Pixels
About       Services       Shop       Engagement Guide       Jewelry 101       Contact

7 Tips for Selling Vintage Jewelry

Selling vintage jewelry can be quite profitable if you do it at the right place. Get several tips for selling it in this guide.

The most expensive piece of jewelry in the world was sold for $46 million. Even if your rare pieces aren’t going to sell for that king’s ransom, many of them may have real value that you don’t know about.

If you’re looking to get some extra cash, selling vintage jewelry is a great choice. Read on to learn how to choose jewelry to sell and exchange it for money.

1. Know What You’re Selling

If you’re thinking about selling antique jewelry, you likely have a pretty good idea of what pieces you have to choose from. It’s important that you select the right rare jewelry to sell from those larger batches.

First, consider which pieces in the collection have a lot of sentimental value. If something belonged to your beloved grandmother and you remember her wearing it, that’s probably not something to sell. Don’t make any decisions you’ll regret, and be careful about how you sort things out.

It’s also important that you keep collections together. If you have a matching set, including a necklace, earrings, and bangles, you’ll get more money if you sell the collection together.

If you want to keep part of it, don’t sell the rest of the collection. Doing so will drastically reduce its value, and you won’t be able to sell it later if you change your mind.

2. Strip Off Sentimental Value

Once you know what pieces you want to sell and put them together, you need to assess them objectively. The jewelry to sell won’t be emotionally precious, so it should be pretty easy to strip off any remaining sentimental value. When you do this, you’ll have an easier time assessing their objective merit. 

Maintaining a strong emotional attachment to the item might make you think it’s worth more than it is. It might also make you question any transaction that does not match your perceived value. This can cause a lot of issues when your perceived value is much higher than the piece’s actual cost.

You can also look at aesthetics more objectively when you’re not biased and emotional. Look through fashion blogs and websites to see what antique jewelry is currently in style. Decide whether you have something that others might actually want to wear.

If your jewelry is not currently trendy, you might be better off selling the gemstones or metal independently. A knowledgeable jeweler can help you determine how this process will work.

3. Consider the Item’s Condition

You also will need to consider the condition of your pieces before selling. If you have a gorgeous brooch that’s totally in vogue, you may still have trouble selling it if it’s in poor condition.

Scratches and chips will seriously damage the value of any piece of jewelry. Rust and tarnishing also will drastically decrease the amount you can sell it for. If clasps aren’t working or pieces are missing, you’re going to have trouble getting a fair amount for it, too.

4. Get an Appraisal

Now that you know exactly what to try selling, it’s time to get an appraisal. An appraisal happens when you take the jewelry to an expert and have them perform a value assessment. They will look at it closely by using professional tools and resources.

Microscopes will find blemishes in stones. The professional will see the overall quality of the stone, the style of the piece, and the date it was likely made. Professionals will be able to ensure authenticity and give you a quote for your sale.

This appraisal will contain detailed documentation of your piece that describes the gemstone information, metal quality, and designs. It will break down the price so you know where the jewelry derives its value.

5. Schedule a Professional Cleaning

In some cases where the piece is worth a lot of money, fixing something broken might be worthwhile. In many situations, it is not. Your appraisal and subsequent conversation with FAO experts will let you know what next steps to take.

If something is intact and in overall fair condition, there are worthwhile ways to increase its value. We offer jewelry inspections and cleaning services so that we can polish your gemstones and keep your metal in top shape. We have an eye for detail and tools that let us remove any grime without harming the stone.

We can help get your jewelry in good shape and increase its value. You may be able to sell it for enough that the cleaning pays for itself.

6. Find the Right Buyer

Determining where to sell jewelry can be a challenge for those who have never done so before. It’s hard to find reputable buyers online. You could wind up selling something for way less than you could get for it with a different jewelry buyer.

That’s why you must go to a professional and reputable jeweler to sell jewelry. At FAO, you can immediately consign items you don’t want anymore. Our marketing and sales team will help you sell it to an interested customer who comes into our shop.

Once the piece sells, we’ll call you back in to collect your check!

7. Ask the Right Questions

It’s important that you ask professionals the right questions before letting us consign your jewelry. Consider inquiring about the following:

  • How much similar pieces have sold for
  • How we plan to display and market your piece
  • How you can collect your payment
  • What steps we’ll take to ensure that you get the best value

You’ll be more confident in your decision to sell when you’re completely in the loop.

Sell Vintage Jewelry the Right Way

Now that you have some tips for selling vintage jewelry, it’s time to profit from your assets. FAO’s jewelers are excited to talk with you and appraise rare jewelry to ensure you can make a fair and profitable sale. Contact us to start a conversation about estate jewelry sales today.