After reviewing our insurance coverage, we have come to the conclusion that we are insuring a lot of jewelry that we no longer wear. We have been trying to find a jeweler to appraise and buy our pieces. We are not interest in Ebay, craigslist or other self-sell sites. We are old school and just want to sit down with a knowledgeable certified gemologist and get a fair market price for our once loved pieces. So anyone out there had a similar situation and found someone they loved working with?
Just be prepared for the difference in list or replacement value and wholesale or estate wholesale will be.
Do not be surprised if they offer you a lot less than its worth. We were going to sell an old ring to a jeweler several years ago, that was purchased back in 1967 for almost 10K. Their offer was $300.00. We decided to keep the ring!
If you have appraisals for it, try Ebay. If you don't have appraisals, still try Ebay. Weight the items, look up gold prices and list your items. Many people buy the gold for the metal content alone, but some may be looking for the piece itself. With Ebay you are harnessing a much larger marketplace than some guy behind a counter who will pay you pennies on the dollar (because he has to make a profit too).
I've had two high end rings appraised and another consigned with John McFadden and I wouldn't take my jewelry anywhere else! He has two locations, one is a booth that gets fairly heavy traffic in the middle of Agri Supply and then his wife, Jovi, runs their storefront in Clayton (Jewelry Design Studio and Repairs 417 E. Main St.). Phone: 919-865-7295 John has better than fair appraisal /value verification pricing and is quite knowledgeable and friendly. Website is: www.jewelerjohnstudio.com and they are also on Facebook. Hope this helps!
John and Jovi are great, very honest, trustworthy, and do beautiful work!! He also teaches a jewelry making class at the Clayton Community Center.
