If you have arrived at this page, presumably it is because you have one or more pieces of jewelry to
sell. On average, we receive 2 to 6 calls and/or emails each day from individuals who have jewelry they
hope to sell. So, in response to those calls and simply as a service to anyone with jewelry they want or need to
sell, we have created this page. If, after reading the page, you still have questions
. . . please don't hesitate to call or email your question.
If you are among those with jewelry to sell, there are things you need to know in order to receive the most for
that jewelry. On this page, you will learn the brutal truth about selling jewelry. However, you will
also learn how to sell your jewelry items in a way that will make it possible for you to receive the most money for
your jewelry.
Surprisingly, attempting to sell your jewelry to a jeweler is one of the worst alternatives available to
you. Jewelers seem to be on every corner when you want to buy a piece of jewelry, but they often show little
or no interest when you have something to sell. Even the jeweler where you purchased the item may respond with,
"We don't buy jewelry." Or, a jeweler may offer what seems to be an absurd price. Well . . . we're here to help
and offer suggestions for selling and receiving the most for any jewelry item.
Typically, a jeweler will offer prices that are among the lowest you will be offered by anyone, other than a
pawn broker. When first considered, this may seem unfair or seem as though the jeweler is trying to steal your jewelry
pieces. However, given some thought, there is a very good reason for the jeweler's low price offer.
In nearly every case, a jeweler can make or buy a piece of jewelry exactly like or very similar to yours. More
importantly . . . the jeweler will be making that item or buying it at a wholesale price. So, why would
a jeweler or any other businessperson offer more than wholesale for an item that they can make or buy at the same
price? As a basic business decision, if the piece can be made or purchased by the jeweler at wholesale, there is really
no good reason to even offer you the wholesale price. Unfortunately, the price you paid for the item or the
appraised value of the item means little to a jeweler. The piece is simply going to be evaluated based on what
the item would cost at wholesale. Consequently, unless you are willing to accept something less than wholesale,
it is unlikely that you will sell anything to a jeweler. For that reason, and even though we are jewelers,
we suggest that you try other alternatives before offering your piece to a jeweler.
Fine . . . so, what do I do with my jewelry? you might ask. Well, you do the following:
First, gather any paperwork related to the items you want to sell. If you don't have any paperwork,
have your item(s) appraised. Anyone considering your jewelry, other than a jeweler, will want to know that it's
worth what you're asking.
With value documentation in hand, the following are your selling alternatives, best to worst.
Private Sale . . . Selling It on Your Own
1) Offer your jewelry to friends and accquaintances first. Hopefully, these are
individuals who know and trust you.
Without a "go-between" you are likely to receive the most for your items.
This is probably the best of your alternatives.
2) Run an advertisement in your local newspaper. Start your ad with the words "must sell"
. . . people who haunt the
newspaper looking for jewelry items like to think they have you
over a barrel. End your ad with the letters "obo" . . .
which means "or best offer." This simply indicates to potential buyers that
you are willing to "deal."
When pursuing this alternative, make sure you tell anyone who calls that your
jewelry is kept at bank or other secure
location. You should never tell anyone that it is kept where you live.
Obviously, this is for security reasons. If someone
expresses interest, arrange to show your item(s) at a bank or other public
place. With this selling alternative, you will
be responsible for ensuring your safety and the security of anything you are
attempting to sell. The previous statement
was not made to frighten you, but simply to to ensure that you consider security
issues that may be involved in your
paricular selling situation. We live with security issues every day.
3) List your item on the internet, eBay or Craig's List. Take a digital picture of
your jewelry piece to include with the
description. Pictures help sell your item. With internet alternatives, you must
be alert to fraud. Make sure your money
is in the bank prior to shipping. And . . . you should know that those who shop on the internet
expect a "deal".
So, if your item isn't marked well off the "value" you list, don't expect very many . . . if any bids.
This is the worst of the
"private sale" alternatives.
Remember that with the above selling alternatives, there are no go-betweens . . .
so, you aren't paying anything to a third party.
Consignment Sale . . . Selling It Through a Trusted or Reputable Second Party
4) Place your jewelry on consignment with a reputable jeweler. Consignment will
typically result in anything from a 70/30
split to a 50/50 when the item sells. We offer a 70/30split, with you
receiving 70% of sale proceeds. With this alternative,
the jeweler should take care of everything. And . . . a jeweler has
jewelry clients and is able to accept credit card sales.
Many people prefer this method simply because they don't have to worry about
security or deal with potential buyers.
5) With major pieces of jewelry, items valued at $25,000 - $100,000.00 or more, you
might consider placing your jewelry for
sale with a reputable auction house. There may be a local auction house in your area,
however Christie's & Sotheby's are
two of the most recognized names in the international auction industry. With this
alternative you will pay percentages and/or
fees. The major problem with a sale at auction is that you can never be sure how much
your item will bring. However,
you can set sale price limits.
Cash Sale . . . Quick Sale
6) Offer your jewelry to a reputable jeweler for purchase. But, as noted above, don't expect
anything near the retail value of
of you item. As with any other item, if you need to make a quick sale, you are not going to
receive as much with this alternative.
However, if you are dealing with a reputable jeweler and your price is
reasonable, you won't have to worry about the check.
7) Offer your jewelry to a reputable "estate jewelry buyer" . . . but, don't expect much more
than 25 to 35 cents on the dollar.
One of the only good things about this alternative is that these estate buyers often pay in
cash. This alternative is . . .
one of the worst.
8) The absolute worst place to sell jewelry is to a pawn broker. You'll be lucky to be
offered 10 cents on the dollar. Don't
be supprised if you are only offered "scrap" value. This alternative should only be considered
as . . . an act of desperation.
Summary: You are likely to receive the most money for any jewelry item you have to
sell by: 1) selling it on your own to another individual, or 2) leaving it on
consignment with a reputable jeweler.
We wish you success with your jewelry sale and hope this page has been both
interesting and informative.
Please don't hesitate to email or call us with any question(s) about selling jewelry
or consignment jewelry.
For more information on our Consignment Jewelry Program, take the following
link to our Consignment Jewelry Page:
• Consignment Jewelry
All of our Jewelry Services are warm and personal . . . and as stated on our opening
page and others, we hope to earn the confidence and trust necessary to become your "Personal
Jeweler". Again, if you have any questions about selling your jewelry or jewelry
consignment, please don't hesitate to call The Ross Jewelry Company in Atlanta, Georgia.
