Some Tips for Selling Antique Jewelry

I buy a lot of jewelry but this blog post isn’t an attempt to get you to sell to me. This will help you to get the most when you want to sell antique jewelry. First, let me say right off the bat that there is no standard definition of antique or vintage.

Some people will call a five year old item vintage because it makes the item sound more attractive than something called pre-owned. Antique is the same. If you go to an antique mall, you’re likely to find items from the 1970s and 1980s. Are those really antiques? Who knows. I can tell you these tips apply to any jewelry you want to sell.

To effectively sell antique jewelry, you’ll need to research the marketplace, get expert help, and choose the right sales channel. You start with the research. Explore online marketplaces, auction websites, and antique shops to understand current prices for comparable jewelry. Go to jewelry stores as well. You’d be surprised at how sometimes there’s a substantial difference in the price of the same or similar items. Try to get an idea of the value of items but also the different places similar items sell. Also, see if anything at all like what you have is there at all.

One sad thing you might deal with is that sometimes even antique jewelry has little or no value over the value of the precious metals or gems. This is why you need expert help. After you have your own thoughts on the market, consult with a qualified jeweler or appraiser for a professional evaluation of your piece's value. They will both take into account the materials used, craftsmanship, age, and condition of the item. 

Once you have an idea of the value you can think about ways to sell. You can use online classifieds, auction websites, or specialized sites for vintage and antique items. You can also think about partnering with local jewelers or antique shops to sell on consignment. This is a convenient way to go about things but you’ll make less than in a private sale and you’ll share the money. For fast money, go to a pawn shop or sell to a jeweler. They’ll buy at a wholesale price, so keep that in mind, but it’s the least sales effort once you get there.

If you need to sell antique jewelry in San Diego, why not give me a call. Or you could just bring it by my La Jolla showroom. We’ll treat you fairly, and we’re committed to win-win transactions. So drop by or give me a call. You’ll be glad you did.

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