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You have several pieces of old jewelry sitting in your jewelry box. Some inherited through family, passed from generation to generation. Other pieces you came across at various estate sales. Every piece has untold history. History that can sometimes make it difficult to know the true value your antique jewelry holds.

There are a number of ways to determine the worth of your vintage jewelry. The experts here at R&R Estate Jewelry curated a list of some of the top tips to help you discover your jewelry’s value.

What material is the jewelry made from?

Jewelry is designed using a number of metals, gems, and stones. Understanding the materials that make up your piece of vintage jewelry can help you when valuing your jewelry. Fine vintage jewelry typically consists of precious gems and metals, whereas costume vintage jewelry features inexpensive materials, such as crystal.

The more valuable pieces of vintage jewelry are made of precious metals such as gold or platinum. These metals tend to have specific stamps and markings from the crafter that signify their presence. You will also see precious stones like diamonds set in the jewelry.

Examine the features of your vintage jewelry

There are many stories told through the markings and features on your vintage jewelry. Many of these stories can help you place a better estimation of value. As mentioned previously, a maker’s stamp can help reveal how valuable the metal is. Other markings may reveal the vintage jewelry to be hand-crafted instead of mass-produced, adding value.

Some pieces of vintage jewelry will have markings to denote the maker or country it hails from. These markings will shine further light on the origins of you jewelry, as well as how that may affect the value.

Outside of markings, you can examine other features, such as the clasp. Many modern pieces of jewelry feature lobster claw clasp. Older jewelry does not have these clasps, but rather they have ring or box clasps. A ring or box clasp dates your jewelry, possibly increasing its value.

Inspect the gems

The gem or stone on your vintage jewelry could reveal much about its value. Items such as diamonds, sapphires, and pearls tend to be worth more than other gems and stones, giving your vintage jewelry a higher value.

The gems themselves can also indicate how valuable a piece is. For colored gems, bright colors and great transparency are signs of valuable gems. Colorless gems such as diamonds should be clear. Additionally, gems that are heat-treated are typically newer and thus lower in value.

Finally, take note of the gem’s shape and cut. Modern gems have the benefit of precise cuts that you will not find in old gems. Because of this, slight lumps in a gem may signify a more valuable gem. You may also be able to determine if your gem has an out of date cut. This means that the jewelry was crafted at a time when a certain cut-type was more common, making it a rarer piece of jewelry.

Bring your vintage jewelry into R&R Estate Jewelry for a professional appraisal

Ultimately, the best way to determine the value of your vintage jewelry is to bring it into a professional. R&R Estate Jewelry offers unmatched jewelry appraisals that will help you learn more about the value of your jewelry.

Bring your jewelry in today to have one of R&R’s professionals appraise it and determine its worth!