Value Guide for Estate and Antique Jewelry

Check the list for examples of jewelry that Heritage Auctions seeks for consignment to auction. Don't see your jewelry on the list? Search our archives to find the selling price of similar items.

The best way to value your collectible antique jewelry is to search the auction archives to find the actual sale price of similar items.

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Factors that Determine the Worth of Antique Jewelry

There are several factors an appraiser looks at in determining the auction value of an individual item.

• Age: Was the item designed during a particular period or era in history (i.e. Victorian, Art Deco, etc.)?
• Designer: Is the jewelry item attributed to a particular designer such as Cartier or Tiffany? Look for the maker's mark on the jewelry to determine authenticity.
• Materials: What is the item made of, gold or platinum? Metals carry different values. Are the gemstones precious like diamonds or semi-precious such as citrine?
• Provenance: Did the item belong to a famous or well-known individual? Can the provenance be proven?
• Quality: Basically, one is looking to make the distinction between fine materials and commercial grade materials. There are a number of observations to make with regard to quality. Are the gemstones lively and bright? Are the diamonds white? Are the sapphires medium blue vs. inky blue? In an item having numerous gemstones, how well matched are the colors? This question also applies to pearls. Is the strand well matched for color, shape, luster and surface?
• Rarity: In a material sense, is there an uncommon gemstone type or size (for example a 10.00 carat diamond)?
• Size: Is the diamond, gemstone or pearl larger than usual? An example would be a South Sea cultured pearl vs. a seed pearl. Is the pocket watch a standard or common size? Is it over-sized or is it extremely thin such as a tuxedo watch?
• Uniqueness: Is the item one-of-a-kind or is it mass-produced?

Heritage has been serving the collectibles community for over three decades. During that time we have grown to become the world's largest collectibles dealer by always giving a fair deal.
We are always looking for quality Jewelry and Timepieces to purchase or auction. Request a free appraisal today.

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