Jewelry

There are many reasons to sell jewelry: downsizing your own belongings, settling an estate, or cleaning out old pieces that are damaged, out of fashion, or reminders of previous relationships. Whatever the reason, we buy jewelry and can help you receive the best price for your pieces.

Jewelry is always in demand. Antique jewelry and estate jewelry, as well as modern and contemporary jewelry, in gold, silver, and platinum is a richly varied market. Interest in antique Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco jewelry remains keen, as does interest in vintage 1930s-1960s designer sterling silver jewelry from Mexico, the US (especially Native American silver jewelry), and Europe. The jewelry market is driven by demand, and some vintage or retro styles that haven’t aged well will be less desirable than jewelry more in line with current trends. For example, right now white gold and platinum jewelry is more popular than yellow gold jewelry.

As trained professional jewelry buyers, we believe it’s important for our customers to be informed when deciding to buy or sell jewelry. We believe that when you sell jewelry, it should feel like a safe and trustworthy transaction.  Here are a few of the most common questions we hear:

What Do 24k, 18k, 14k, and 10k Mean?

Pure gold is a very soft metal and is rarely made into jewelry in its natural state. Pure gold is usually alloyed with other metals in order to increase its durability for daily wear. The purity of gold is described in karats, and the higher the karat the purer the gold. When we talk about the karat of gold jewelry, we’re talking about the amount of pure gold in the piece:

• 24k gold is 100% pure gold, expressed as 24 out of 24 parts.
• 18k gold is 75% pure gold alloyed with other metals; this means that the ratio of gold to other metals is 18/24.
• 14k gold is 58.5% pure gold alloyed with other metals; this means that the ratio of gold to other metals is 14/24.
• 10k gold is 41.6% pure gold alloyed with other metals; this means that the ratio of gold to other metals is 10/24.

We typically see gold jewelry made in 18k, 14k, and 10k gold, but sometimes you may find antique jewelry in 8k or 9k gold, or modern jewelry in 22k or 24k gold. More often 22k and 24 gold will be seen in gold coins or bullion.

How do I sell jewelry with diamonds or gemstones?

Depending on the quality of the gemstones, these pieces of jewelry can command a higher price than jewelry without gemstones. We buy diamonds by evaluating what is known as the 4C’s: Carat, Clarity, Color, and Cut. With professional training from the Gemological Institute of America, we help clients sell jewelry with gemstones for the best premium possible.

Do you buy designer jewelry?

We buy jewelry from designers like Tiffany & Co, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as many others. Vintage and contemporary designer jewelry can sell for an attractive premium, depending on the style and condition. By consulting the market for comparables, we can find the current value for outright purchase or estimate for auction and consignment, and determine which would be appropriate for the piece in question.

What about damaged or broken jewelry?

Selling damaged gold jewelry is often referred to as selling scrap gold. These pieces are valued simply according to their karat and weight, and are something we buy. The Albany Times Union went undercover and found that Mark Lawson Antiques buys gold at the highest price in the Capital Region.

Do you only pay scrap prices for all jewelry?

Many jewelry pieces will have an additional value above their intrinsic gold value. We believe strongly that beautiful pieces of jewelry, especially antique or vintage jewelry, are valuable for more than just their gold content. Whenever we can sell something for more than its gold value, we will pay above the gold value. Unlike many dealers who buy and sell gold jewelry and immediately send it to the refinery to be melted down, we think it’s a shame to needlessly destroy beautiful things. Even less trendy or less desirable pieces of jewelry will be given a chance to find a new home where they will be worn and appreciated.

If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment for a free evaluation, contact us today. We have offices in Saratoga Springs NY and Colonie NY, conveniently located for our clients in Albany NY and the surrounding Capital Region.

Additional Resources:

http://www.historyofjewelry.net/

https://www.gemsociety.org/jewelry-lapidary/

http://www.jewelers.org/education/whats-new/88-gold/454-tips-for-selling-gold-jewelry