Whether you want to sell estate jewelry or find out how much it’s worth for insurance purposes, appraisals play an important role in owning luxury items. The Internet has made it far easier for people to estimate the value of their luxury goods, but each piece is unique, making it necessary to receive an appraisal if you want to know the true value of your jewelry.

Whenever you sell luxury items, it’s important to understand the value of your pieces for several reasons. Here are just a few of the ways in which appraisals are important when selling your gold jewelry.

Verify Authenticity

Appraisals can help you verify that your jewelry is authentic. Whether you want to confirm this for your own peace of mind or need to verify it for somebody else, appraisals are an easy way to have an expert verify the authenticity of the vintage estate jewelry.

An expert appraiser can assess whether it’s an authentic name brand piece (such as a true Tiffany & Co. design) or whether the individual components (such as the metals used and gemstones included) are authentic. These are crucial factors in pricing estate jewelry to sell as well as estimating its value for insurance purposes, legal separation of assets during a divorce, or writing off a donation.

Assess the Value of Your Estate Jewelry

The most obvious and most common use for a jewelry appraisal is to provide an estimate of the value of your gold jewelry. An expert appraiser will assess your jewelry — including its brand name, condition, materials, and desirability — in order to offer a current market value.

Knowing the value of your estate jewelry is crucial when it comes time to sell the pieces, as you always want to ensure that you’re receiving a fair value for your luxury items. Having an independent third party appraise your jewelry will give you an idea of what to expect so you don’t get scammed by an untrustworthy jewelry buyer. Collecting two or three appraisals from various reputable estate jewelry stores will also help you get a better idea of a fair price range for the item and eliminate the chance of one appraiser under or overvaluing the estate jewelry.

Identify Any Damage

Jewelry appraisal can be beneficial even if you have no intention of parting with your luxury item. An appraisal can help identify any wear and tear or damage to the jewelry, which gives you an opportunity to repair it before it gets worse. Jewelers can also identify any loose stones or loose settings, so you can have them tightened by a jewelry repair professional before you lose a precious gem.

Identifying damage can also help give you an idea of what to expect when pricing an item to sell. If your vintage estate jewelry is excessively worn, broken, or otherwise damaged, it will fetch a lower price at auction or when selling jewelry versus an equivalent piece in good condition.

If you’re ready to sell your vintage estate jewelry and are looking for the best place to sell gold jewelry for cash, look no further than Watch & Wares. At Watch & Wares, we consistently offer five-star customer service, which is reflected in our reputation online and in the local Orange County community. 

As a family-run business with 30 years of experience, we place transparency, integrity and honesty at the forefront of everything we do. We want to ensure that every visit to Watch & Wares leaves you happy and confident in your selling decision. To find out more about our estate jewelry buying and selling services or receive a free jewelry appraisal, call us at 714-633-2030 or fill out our online contact form today.

Diamond jewelry is a timeless investment, and one that thousands of people make every year. From engagement rings to “treat yourself” earrings, there are many occasions on which one might invest in diamond jewelry, and sometimes you want to have peace of mind that you can sell diamond jewelry and recoup your money if necessary. You may even invest in diamond jewelry with the sole intention of selling it for profit in the future.

Whatever your reason for buying diamond jewelry, it’s important to take the appropriate precautions to ensure that your valuable pieces are authentic, valuable, and will last a lifetime. Before buying any diamond jewelry, take these four steps to ensure that you can secure the maximum return on investment when the time comes to sell it.

Do Your Research

When purchasing any high-ticket item, it’s important to understand the value and basic characteristics of what you’re buying. If you don’t have a general idea of what to look for or what the diamond jewelry should cost, you risk being scammed and buying jewelry for much higher than its true value.

There are a few basic things you should understand about diamond jewelry before you make any purchase: diamond valuation and the value of other precious metals and gems. The value of a diamond is assessed through the four Cs: carat, cut, color, and clarity. These four factors determine how rare and how valuable a diamond is, so taking the time to research each of these Cs and how they affect the stone’s value is important to receiving a fair price.

Since you’re buying diamond jewelry and not loose diamonds, it’s also important to understand the precious metals and gemstones that will likely accompany the diamond. For example, most jewelry will be made of gold, silver, rhodium, or platinum, so it’s important to know the difference between these metals and their relative value. If your desired jewelry piece also includes other gemstones, do research into the value of these stones as well, as they’ll factor into the cost you can expect to pay — as well as the value you can expect to receive when you sell them one day.

Ask For Certifications

When spending so much money on a valuable item like diamond jewelry, you obviously want to ensure its authenticity. If your diamond jewelry is fake or counterfeit, its secondhand value will be next to nothing, and any reputable jewelry buyer will likely refuse to purchase it altogether, or, at best, offer you pennies on the dollar

Before purchasing your diamond jewelry, ask for certifications such as the GIA grading report and any certificates of authenticity. This will help prove its value and prevent you from buying fake, worthless jewelry for hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Prioritize Your Safety

Buying fake diamonds are just one risk when seeking diamond jewelry. Purchasing any high-priced item can increase safety risks, so it’s important to be extra cautious when buying or selling diamond jewelry.

Make sure that you only buy from trusted, verified jewelers. Online scams are rampant, as are in-person scams that can put you in harm’s way. When in doubt, always prioritize your physical and financial safety rather than worry about offending someone or not following through on a deal to purchase.

Use a Reputable Diamond Jewelry Seller

One surefire way to protect your safety, guarantee authenticity, and get the best value possible is by purchasing from a reputable diamond jewelry store. Find the best places to sell gold and jewelry near you, and verify their trustworthiness through third-party reviews, licensing and certification, and whether they have brick-and-mortar locations. All of these factors can help you avoid scammers and ensure that you’re investing in diamond jewelry that will stand the test of time.

Whether you want to strike while the iron’s hot or take advantage of growing inflation, you can buy and sell diamond jewelry for incredible value at Watch & Wares. For more than 30 years, Watch & Wares has been known as the best place to sell gold jewelry for cash in Orange County, offering some of the most competitive rates in the area for all of your valuable luxury accessories. To find out more about our jewelry buying and selling services or to schedule a free jewelry appraisal, give us a call at 714-633-2030 or fill out our online contact form today. We look forward to assisting you in any way we can.

Whether you’re in need of quick cash or want to let go of old clutter, there are many reasons you may want to sell your gold jewelry. No matter the reason, however, you likely want to make sure you sell at the right time to ensure you receive the best value possible for your pieces.

Customers visit us at Watch & Wares every day to sell jewelry, each with their own story of why they decided now was the right time to sell their gold jewelry pieces. If you have gold antique or estate jewelry in your collection that you’re considering parting with, here is a guide to help you decide the best time to sell your gold jewelry for cash.

Study the Value of Gold

Firstly, in order to know the true value of gold, it’s important to study the material’s history and value. Throughout history, gold jewelry has been revered for its rarity and beauty, and this symbol of luxury has endured until modern times. Today, the vast majority of people own at least one piece of gold jewelry.

Although more accessible, gold is still highly valued today because of its relative rarity and historical value. It’s also practical — it’s stable, does not rush, and can be easily molded into jewelry, coins, and other valuable items.

Follow the Spot Price

If you’re considering selling gold jewelry, you’ll need to be familiar with the spot price for gold. The spot price is the current market price for gold; it’s how much an ounce of gold can be bought or sold for at any given moment. 

You can track the spot price online over time and monitor when the price of gold peaks and drops. By learning the patterns of gold’s spot price and following its fluctuations over time, you can make sure to sell when the value is high and earn more for your pieces than they may be worth in a few weeks, months, or years.

Consider Your Finances

It’s also important to consider your own personal finances when deciding on the right time to sell. All financial decisions are different depending on your income or expenses. 

While it’s always nice to get the highest value possible for your items, sometimes debt payments and owed interest may be more than the difference in value you’d get by waiting for a higher spot price. Ultimately, the best time to sell your gold jewelry is when you need the money most.

Consult Top Gold Buyers Near You

If you’re still unsure of the best time to sell your gold jewelry, you can always ask trusted gold buyers near you. Top gold buyers have the expertise and industry experience to be able to give you accurate appraisals so you know how much you can realistically get for your jewelry.

However, don’t just Google “best place to sell gold jewelry near me” and visit the first result you see. It’s important to find reputable gold buyers who are trustworthy and will offer you fair and accurate values. All appraisals should also be free and with no obligation to sell.

Whatever your reason or timing, make sure that when you decide to sell, you choose the best place to sell gold jewelry in Orange County. Watch & Wares has been buying and selling gold for more than 30 years, and we’ve established ourselves as the local experts. Orange residents know that when they visit Watch & Wares, they’re receiving a fair and competitive appraisal offer that directly reflects market prices. In fact, our offers are consistently some of the highest in Orange County, thanks to our team of experienced jewelry repair experts and certified gemologists. If you are looking for the best place to sell gold jewelry near you, contact Watch & Wares online or give us a call at 714-633-2030 today.

If you’ve collected antique jewelry throughout your life or you’ve recently inherited a few estate jewelry pieces, you may be considering selling these luxury items to earn some extra money. Before you list your antique jewelry for sale, however, it’s essential that you take the time to properly care for them.

Properly caring for your antique jewelry is crucial for protecting its value and ensuring you get the best possible price when selling your jewelry. Here are a few steps you can take to care for your estate jewelry and maximize its value.

Regularly Clean Your Antique Jewelry

One of the most important steps in taking care of your antique or estate jewelry is to regularly clean it. Even if your antique pieces may appear to be in great condition, they can dull or begin to tarnish over time if they aren’t cleaned on a regular basis.

To clean your jewelry, use a gentle soap and water solution and carefully rub the jewelry with a soft cloth. You can also use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush dipped in the soap solution to get into any nooks and crannies. However, always use a new toothbrush, not a used one, as any leftover toothpaste can scratch your luxury items. Make sure to clean the sides and back of the jewelry as well as the front of it since dust and debris can accumulate in those areas as well.

A polishing cloth is also beneficial for removing any dirt, fingerprints, or grime from your antique piece regularly. Polishing cloths are best for sterling silver as well as pearl or other strung necklaces.

Store Your Antique Jewelry Properly

Proper storage is also important for preserving your estate jewelry once it’s been cleaned. It’s understandable if you typically clean your antique jewelry in a jewelry box or drawer. However, this isn’t the best place for your antique values, as they can jostle against one another and potentially become scratched or damaged.

Instead, keep your antique jewelry in individual compartments to keep them safe. If you don’t have individual drawers or boxes, storing them inside individual dust bags can also help prevent scratches in your jewelry box.

It’s also important that wherever you store them is a location with low humidity and no direct sunlight. Heat, sunlight and humidity can all warp antique jewelry and cause them to degrade more quickly, so keeping them in a cool, dark place such as a closet or cupboard will help keep them looking their best for as long as possible.

Visit a Jewelry Repair Professional

If your antique jewelry has loose stones, deeply wedged dirt, scratches, dings or any other issues, it’s always best to take it to a jewelry repair professional. Attempting to rectify these issues through DIY solutions often leave jewelry in worse condition than before, and any amateur repairs will be noticed during an appraisal when you decide to sell your luxury goods.

Research the best places to sell gold jewelry near you, and make sure that they have a good reputation in jewelry repair and cleaning. While there are steps you can take at home to preserve and clean your jewelry, there’s no substitute for a thorough cleaning, polishing, or repair job from a trustworthy jewelry repair professional.

At Watch & Wares, our team of trained professionals has been performing watch, estate jewelry, and handbag repair services for decades. We understand luxury, and we always strive to provide the best service in the Orange, CA, area. Our master jeweler has over 40 years of industry experience and is the jeweler that other local jewelers go to for answers. 

We’re also known as the best place to sell luxury items in Orange County. Since 1992, we’ve been the premier source for estate jewelry buying, selling and collateral loans. We’re confident you won’t find anyone better to restore your luxury goods, especially at our competitive price point. To receive a free estimate on one of our luxury repair services, give us a call at 714-633-2030 or contact us via our online form today.

Gold is an enduringly popular material that has been treasured for centuries. A symbol of luxury, it has been transformed into jewelry, armor, coins, and countless other objects. Its enduring place in history is what ensures that gold never goes out of style, whether you’re wearing your gold jewelry for special occasions or everyday wear.

Whether you’re in the market to buy gold jewelry or you’re looking for places to sell jewelry for cash, it’s important to understand the different aspects of this precious metal to make sure you’re getting a fair value. Before going shopping or scheduling an appraisal, make sure you understand these nuanced aspects of gold jewelry.

Gold Colors

Gold jewelry is available in three primary colors: yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. Despite the variation in shade, all gold tones are made with real gold. In the case of white gold and rose gold, natural gold is mixed with different alloys to achieve a unique color.

• Yellow Gold: Yellow gold is the traditional color of gold and is often used in classic designs. It is created by adding copper, zinc, and other metals to pure gold to give it added strength and durability.

• White Gold: White gold can sometimes be mistaken for silver due to its bright, cool shimmering tone. Because of this, it’s extremely popular in modern designs, although it remains timeless. White gold is created by adding nickel, palladium, and other metals to pure gold. It’s also plated with Rhodium for a silvery-white finish and added durability.
• Rose Gold: Also called pink gold due to its rosy pink hue, rose gold is created by adding copper to pure gold. The newest gold color option, rose gold, has become extremely popular in recent years.

Gold Karats

If you take your vintage estate jewelry to a jewelry repair store or places to sell gold jewelry, one of the first things they’ll do is assess the karat. Karat is the measurement of the purity of the gold, with 24 karat being 100 percent pure gold. Each karat represents 1/24 of the whole, so if your gold jewelry is 18/24 metal, then it is 18-karat gold. Generally, the higher the karat, the more valuable the jewelry.

• 14 Karat Gold: 14 karat gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloys. This equates to 58.3 percent gold. Although it’s less valuable than pure gold, the addition of alloys makes it extremely strong and durable, so it’s one of the most wearable types of gold.
• 18 Karat Gold: 18 karat gold contains 18 parts gold and six parts alloy, or 75 percent gold and 25 percent alloys. This makes a more luxurious option that still benefits from some strength of the alloys.
• 24 Karat Gold: 24 karat gold is 100 percent pure, undiluted gold. It is the purest form of gold available and, therefore, the most expensive. 24 karat gold is sometimes used for high-end jewelry, but because it’s so pure, it can sometimes be too soft for everyday wear. For this reason, it tends to be used more for investment bars and coins.

Gold Types

When shopping for gold jewelry, you’ll come across gold pieces that appear similar yet vary widely in price. This is in part due to the process used to make them, as this can greatly affect the quality of the piece.

• Gold Plated: The most affordable option of the bunch, gold-plated jewelry is made of a cheaper based metal such as brass or copper. This base metal is then covered in a thin layer of gold to give the appearance of gold jewelry. However, the actual amount of gold is typically less than 0.05 percent. Although low-cost, gold-plated jewelry will typically fade or tarnish over time and reveal the brass or copper color underneath.
• Gold-Filled: The next step up in quality, gold-filled jewelry is made by mechanically bonding a thick layer of gold to a base metal such as brass. Although it isn’t solid gold, gold-filled jewelry typically has more than 100 times more gold than gold-plated jewelry, making it more durable and less likely to fade or rub off.
• Gold Vermeil: Gold vermeil jewelry is made very similarly to gold-filled jewelry, but the base is sterling silver instead of a cheaper metal like brass. It is also made using an electroplating process versus gold-filled jewelry’s pressure and heat bonding process. As a result, it is higher quality and more long-lasting.
• Solid Gold: Solid gold jewelry is made with 100 percent gold and no base metal. As a result, solid gold is the most expensive and luxurious type of gold jewelry. Although it is made entirely of gold, it comes in various karats, so you can receive a solid gold jewelry piece that has a lower karat for enhanced durability that retains high quality.

If you’re looking for places to sell gold jewelry near you but don’t know where to start, the friendly team at Watch & Wares is here to help. We offer convenient and transparent appraisals that never come with any obligation to sell. Our offers are consistently some of the highest in Orange County, thanks to our team of experienced jewelry experts and certified gemologists. If you are looking for the best place to sell jewelry for cash, contact Watch & Wares online or give us a call at 714-633-2030 today.