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REFERENCE: VALUING & SELLING YOUR COSTUME JEWELRY

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. Its value is not measured in a standardized way by stone size or karats, 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 can add to your understanding of what is selling well and at what price. 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 its 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 out 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 an 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 whats hot and whats not 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.

FEATURE: MIRIAM HASKELL JEWELRY

Miriam Haskell... the jewels that dreams are made of! Her designs are legendary, and her look unique. Especially collectible are her pieces using tiny intricate motifs in seed pearls and glass beads along with rose montee set in her distinctive softly gilt Russian gold settings. She began making jewelry in 1926, and it is said that she did not sign her jewelry until about 1947. The list of wonderful designers who worked for her includes among others Frank Hess, Bob Clark and Larry Vrba.

One of the features offered by Morning Glory is  our JEWEL CHAT reference pages. Since Miriam Haskell is a long-time favorite there is lots of material about the jewelry and the designers there:

REFERENCE INFORMATION
Haskell Jewelry, Frank Hess
Haskell Jewelry, Clark, Vrba etc.
Haskell Jewelry, advertising art work
Haskell is a maker whose jewelry never goes out of style!