You may have some jewelry about which you would like more information. There are generally two areas of interest... market value and jewelry history. Whether you are researching or selling, these ideas may be of use to you.

 
JEWELRY VALUE

Like any antique or collectible, the value of costume jewelry is determined by several factors: condition, rarity, artistic merit, selling venue, geographic area, and current trends. Costume jewelry has little inherent value because it is not usually made of precious metals or gems. It's value is not measured in a standardized way by stone size or metal karat, but rather by comparison to other sales in the market. 

It is possible to comparison shop at antique malls, shows and on the internet. Using the search engines, eBay or links pages to find jewelry web sites and browse the on-line auctions for what has SOLD can add to your understanding of what is selling well and at what price. It is amazing how much great information is on line now! It is not definitive because there can be a wide variance between asking and selling prices, but can give you general ideas about value. In addition, these Jewel Chat articles about QUALITY and DECADES will help you assess your jewelry and it's age. In the world of costume jewelry, remember that condition counts heavily. Damaged finish, missing or dull stones and broken parts drastically affect value. We rarely purchase pieces needing major restoration as we want to give our customers the very best most original pieces possible. Jewelry that is damaged or repaired has much less value than jewelry in original condition.

There are many jewelry books with price guides, and they are fun to read and learn from. Be wary of using book values only, though, as books can be misleading. Some book values are set by the owner/collector of the jewelry rather than by actual sales and therefore can be inaccurate. Also, note the year in which the book was published, as desirability can change rapidly with the fluctuations of supply and demand, and with what's hot and what's not at any given time. They can help you with identification and jewelry history.

In the end, however, if you are selling, your jewelry is worth only what someone is willing to pay you for it, regardless of what "The Book" says, what an insurance appraisal says, or what was on "The Antiques Road Show".

 
SELLING VENUES

After doing the research to price your jewelry you may choose to sell it yourself. If you wish to sell at retail prices you must establish a clientele, a website, rent a mall space, or sell in an on-line auction. All of these have costs and work associated with them. Some people will enjoy the challenge and learning experience of doing that. I do! But it is work.

If you would like to sell to a dealer, select one who specializes in jewelry and who has a good reputation for fair dealing. Most dealers do not like to play a guessing game, so have an idea how much you want for your jewelry. A dealer must buy at a percentage of the price for which he/she expects to sell the jewelry.  Every dealer's percentage and the items they want to buy will vary depending on what they sell best, what they are known for, and what they have buyers for at any given time. 

As a dealer, I am often asked how I get so many wonderful pieces of jewelry. The answer is that I pay a fair price for worthwhile pieces, and deal honestly with sellers. Jewelry comes and goes, but a good reputation is irreplaceable. If you would like to see the kind of jewelry, purses and accessories I have bought in the past, you can browse Morning Glory Collects. But do know that what we are buying changes all the time according to what is selling well.

If you would like to sell, I am always delighted to see pictures and a price list, and you can E-mail me HERE. I am always interested in great jewelry, and am capable of buying anything from an individual piece to an entire estate.

 

 
JEWELRY HISTORY

 If you want to know more about the history of jewelry there are literally hundreds of resources on the subject. JEWEL CHAT  is a wonderful reference where there is information available about many makers and styles of jewelry, and I add articles to it on a regular basis. I offer JEWEL CHAT  free of charge because I love to share information about vintage jewelry, and in that way I can share with many people all at once.

Dates, marks and manufacturers can also be found on this REFERENCE PAGE, jewelry dating information can be found on JEWELRY BY THE  DECADES. These will help you access the many resources on this web site.  Many books about jewelry are also available, and browsing an on-line book store like Amazon.com will give you an idea of what has been published in your area of interest.

There is no short-cut to learning about antiques, jewelry or otherwise. It took me years to learn about what I do for a living. It takes time and effort to learn about any area of collecting but it is joyously rewarding.

 

HOWEVER....

It is no longer possible to respond to individual questions regarding your own jewelry history, identification or value, or to offer written or verbal appraisals or opinions. The demand for this kind of information is absolutely too overwhelming for one dealer to fill. 

I love jewelry, but appraising and selling are two entirely different businesses, and I choose selling as my business.

So take advantage of the information above, do your homework and be enriched by the experience for yourself.
And if do you become ready to sell, please let me know. I am interested in buying wonderful and unusual vintage and antique jewelry.

WE ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING JEWELRY & ANTIQUES
To see what we have purchased in the past you can see Morning Glory Collects but what we buy changes often with the current trends.

If you would like to sell, whether a single piece or an entire estate, I am delighted to see pictures and a price list, and you can E-mail me HERE.

Thank you for shopping at Morning Glory Antiques!