What factors decide the value of my antique jewellery?
Whether you’re considering purchasing your first piece or already own a sizeable collection, it’s important to know what factors decide the value of antique jewellery.
Once you know what it is that you should look out for you’ll be able to make more informed buying and selling decisions.
Although you’ll be better off getting accurate estimations of value from experts in the field, it is possible to assess the approximate value of an item by asking yourself these five questions about the piece.
What is it made from?
The first thing to look at is what materials your antique jewellery is made from and the quality of each material. Precious metals like gold, silver and platinum and precious gemstones such as diamonds, rubies and emeralds will all give you some indication of the value of the item.
How old is the piece?
Generally the older the piece is then the more history the item will have and the more valuable it will be. Can you find out any information about the provenance of the item such as where it has been kept and who has owned it? These factors could all add to the value.
What condition is it in?
The better the condition of an item then generally the more value it will hold. Take into consideration whether the item is in full working order, does it need any repairs? Have any repairs already been carried out?
How fashionable is it?
Different styles come in and out of fashion over and over again throughout the decades, so although your piece of jewellery may be extremely old, its style could currently be in fashion and so in demand. Although tastes and opinions will vary from person to person, current trends and fashions can hugely affect the value of an item at any given time.
How rare is it?
If your piece of antique jewellery is an extremely common item then this can drive the value of the item down. One-off items or jewellery where only a handful of similar pieces were ever made can hold more value dependant on a variety of other factors.