Buying discount jewelry at estate sales has many advantages. Estate sales are the most likely places where extremely rare or antique jewelry can be found at wholesale rates or heavily discounted prices. These are usually advertised in the newspapers and interested buyers flock to these places with the hopes of finding exceptional pieces . Collectors of antique pieces keep their finger on the pulse of estate sales likely to take place.
What Is Estate Jewelry?
This is basically any piece that has been originally owned by someone else. The owners or the inheritors of this could be disposing this off for various reasons - to liquidate inherited property along with its contents and valuables, or to tide themselves over a financial crunch. Often this is done when the need is urgent which is why the piece is available at unbelievably low prices. Sometimes estate sales are a result of a death in the family. In case the heirs to the property simply want to clear up the legalities and disposal of belongings in a rush, they may not even have the jewelry evaluated. The entire affair happens like a jumble sale with each item being sold at rock-bottom prices.
The significant thing about estate jewelry is that it invariably displays superior craftsmanship and uses high quality materials. Almost always, genuine precious stones are used and the settings are unique. For this reason, some people buy even damaged pieces at estate sales with the intention of using what is available to create their own designs as there's a good chance that the gemstones, some of the chains, the settings etc. can be reused in repair or in new pieces. As most estate sales have vintage or antique jewelry sets that seem to be continuously in fashion, it is really worthwhile buying these. Quite a few of these have likely been specially ordered in customized designs and it is not really surprising if they are the only pieces of their kind.
The Real Value Of Discount Jewelry At Estate Sales
Pieces found at estate sales can belong to different historical eras. Some of the pieces are usually inscribed with the date or identifying number that indicates when it was made. In the absence of indicative signs, it can be tough to date a specific item. Broadly, antique estate jewelry can be categorized as belong to the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Retro. While Victorian and Edwardian used conventional and intricate design, Art Nouveau and Deco were bolder. Retro brought in a variety of stone cuts, fixing styles and an abundance of color. Around the 1920's the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb in Egypt introduced yet another style. Inevitably there are also creative combinations of the different designs and styles.
Tips To Buy Discount Jewelry At Estate Sales
Estate jewelry comes in a variety of unusual styles rarely seen in a regular shop. These could be in daring shapes similar to the Art Deco style or in conventional Edwardian type. Since supply is depleting with rapidly rising demand, the original is highly sought after by people in the business.
At estate sales, jewelry must be carefully examined for missing parts, stones, dents and scratch-marks. It is advisable to carry a magnifying glass for a close look. This will also reveal whether the item has undergone any repair. At the better estate sales, you can get a receipt that documents details of the item, giving information about what it is made of, how old it is and so on. This will help when you need to provide a value for the sake of insurance, particularly when there are precious stones involved.
As more and more of the world goes online, it is also more and more common for people to sell estate jewelry online. Don't forget to check some good online sources to see if anyone has put up sale that unique piece you have been looking for.
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