Antiques Are Always in Style

by Kevin Smith Author

An estate sale or estate liquidation can often have wonderful finds, especially for someone with a discerning eye. While there's no guarantee you'll always find a diamond in the rough, there's a fairly consistent market and demand for antique jewelry. Giving an old item a new life is something that many people enjoy doing. Selling antique jewelry in Atlanta can often be somewhat lucrative, but it's not always as simple a deal as you may want it to be.

Know What You Have

Just because something looks rustic, or you aren't familiar with the brand or cut doesn't automatically mean that it's particularly old or valuable. Do a little bit of research and try to find out precisely what you have. One of the easiest ways for people to be disheartened is when they think they have an extraordinary find, and it turns out to be nothing special. Getting an appraisal is always a good idea.

You should check the inventory of your prospective buyer as well. Once you know what you have, you need to match it with the right dealer. Not all shops are going to be interested in every piece of antique jewelry out there. If your jewelry appears to be well matched to their current items, you may have a good fit. Established jewelry sellers typically have working relationships with people in the area. The more likely they are to be able to turn a profit on the item, the more likely they are to buy it in the first place.

Relationships Matter

Don't underestimate the value of developing a partnership. Many buyers repeatedly work with the same sellers over the years. Once you know that you have a reliable antique jewelry buyer, you can always return to them in the future. If they know that you tend to have quality goods and that you're willing to take reasonable offers, you'll have a well-established and helpful point of contact. Even if you wind up selling a particular piece somewhere else, at least you'll always have a good starting point for any future deals.

Be Reasonable, but Don't Settle

People who are new to selling antique jewelry in Atlanta sometimes have unreasonable expectations, Initial appraisals help, but you're never required to take the first offer made. Certainly, you don't have to practically give away the jewelry. Antique jewelry is constantly in demand, and you're likely to get a good deal if you have a quality piece. There are unscrupulous buyers who are happy to take advantage of people new to the business. You do have the option to go somewhere else.