If you’ve inherited or in some other way come into vintage or antique jewelry, you may be trying to determine what to do with it. Because of a barrage of ads online and in print, the first thing that comes to mind is likely to find one of those gold buying stores. After all, they promise quick money and a simple transaction. In fact, you can just send your gold jewelry to some of those places and then wait for your check.
In my experience as a third-generation jeweler, I often help customers who are shocked at how little those gold buyers offer compared to other choices. Sometimes, I’m lucky enough to talk to them before they’ve sold their jewelry for far less than a fair price and I’m able to keep them from making a decision that benefits nobody but the buyer.
The problem, really, is that you’re getting only the value of the gold (or other metal) and nothing else. If you have a perfectly working car you want to sell, would you bring it to someone who only buys a vehicle for parts? Would you sell it to someone who pays for the engine but not for the vehicle itself? That’s what you get from a gold buyer. Worse, they’ll only pay a fraction of the value of the gold.
You’re much better off brining your jewelry to someone who actually sells jewelry. A pawn broker will give you more than a gold buyer, even if they only give you money based on the gold involved. If they buy your item for resale, they’ll give you more. A pawn broker isn’t your best choice in most circumstances but is still far better than a gold buyer.
The best way to handle the sale of antique and vintage jewelry is with a jeweler who understands the value involved. They’re in the business of selling jewelry and they have the clearest understanding of the market and, therefore, a fair price for your items. At Bert Levi Family Jewelers, I always try to fit an item into our large inventory of vintage jewelry. I’ve trained the staff here to do the same. When we buy your jewelry for resale as a complete jewelry item, we can give you more.
We’re committed to offering a fair price to anyone looking to sell jewelry in San Diego. Give us a call or simply drop by our La Jolla showroom so we can help you. You’ll be glad you did.
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