Many ordinary people and families around the world own jewelry and items coated in precious gold or silver. In times past, it was mainly royalty and aristocracy who could afford precious items like these, but today, many Americans own jewelry such as earrings, rings, necklaces, and much more. They may also own antique items coated in gold or silver, and these items may be sold for a high price. Someone looking to sell jewelry may visit jewelers and trade show experts to get a fair appraisal of an item’s value, based on its rarity, condition, craftsmanship, and more. You can find diamond buyers to sell jewelry to, and you can look up “sell my Rolex” or “jewelry buyers near me” to find reputable shops like these. What can be expected when you are looking to sell jewelry or gold or silver goods?
Jewelry and Gems
Gems such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and more are valuable on their own, and they can also be set into items such as rings and earrings. These items are greatly prized for their value and jewelry, and they can be bought for a fair price at jewelers found across the United States. But what about if you want to sell jewelry instead? The first step is to get a fair appraisal of a jewelry piece’s value, so the item is not sold for too high or low a price. A buyer may get upset if they discover later that they bought something for too high a price, and conversely, the seller doesn’t want to suffer an accidental loss by selling jewelry for too little.
An expert jeweler will know how to determine the value of a gem or piece of jewelry. The condition of a ring or necklace can be determined carefully, where gold tarnished or damaged with age will suffer a loss in value. Good craftsmanship on a ring or earring may merit a higher value, and some rings may have intricate craftsmanship or carvings in them. And then there is the matter of the gem. Gems are tough, but they may suffer dents, chips, or scratches that mar their appearance and thus lower their value. Meanwhile, jewelers will have microscopes on hand, and use them to closely examine a gem for flaws. Truly flawless gems are incredibly rare and valuable, and most jewelry shop customers will bring gems with at least a few flaws in them. The fewer and smaller the flaws, the higher the gem’s value. A scale exists for this, from FL (flawless) to I1, I2, and I3 (degrees of “included,” meaning major flaws). Other gems may fall somewhere in the middle, such as VVS (very very slightly included) or VS (very slightly included). Some flaws may be invisible to the naked eye, but are visible when microscopes are used.
Once a value is determined, the owner may choose to sell their gem or jewelry piece to a jeweler, or they can find private buyers. Some Americans choose to auction off their jewelry online, and they can package a gem, ring, or earrings carefully for transport. This means a watertight package to keep water out, and including padding that will prevent a gem or piece of gold from getting chipped or cracked during delivery.
Gold and Silver Goods
It is not just jewelry that may include gold or silver in them. Many goods such as trophies, pocket watches and wrist watches, lighter cases, tea sets, photo frames, hand mirrors, and more may include gold or silver plating. These will not be pure gold or metal, which are too soft for crafting items. Rather, they are alloys that include other metals for durability, but a higher purity of gold or silver in an item increases its value.
Someone looking to sell gold or silver goods may have them evaluated at local shops or a trade show, and the item’s value may be based not only on the metal’s purity, but also its condition. Tarnished or scratched gold or silver may suffer a loss in value, and the same is true for goods that were cheaply or badly made. But well crafted or rare items may get a higher value, and the owner may sell the items to private buyers accordingly.