Selling used fine jewelry may seem like a confusing and daunting task. It is imperative to identify the resale value of jewelry pieces before offering them to interested buyers. Appraising the value of your precious gems will help you make informed decisions moving forward. Whether you are selling to upgrade your jewelry collection or liquidating assets for extra income, you will soon realize that selling these valuable items can open doors for promising financial opportunities in the future. Always check with seasoned fine jewelry appraisers before posting your items online. Websites like Gemesti offer expert appraisals on all types of second-hand jewels and gemstones.
Various factors impact the purchase price of pre-owned jewelry. It is best to carefully review these factors before putting a final price tag on your gems:
Brand reputation
Jewelry pieces from well-known brands are more likely to hold their value on the second-hand marketplace. Brands that fetch excellent resale prices include Chanel, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton. For instance, exquisite pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra” collection can sell up to 86% of their original price. In addition, certain limited-edition items from different luxury designers hold their value well due to their high demand. Cartier’s “Love” collection sells up to 78% of their original retail price on the second-hand market.
Present market value
The demand for a particular jewelry piece influences its pricing on the second-hand market. Whether your jewelry is from a famous designer house or made by a lesser-known artist, if it is perceived to be highly desirable by a large percentage of consumers, you can resell it at a higher price.
Materials
The raw materials used in the fabrication of your jewelry contribute to its average resale price. An expert appraiser knows how to evaluate the quality of metals and gemstones. In the case of diamonds, an appraiser will check the 4Cs, namely cut, carat, clarity, and color – the gold standard criteria to set the resale price for brand-new and second-hand diamonds. For rare second-hand diamonds with excellent scores across all factors, you can resell them at their original price or even more.
Overall condition
A piece of fine jewelry that has been well cared for and is in excellent condition will hold better value over time. Jewelry pieces that were neglected, feature defects, or require additional repairs will be difficult to sell altogether. Even when you have a limited-edition piece from a luxury brand, if it’s in a poor state, you may end up selling it at a bargain. With that in mind, fine jewelry collectors should take the necessary steps to take care of their valuables so that they can retain their value over time.
Packaging and paperwork
Most designer jewelry pieces come in fancy boxes and paperwork that verifies their authenticity. These are valuable items, especially for buyers in the second-hand market. It pays to be a careful and thoughtful collector, as these seemingly minor details influence the overall value of the jewelry.
