Articles
TREASURES: The Magic of Estate and Consignment Jewelry
Do you enjoy finding lost treasure? We have some great treasures for sale at both our stores. As much as we may enjoy new jewelry, many of our clients come to us because of the wonderful Estate and Consignment pieces we carry. From vintage Tiffany to Deco-era filigree and designer classics, you are always in for a treat.
How can you know if you have a piece worth consigning with us? There are four important things to look for:
1. the metal stamp
2. the hallmark
3. the condition of the piece
4. the original packaging or paperwork related to the piece
While it is not absolutely required that you have any of these, what you do have, however, will help us have a clear picture of your piece and better represent it in our stores.
The metal stamp indicates the type of metal used in the jewelry. Look for a tiny marking indicating 14K, 18K, Plat, 925 or something along those lines. It's ok if there is no metal stamp as we have other ways to identify the metal when you bring it in.
Think of the hallmark as the designer's or jeweler's insignia. It is often a tiny emblem or series of letters stamped into the metal. Sometimes designers build their hallmark into the design itself, so simply take a look, under magnification if you can, and see what you can find!
While you have the piece under magnification, take a look at the condition of the piece. Check to see if all the stones are there or if there are any cracked or broken areas. If you find something, it's ok. Sometimes the things you might see as major issues are actually easy for us to fix. Simply be aware of what's there and allow us to clean it up and take a look. We are happy to give you our professional take on what's worth fixing.
One final thing, you will want to see if you have any of the original packaging, paperwork, certification or other identifying information. This includes things like the original box, a receipt, an old photograph of the jewelry being worn by your great-grandmother, an appraisal or diamond certification if you have it. Again, we are able to work with you and your piece in the absence of all of these, however, like fine art, the more of this you have, the more complete picture we have.
Do you have something you might like to consign with us? Do you enjoy a good treasure hunt? Either way, stop by either of our two locations in Campbell or Morgan Hill to learn more about our Estate and Consignment Jewelry or our Consignment Watches.