Appraiser Services - How to Sell Your Gemstones and Jewelry

WHAT'S YOUR JEWELRY REALLY WORTH?

Micromosaic of classical ruins, a typical Victorian item. Would you like to know the best way to sell your jewelry? I offer a service to the public that, to my knowledge, no one else in the jewelry business provides: objective consultation about your jewelry.

I go through your options, depending on the jewelry itself. The possibilities include private sale, either through classified advertising or by networking to family, friends and co-workers (and how to present your jewelry to them in the best and fairest way, and how to negotiate a price); the Internet (I provide a digital image if you want it); auction, pawn or donation; and, selling, on consignment or directly, to the jewelry trade, including myself. (I specify your item's minimum selling price and my commision.) I charge a consultation fee of $125 per half-hour, unless you have me broker your jewelry. Then I do not charge any fee and wait on my commission untiil your item is sold.

I broker in one of two ways: either immediate (3-5 days) sale to the best wholesale dealer in your type of item; or through longer-term consignment sale to a private party. In both cases, we start by figuring out your item's current wholesale market price and work up or down from there, depending on its quality, condition, and, in the end, what the markets want to pay — how much they want your type of item. This is not solely my opinion; I research, and can demonstrate to you, how your item fits into the scheme of things (if you want to know).

Okay, so my way of working is definitely a little different — okay, a lot. Can you do all this for yourself? Not really. Even though you can take the time to shop your item around to possible buyers to see what they say about it, many of them won't be both knowledgeable and objective. I am first in the business of selling good, reliable information. Only secondarily, after seeing to your best interest, am I a potential buyer for your jewelry.

Is it always worth hiring me? To be completely honest, no, not always. The less your item is worth, the less you need me. I could argue that I save you the time it takes for you to learn the truth about your item, and the peace of mind might be priceless, but that's for each person to decide, and you might not feel better if you're disappointed in what I have to say about what your item typically sells for. But there is no one magic dollar value at which it becomes "worth" it to someone to hire me.

In general, though, knowledge is not only power, it's also money, and I provide you with the knowledge to get the most money out of your jewelry, or decide if it's worth your time and effort to do so. Some people decide not to sell at all; some, to find buyers elsewhere, and others to work with me. The balance is a little different for everyone.

RETRIEVING THE MOST VALUE FROM YOUR IDLE ASSETS

I provide a comfortable, safe, and confidential marketplace for the retail sale of jewelry on consignment from private owners. Not many jewelers do this, for several reasons. New jewelry usually sells at higher profit margins. Consignment items compete with a retail jeweler's regular inventory for sales, incurring additional cost of goods when sold.

Also, estate jewelry takes more time and expertise to figure out: for example, its age and origin; or the weight, color and clarity of its mounted gemstones. Used jewelry is virtually always in used condition, in ways that are not always obvious. Necessary repairs can and should be addressed with the item's owner or potential buyer, but ultimately a professional jeweler takes responsibility for many problems.

Most importantly, handling estate jewelry on consignment requires serving in the time-consuming roles of consultant to and broker between buyer and seller, which adds one more layer to the normal retail selling situation. I love performing these functions! They are ideal for me, with my highly personal approach. By balancing the interests of the private seller and buyer, I add value to estate jewelry and increase the likelihood of its sale very substantially. My intimate office/showroom is a bit like a living room, perfect for forming the kind of relationships that lead to trust — the lifeblood of the jewelry business.

I can also sell your jewelry to wholesalers and retailers in the diamond, colored stone and jewelry trades. I work by insured overnight mail, to buyers located all over the country. When something is bought, the payment is sent the same way, so I pay you within 3-5 days of our first contact. It can take a little longer if you have many items that need to be divided up to send to their respective best buyers, or esoteric pieces that require study and research to find their best buyers. I never accept less than the minumum amount you and I have agreed to, at the commission we have specified.

Besides satisfying some sellers' timing needs, this option takes in items that few consumers want due to poor quality, condition or style; and occasionally, very desirable items that enjoy better markets elsewhere in the world. In every case, the more money I sell your jewelry for, the more you and I each receive. The more money I can put in your hands, the more you will tell others of my service. This is the way to build a life in the estate jewelry world.

My commission ranges from 10% for high-priced items sold immediately to trade buyers to 50% for small items sold at second-hand retail; the average is 25-35%. Of course, we must agree to the exact method of sale and my commission percentage during the consultation before any final decision that I broker the items is made. The term of the agreement is also specified, from 3-5 days for immediate sale, up to one year for long-term consignments.

It bears repeating — the more money I get for your jewelry, the more we both profit. This is exactly opposite the usual scenario when you try to sell your jewelry.

Stories adhere to jewelry. These stories have much power because they give our lives meaning. Second-hand jewelry buyers are searching for "instant heirlooms" as never before. Please call me at (405) 843-7856 or e-mail me now to learn more about the best way to retrieve the value of your unused jewelry.