Start with the stamp. Gold is marked by karat, 10K, 14K or 18K, or by fineness, 417, 585 or 750, usually inside a ring band or beside a clasp. Gold-filled pieces say GF or something like 1/20 12K GF, and plated pieces say GP, RGP or HGE; both are a thin layer of gold over base metal. Sterling is marked STERLING or 925. Solid gold and sterling have a floor set by the metal price on the day, so we weigh them before we price them.
Stones are the part we do not guess at. Whether a clear stone is a diamond, what a sapphire's colour and clarity are worth, and whether a pearl is natural, cultured or imitation are questions for a gemologist with the right instruments. When a piece's value depends on its stones, we say so and recommend an independent lab or gemologist before it is listed.
Costume jewelry sells on its maker. Signed pieces by Trifari, Miriam Haskell, Eisenberg, Napier, Coro, Monet, Weiss and Sarah Coventry have collectors, and the signature is usually a small stamp on the clasp or the back. Unsigned pieces sell best grouped by style or era: a lot of thirty Victorian-style costume pieces we are selling stays together because it is worth more as a lot than as thirty listings.
Brand names need their evidence. A Tiffany or Montblanc piece sells for more with its box, pouch and receipt, and buyers check engraving and hallmarks closely because copies are common. We describe the marks we can photograph and never call a piece genuine beyond that. A Montblanc sterling pearl drop we listed on eBay sold in six days.
Most jewelry sells on eBay and through our own shop, shipped to buyers across the country. Gold or silver that is worth only its metal can go to a local refiner or dealer instead, and if their offer beats what a listing would bring after marketplace fees, we will tell you to take it.
What not to do before you call.
Do not clean it with a dip or a polishing cloth: dips can damage pearls, opals, turquoise and old foil-backed stones, and a worn patina is part of what some buyers want. Do not separate earring pairs or sets, and do not remove stones or cut chains to fit a tray. Keep boxes, pouches, receipts and any old appraisals together with the pieces they belong to.
What the family receives.
- ✓A free walkthrough, or a first look from photos of each piece and its marks
- ✓A written quote before any work starts
- ✓The box sorted into metal value, fine pieces and costume, counted with you in writing
- ✓Gold and sterling weighed before pricing, so nothing sells below its metal
- ✓A plain recommendation when stones need an independent gemologist or lab first
- ✓Listings on eBay and our own shop, packed and shipped for you
- ✓An itemised statement for every piece that sells
Why VaultXL.
The metal is counted first
Gold and sterling have a price every day. We weigh them before we set a price, so a solid piece never sells for less than its metal.
Stones go to a specialist
We do not grade gems. When a piece's value rests on its stones, we tell you to have them tested before it is listed.
Signed is checked, not assumed
A maker's name goes in the listing only when the mark is there to photograph.
Counted with you
Every piece is photographed and counted with you before it leaves your hands, and you keep that count in writing.
Where we serve.
Charlotte · Myers Park · Eastover · SouthPark · Foxcroft · Dilworth · Elizabeth · Cotswold · Ballantyne · Huntersville · Cornelius · Davidson · Matthews · Mint Hill · Waxhaw · Fort Mill · Rock Hill
Start with a walkthrough.
A free walkthrough in your home, then a written quote before any work starts.
Frequently asked.
Look for a karat stamp such as 10K, 14K or 18K, or a number such as 417, 585 or 750. GF, RGP, GP or HGE mean gold-filled or plated, which has a thin layer of gold over another metal. A stamp is a strong sign but not proof, so we check before we price.
No. We describe what we can see and photograph. When the value depends on the stones, we recommend an independent gemologist or lab report before the piece is sold, and we say so at the walkthrough.
Signed pieces by makers such as Trifari, Miriam Haskell and Eisenberg often are, and good unsigned pieces sell well in themed lots. Mass-market fashion jewelry from recent decades usually sells for very little, and we will tell you so.
For broken chains and single earrings that are worth only their metal, a reputable dealer may be the right answer. For signed, designer or period pieces, a listing usually brings more than melt. We will tell you which pieces are which.
Every project is quoted in writing after a free walkthrough: a non-refundable setup fee set in your quote, and 15% of what sells after marketplace fees. You keep 85%.
