How to Tell What Your Old Jewelry Is Worth?

by Kevin Smith Author

If you’re thinking about selling your old jewelry, one of the first questions you’re likely to ponder is how much it’s worth. Do you have an antique right under your nose, or is it just mass-produced used jewelry? If it’s been handed down to you, you might not know the answer to this all-important question. Here are some tips to help you determine the value of the piece before you start visiting places to sell jewelry for cash in Somerville, NJ.

Inspect the Workmanship

One of the easiest ways to spot a fake or cheap piece is by examining the quality of the work. Do the clasps work? If there are stones set into the piece, are they set with prongs or simply glued in place? Are all of the stones original or does it look like some of them don’t match?

Be sure to inspect the entire piece. Many cheaper pieces focus solely on the parts that will be visible to others. Valuable pieces have excellent quality and workmanship on the back and underside of the piece as well.

Look for Original Information

If the jewelry was handed down to you, you may have also received information about where it was purchased. Look for a receipt or other information such as a labeled case or letters about its purchase. This may help you be able to identify where the piece came from and how valuable it is.

Look Online

Valuable jewelry contains hallmarks and other markings identifying what it’s made out of and who made it. You can use these markings to search for the information online and get an idea of how much it might be worth. There are many websites where you can find information about identifying antique jewelry.

Get It Appraised

If you don’t want to spend the time researching your piece yourself, you can always get the piece appraised. You can either visit a jewelry store to get an estimate or visit a store that buys gold and jewelry. Someone at the store can give you an estimate on the spot and you can walk out with your money right away.

The Good News

If you’re trying to sell your old jewelry, you’re in luck. Jewelry is one of the best things to sell because it retains its value and is always in demand. It’s easy to find places to sell jewelry for cash in Somerville, NJ, and you’ll probably get a good price even if you don’t have an original antique piece.