There are a myriad of different things that people collect, and jewellery such as antique necklaces, brooches, and rings, are extremely popular candidates for collections. Many people tend to start out collecting things such as antique jewellery without any real intent, with their collection just growing over time. There are also serious collectors out there who earn money from buying and selling antiques.
If you are one of those people who are looking to start a new collection off or if you just want to buy an attractive antique necklace or other types of antique jewellery, then where is the best place for you to buy your antiques from? There are many different places that you can find antique jewellery on offer, and if you look hard enough, there are also many bargains to be found. No one place is better than the other, and you must always be wary when looking to purchase antiques as there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there, especially in cyberspace!
Using Online Auctions to Buy Antique Jewellery
If you look on the internet, there are many online auctions such as eBay where you can bid for various different items, including antique jewellery. You do have to be careful though as there are a lot of people selling low-quality, fake, or stolen goods on the internet. That being said, there are still some bargains that you can have if you search all of these sites properly, and you can still get some remarkably good deals. Just keep in mind that if something sounds too good to be true then it most likely is not what it seems. Going to a reputable dealer such as Philips Auctions can give you peace of mind that the item you are purchasing is high quality jewellery.
Before bidding on items, you should contact the seller and ask for more details such as provenance if it is available. Also ask for images of the hallmark if they are not displayed on the listing. If you are careful with how much you bid as well as what you bid on, you can pick up some good deals.
Buying Your Antique Jewellery from a Pawn Shop
Another place that you can pick up some great deals is at your local pawn shop. You will often find that when a pawn shop loans money against an item of jewellery, they will usually appraise the item based on the precious metals and stones, offering the scrap value as the worth of the goods. The shop then loans a percentage of the value to the client. If the client then defaults on the loan, the pawnbroker is free to sell the item and will often sell the item for just over scrap value. This means that you can sometimes get some great bargains which are worth more than you pay for them. Although these occasions are rare, as you will find most pawn brokers are quite knowledgeable about such things.
Buying from Online Antique Dealers or Going to Their Shop
You will find that there are many antique dealers, both online and brick-and-mortar, that you can visit. You will want to look for a dealer that is industry accredited as well as also reputable. If you know a lot about the types of necklaces that you are buying, then purchasing online is easy. If this is something that is new to you, then you should visit the store and speak to someone in person. This is an excellent way to increase your knowledge about antique jewellery and get guidance as to what you should look for.
Antique Fairs and Markets
These are both great places to search for those hidden gems, and there are stories that people have picked up bargains which go on to be worth vast sums of money. This is rare, but it does happen, so spending the time to go through these markets and fairs, can have great rewards. Not only financially, you may just end up buying an attractive antique necklace of your dreams!
