You may have some jewelry about which you would like more information. There are generally two areas of interest... market value
and jewelry history.
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JEWELRY VALUE
Like any antique or collectible, the value
of costume jewelry is determined by several factors: condition, rarity, artistic
merit, selling venue, geographic area, and current trends. Costume
jewelry has little inherent value because it is not usually made of precious
metals or gems. It's value is not measured in a standardized way by stone
size or karats, but rather by
comparison to other sales in the market.
It is possible to comparison shop at
antique malls, shows and on the internet. Using the search engines, eBay or
links pages to find jewelry web sites and browse the on-line auctions can add to
your understanding of what is selling well and at what price. It is not
definitive, but can give you general ideas about value. In addition, these
Jewel Chat
articles about QUALITY and
DECADES will help you
assess your jewelry and it's age. In the world of costume jewelry, remember that condition counts heavily.
Damaged finish, missing or dull stones and broken parts drastically affect
value. We rarely purchase pieces needing major restoration as we want
to give out customers the very best most original pieces possible. Jewelry
that is damaged or repaired has much less value than jewelry in original
condition.
Appraisals by a jewelry store are usually replacement value for
insurance purposes only and are much higher than actual retail prices will be.
Contemporary fine jewelers often do not place much value on vintage costume
jewelry at all. Because they are more accustomed to valuing jewelry based
only on weight and stone size with little regard for historical interest.
There are many jewelry books with
price guides, and they are fun to read and learn from. Be wary of using book values only, though, as books can be
misleading. Some book values are set by the owner/collector of the jewelry
rather than by an actual sales and therefore can be inaccurate. Also, note the
year in which the book was published, as desirability can change rapidly
with the fluctuations of supply and demand.... and with what's hot and
what's not at any given time.
In the end, however, if you are selling, your jewelry is worth
only what someone is willing to pay you for it, regardless of what "The
Book" says, or what was on "The Antiques Road Show".
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SELLING VENUES
After doing the research to price your jewelry you may choose to sell it
yourself. If you wish to sell at retail prices you must establish a website,
rent a mall space, or sell in an on-line auction. Some people will
enjoy the challenge and learning experience of doing this. I do!
If you would like to sell to a dealer, select one who specializes in jewelry
and who has a good reputation for fair dealing. Most dealers do not like to
play a guessing game, so have an idea how much you want for your jewelry.
A dealer must buy at a percentage of the price for which he/she expects to
sell the jewelry. Every dealer's percentage and the items they want to buy will vary depending on what they sell best,
what they are known for, and what they have buyers for at any given time.
As a dealer, I am often asked how I get so many wonderful pieces of jewelry.
The answer is that I pay a fair price for worthwhile pieces, and deal
honestly with sellers. Jewelry comes and goes, but a good reputation is
irreplaceable. If you would like to see the kind of jewelry, purses and
accessories I buy, you can browse Morning
Glory Collects.
If you would like to sell, I am always delighted to see pictures and a price
list, and you can
E-mail me HERE.
I am always interested in great jewelry, and can buy anything from an individual
piece to an entire estate.
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JEWELRY HISTORY
If you want to know more about the history
of jewelry there are literally hundreds of resources on the
subject. JEWEL CHAT
on line Magazine is a wonderful reference where there is information available
about many makers and styles of jewelry, and I add articles on a regular
basis. I offer JEWEL CHAT
free of charge
because I love to share information about vintage jewelry, and in that way I
can share with many people all at once.
Dates, marks and
manufacturers can also be found on this
REFERENCE PAGE, jewelry dating information can be found on
JEWELRY BY THE DECADES. These
will help you access the many resources on this web site. Many
books about jewelry are also available, and browsing an on-line book store like
Amazon.com
will give you an idea of what has been published in your area of interest.
There is no short-cut to learning about
antiques, jewelry or otherwise. It took me years to learn about what I do for a
living. It takes time and effort to learn about any area of collecting but
it is joyously rewarding.
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HOWEVER.... and there are no exceptions to this...
It is no longer possible to respond to
individual questions regarding jewelry history, identification or value, or
to offer written or verbal appraisals or opinions. The demand for this kind
of information is absolutely too overwhelming for one dealer to fill.
I love jewelry, but appraising and selling are two entirely
different businesses, and I choose selling as my business.
So take advantage of the information above, do your homework and be enriched
by the experience for yourself.
And if do you become ready to sell, please let me know. I am interested in buying wonderful
and unusual
vintage jewelry.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING JEWELRY & ANTIQUES
To see what we buy, please see Morning
Glory Collects.
If you would like to sell, whether a single piece or an entire estate, I am delighted to see pictures and a price
list, and you can
E-mail me HERE.
Thank you for shopping at Morning Glory Antiques!
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