Many pieces of gold jewelry have value well above the value of the gold. Gold jewelry pieces of yesteryear often are works of art. If you’ve inherited gold estate jewelry, and if don’t plan to wear it or aren’t passionate about collecting it, we can help you get the most for your piece(s) or collection at auction.
Gold estate jewelry often has personality because it’s not mass-produced the way most jewelry is today, but that rarity also can make it harder to appraise.
Contact Central Mass Auctions today to assess and (most likely) auction your gold estate jewelry, or keep reading to discover more about selling your piece or collection.
What determines the value of a piece of gold estate jewelry?
It depends on the piece. The age is a factor that matters. Antique pieces are in high demand. In gold jewelry with a gemstone the quality, cut, clarity, and condition of the stones all matter, as does the country of origin. The purity of the gold plays a big role in its worth, too. The condition of the jewelry in general also matters, of course.
A piece from a renowned maker can also carry a great deal of value, especially if it was signed.
The year the piece was created can influence its value. For example, many collectors would be excited to find a turn-of-the-century 18K gold necklace. Victorian pieces, Edwardian pieces, and Art Deco pieces all do well, as of this writing. Keep in mind that styles fall in and out of favor, and what’s popular today may be unpopular tomorrow, and vice versa.
It’s also important to know whether you’ve got a custom-made gold piece, a relatively rare one, or a common one that was mass-produced during a certain time period.
Who are some of the most-renowned jewelry makers?
The most sought-after pieces come from Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Cartier, and JAR. Of those, JAR pieces are the rarest and most highly-sought.
Most jewelry carries a small “maker’s mark.” It can be hard to find, but if you have a piece by a famous jeweler you’ll be able to spot it with a little patience and detective work. Sometimes the mark is a symbol rather than initials or words.
How much can I expect my gold estate jewelry to sell for?
Your gold estate jewelry will always be worth the melt value of the gold used to make it, at the very least. The most valuable pieces have sold in the millions.
If we evaluate your pieces and find they’re valuable, then an auction is the best way to sell gold estate jewelry. Those pieces often attract true collectors and major dealers, and typically bring in higher returns than what you would get if you shopped them around or tried to sell them online. That’s in part because we can communicate the true value of the pieces to enthusiasts.
