Where to Buy Estate Jewelry: 5 Best Places to Shop

If you’re in the market for some high-quality estate jewelry, you’re in luck.

There are a number of great places to shop for this type of jewelry. We should probably start by saying that the word “estate” has a very broad meaning.

It can mean anything from relatively “new, but used”, to genuine antique and everything there is in between the two of them.

We think that the word “Estate” can throw people off who could be just looking to buy something for a good price that is simply used, but then find themselves looking at very expensive antique jewelry instead.

In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of estate jewelry, and then we will guide you to five of the best places to find and buy it. Let’s get started!

Where To Buy Estate Jewelry

Estate jewelry is everywhere from pawn shops to high-end jewelers and everything in between. If you are looking for estate jewelry, here are the five best places to start your search:

Sweetz & Co.

Of course, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention our own store.

We have a wide variety of estate jewelry, from rings to necklaces to earrings and more. Whether you’re looking for something specific or just browsing, we’re sure you’ll find something you love at Sweetz & Co.

We refurbish and inspect all of our estate pieces and search for the most unique items that you wont likely find anywhere else.

Plus, we offer free shipping on all orders.

Go to Pawn Shops

Pawn shops have cases full of jewelry that they want to sell for more than the melt value they’d normally get.

If you have an eye for something in particular, such as the antique pieces or anything that can be shined back up to make it look new again, then try a pawn shop from time to time.

They have to hold on to items for at least 30 days from the pawn date, but after that they can put items out for sale.

Bring your loupe.

Go to Old Time Jewelry Shops

These are shops that you can find in smaller towns and cities of perhaps 5,000 populations or less.

Jewelry merchants there know that on weekends tourists will show up looking for eclectic and unusual jewelry items not found in typical large city Malls and stores.

They will buy from locals and from dealers all over the country in order to find the kind of inventory that will be hard to resist.

You may find a lot of antique jewelry there that no sane merchant would dare to melt when the rent comes due.

Get Online at eBay

This is a gold mine, literally, for finding any and all types of estate jewelry.

Whatever you want, it is there and inventory is constantly renewed hour by hour.

The great thing about eBay is that you have three options for buying.

• “Buy it Now” means just that…click on that button and you can buy the item without having to wait for an auction to finish.
• “Auction” option means you will be competing with others for an item and you can place your bid at any point. The best time to place a bid will be during the last 7 seconds, because many people will not have time to realize that they have been outbid and then put in another one.
• Last, there is the “Make Offer” button. This gives you the best option to get the item for a little less than the other two options because the seller can opt to take your offer or counter-offer you. You will get three chances to make an offer, but the seller does not have to respond to any of them.

Go to Estate Sales

These are often listed online and by signs posted in different neighborhoods.

When people sell their houses and are getting ready to move, or if they simply over accumulate, they may have items that they don’t want and would rather raise money to offset living expenses.

Bring a loupe to look for hallmarks and do not be afraid to make offers.

Also bring a tiny scale so you can see the gram weight of an item so you can know if the price is competitive.

Estate sales are sometimes put together by family members of deceased relatives and oftentimes the jewelry items go for cheaper than what you can find at a pawn shop or jewelry store.

If family members neglected to take the items into a jewelry store first, then you may find some great deals. If you happen to have or can borrow a diamond tester, then bring that too.

Go to Auctions

There are auction houses all over the country and they post their dates and time on the internet.

If you contact them, you may find out what types of items are going to be available, but oftentimes that information is also posted along with the announcement.

Jewelry is often found in “lots” at auctions, which means several items lumped together that cannot be separated for individual sale. You will need to inspect the lots prior to the auction to determine if you want all of it to get just one item, or how much you are willing to pay.

Where Not To Buy Estate Jewelry

As we mentioned above, you can find estate jewelry almost anywhere. But there are a few places you should avoid if you’re looking for pieces that are real or of high quality.

Never Buy Jewelry on Craigslist

There is absolutely no way to know if you will be safe when you meet up with cash in hand to buy jewelry that might even be stolen.

Jewelry sales that take place on Craigslist is one of the most risky ways of getting rolled because the “seller” already will indicate that they want cash rather than a check, and they know exactly how much you will have on your person if you show up.

Just don’t.

Never Buy Jewelry From Another Country

While it may be tempting to buy from another country, this will simply mean that you have ZERO recourse if you are scammed.

Other countries are simply not under the jurisdiction of our laws and do not have to communicate with you, let alone refund you if you find out that what they sold was misrepresented.

If you have your heart set on buying particular items from other countries because of a unique style or Era, then do that from the eBay platform.

Your purchases are protected when you buy from eBay.

Never Buy Jewelry From Someone in a Parking Lot

As funny as this may sound, there is a very profitable scamming operation that goes on daily in parking lots.

Someone will approach you wearing nice clothes and ask if you want to buy a gold ring or some other such jewelry item.

They will claim that they lost all their money gambling, broke down and need gas, or maxed out their credit cards.

They say that they do not even have enough money left to get home.

You may decide, as many do, that this is a good time to buy some scrap gold or a diamond for dirt cheap and will take advantage of that person’s stupidity and lack of self control.

The item will not be in a box, but it will look as though they pulled it off their person to sell as a last ditch effort to raise money.

It will be clearly hallmarked, usually 18K. But it is a fraudulent mark and just plated copper, brass, or steel.

Just don’t.

Never Buy Jewelry From a Cruise Ship

There are legitimate items for sale in jewelry stores on cruise ships and a sucker is born everyday.

These items are lavishly expensive for the gemstones contained in them, because all of the stones have been heat treated and fracture filled to make crap stones look fantastic.

They are worthless and you will not have a way to get your money back or even to “trade up” because see Tip “2” above.

Tips For Buying Estate Jewelry

Before you set out to buy, or before you buy online, know what you are looking for and hold out until you find it.

It is best not to waste your money on items that were great deals, but those will leave you feeling defeated if you never really got what you wanted in the first place.

Make certain that you communicate with a seller.

If a seller is blunt and unenthusiastic about answering all your questions, or does not know the answers, then the risk to deal with them further is like playing financial Russian roulette.

Sometimes you win, other times you lose.

Know all the different hallmarks of gold, platinum and sterling silver, bring a loupe and even a scale to verify. Bring a strong magnet to be certain that items are not gold filled or plated despite what hallmark may have.

If you are buying antique items that have no hallmark, then stick to jewelry stores, pawn shops or eBay. Make sure that they have a return policy that is written on your receipt.

What is Estate Jewelry

Estate jewelry is simply defined as any piece of jewelry that was previously owned.

It can be from a number of different eras, and it can be in a variety of different styles. Because it is pre-owned, estate jewelry is usually a lot more affordable than buying something brand new from a jeweler.

There are many reasons why someone would want to sell their jewelry.

Perhaps this jewelry cannot be returned because the owner waited too long to return it, the owner simply never wears it because it was a spur of the moment purchase, or it was a gift that the giver got wrong.

Estate jewelry is anywhere from 6 months to 25yrs old, and may or may not be in good condition depending on how it was cared for or used.

Here are a few of the most common types of estate jewelry.

Wedding/Engagement Rings

You will find many wedding or engagement rings in this category from people who divorced or upgraded.

You will also find plenty of jewelry in this category that is from people who just get tired of what they have or have suddenly fallen on hard times and need to sell it.

Vintage Jewelry

Sometimes you will see a sign at a jewelry store that advertises “Vintage” jewelry. This jewelry is usually 25-40+ years old but not old enough to be considered anywhere near Antique.

Vintage jewelry is usually the redheaded stepchild of desirability that falls somewhere between the “more modern but used”, and the “truly antique”. It has that funky chunky look that screams “Yeah I’m a bit dated, so what are you going to do about it?!”

It looks exactly like what your mom wears, and of course, none of her daughters would want anything to do with it unless they are smart enough to just graciously take it and wait a few decades for gold prices to go up.

Vintage jewelry is usually the stuff that ends up at the refinery to melt and whose fate was properly destined to become a one ounce American Gold Eagle.

Whew!

The worm becomes a butterfly at last, and at least its end was far better than its beginning as we all hope to be.

Vintage jewelry tries hard to pass for either retro or antique, and sometimes it can get away with it but only until an uneducated person starts to ask the right questions about it.

Usually though, it needs about 50 more years to skip entirely over the next generation for it to get the “wow’s” that antique jewelry now gets.

It probably never will, but then again the younger generation is all but wearing underwear on their heads these days.

Antique Jewelry

This is the stuff that will break the bank if you are not careful. It is the platinum and gold Art Deco filigree Era, or the Victorian, Georgian, or Edwardian Era jewelry that has enough eye-popping ornate twists and turns to make you dizzy.

If you were to describe this kind of jewelry in one word, you would not come up with “old” but you’d more than likely say “OMG”.

All right, that’s three words but it looks like one.

This jewelry boasts of the best cuts of diamonds and natural untreated colored gemstones that you would think belong in Museums…and some of it actually does make the grade.

Jewelry that survived to this age are the pieces that will not be sent to the refinery for melt but instead, it gets handed down from generation to generation to worthy “heirs” or else sits in grandeur for sale in a high-end or eclectic jewelry stores like ours.

It is usually the stuff that has Certified Gemologist Appraisals and insurance to prove its worth and history.

FAQ’s About Estate Jewelry

Is Estate Jewelry good to buy?

Estate Jewelry is probably going to be some of the best deals that you will find because buying jewelry is very much the same as buying a brand new car.

Once it leaves the lot, it loses 30% or more of its value.

Where does estate jewelry come from?

Estate jewelry comes from everywhere.

There are very few people who do not own jewelry and many of them at some point will want to sell it, unless it is a family heirloom.

It comes from individuals that go into jewelry stores and pawn shops to sell their items, or they list on eBay or Etsy or take it into consignment shops.

Can you negotiate Estate Jewelry?

You can absolutely negotiate when buying estate jewelry.

This is part of the fun of buying “pre-loved” rather than buying new.

Most of the time you can get items for 20% off, sometimes a little more.

But don’t forget, a shrewd seller will already have thought of that and will list their items higher to compensate for a 20% loss.

Is antique jewelry worth more?

Antique jewelry is the cream of jewelry and is almost always worth more than any other type of jewelry, except for perhaps the very high end designer items.

Those are marketed to sell to elites that have a ton of money to spend on their image.

You can expect to pay more for antique jewelry that is in fairly good condition.

What is considered a vintage ring?

A vintage ring has not yet made it to the antique age and is considered simply older and used. It is typically around 25 to 50yrs old.

It is what your mom is usually wearing unless she is wearing an antique heirloom from her mom or has upgraded her wedding ring for a modern style.

Vintage jewelry is caught between the ages of modern and antique and has less general appeal due to the transition of styles.

You can however, find some nice vintage jewelry that has an elegant and timeless look, and that can blend in with either modern or antique jewelry.

For further information, see item #2 above.

Final Thoughts

Buying Estate Jewelry can be very rewarding, especially when you buy it from us (just kidding).

There is certainly no shame in buying something “used” and that is why the word “Estate” was born…to remove any stigma from shopping for used and to make it seem more like hunting for Faberge Easter eggs.