Secondhand Jewelry is a challenge, especially if you’re not sure of what you’re looking for. You do, however, need to make sure you know what you’re buying, including the faults, the value of this, and the piece type. There
are benefits to getting secondhand jewelry, especially the price. Here, we’ll go over the different things to look into when you buy second hand, especially in the jewelry sector.
Four Cs
This is the cut, carat, color, and clarity. While we do know the cut and carat, let’s talk about the other two. You need to pay attention to this, as they can impact the value. There is a color there sure but look at
the cut. Is it oval, which may highlight the inclusions inside? Is it cut in a manner to value the carats and the price?
Many times, fi you’re going to buy secondhand, you should make sure you know the four Cs before you buy.
Hallmarks
Another important thing that you should assess is knowing the exact piece, and its’ exactly what the seller is selling to you. A hallmark is basically a stamp that’s thrown on the jewelry, which shows that it’s been assured.
They do tell us the composition of these stones, along with the purity of the metals.
This also may tell you about the piece’s origin, along with the year, and when this was produced. They may even have brand marks.
It became legal in 1973 to hallmark all pieces that are above a certain threshold. However, keep in mind that jewelry that’s made before 1973 may not have this hallmark, as this wasn’t standardized until that time. So keep in
mind as well when you buy.Some places do use the Nitin metal analyzers however, which tell you about the materials in something, and also exactly what types of metals that this is made out of.
Designer Jewelry that’s Secondhand
Another thing that you should also look at, is the designer types of jewelry. Yes, Tiffany, Cartier, and other brands did have molder jewelry, all of which they put marker marks on.
When you look at Cartier jewelry for example, there’s a C that’s right next to the purity mark. For example, some of these rings may even have the whole brand that’s etched to the back of this.
There may also be original packaging, or even authentication certificates that are added to this, which are etched directly into the back, and help as well with finding real, authentic pieces of jewelry.
Conditions of Jewelry
Finally, when you’re choosing a piece that’s secondhand, always make sure that it’s in a decent quality, and also has been put together in a way that’s like new. If not, you may be able to haggle buying a piece at a
lower price from the seller, if you’re lucky that is. You want to make sure that if you’re paying a higher price, it’s like new, cleaned up, and further refurbished, in order to ensure the best, and highest quality. If
you’re not sure about a piece, you can always question this, asking the person at the store what it is. If you’re buying from places that don’t do this, such as thrift stores, always make sure that you do a full analysis
of this and look to see if there’s any marks or other things that could mar this.When buying jewelry secondhand, there are benefits to this, as it can be much more affordable, and cool, but keep in mind all of these aspects
when choosing jewelry that you buy.