How do you sell jewelry?

[foxpaws]

Its spring - and yes, I clean. Tidying dresser drawers I usually just ignore the jewelry boxes, but this year I thought I would tidy them up too. So you find things you sort of forget, or in this case, block out, that you have.

Ring - I am pretty sure it is real, decent size - marked 18K/750 and TTS. I looked at it with a printer's loop (which is 10x) it has a couple of very tiny round grey inclusions at the very left top arc of the heart and a little 'line' near the point, other than those really tiny things it is totally clear. If you just look at it it looks perfect - you cannot see any flaws at all. It is extremely white - sparkles like all get out, a very deep cut, it is almost as deep as it is wide, basic rock on a hoop (sorry, pictures are best I could do). I have had it for a couple of decades, I wore it for about a month, put it in some box and ignored it -

So, heck, it means zero to me - so I am thinking of selling it - is now a good time to sell? Does it make sense to get a written appraisal, are some appraisals better than others? Are some places better to sell the ring than others? I am really clueless when it comes to this stuff, I have never sold any of my jewelry, don't plan on selling anything else, just this rather bad memory.

All and any suggestions/expertise much appreciated, I don't know any jewelers... really don't deal with any (I get gifts, I don't buy on my own)...

[look 171]

My father is a custom jeweler, so I grew up with this stuff and work for him and fussed in his shop from a very young age. Impossible to tell in a pic I don't care how clear the screen is. first, lets clean it with a tooth brush with a little soap and water. Try and get all the gunk out from bottom of the stone. Soak it in Gasoline for ten minutes then clean with soap and water again if the soap and water did not do the trick the first time. It will get rid of some gunk under there. it will not hurt a thing. If its a CZ, you should be able to see right through it like if its a piece of glass. i am sure it isn't. You wouldn't be getting much for the ring itself but its weight in gold. 18K is 75% pure gold, that's what that 750 number is, so you do the math. I have been out of the loop in terms of diamond pricing. From the looks of the stone compare to the size of the dime, I am guessing the stone is about a carat give or take 20 points. If it is VVS1 or better, it should be worth more then 5-7K if its white and not yellow. This is pricing from a few years back when I help a friend with a wedding ring. Keep in mind, I only know wholesale pricing. Back then, paper work was not always popular and cost $50 bucks just for the thing. Anyone with $50 bucks could have written in the market value.

Once its clean, another way is to put the stone up against a black fabric. Up against the black, its easier to see if the stone is white or yellow. That's why, when you deal diamond, the tray is always black velvet. the diamond will be more white if its set in a white gold setting or ring. Since your ring is yellow gold, it may appear to be a little bit yellow, so don't let those bastard tell you is yellow. If you have another stone of known quality, compare to it and you should be able to see the difference in color right the way.

Jeff

[look 171]

Sorry, I failed to answer your question. I wouldn't know where to sell it and have no suggestion but a small jewelry shop. I personally would not allow them to send my stone into GIA. who know how honest the shop is. If you are going to do that just to get the grade, do it yourself. I have no idea how much they charge now. A good experience jeweler will be able to tell you the grade just by looking through the eye piece. 10X is the norm. Ask if you have more questions. I will try to help you, if not, I can ask my father. Grand kids are going over there to make a mess of their place this weekend. He has over 50 year of messing with this stuff.

[on2wheels52]

Expect to get docked for the shape, even if it's flawless (and it won't be to the buyer). Round brilliant is the desired cut. Over the years at the pawn shop I've culled a few of the better ones for Cathy, she says she has enough so now I don't have to be the one to tell the seller how little they will get for their diamond. I send them to the big shop in town for that.
Gold is another story.
Jim

[foxpaws]

Thanks Jeff and Jim...
I guess I'll just take it into one of the big independent jewelers in town at least for a verbal appraisal to at see what I have. I don't have to sell, so maybe I will ask them for their ideas to see if it is worth some decent green. No pawn shops or CL - don't have to do that...
Jeff - It doesn't look like glass at all, and it is very white, no yellow to it at all... I'll clean it up like you said before I go.
Who knows, maybe it is worth a trip to Paris or something...

[red-beard]

Maybe look for a shop that does consignment. Usually they have "Estate Jewelery" sections.

[stevess]

if you were near me i'd clean it up for free. some jewelers will offer polishing services for a small fee. sorry but from the side angle photo it looks like a cz to me. hope it's real.
Steve

[look 171]

Steve,

That's what I was thinking too from the second photo, but didn't want to break the new before seeing it in person.

[foxpaws]

Well, funny you should mention that - I actually went in and photoshopped the sideways photo because I thought it looked sort of milky - it doesn't look milky in real life - but the photo made it look that way - so I went in and enhanced the shadows and highlights...

This is what the photo looks like normally...

The scum certainly could have afforded the real thing, and he sure wanted it back... but who knows - I guess I will once I take it in

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Is there a reputable place near Boulder? If you get really low balled I'll mention it to a friend I have in Denver to see if she is looking for anything.

I would look for someone who is getting engaged. You will get more, they will get more! Maybe through your church or any organizations you are in?

[foxpaws]

Good ideas Groesbeck... thanks!!!! Not in any hurry at all... just time to get rid of it.

[look 171]

Still, it looks like I can see right through it. It is dirty for sure. clean it up and it should be better. The flash doesn't help. Good luck.

jeff

[Hugh R]

I know a really, really good independent jeweler here in LA. He's done some custom gold casting for me. I broke my Rolex Submariner bracelet, and he fixed it for something like $30. I mailed it to him via UPS and he mailed it back, I think the shipping and insurance were more than the repair job.

[fred cook]

Pick a couple of jewlery stores and act as though shopping. Pick a nice piece of jewerly and in the conversation ask about "trading in" your ring. Do this a couple of times and you should have at least an estimate of the value. Keep in mind they won't allow a selling price value as they would expect to make a profit on your ring as well as on whatever you might trade on. My wife had some diamond rings appraised recently and found that they were worth much more than she thought! Good luck.

[944Larry]

Carry it to "Pawn Stars" and get on TV so we can all see what you look like in real life!

[Hugh R]

Larry I like your thinking!

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Her photo is here, somewhere. She is definitely NOT tough on the eyes!!!! (just don't tell the Wife!)

[Turbo_pro]

Heart shaped diamonds, although symbolic of a deep felt expression of love, tend to be a hard sell. A heart shaped solitaire lacks imagination.
By the look of it I would guess 7 or 8 mm across making it close to a carat and a half.
When I as a jeweler (in another life) I would generally suggest that resetting a heart shaped stone would increase the resale value. Perhaps a pendent.
Mount it a heavy white gold triangle setting (much like one might use to set a trillion) and dangle it from a white gold 3.5 mm wire or omega.
Who knows, you might like it well enough to wear it. If the guy was a tool you earned it.

[foxpaws]

Well - it is real - it has been removed from the ugly hoop setting, and the jeweler is selling it loose on consignment for me. Independent, local, does a lot of high end custom work, they were very nice and helpful. 1.45 carats - VS1-F, and now I know a little about diamonds, they told me all sorts of stuff about rocks

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

Well - it is real - it has been removed from the ugly hoop setting, and the jeweler is selling it loose on consignment for me. Independent, local, does a lot of high end custom work, they were very nice and helpful. 1.45 carats - VS1-F, and now I know a little about diamonds, they told me all sorts of stuff about rocks

Given what you've told us (1.45 VS1-F) I would put the retail of that stone around $10K depending on symmetry, cut and polish. Is that close to your appraisal?