Vintage jewellery is highly collectible and has been popular for quite some time, and you may also have a few family heirlooms that you have accumulated over the years. The value of your collection will depend on the quality of the jewellery that you have, and not what you paid for it!
Here are some tips on how you can work out the value of your vintage jewellery which is especially handy if you need to insure it.
Where Did You Get The Item?
Although it is not strictly a rule, if you were to find some jewellery at a market or boot sale, it would most likely be vintage rather than antique, and as antiques are worth more than vintage, this can help to determine the value of what you have. If you purchased it from a reputable jewellery seller or antique dealer such as https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/, then you may already have an accurate idea of the value of the item. If you have a piece of jewellery that has been handed down through multiple generations of your family, this could be an antique and so could be worth more.
Examine Your Jewellery
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You will want to examine your jewellery and look at what it is made from. You will also want to look for a hallmark, which can give you a lot of information about the item. You will be able to get the metal that it is made from including the purity, you will also be able to find out where and when it was made. The condition of the jewellery will play a vital factor in the value of your jewellery, and if it is not very good, you may wish to consider selling it off for the scrap value of the materials from which it is made.
Look At The Gemstones
You will also want to look at the gems that are in your jewellery and try to certify whether they are genuine or whether they are paste or glass copies. You will want to look at the quality of the stones and researching the 4 C’s can be done with ease on the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) website. You will want to look for any flaws, cracks, or other factors that can determine the value of a gemstone and make a note of the overall condition of the piece. Working out the prices for precious metals and gemstones using the current market prices, you can then get a rough estimate as to the value of your vintage jewellery. If you are still in doubt, you may wish to contact a reputable jewellery dealer and have them appraise your collection.
An Expert Valuation Is Best
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To get the most accurate value of your vintage jewellery collection, you are better off leaving this to the professionals and use a reputable dealer close to you to value your collection. Using their service, you will be able to know how much your jewellery is worth as well as the documentation as to its worth if you need to insure it should it ever gets stolen.
However much your jewellery is worth financially, you can never quantify the sentimental value that a piece can have, so to you, they can be priceless.
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