Selling a piece of fine jewelry. I don't know how to do it.

[Bertha Venation]

I'm selling it because I need the cash, which absolutely sucks.

I have no idea what to list it for. I'd ask jewelers, but wouldn't they charge me an appraisal fee? What if I told them, "I just need an approximate idea of a fair price to ask." Would a jeweler buy it?

I could sell it for the gold, but I'm pretty sure the piece is worth a lot more.

This is a pair of what would become my favorite earrings, although I'd wear them rarely. The earrings are 14k gold, with four small sapphires arranged in a vertical row in each one. I know they'd be more valuable with better (for lack of a better word) gold. I'd post a picture but my phone is dead and the cloud hates me.

Any ideas? Any questions?

Thanks.

[Lochloosa]

1. One piece of advice.

If you get it appraised, which you should. Don't sell it to the jeweler that did the appraisal. If they make an offer you should get another appraisal.

An ethical appraiser wont make one.

[Bertha Venation]

7. thanks very much

[Pobeka]

2. Call and ask a few jewelers, they might do it for free.

It can be a positive to help their reputation and maybe you'll come back and buy something -- those are reasons they might do it.

If there is any way you can get the weight of the gold, it'd at least give you the "melt" value of the gold. Tough to do obviously with the saphires mounted.

If the saphires are a good quality, I'd try googling for saphire values and see what comes up -- might get you in the ball park at least.

[Bertha Venation]

5. I appreciate your reply.

I'm afraid I'll be laughed out of any shop I visit when (if?) I reveal that I bought the earrings for $1,600.

I'll check some jewelry buyers online, maybe make some appointments. I've looked at a few so far, and I can see that I'll be a very small fish.

[hlthe2b]

3. Good luck. I've sold some things but you can expect to receive FAR less than it may appraise for

I'm sorry to say this is an area where it isn't being cynical to say nearly all will exploit you. And jewelry is an area where jewelers know that the valuations are more hype than reality-based (especially diamonds).

I hope you prove me wrong.

[Bertha Venation]

6. We'll see.

I'll keep you all updated.

I don't mind cynicism in others, and can see it everywhere, but I hate it in myself. I didn't know what it was until I worked in Washington DC. I became a cynic, and god, do I hate it.

[multigraincracker]

4. Wholesale is 1/3 of retail for jewelry.

Most retailers try to buy for scrape value. Might try eBay, Facebook marketplace or graigslist.

[multigraincracker]

8. I go on eBay

and click on advance search, top right and click on “sold”. Might find some near what you have and see what they actually sell for to get a value. That’s what I do for research on true value.
Good luck.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. 1stDibs is good for high ticket items too n/t

[vanlassie]

12. For furniture-I don't know about jewelry,

First Dibs is known to be vastly overpriced. Like by two to three times reality. I suspect they exist to try and keep inflated values.

[montanacowboy]

9. Contact

The Real Real
they are very generous in their appraisals and sell it online for you.

[Me.]

11. Could You Pawn Them UNtil You Are In A Better Situation

[sinkingfeeling]

13. I have a matched pair of solitary diamonds, each a tad over 1 caret. I had to

have them appraised as I inherited them. A certified gem appraiser put each at $8500. Tried to sell to reputable jewelry store and was offered $4500 for both. Still have them.

[Vinca]

14. Be sure to check for a maker's mark on them. Just the name - like "Tiffany" for example -

can double the value of the jewelry. You really should have a jeweler look at them to evaluate the stones. You're probably right about the value based upon them being 14k rather than higher. If you can get a ballpark figure out of a jeweler for free, you should be able to approximate the value. If the jeweler makes an offer, that's a clue they might be more valuable than the ballpark figure. Unless they're very valuable, I'd put them on ebay. If you take them to auction or sell through a consignment in a shop, they'll take a much larger chunk of the selling price than ebay. Come to think of it, I think there might be a forum on DU for selling stuff. That would be ideal because no one would take any of the selling price as a fee.