Know What to Look for When Buying Estate Jewelry

By Greg Holmes

Finding a great piece of vintage jewelry is always a great fashion accomplishment. By taking it to a jewelry appraiser, you'll be able to learn if your find is actually valuable. Estate jewelry is a great way to discover these treasures, and you may even find that there are some jewelry pieces in your family that are worth thousands. Following are some interesting pieces you might want to keep an eye out for when searching for estate jewelry.

A popular find at an estate sale is the engagement ring. Often these rings are still in very good shape after many years and can be worn as is. You might also choose to put the stones into a new setting. You can also change the stones to make it even more original. Emeralds and rubies are popular choices, along with diamond rings featuring three stones. Another classic piece is the sapphire wedding ring, which was a favorite of couples in the mid-twentieth century.

Brooches are also part of the great finds that you'll uncover when you search through estate jewelry. These decorative pins include precious stones, prized metals like gold or platinum, and pearls. There are so many fascinating designs of these brooches that you might want to start up a collection.

You can also find diamond and gold brooches from the Victorian era. Or you might be interested in an agate piece that sets off both business attire and formal wear alike. The dark, classic look of agate is sure to make the brooch stand out, and if antique jewelry is your thing, you'll definitely want at least one piece like this.

Art deco brooches are quite popular as well when it comes to estate jewelry. Their vibrant colors and fascinating designs are perfect for a monotone ensemble.

Bangles and bracelets are another aspect of estate jewelry that you'll want to check out. Once again, the art deco era produced many interesting pieces, particularly the bracelets that featured diamonds and rubies. These items are worth thousands of dollars, and if you resell them, you can expect to get about $3000 for most bracelets that are made of mainly diamonds, or even more for bangles that are set with rubies or emeralds. - 31404

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