An Interview Exclusive with a Jewelry Expert

Does this friendly face look familiar?

Cliff can often be found at SellItAll4U estate sales behind tables of jewelry and other unique treasures. He is our resident jewelry expert and an invaluable member of our team! He provides a professional analysis and valuation of our clients’ jewelry collection. While, his first priority is to professionally price, display, and sell our customer’s jewelry, he also brings samplings of his own coins and jewelry to complement our customer’s collection and to provide a richer jewelry shopping experience. Read below to learn about what he brings to SellItAll4U sales and how you can shop like a pro when looking for jewelry at estate sales.

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An Interview with Cliff, Our Jewelry Expert

What is your role at SellItAll4U estate sales?

When shoppers visit my tables at a SellItAll4U sale, I give them a quick overview of our Jewelry and Coin Displays. I spend time educating customers on what to look for in the evaluation of their purchases. I use organized displays and correct color temperature lighting to aid in customer product evaluations of our products. I do free market appraisals and inspections on their own jewelry, coins and watches. I give tips on maintenance, care and preservation of their current personal collections. Also, I like to remind customers to consider purchasing a gift for a friend or relative.

What types of treasures do you sell?

When I set up at SellItAll4U estate sales, the treasures I offer for purchase include the jewelry from the respective sale’s estate, as well as a sampling of items from my personal inventory. You’ll find me with a sampling of these types of treasures at a typical estate sale:

• Rings, Bracelets, Bangles, Necklaces, Cuffs , Beads, Chokers, Pendants, Bolo, Pins, Broach, Amulet, Cameo, Lockets , & Earrings, Prayer Jewelry, cufflinks, Tie Tacks Clasps, Clips, Bars, & Chains

I typically have many of these categories of items for sale, but of course the inventory will vary with each estate sale:

• Metal Jewelry Categories:
  • Gold: 10K, 14K, 8K, Gold Plated, Gold Filled, Gold Over Silver = Vermeil,
  • Silver: Silver 999, Silver 9.25 = Sterling Silver, Silver Plated, Rhodium over Sterling Silver, Britannia Silver, Colored gold
• Other Metals for Jewelry:
  • Brass, Bronze, Copper, Nickel, Alpaca – Nickel Silver, Pewter, Pinchbeck, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Tungsten, Cobalt, Platinum
• Gemstone that we have sold in the past and may have at the next Estate Sale:
  • Agate, Amethyst, Beryl, Carnelian, Garnet, Diamond, Howlite, Jade, Jasper, Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Opal, Quarts, Topaz, Turquoise
• Organic Gemstones that we may have
  • Abalone, Pearls, Coral, Jet, Bog Wood, Shell, Nacre, Copol
• Antique Collectors Jewelry – Examples we have had from time to time:
  • Coco Chanel, Miriam Haskel, Trifari , Coro, Boucher, Napier, Sarah Coventry, Swarovski, Dior, Eisenberg, Hobe, Schiaparelli, To name just a few.

What is your pricing structure?

First, I use professional equipment to determine the value of our client’s jewelry. Also, I look for designer labels, symbols, and more to accurately assess each treasure’s value. Finally, I assign clear, fair pricing, while keeping in mind that the fun of estate sales is treasure hunting for top quality items at a bargain price!

What are some insider tips you’d give on how to shop for jewelry at estate sales?

Here are a few tools that can help you shop like a pro when looking for jewelry at estate sales:

• Small bright pocket flashlight
  • Good light is great to have to inspect jewelry and everything else at the estate sale. Your cell phone light will always help, too!
• Rare earth neodymium magnet
  • This is a great tool to check for magnetic metals in jewelry. Gold, Silver & Platinum will not stick to a rare earth magnet. BUT, Plated jewelry may have silver or gold over a non magnetic base metal so a magnet is helpful but it is just a preliminary testing method.
• 5X ( 5 Times Magnification ) Hand held magnifier
  • This is helpful to look for manufacturer names, broken parts, scrapes/dents, and other damaged parts. A 10X Jewelers loupe is the industry standard for jewelry examination when not in a gemological laboratory. You can buy an inexpensive starter jewelers loupe for $15 to $30.00. While a jeweler’s loupe does take practice to attain a good focus on the item, it’s worth the effort! You hold the loupe one inch from your eye and one inch from the jewelry item (called a one to one focal length).

Still curious about a jewelry topic or hungry for more information? We love answering your questions and are always more than happy to help! Come visit us at our next estate sale, shoot us an email, or message us on social media.

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