Selling Your Jewelry To A Dealer

Selling your jewelry to a Dealer.

Selling your vintage jewelry to a dealer can be an overwhelming experience for some. Often there are emotions attached to the sale or obligations to the estate or heirs. Vintage Jewelry Collect wants to provide some helpful hints in improving that experience such that it’s a win/win for all parties involved.

Most dealers want YOU to feel good about the transaction. Dealers want to create an atmosphere where the seller is going to be satisfied with the terms of the sale. To understand the logic in the offer you receive from an antique dealer here are some facts to remember.

The seller should:

1. Have an idea of a price you would feel satisfied in selling the individual item or lot for. Don’t expect the dealer to price the lot out for you. Giving appraisals too in some states requires that the person is licensed.
2. Never sell ANYTHING that still has great emotional attachment and present for sale ONLY those items you are clear about selling. A dealer doesn’t want you to have seller’s regret.
3. Make sure that your price is realistic and ask yourself the following question.
a. Are the pieces in good condition with no broken parts or missing parts, rust or green corrosion noted?
4. Always make sure you contact an established dealer through referral, phone book or Internet.
5. Expect generally no more than 30% of retail value for your items.
6. Never expect to get a “Book” price for a piece. Although books can act as a guide, collectors’ books are often written with unrealistic prices that don’t reflect the current market value but are there to SELL books. We all want our collections to be worth thousands!!!
7. If you believe you can “do better” selling it yourself; TRY IT! Most people find that it isn’t worth their time and aggravation in selling the items themselves to realize the retail value. There are over 60,000 auctions for jewelry on Ebay at any given moment. That’s a lot of auctions for a buyer to FIND your one item. And there is seller costs associated with selling on an auction venue whether you sell the item or not.
8. Selling to a dealer outright gives you immediate CASH in your pocket.





About The Antique Dealer /Vintage Costume Jewelry Seller


The antique dealer is in the business to make a profit.
It costs $$$ to bring any item to market; store front, B/M, auction site or website.
It takes a great deal of time to prepare a product for sale; especially internet sales.
Often a dealer has a piece in his/her inventory for months or years before they have the sale.
Know that if you have a price that doesn’t meet the dealer’s profit margin they will counter with an offer that reflects the current market value.
Understand that the dealer’s objective is to NOT offend you!!! Don’t take counter offers personal.


The truth is that reputable dealers need and want you to realize a fair price for the items presented to them because without the public bringing items to the Antique dealer, they won’t be in business long. So as long as you go to a trusted dealer in your area, they will more than likely be more than fair with their negotiating around the items you have for sale.

Vintage Jewelry Collect does purchase costume jewelry estates, and individual pieces. Should you wish to schedule an appointment, please call 707-751-1665. We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area and have flexible hours to meet your appointment needs.