Selling Jewelry that Isn’t Fine Jewelry

There is a lot of information online about how to sell gold and other precious metals. There is a lot of information about how to sell just about all kinds of fine jewelry and the materials used to manufacture it. Diamonds. Emeralds. Sapphires. You’re not going to have any problem finding ways to sell that. What if you have a great deal of high-quality jewelry that a jeweler like me isn’t going to buy? It’s not that costume jewelry or handmade jewelry isn’t beautiful. It’s just not my particular business. In addition, it’s almost exclusively something you sell to the end user and not a dealer. Except in rare cases, a jewler or a pawn broker won’t buy it unless they want it for personal use.

So, what do you do?

Just so we’re clear, I’m going to use the term costume jewelry even when it refers to handmade jewelry. It’s not a derogatory statement. I’ve seen a breathtaking necklace made of beads, a necklace that rivals any fine jewelry when it comes to beauty. We’re just going to use the term costume jewelry to refer to anything that isn’t fine jewelry, which can be defined as using precious metals. Costume jewelry, also known as fashion jewelry, is jewelry made from non-precious materials like base (not precious) metals, simulated stones, semi-precious stones, and plastics. Unlike fine jewelry, which uses precious metals and gemstones, costume jewelry offers an affordable and trendy way to accessorize.

To sell costume jewelry for cash, you usually need to get right to the end user. The means you want to consider online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace. With a number listing formats from auctions to immediate purchase, eBay gives you choices. Esty is probably best for unique and handmade jewelry. You also want to look into online classifieds like Craigslist.  Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are good if your jewelry really requires an in-person look. Just be sure to follow safety guidelines. Face to face options can be great, too. Arts and craft fairs are a great way to get your jewelry in front of a local audience. You can always do a garage sale or a yard sale. A community garage sale works as well. You can look into consignment shops, especially antique-mall style shops. It’s possible (depending on the pieces) you might get a pawn shop to buy but the price will be far less than you want.

We can’t help you with costume jewelry but I hope this blog post gives you some ideas. If you have fine jewelry you’d like to sell, give me a call. Or, drop by my La Jolla showroom. You’ll be glad you did.

Enjoy this next:

What Impacts the Value of Antique Jewelry?