Selling your jewelry is something you may choose to do if you’ve recently acquired some family heirlooms, you’re looking to decrease some of the items you have, or you’re strapped for cash.
Regardless of why you’ve decided to offload some of your items, it’s ideal that you’re getting the right price for what you have. The last thing you want to do is sell your jewelry and later on, wonder if you’ve received a fair price.
Prepare Your Items for Sale
Before you let anyone look at your jewelry to appraise it or give you an offer to buy it, make sure that you have properly cleaned your jewelry. There are a number of different products and chemicals that you can use for jewelry, so make sure that you’re using the right products.
If you’re not sure what to use and want to avoid damaging your items, take them to a jeweler to be cleaned. It won’t cost you much, but the items will look much better. If there are any minor issues with the jewelry, it may be worth a few dollars to have them fixed by a professional jeweler in your area. This can include a faulty clasp, knotted links, or a loose connector.
Understand What You Have in Your Possession
Before you attempt to sell your jewelry, you may want to have it appraised if you don’t know many of the details about it. Some of the common features that people will immediately ask regarding a piece of jewelry are the karat weight and whether or not the gemstones are real.
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you can’t possibly expect that somebody will want to make you an offer. It helps to have documentation from the appraisal as proof of what you’re trying to sell.
It’s also really important that you’re realistic about the items that you have. Your grandmother’s ring may mean a lot to you because of how much you loved her, but that sentimental value doesn’t really equate to a higher selling amount. Fairly price your items according to the karat weight and gems that are included in the design. This will ensure that you’re not left disappointed.
Know the Current Value
The price of gold and other precious metals changes all the time. You can easily find out what the going rate is online, and you can use this information to your advantage. Don’t let someone quote you less than what you deserve.
The formula that is used to determine the price of the item includes the metal price multiplied by the purity of the metal, times the weight (ounces, grams, etc.). The purest form of gold that you can have in your possession is 24 karats, followed by 18 karats, 14 karats, and 10 karats.
Know Your Options: Where to Sell
There are a number of different ways that you can sell your jewelry. Local jewelry stores, pawnshops, online, and placing an ad in your local paper are just some options. Where you ultimately decide to focus your attention will usually be determined by how quickly you want to sell your items. If you need fast cash, a pawn shop will accept your items almost immediately.
However, you’ll likely lose a little bit of money on that route. If you’re receiving low offers in your area, turn to the internet. The online marketplace is a great way to reach all different markets.
There are online auction sites that let you list your jewelry for sale, but you may want to opt for a more secure site if you’re selling something very valuable. Before you send an item out, make sure that it is packaged properly.
You should also purchase insurance and tracking for the item. In the instance that the package is lost, or you have somebody try to claim they didn’t receive the item, you will have the information necessary to cover your tracks.
Don’t Throw Away Damaged Jewelry
There’s even a market for damaged jewelry, so don’t throw any items away. You should be able to find jewelry buyers in Orange County that will buy your items to have them melted down.
Doing your homework ahead of time can provide you with the opportunity to sell your jewelry for a good price. Previously owned items can still bring in quite a bit of cash if you’re hanging on to high-quality items. Don’t be afraid to take your time with selling.
Explore your different options, speak to different people and then you can make a decision regarding what your best price and opportunity will be. Reach out to us for more information regarding jewelry buyers Orange County.
