your sparkling accessories for a new lease on luxurious living. Even old jewelry can be given a makeover for a fraction of the cost of designer jewelry. Seeking out customized pieces can help you shop within your budget, control your costs, and also leverage your artistic side for a style that fits you perfectly.

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Cashing In: Avoid the pawn shop and head to your local jeweler

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

In these challenging financial times, everyone is looking to stretch their funds just a little further. And when push comes to shove, the next things to go are usually those tangible items tucked back in the corner that we can do without. Old family jewelry or stashed away gold is being pulled out of closets and dug up out of attics as the price of precious metals continues to rise.

Because of this upswing in the value of precious metals, many people are turning to the pawn shop to help loosen their purse strings. But where pawn shops provide a quick and customary service for turning materials into money, the true winner is not always the seller. Fortunately, there is more than one way to liquidate some of your finer assets.

Risks of Dealing with Pawn Shops

Pawn shops are popular today mostly because individuals are just not aware that there are alternative options. But with a little knowledge of where to find them, alternative options are a great solution. Gold, silver, and platinum are all selling right now at unquestionably favorable prices. Because of this trend, cashing out your precious metals is a great way to line your pockets. Your old jewelry and scrap metal can be traded in for a very attractive payout.

Although it may be tempting to walk down the block to your local pawn shop and unload (or often travel to shops located in less desirable areas of town) you may be walking back with far less cash than your valuables are worth. Pawn shops may appear to be the easy answer, but they are often not the most lucrative choice. Where most businesses are looking to make a marginal profit, pawn shops are commonly making quite a bit more out of your trade-in than you are. A pawn shop can turn your sale around for 80% over your sale price, offering you merely 20% on the true value of your items.

Turning to Your Reputable Jeweler

The safest way to get the best price per ounce on your unwanted jewelry is to turn to a reputable jeweler. Jewelers can appraise your items and determine the proper weight and calculations, along with an informed explanation of the worth of your items. Being able to ask questions in a low-pressure atmosphere can help you feel comfortable about your sale without being shuffled out the door.
A well-known jeweler will most often also charge lower commissions for the sale, raising the total dollar amount that you walk away with in the end. Pawn shops are also indiscriminant. They will purchase anything including electronics and appliances, which make your item just another sale and your buyer potentially less knowledgeable about the true value of your precious metals. Jewelers are experts in their field, and their reputation for upstanding dealings in jewelry is the cornerstone of their business. Jewelers are careful about their trade, and will weigh your karats using the correct measurements and separate items by karat to offer you the most accurate estimate of your valuables.

Doing business with a jeweler offers you a low-stress, comfortable, informed transaction without the sometimes questionable atmosphere of the pawn shop. Jewelers know that their sellers are also often also their customers, and establishing the fair market value of items being sold and bought is an important part of growing their business. Pawn shops deal with a gamut of nameless buyers and sellers, and many of these dealings can be shady at best.

Where pawn shops tend to work outside convention, jewelers are required to meet certain standards in order to maintain a notable business. Where jewelers are required to ask for identification when buying gold from a seller and weigh metals by karat and specific industry measurements, pawn shops often deal with items from unconfirmed sources and have questionable weighing habits. Correctly appraising precious metals and also confirming the source of these items are all part of a reputable process.

A rise in the value of your jewelry is no reason to rush off to the first buyer you find, especially if you are not getting the best deal you can. Shopping around for prices, exploring your options, working with industry experts and consulting with experienced appraisers are the best ways to ensure you get the most out of your jewelry.

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You Would Buy a Pre-owned Vehicle, Why Not a watch?

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

Most people have purchased a pre-owned vehicle in their life despite the potential risks involved, but many people still hesitate to buy a used watch. Why is it that a collectible item like a luxury wrist watch scares people away but expensive cars that have likely been in a crash or two are sold every day? Both purchases do require time and extensive research to find the perfect fit for an individual, but a car and a watch aren’t that far apart.

Similarities of a Pre-owned Vehicle and Watch

  • Quality: Car and watch manufacturers all have quality reputations based on years of experience. When you go shopping for a used car, you generally look for a car known for its quality because it will be used and you want to make sure it won’t fall apart on you. Same thing with a watch; you wouldn’t buy a used watch from a low-quality manufacturer because it is likely to break in a short period of time. Price isn’t always in direct relation to the quality of a new, unused watch, but if you are trying to cut corners and pay less, you are more likely to end up with a lesser-quality product.
  • History: It is good practice to ask the car owner for the full history of the vehicle to find out if it had ever been in a crash or had major repairs before. While there is no official “Department of Wrist Watches” reporting on the history of a watch, the seller should be able to tell you everything about the fine watch such as where it came from, how many owners have had it, how old it is, and if there have been repairs made. These must all be taken into consideration when purchasing a high-end pre-owned watch.
  • Style: Both a car and a watch will be seen by the public when you are using it. You want to make a statement with the accessory and also have it match your personal style. It is really important to find the car that you feel you look good in, just as it is important to find the watch that looks good on you. You would not want to be ashamed every time you stepped into your car, just as you would not want to be ashamed to put on your watch you paid good money for. No matter how perfect the quality is, you should still make sure the pre-owned watch is the perfect style for you before even considering a purchase.
  • Technical Specifications: Nobody in their right mind would buy a pre-owned car without first understanding what exactly was under the hood. Is it a four or six cylinder? What type of transmission does it have? Does the air conditioning system work? These are all good questions you would ask. Same goes for watches; you will want to know what components the watch has, who manufactured them, if they have been replaced, and what their expected life will be.
  • Documentation: Ownership documentation, historical documents, proof of servicing and other items should all be included in the exchange of both pre-owned cars and fine watches. If the seller is not willing to provide the appropriate documents, you wouldn’t buy the car or watch.
  • Warranty or Guarantee: Just because you are buying pre-owned doesn’t mean you should risk walking away from the purchase without any sort of warranty or guarantee. A lot of times, you won’t receive any type of warranty from a private seller but if you use a reputable dealer like Levi Family Jewelers then you can be assured that the purchase comes with protection.
  • Service: When you use a dealer for both cars and watches, they can help you find the perfect one for you and explain everything in detail. When making a large purchase that you will probably have for a long time to come, you should expect only the highest quality service to help you through the process. If you aren’t receiving good service from the seller, walk away from the transaction because poor service will probably mean a poor product in the end anyway.

Posted in Buying Jewelry, Used Jewelry, Watches | No Comments »

What to look for When Purchasing Used Jewelry

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

There are a number of important considerations to make when purchasing any piece of jewelry, and used jewelry requires some special concerns to make sure that you’re buying the right piece at a good price. Used jewelry can be purchased from a jeweler, pawn shop, estate sale, second-hand store, consignment shop, or even a yard sale. No matter where you’re buying jewelry from, educating yourself about some jewelry basics will help you be a savvy shopper and protect you from making a poor purchase.

Although you may be able to find some bargains by purchasing jewelry from someone who lacks professional jewelry knowledge, there are some benefits to buying used jewelry from a reputable jeweler:
•    You can rely on industry experts to provide you with accurate information about the pieces you’re considering.
•    You will feel comfortable buying from someone that you may know and trust, or who has a reliable reputation in your area.
•    You can check up on professional jewelers you don’t know by viewing their website, finding reviews online, and calling the Better Business Bureau.
•    Your purchase may come with a warranty, free or low-cost maintenance and cleanings, and the option to return the item within a certain timeframe.
If you ever feel uncomfortable about a purchase you’re considering, you should listen to your gut feeling and walk away. And if you choose to buy from a professional jeweler, you can return the following day after you’ve had a chance to sleep on it.

Antique jewelry is often extremely unique or one-of-a-kind, making it a great gift for someone special or a wonderful addition to your current collection. Antique jewelry must either be inherited or purchased used, so it’s always a bonus if you find someone who knows about the history or origins of an antique piece. There are a few things to know when looking at jewelry you’re told is “antique”:
•    Antique jewelry was made before the year 1900.
•    White gold was not available before 1920, so jewelry containing white gold is not considered antique.
•    Platinum was not on the market until about 1900, so it is not technically antique.
•    Most early pieces from the Georgian or Victorian eras were made from silver, while some rarer pieces were made from yellow gold.
•    Coral, mother-of-pearl, tortoise shell, and other shells were often used in antique jewelry, as were ivory, pearls, semi-precious, and precious stones.
•    The type of clasp or fastener is another way to tell if a piece is antique or not. Most clasps and fasteners used in modern jewelry were developed after 1900, so a fastener you’ve never seen before is a good sign that you’re looking at an antique.

Of course, used jewelry does not have to be antique. A newer piece of used jewelry should be less expensive than it would be if purchased new, so the price is one initial factor to consider.

Another important consideration is the condition of the piece. You’ll want to look for anything that appears to be broken, such as a clasp or setting prong, and request that that it be fixed or replaced before you make the purchase. If you’re buying from a pawn shop, estate sale, or other place that sells its pieces “as is,” then you should use the broken part or flaw to bargain for a lower price, since you’ll need to pay to have the piece repaired elsewhere.

Finally, you’ll want to think about how any piece of jewelry you’re considering buying will go with the rest of your jewelry collection. The most important factor here is usually the type of metal it’s made from, since yellow gold doesn’t mix well with white gold, silver, and platinum. Yellow gold should be worn with other pieces of yellow gold jewelry, while white gold, and silver; platinum pieces can generally be mixed and matched together. You may want to consider your wedding band and engagement ring as the basis for the other types of metal jewelry you’ll add to your collection.

If the piece contains any gemstones, these should also be a consideration in accordance with your other jewelry. On one hand, you may want to purchase pieces with types of gemstones you don’t already own, to expand and diversify your collection. On the other hand, you may want to own many pieces that match or can be worn together, especially if you like to wear simple clothing styles embellished with a lot of jewelry.

Diamonds and pearls are two of the most diverse gemstones because they go with so many other pieces of jewelry, although they should not be worn together. Both gemstones can be worn with either yellow gold or white gold, silver, and platinum. They can also both be worn with a variety of other gemstones.

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