Before attempting to sell your jewelry in Fort Myers, FL, you need to understand how the value of your collection is determined. Many sellers make the mistake of putting their gemstones on eBay or go out to sell them in public and have no idea about the actual worth of the pieces. Typically, people either overestimate the value simply because it is jewelry; or they assume the pieces have little to no value just because they don’t like the pieces or do not want to wear them. Often people don’t even know if the gemstones in their jewelry are real semi-precious stones or manufactured. This is especially true when you’ve inherited pieces. That Saphire necklace your mother wore may have looked real to you, and perhaps she always claimed it was real, but without having an appraisal done by someone who is knowledgeable, you’ll never know the truth about it. At Judy’s Jewelry Antique and Estate Jewelry in Fort Myers, FL, Sal is always saying, “Don’t throw cash in the trash,” and it’s more than a catchy phrase of his. All too often people bring a few pieces in and are stunned to discover how much those pieces are worth. Unfortunately, just as often, once Sal has handed them a nice wad of cash, they say, “I just threw out all the stuff I thought was junk, and now I don’t even know if it actually was junk.” And there’s the crux of it, Sal offers a free appraisal, so you’ve got nothing to lose in bringing your old jewelry, or perhaps some that’s been left to you to the store for him to look at.
In the meantime, here are a few facts about the value of jewelry with semi-precious stones:
Don’t assume your jewelry is worth the retail store price of purchase – Much like cars, once the jewelry is bought from a chain jewelry store or mass-producing online jeweler, it depreciates the minute that you’ve walked out of the store. Yes, that includes engagement rings.
Sentimental value does not equal resale value — This can be a tough blow to your expectations as a seller, and sentimental attachment can be hard to detach from fiscal value, but even the most treasured keepsake or heirloom is not necessarily the most valuable piece you have to offer others for sale.
We stick to the facts – At Judy’s Jewelry Antique and Estate Jewelry we stick to the facts when it comes to pricing semi-precious gemstones and jewelry, and it’s a fairly scientific matter. Any piece of jewelry is valued according to the same set of factors: rarity, carat weight, condition, style, maker, and the area where it was made. For example, a small Amethyst charm with a Tiffany’s hallmark can be worth more than a full-sized Garnet bracelet mass-produced by a modern box store jeweler. Hallmarks provide an extra source of information to provide estate jewelers, such as Sal, with information that accurately dates the jewelry and helps him determine who made it. The purity mark that indicates the amount of gold or silver used is one of the most often seen hallmarks, but big-name fine jewelers such as Tiffany’s will also put their own name as a hallmark which gives even more information about how valuable the piece is.
Don’t go it alone — You should also understand that trying to sell your jewelry on your own can get sticky fast. Online buyers may try scams or fraudulent methods to make you feel you are getting the correct worth. Selling your jewelry privately in person usually means you will get extremely low offers, especially if you are trying to sell your jewelry to a pawn shop. A pawn shop is going to offer you the least amount of money possible, which can offend some potential sellers. The best thing you can do is contact a professional estate or antique jeweler.
Of course, you can always contact a certified AGS or AGI jewelry appraiser. Appraisers will provide you with the most accurate value of what your jewelry is worth, which is why Sal often calls on his contacts in the appraiser field to help him value a piece he may be struggling with. However, an appraiser cannot accurately define what people will pay for jewelry and given that Judy’s Jewelry Antique and Estate Jewelry also sells to the public, we have that knowledge as well.
That’s why your best choice if you’ve got jewelry to sell in Fort Myers is to contact Sal at Judy’s Jewelry Antique and Estate Jewelry. We want to buy your jewelry and will offer fair and competitive pricing. Judy’s Jewelry Antique and Estate Jewelry is the largest purchaser of costume, antique, and estate jewelry anywhere in Southwest Florida. We know what your jewelry is worth and will help you get the best realistic payout with extraordinarily little work on your end.
