June 2, 2007
Jewelry and the Art of Selling
Two of the most frequently asked questions we get at the Online Jewelry Appraisal Center is:
“How do I sell an item of Antique or Estate Jewelry?” or…
“How much should I ask for it?”
Very often people receive an item as a ‘Hand Down’ or ‘Bequest’ after someone has passed away.
It may or may not be worth something, or the person ‘Just doesn’t like it’….
So what to do?
# RULE 1: Take back control.
The Antique Trade in general are a Fine and Trusting lot, but there are always the ‘Shyster’ or ‘Fagin’ characters out there.
In this case it’s not Buyer Beware, but Seller Beware…
Sometimes the Second-Hand Dealers or Pawn Brokers (all of whom have a great general knowledge on Buying and Selling) may not QUITE know what your particular item is really worth.
So the first thing to do is get your item appraised and valued by a qualified gemologist (if there are gemstones involved) and/or a member of the local Valuers association. Your local, TRUSTED Jeweler might be both.
It is greatly suggested that the person you obtain a valuation from, is NOT INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE OF THE ITEM.
But a further word of advice is given here too…
Let these people know ‘WHAT YOU WANT THE VALUATION FOR’.
There are several TYPES of Valuation and all will have a different price on the bottom line.
Did you want an Insurance valuation?
Did you want to sell the item to a third party?
Did you wish to sell the item through an Auction?
Did you just want to know what it would fetch?
All of these are very valid points, yet all are different.
If you are not sure which applies to your particular situation, why not check our very helpfull information section on ‘TYPES OF VALUATIONS’ at the Online Jewelry Appraisal Centre (address shown below).
If you don’t want to go to a great expense, you might take advantage of the useful ‘Do it Yourself’ ONLINE Valuation Self Appraisal Kit. At such a low fee (less than the price of a Big Mac and Coke) it’s money well spent. Indeed, if you just purchased something on eBay or Yahoo auctions for example, you might wish to confirm an approximate value by using this easy to use valuation kit.
The ‘walk through’ instructions are so easy my 6yr old Granddaughter completed the form in under ten minutes. (She had it all wrong of course) but it was under ten minutes.
‘Just Kidding…’ It couldn’t be simpler.
My other Granddaughter (Rachael was eight) did it easy AND correct!
So if you recently bought something from a local Dealer, on the Market or at the Antique Fair, why not get it checked. What’s the worst that could happen? You blow some loose change - Not much of a Risk, is it?
At this price it’s a Bargain, plus there are many other advantages to having your Jewelry done at the Online Jewelry Appraisal Center.
# RULE 2: Pick your Market.
What do we mean by this is:
Are you in a hurry to Cash something in?
Do you have the time to ‘Try, Try again…’ should something NOT sell the first time around?
What are the costs involved?
How about selling something ‘On Consignment?’
Auction Houses are a great way to sell your Jewelry, but even the best of them have costs. Find out BEFORE you sell.
Selling on Consignment is another good method, as you should get more money from the sale than if you sold it directly to an Antique Dealer. BUT IT MIGHT TAKE MORE TIME.
Are the Classified Ads in the local paper worth doing?
In our experience… NO! Plus you have the extra security problem associated with someone coming to your Home to inspect the goods - ‘And Check out all your other stuff too.’
It’s just not Worth it…
There are several other SPECIAL REPORTS available through our eMail-on-Demand subscription box at the website, so please take some time to visit.
There is a timely warning on Security issues. It’s good advice, plus there is some great tips on Investing in Jewelry, Insurance guidelines and other notes on selling, Hallmarking tips etc, and they are being added to all the time.
And the best bit is they are FREE….
Thank you for taking the time to read this special report. If you thought it interesting, useful or found it helped you in any way I would appreciate your comments via email at the address shown below.
This is my personal email address and I read every comment - good or bad.
Alternatively: why not pass it on to a friend. I’m sure you can think of someone who might benefit from this useful information. Treat it as doing me a big favor. I will certainly appreciate it.
regards and please watch the road. David Foard F.G.A.A. Fellow of the Gemological Association of Australia and former member of JATVC - The Valuers Council (retired).
P.S.
If you administer a website or publish an ezine, please feel free to use this article as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed below. Although it’s not compulsory, just send me an email at gemmo1@jewellery-antiques.com and let me know if and where you used it. If you need other great content - complimentary of course - then drop me a line at the email address given - ’cause I’ve got Gallons of the stuff….
David Foard has spent over 30 years in the Antique Jewelry Trade as a qualified gemologist and member of the Valuers Council. Get a FREE 3 part ‘Hallmarking Report’ on How to Identify your Jewelry Hallmarks at Home or Work by going to ==> http://www.jewellery-antiques.com and grabbing yourself a
fistfull of Hints - Tips and Secrets.
