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Your Guide: How To Sell Fine Jewelry For More
These days, you have various options through which you can sell fine jewelry. But these options are not all equally profitable—let alone safe. As you research where and how you might sell your fine jewelry, your top priority should continuously be determining how to find a reputable buyer. This is true no matter the reasons you have for selling your jewelry. Whether you’re looking to downsize your collection and free up some space, find some emotional closure, or simply make some money by selling old or unused pieces, where and how you sell your jewelry will make all the difference.
While everyone’s situations are unique, reasons to sell your jewelry online may include:
- Experiencing a life change. After a divorce, a death in the family, or a prolonged time of financial hardship, you may find yourself in a position to sell some old jewelry.
- Upgrading to a newer piece. “Out with the old and in with the new” is always an exciting reason to consider selling your fine jewelry.
- Changes in personal style or taste. Over time, the tastes, trends, and sensibilities that inform your jewelry purchases will naturally change. When that time comes, selling some of your designer jewelry to keep up-to-date with your current style makes sense.
Whatever your reasons for taking this step, selling your jewelry can be tricky. There are quite a few steps involved in the process, including determining the value of the jewelry you plan to sell, deciding where to sell it, learning how to prepare your pieces for sale, negotiating with the buyer for the best price, and ensuring a safe and secure transaction.
This all sounds very complicated. But not to worry. When the time comes for you to sell jewelry online, White Pine is here to help with this essential guide. (Quick Note: You can sell online to White Pine or sell jewelry in NYC at our offices).
How to Determine the Value of Your Fine Jewelry
Before you consider selling your fine jewelry, you may want to determine its baseline value. That way, you will know if the offers you receive are high, low, or on average compared to what you might expect.
Various factors that determine the value of fine jewelry include:
-Type of metal: Gold, silver, platinum, and other types of metal all have different values. You can expect this to affect the payment you can expect. The more valuable the metal, the more you can expect to earn when you sell it.
-Gemstones: Gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, and rubies generally increase the overall value of your jewelry item, but not in equal measure. The type, quality, and amount of gemstones will always affect the bottom line. The higher the quality, the greater the value—and vice versa.
-Craftsmanship: Who made the jewelry in question and the level of craftsmanship involved can also determine the value of your fine jewelry. If your piece comes from a designer brand, is an antique, or has other special considerations, you may expect higher offers in the resale marketplace. If your jewelry piece is mass-produced, however, it may only be worth the intrinsic value of its elements (gold, silver, etc.).
One way to determine the value of your jewelry is to seek an appraisal. There are three standard types of appraisals you may consider.
But before we dive in, you must know that you can get a free valuation (and final offer) of your fine jewelry from White Pine and save yourself the time and energy it takes to get any of these appraisals.
White Pine’s valuation and offer will be more accurate since they are based on actual market value rather than theoretical market value, as in the appraisals below. Let’s get into the different types of appraisals.
1. Insurance appraisal
First, you could consider an insurance appraisal: Most simply, a jewelry appraisal evaluates what your jewelry is worth. You hire an appraiser who inspects your item, looking for key characteristics that may affect the price, such as metal type, gemstones, and other significant aspects of the item’s design. Once finished, the appraiser gives you an appraisal certificate. This certificate confirms the item's value and proves that you are its owner.
2. Estate appraisal
Additionally, your jewelry could be valued during an estate appraisal. An estate appraisal is most likely to occur after a death, in which case the jewelry will likely be evaluated as part of a larger estate.
3. Market value appraisal
Finally, you could factor in a fair market value appraisal. This type of appraisal determines how much money a buyer will likely spend on your jewelry in the open market. When seeking to work with a reputable appraiser to gain insight into the resale value of your jewelry, always consider the following factors:
- Credentials and experience. Always work with appraisers with certifications or memberships with professional organizations such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS).
- Professional affiliations. Reputable jewelry buyers will always have equally reputable business partners. Lack of partners (or transparency about partners) is a major red flag.
- Online reviews and ratings. Without a visible track record of satisfied sellers, how can you be sure you will have a positive experience working with any particular jewelry buyer? Always do your due diligence by reading through a variety of consumer reviews. You may even want to check the buyer’s rating with organizations like Better Business Bureau.
Here at White Pine Diamonds, we are fully transparent about our buying process and enjoy a 4.8-star customer approval rating.
Where to Sell Your Fine Jewelry
When looking for a jewelry buyer, there are a few steps you can take to avoid red flags and find the most reputable buyers.
Step 1: Know Your Options
Not all types of jewelry buyers are the same. Before making your choice, know the pros and cons of each.
Pawn Shops:
Pawn shops can offer quick cash, but you’re not likely to get as much value for your jewelry as you could elsewhere. This is particularly true if antique jewelry is burning a hole in your jewelry box. If speed is your top priority, turning to a pawn shop may be expedient.
Jewelry Stores:
Some jewelry stores and jewelers will offer you more money for your jewelry than pawn shops will—especially if you are seeking to sell vintage jewelry. However, a local jewelry store will still likely buy for a fraction of what your pieces are worth. If getting the most for your jewelry is your top priority, it may be worth bypassing both pawn shops and jewelry stores.
Specialized Online Jewelry Buyers:
When looking to sell your fine jewelry, specialized online buyers like White Pine can provide a secure and reliable option and often the most money for your used jewelry. These buyers offer accurate valuations (at the national level rather than the local), fast and discreet transactions, and customer protection policies to ensure a fair deal.
Online Marketplaces:
While selling your engagement ring online through marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace offers a convenient way to do so, these platforms also pose certain risks, such as the possibility of fraudulent transactions and inadequate protection. It's important to conduct thorough research and check reviews before utilizing these platforms.
Step 2: Research tips for finding reputable buyers
Even if you are in a pinch and time is of the essence, it is in your best interest to research some tips to help you find reputable buyers.
Even steps as simple as reading consumer reviews, checking for associations and certifications, or looking a potential up on the Better Business Bureau website can go a long way toward helping you avoid scammers.
Your due diligence will serve you well in the long run.
Step 3: Understand the selling process
Understanding the selling process and knowing what to expect from each type of buyer can give you a baseline to determine whether the buyer you are working with is on the level.
The steps for selling your jewelry to a pawn shop, a jewelry store, or a jeweler and to an online buyer—whether an individual or a specialized online buyer—can differ.
Reading up on each process and knowing what to expect can increase your confidence and help you avoid pitfalls and shady deals.
In most cases, working with specialized online buyers is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to sell your old jewelry. Checking their certifications, affiliations, and customer ratings is quick and easy, and they are often able to offer you the highest value for your pieces. White Pine is an obvious choice if you’re looking for a specialized online buyer for your unwanted jewelry.
How to Prepare Your Fine Jewelry for Sale
To get the best value for your jewelry, be sure it shows itself to the best advantage.
Cleaning and Storing
How you choose to clean and store your jewelry can help it retain its greatest value.
You may want to clean your pieces with a soft brush and mild soap, avoiding harsh chemicals or abrasive materials. Storing jewelry in a cool, dry place can prevent unnecessary tarnishing.
Providing Documentation
Proper documentation protects your investment and proves the value of your pieces.
Having this documentation on hand and in good order helps speed the selling process along and gives you leverage to ask for what the jewelry is worth.
For example, documentation can prove that your diamonds are natural or mined rather than lab-grown. Since natural diamonds are worth much more than lab-grown diamonds, providing documentation for your fine jewelry is critical in ensuring you get the best value when selling. Documentation to gather before selling your jewelry can include the following:
-Receipts. Receipts demonstrate proof of purchase (implying that you are the owner and have the right to sell the jewelry) and provide documentation of the original purchase price.
-Certificates. Certification—particularly GIA certification—can go a long way toward proving the quality and authenticity of your jewelry. This is especially true if you are selling diamonds or precious gemstones.
-Appraisals. Records of official appraisals provide an outside evaluation of value.
Whether you are planning to sell loose diamonds, completed jewelry sets, antique or vintage jewelry, or anything else, how you prepare for the sale can help you get the best value for your assets.
How to Ensure a Safe and Secure Transaction
When selling jewelry, the first and best step toward ensuring a safe and secure transaction is to check the buyer’s credentials. Of course, working with a well-established pre-owned diamond jewelry buyer like White Pine can remove the stress from the entire process of selling fine jewelry. Here are some other important tips:
Check each company’s business licenses and permits.
These should be readily available, in order, and up-to-date. Any buyer who does not transparently provide such information is suspect.
Read references, referrals, and reviews.
A buyer with an established industry reputation will make references, referrals, and consumer reviews readily available—just like White Pine does. If a buyer is not fully forthcoming or does not make such items available even upon request, the safety and security of your transaction could be suspect.
Confirm the physical address and phone number.
This step is critical if you work with a buyer through an online marketplace like Facebook or eBay. Always confirm the physical address and phone number provided before proceeding. If you are unable to confirm either one, do not proceed with the sale.
Why White Pine Is the Best Place to Sell Your Fine Jewelry
White Pine is your best choice if you’re ready to sell your fine jewelry today. Here’s more about us and what makes us a national leader in the diamond jewelry industry.
Our Background
Since 2010, our mission has been to revolutionize the jewelry industry by using natural recycled diamonds, which has helped increase awareness of their value and sustainability. In addition to buying and selling diamond jewelry, we offer diamond recutting, sorting, custom work, settings, special orders, and diamond testing.
Our Transparent Buying Process
Our buying process is simple and streamlined, consisting of four phases:
1. Submit a request for a quote on your jewelry
Sell fine jewelry by submitting a request for a quote and providing information about your jewelry and any relevant certifications or appraisals.
2. Receive a quote within 1 business day
We'll email you a quote within one business day based on the provided information.
3. Ship your jewelry to us for an official valuation
If you accept the quote, you can ship your jewelry to us for an official valuation.
4. Accept the offer and receive your payment
Once we evaluate the physical characteristics of your jewelry and agree on an offer, we'll mail you a check or process a bank transfer for a small fee.
The Benefits of Working with White Pine
There are many online diamond jewelry buyers in the marketplace, but White Pine stands out for two reasons. First, our overall process is unmatched in speed, accuracy, and competitive prices.
Second, we specialize solely in the diamond and jewelry industry, providing expertise and focus that is hard to find elsewhere. Don't just take our word for it – check out our customer reviews to see why so many people choose White Pine as their diamond buyer of choice.
The Bottom Line
Selling fine jewelry online requires due diligence, from understanding the valuation of your pieces to ensuring their safe and secure sale. The vast market has numerous avenues for sellers, each offering different benefits and challenges. It's paramount to select a platform or buyer that provides a fair, market-reflective price and guarantees a secure transaction process. Sellers should prioritize reputable buyers who provide transparent dealings, swift and fair valuations, and a seamless selling experience.
While navigating this landscape may seem daunting, thorough research, proper preparation of your jewelry for sale, and a careful vetting process will lead to a successful and satisfying transaction. Remember, the right choice will not only reflect in the financial return but also the peace of mind throughout the selling process.
White Pine Is Here to Help
Selling fine jewelry doesn’t have to be stressful. Especially not when you work with a buyer you can trust.
Get a free quote from White Pine’s jewelry buying service today!
