Antique jewellery has its charm. Its rich blend of beauty, history, and heritage is entirely one-of-a-kind. The pieces are timeless, and, when passed down from one generation to the next, are often priceless and irreplaceable. For example, your grandmother’s wedding ring or the gold watch your great grandfather got at his graduation party has much love and sentiment attached to it. For others, they are simply gifting they no longer use or to which they have no sentimental attachments. And the time may come when you need to part with your prized possessions because of an immediate need for cash. In any case, selling antique gold can make you a good amount of money. Unfortunately, the gold trading market is awash in scams, and you need to make sure you are dealing with a legitimate buyer. Most importantly, you need to know what qualifies as antique jewellery.
What Exactly Classifies as Antique Jewellery?
The terms ‘estate’, antique’ and ‘vintage’ are often used interchangeably, but they have separate meanings in the jewellery world. Estate jewellery refers to ornaments that have been owned before. Antique jewellery consists of jewels that are over a hundred years old and which are usually linked to an era, for example the Georgian, Victorian, or Edwardian ages. Vintage jewellery is at least 20 years old. Made of precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, antique jewels also contain precious stones, mainly diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
Things to Remember When Selling Antique Gold Jewellery
- Determine its Worth
When selling gold with jewels, it is important to have a clear understanding of the gold’s purity. Since gold is a soft metal and cannot be used alone, jewellery makers often combine it with an alloy to make it more durable. Hallmarking determines the purity of gold items. Jewellers prefer 24-karat and 22-karat gold items, since they are pure and contain less alloy. When it comes to antique jewellery, things are a little different. Their value depends on three main factors: condition, time period, and type of jewellery.
- Condition
The value of a piece of antique jewellery depends on how well it has been looked after. The better the condition, the higher its resale value. Since they are over a century old, chances are that they will look old and dilapidated. With proper care and maintenance, though, you can fetch a handsome price.
- Time Period
Is your antique piece Georgian, Edwardian, or Art Nouveau? It takes a jewellery expert to establish the age and time period of your jewellery. Jewellery houses and pawn shops have expert appraisers on hand to assess the current market value for your antique items, which depends on their condition, type, and time period.
- Type
Is it a necklace, earring, or a brooch? The overall size and look of the piece can help pinpoint its value. Once again, only experienced jewellery appraisers can assess your items and provide you with a price estimate.
- Clean the Jewellery
This is an easy and effective way of making your antique pieces more attractive to potential buyers. Try simple cleaning techniques like dipping them in a bowl of lukewarm water with mild detergent or shampoo. You can also use a toothbrush with soft bristles to get rid of stains or dirt. Be extra careful with pieces containing diamonds and gemstones, and stay away from steams and sonic machines as these can shatter the stones. If it needs a thorough rinsing, take jewellery to a professional cleaner.
- Get an Appraisal
If you’re planning to sell your antique jewellery, an appraisal is a must. Generally, antique and designer pieces are worth much more than regular ones. A professional appraisal from a certified jeweller will give you a clear idea about your jewellery’s worth. Generally, antique and designer pieces are worth more than regular ones.
All you need to do is bring in your valuables, fill out an evaluation form with their details, and leave the rest to our team of skilled appraisers. Their job is to evaluate the value of your prized possessions considering their weight, type, condition, and gemstone value. Should you establish the authenticity of your valuables and accept our price offer, you get instant cash for gold. However, do not confuse jewellery appraisal with a gemstone grading report since they are completely different.
Antique gold ornaments have a special charm that cannot be compared with regular jewellery. They have memories, stories, and emotions attached to them. Make sure that the sentimental value of your antique items does not outweigh their resale price. That is why it’s important to carefully evaluate and select the items you want to sell. Ideally, you would only part with the ones that do not have much significance in your life, or are broken, outdated, or irreparable.