March 4, 2010

How To Understand Gold Karats

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique Jewelry, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Estate Jewelers, Gold Testing, Host a Gold Party, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Selling Gold, gold | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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One of the most common questions that’s asked is to explain gold karats or fineness. I wish I had a dime for every time it was explained. You would be amazed at how wealthy my bank account would be. It’s really simple and it’s not rocket science either. Let me share with you.

Firstly, just because it’s stamped a particular karat doesn’t mean it’s really that karat. Quite often, jewelry from overseas is NOT the karat stamped. There have been many pieces of jewelry handed to me that are stamped 22kt. or .916 and once tested, it’s 14kt. How does that happen you ask? Easy. It’s SOOOO simple once you have a tiny little stamp to stamp anything you want or any karat that you want. Not all jewelers are scrupulous. The item in question is made out of 14kt. and then flashed or plated with 22kt. If the vendor or jeweler does that on a large amount of unsuspecting buyers, well, it’s all in the profits gained.

When going to purchase your jewelry or gold from overseas, purchase from a LONG time jeweler or dealer with good standing with the cruise line, local area, or travel agent. This’s where you’re safe. These vendors have their reputations to lose and your trust is very, very valuable to them. Especially, in this economic market. Once a reputation is damaged, as in anything, it’s extremely difficult to recover.

When you buy your gold item, you’ll see the hallmark or stamp on it. It will not be exactly that karat. There is a legal tolerance that the original vendor or manufacturer has to stay within. It differs all over the world. But it has to be CLOSE to the karat stamped. Often items brought to me won’t feel right. The heft in the hand is off. The feel is something one gains over having had a lot of gold run through their hands. Different karats have different densities therefore “feeling”  or hefting differently. If there’s a question about the karat, acid is used to determine the exact karat. Acids never lie and they are fool proof.

The fineness of gold is as follows:

24kt.=pure gold
23kt.=.9583 fine
22kt.=.9166 fine
21.6kt.=.900 fine
21kt.=.875 fine
20kt.=.8333 fine
18kt.=.750 fine
14kt.=.5833 fine
10kt.=.417 fine
9kt.= .333 fine

These are the percentages of gold in the individual pieces. The remainder of the metal in your item will be alloys. As an example, an 18kt. ring has 75% gold and the remaining 25% is alloy. It follows through for the rest of the karats too.

If you have an item that has a “P” after the stamp (i.e. 14KTP), that means “Plumb”. Plumb gold means that it’s exactly the karat it’s marked.  It doesn’t differ one iota. It is a little more expensive but worth the search when looking. When purchasing, I look for that stamp. If it feels right then it’s just added to the karat pile to be purchased.

There are a couple of other hallmarks or stamps that you should be made aware of. When you see a GE or a HGE after the karat mark (i.e. 18kt HGE), that’s NOT gold. Those hallmarks stand for “gold electro plate” or “heavy gold electro plate” respectively. It’s not uncommon for people to bring items in with the karat and GE or HGE in the hallmark and thinking it’s gold. Bad news isn’t always easy or pleasant to tell someone.

Gold karat or fineness is easy to understand and as promised, it’s not rocket science. No genius involved here. So purchase from your trusted jewelers, vendors, or dealers with knowledge that they have your best interests first and foremost.

 

February 16, 2010

How To Set A Perfectly Beautiful Table With Silver Plate AND Sterling Together

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique and Estate Jewelry, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Sterling, Sterling Silver, silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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In my travels, there is so much silver plate that runs through my hands. Some of it’s dreadfully black with tarnish, some has been kept beautifully, and some is in terrible condition. It is unloved and not well thought of. Of which, I find quite surprising, in spite tarnish. Gladly, I’ll take it off of someone’s hands. The newer silver plate is not heavy and the plate doesn’t wear well. I pass on that stuff. The old silver plate is just wonderful with the patina of age and I quickly buy it when it comes in. It’s cleaned up, polished brightly, and then put into my silverware drawer for everyday use.

Have to tell a story here. My mother decided she liked the silver plate in my silverware drawer and asked me to be on the look out for serving pieces. Well, a bee-u-tee-ful cake/pie server came in just before Christmas. It cost hardly anything and was the deal of the day for me. It was very ornate and had a shape similar to a trowel. It’s just perfect to serve with. It was shown to my sister for approval and she looked very longingly at it. Now she wants some of the silver plate and my mother loved, loved the cake/pie server.

The thing about the older silver plate servers is that they are unique, have specific uses, show true craftsmanship, and mix wonderfully with a table set with sterling. Sterling servers can sometimes be a bit pricey on their own. But the alternative of silver plate is practical in price.

Taking care of it is easy. If it doesn’t have a hollow handle, you can put it in the dishwasher. I don’t know about you, but easy is good. The dishwasher cleans it wonderfully. Just put in ½ of the dishwasher detergent unless you are using NEU dish soap. That is THE best dishwasher detergent…..BAR NONE. The other NEU products are just as wonderful. It’s safe for sterling too. Just put a few pieces in the dishwasher basket. Here again, no hollow handles. When finished, put it in a Ziploc bag with all of the air out of it and it will stay polished if you use it for special occasions. Otherwise, just use it and that will keep the polish.

When you get your new-to-you silver plate, polish ONLY with paste polishes. Never, ever use silver dip. It will absolutely ruin the silver plate or sterling and the patina. The patina develops over time. Patina gives silver plate and sterling a glow that can only be achieved through time. The large auction houses only use paste polish. If the auction houses use paste, then I’d be strongly inclined to use paste too…..and I do. I am a sister of the black hand…..the color that your hands get from polishing silver with paste polish.

Old silver plate is ornate. You will find that the back of each piece is decorated, not just the front. Victorian pieces are highly ornate on the back. It’s hard not to appreciate even a lowly little pickle fork that is as beautiful on the back as it is on the front. There is one in my drawer that dates to 1880’s with sweet little Forget-me-nots on the front. The reverse side has the same but what would be the backside of the flowers and leaves. It is just darling.

Now to set your table: Mix everything. There is something to be said for everything that matches on a table. AND, there’s a lot to be said for mixing everything on the table. Last Thanksgiving, I was given the table to set at my sister’s house. I mixed everything all together. Sterling, silver plate, mother of pearl handled flatware, crystal and plain glass were all on the table. My sister was in the kitchen with the pecan pie while I finished the table. It was perfectly lovely. I had brought my servers and other flatware from home. Previous to that moment she wasn’t quite convinced about silver plate until she saw it all out on the table. She was amazed and you will be too.

There were different kinds of servers that were originally intended for very specific uses. Not any more. At Thanksgiving they went to other jobs instead. The thing to remember: There are NO rules about how you use your servers. They can be re-tasked. I use a silver plate bullion spoon for my everyday tea scoop. It’s just the perfect amount for a pot of tea.

You can’t exactly come out on a buy with me to get these lovelies. What you can do is hit your local garage sales, check your grandmother’s silver drawer, or look in antique shops. People just don’t want to polish and you can pick up some deals for little cash. Sometimes you can even hit a jackpot and pick up a sterling item. While looking for that piece, make sure there is no copper or brass shining through. There should not be excessive use either. Look for the items that are in very good condition. Don’t get scared away by tarnish either. You can polish it back to beauty.

Now you, too, know the secret of a beautiful table that’s not going to cost an arm and a leg. A table set with polished silver or silver plate is a sight to behold for a special occasion as well as every day use. The fancy serving pieces will always get comments from a guest. You can just smile and let someone think that it’s sterling that you use for everyday. Besides the nice thing about silver plate is, if it wears out, you can just throw it away without any guilt. Happy hunting!

 

November 4, 2009

How to Treat Your Organics, In-Organics and “IF” They Should Be In Safe Deposit Boxes

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique Jewelry, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Cultured Pearls, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Pearl, Platinum, gold | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressOrganics? What are Organics you ask? This an all encompassing jewelry trade term that you may or may not heard of. Organics are anything that is not a rock or a stone. The following are examples of organics: coral, shell, pearls, ivory, conch pearls, paper (historic documents), animal furs or claws. In-Organics would be diamonds, platinum, gold, sterling, coins,  etc.

Why put items in safe deposit boxes? The obvious answer is to keep them safe. But there are things that should NOT stay in a safe deposit box for extended periods of time. The air is VERY dry and will pull the moisture out of any organic and a few in-organics items. Years in safe deposit boxes have absolutely ruined items that people have put in front of me to purchase from them. It has put me in the difficult position to explain that Aunt Bessie’s favorite large Victorian period shell cameo is only worth the value of the gold frame because the once beautiful cameo is crazed and has a crack giving Aphrodite a part that the carver did not intend. It is a shame to see some of the beautiful pieces that have been destroyed because of their spending a lifetime in the local bank. The Dead Sea Scrolls befell the same circumstances because of their safe deposit storage.  A beautiful large opal in a fabulous Art Nouveau necklace will craze beyond belief if it were kept in a safe deposit box for a long time.

What not to put into a safe deposit box? Organics, papers (historic in nature), leathers, Opals, fabrics, watches and clocks are items that should not go into a safe deposit box. You CAN put them into the bank if you are going away for a trip and will return in a couple of weeks. There is no issue there. Just bring them home when you can after you get back and they can acclimate to your home again. These items need the moisture that is in your home.

With these simple little rules, you can keep your treasured jewelry beautiful for generations to come.

 

October 19, 2009

How’s and Why’s of Karating and Selling Your Gold Demystified

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique Jewelry, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Buying Gold, Estate Jewelers, Gold Testing, Selling Gold, gold | Tags: , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressHow is your gold bought? Why isn’t 14kt bought as an ounce of 14kt. gold? How does that relate to the price of gold? Gold’s $1,000+ an ounce and why don’t you get that for your 1 ounce coin? These are all of the questions that are heard with frequency. Let me help to demystify the situation for you.

First, let me speak about coins. Know that most gold coins are cut with an alloy. There are a few coins such as the Panda, Credit Suisse or the thin Austrian Kroner that are pure .999, .9999 (24Kt..). But vast majority of the coins are usually alloyed with copper. The copper imparts a rosy tint to the coin. Look to the South African Krugerrand or Mexican Pesos for examples of this rosy color. When you put a single 1 ounce coin on the scale, it weighs more than 1 ounce. It does indeed have 1 ounce of gold in it but the alloys in it will push the weigh higher than the ounce mark.

Coins (or bullion) trade back of the gold price as much as $200 depending on the desirability of the coin. The desirability is paramount for the price of any gold coin. Some coins will trade higher than the price of gold. It just depends on the coin and the market of the individual buyer.

There are so many karats of gold used with regards to jewelry. Here again, I will try to demystify these.

There is not that much jewelry made from 24kt pure gold. It is too soft and bends or scratches with little effort. It is quite often hallmarked with .999, .9999 or .999.9. This is the percent of gold content. You see this mark on some gold coins or ingots. Nothing is ever marked 100% because it always has a “trace” of impurity that can not be refined out and that trace is acceptable worldwide.

Baht gold is usually seen coming from the Asian Market. You can tell Baht by the color and the heft of the items. Baht is usually 22Kt. How does that relate to pure gold though? 22Kt. is often hallmarked with 916 which translates to 91.6% pure and the remainder alloys. Other markets in the world use 22kt such as the Middle East. The term Baht is specific to the Asian market as denotes amounts of weight not just karat.

Jewelry quite often is seen with an 18kt. or 750 stamps. This means that the item is 75% pure gold (.999) and the remainder is alloy. But how does the 18kt translate to the 24kt? It’s the 75% of 24Kt.

14Kt. or 585 is 58.5% gold and the remainder alloy.

10Kt or 417 is 41.7% gold and the remainder alloy. The lower the karat, the higher the amount of alloy.

These are the most common karats of jewelry. It is important to remember that rarely is the gold that you are wearing really 18kt., 14kt or other karats. Manufacturers have a tolerance to work with in and generally don’t produce the exact karat hallmarked on the jewelry. I will pick on 18kt. for an example. A piece of jewelry may assay out to be 17.88kt instead of 18kt. Although, it could go to the plus side but it’s not common. Jewelry contains more alloys that don’t allow the gold to be exactly 18kt. or 750. Solder is the first example that comes to mind. Solder is what binds your new sizing, tipping of flat prongs, adding a new head to hold your diamond in to name a few examples.

A gold buyer knows that once all the different karats are melted down and assayed, it is usual for the karat to drop significantly. The other thing that will drop the karat is a bad buy, i.e. buying something that was thought to be a certain karat gold or it wasn’t gold at all. And, believe me, this does happen. When assaying a lot of 14kt., it is common for it to assay out to 12-13kt. The general public never knows about this.

Common jewelry that doesn’t command a separate price will be purchased from you by the pennyweight or less commonly gram. These smaller weight measurements are used because the public doesn’t generally come into sell 100’s or 1000’s of ounces of gold.

Hopefully this will clarify and demystify some of the most common questions you have while selling your gold. Gold’s above $1000 per ounce. Now is the time for you to sell your gold and get you some cash.

 

September 6, 2009

Jewelry: Can’t Afford the Real Thing?…..Go Faux-ward!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique Jewelry, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Buying Gold, Diamond Sales, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Sterling, Sterling Silver, silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressWe’ve all felt the pinch of everything in our economy from housing, gas, groceries, loss of jobs to mention a few. The jewelry industry has been hit exceptionally HARD. It’s been a question of do you want to pay for a mortgage, car payment, trade-in your car for cash for clunkers program or buy a piece of jewelry? Let’s see?….hmm…bet it’s not the jewelry that high on the list!

My sympathies, empathies and heart are with those who have lost their jobs. My hope for those out of a job is that things will be better with a new position that pays well and has benefits in short order. I was out of work for over 3 months due to a well known individual that embezzled billions of dollars. The ripple effect of his scheme is huge and stretches too far. Three months out of a job is nothing in comparison to some but it was very difficult.

With everything in the economy, gold and platinum at current levels, how can anyone afford any jewelry? Well, yes you can. There are options: Estate and Costume.

Look into buying estate jewelry. Estate is where it’s at. My blogs keep harping about this but it’s simply the best way. Estate is cheaper than buying something brand new. A piece of jewelry isn’t worth going into hock over in this economy.

Ebay or Craig’s List wouldn’t be on my top spots to look  for purchasing because there’s too much to go wrong there. There’s a lot of expertise that an individual would need in order to score a deal. Appraisals and Certificates can be faked. That’s where the experts come in to help you. But that adds to the price of the item and we’re trying to keep the price down for you. Ebay and Craig’s List ARE a great place to check pricing of SIMILAR items. You won’t find exactly the same thing but close is good.

You say you can’t afford the real thing either but want a little bling. Well, go Faux or Costume jewelry. I wear it mixed with my real stuff and everyone thinks, since I am a Graduate Gemologist, everything MUST be real. NOT!!! My choices in costume are fun. If you want to pull the mix off to appear real, your choices must “look like” they’re real.

As I write this article, I have a very large Anne Klein rose gold and white gold tone automatic skeleton watch that I changed out the white rubber band for a black men’s fake croc band from Wal-Mart, a rolled yellow gold bangle from early 1900’s and a pair of Middle-Eastern 22kt gold loop earrings. The watch gets so many ooh’s and ah’s and then I clue the individual in to the fact that they too can go Sam’s and buy one for $29.99 and Wal-Mart for the $7 cheap-o band. That gets some serious eyebrows raised sprinkled in with some strong “Really’s?”. The earrings, though, are real.

Rhinestones NEVER look real. They are fun though and have their place in costume jewelry. It’s great to add a little glitz and bling to your wardrobe. Rhinestones constantly cross my hands…some great and most not so great. The “not so great” can’t usually be refurbished or re-vamped.  When buying estate and antique just make sure to look and see if these items are set in sterling. Sterling can be sold for scrap. Look carefully. Don’t hesitate to snap up sterling at a garage sales either! And, don’t be afraid to bling up your pumps or flats with a big pair of clip earrings from your garage sale adventures.  Check the antique dealers, they sometimes have really great antique and vintage costume or faux pieces of jewelry.

When picking your new faux or paste pieces look for things that really look like the real thing. If it looks worn or the base metal is coming through, you might want to re-think the option and toss it in the garbage. Costume doesn’t need to be perfect but it does need to look good and be in good repair. If it turns a person green where it’s worn, get rid of it and find something new. It’s disposable anyway.

Last thought, if it’s a piece of costume jewelry that you really, really, really like and it’s worn through, out or just can’t go any farther, you can consider having a jeweler re-create the piece as a real piece of  jewelry. I have had quite a few things “knocked off” and made into the real thing from costume. There are limitations though and they’re too lengthy to get into in this blog. Your jeweler will be the best asset for you here, IF, it can be done.

Luckily there are options in this tight economy. Estate can always be a good deal and provide you with good real jewelry buys. Don’t be afraid to experiment with faux jewelry or costume jewelry. This can be a great way to expand your jewelry wardrobe without breaking your piggy-bank. So, faux-ward on!

 

July 24, 2009

Selling Your Gold…..Here’s The Details About What Goes On During and After You Sell Your Precious Metals

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique Jewelry, Buying Gold, Estate Jewelers, Gold Testing, Jewelry Sales, Platinum, Selling Gold, Sterling, Sterling Silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressEveryone’s selling their gold for any number of reasons. One great reason is just to put a jingle in your pocket. Other less pleasant but very important reasons are for taxes, divorces, to make ends meet, or to put food on the table to name a few.

I was just out on a buy and was shopped by two consumer advocates. Don’t get me wrong, they have their place.  Consumer advocates have been able to get really good and well needed results from their endeavors.   But, if it’s done in a manner to be sensational and get the news out, it does no good for anyone and makes matters worse for everyone.  There’s more to the gold price than just the price.  As a general rule, very few understand everything that goes into giving a competitive precious metals price.

When you sit down in front of me, you are treated with the utmost respect and consideration. The same holds true for the other buyers that are out on the buy with me. This can’t be said for all companies out there buying your gold, silver, diamonds and such. Not always am I able to come to an agreeable price. When a good price for both doesn’t happen, then other alternatives are discussed to try to help you sell the item(s).

As an instance, a mother and daughter both came in together. The mother was coming in for a second time because I was able to make an offer on her diamond wedding set that no one had matched. We finished the transaction and began to discuss her daughter’s jewelry. It was taking an emotional toll on the daughter. I had explained that I understood her plight of going through a divorce. They are some of the most difficult things in life. Previously, I had told her mother that it had been necessary to sell everything, including family antiques, in order to make ends meet. The mother then told the daughter.

Tears welled in the daughter’s eyes and threatened to spill. I reached out to put a consoling hand on the daughters hands, explained that they were things, and that they didn’t define who or what I was. Also, that a jewelry buyer was only one of the means used to make my ends meet.   And, the same held true for her. The things she was trying to sell were just things. None of this would ever define who or what she was.

We were not able to able to come to an agreeable price but I was able to give her other alternatives in order to get her the cash that she needed. It was a very emotional time for the daughter.  She went away from the experience with a plan for herself.

There are many tales like this. No one ever hears them or about the sheer delight of getting more money than had been anticipated. Or asking someone what they want for an item and telling them, I’d like to pay you more than what you are asking. You get to hear all about the “bad boys and girls” of the business splashed across the media and about how much they ripped off John Q. Public. It’s sensational. It makes for great news.

You need to know that all 14kt gold or other karats of gold are NOT created equally. As a general rule when gold is purchased, melted and then refined, the gold that comes back from a 14kt lot is much LESS than 14kt. Yes, I did say LESS! The only way to combat that from a buyer’s standpoint is by testing with acids.

Acid testing is subjective to a certain point. If you have a ring that is stamped 14kt, as example, and it browns under a 14kt acid scratch test then it is less than 14kt. When you sit down in front of me, I test in front of you and explain what is being done so that you can feel secure in the testing procedure. Besides it’s YOUR gold and YOU need to know everything that is going on with regards to getting you the most for your sale. The acids that are used are 10kt., 14kt, and 18kt. That’s about all that any qualified buyer needs to have in their arsenal.

After the Buy, gold gets separated into its different karats. Often there is a 14kt stamp but the gold is UNDER karated or not even gold. There are soldered rings and chains, springs in the catches on those necklaces and generally 14kt is less than 14kt gold. It may be as low as 9kt. Each is smelted and refined. Then it’s tested to see what the karat is. It never, ever, ever comes out to 10kt, 14kt., or 18kt.!

How does this affect the bottom line for the company that I work for you ask? We MUST be making a killing, right? Well, if I am buying 14kt price and it comes in less than 14kt after the melt, then the buy price was too high. There are other things to take into consideration, my salary, my hotel and meals, my flight, the cost of the advertising, cost of a police officer for everyone’s protection, cost of the room, refiner charges, smelting charges, shipping, is the jewelry being held for a police hold (sometimes it’s held up to 30 days), etc. When you add everything up, it’s a pretty stiff price and not everyone is making a HUGE profit as was first thought.

Everyone buying from you has a certain market and all markets are different for the most part. Do your due diligence when shopping your gold. You have to. It means your money. But do know there are some really good people out there buying for a right and fair price from the public.

 

July 1, 2009

A Good Buy Can Cool Your Hot Summer Down With Turquoise And Sterling Silver

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, American Indian, Antique Jewelry, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Estate Jewelers, Jessica Kendrick, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Sterling, Sterling Silver, Summer, Turquoise, silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressTurquoise has been in style for quite a while and is currently gaining more popularity.  It comes in such a wide variety of blues and yes, greens.  It has been the valued gemstone choice of Kings and Queens of ancient times.  There’s nothing finer than Persian Turquoise for its beautiful Robin’s egg blue color.  And besides, it really looks great mounted in sterling silver and shown off by your summer tan.

American Turquoise is known by different mines, such as Sleeping Beauty, Ajax, Bisbee, Kingman, Lone Mountain, Pixie to name a few.  Each of the mines has its own defining characteristics and colors.  It comes from the U.S., India, Iran, Sinai, China, and Africa.  Some mines produce an olive green color with brown matrix, Robin’s egg blue without matrix or a deep blue with black matrix.  It just depends where it’s mined from.  The matrix is the veining that occurs in some of the gemstones.  Not all turquoise has it.

It is a very porous stone and turns color from the oils in your skin.  Natural turquoise is hardly ever found anymore.  Over time, the natural turquoise will gain a beautiful patina.  The turquoise seen in the market today is stabilized, treated and dyed.  Treatments range from soaking in tallow, epoxies, waxes, dyeing, or oiling.  Reconstituted turquoise is ground up into a powder, mixed with polymers, and then formed into the desired piece of jewelry.

When you think of turquoise, American Indian jewelry is the first to come to mind.  Each Indian tribe has it own unique style of jewelry.  The jewelry may be inlaid, natural pebbles that are bezel set, tumbled stones with drilled holes, heshi (tubes of turquoise that are strung together), small to tiny bezel set stones (needlepoint), or natural nuggets to name a few.

The 80’s craze for Indian jewelry is now what is generally being re-sold at the moment.  This has not held its value and you can get great bargains on it.  The much older 20’s-30’s-40’s jewelry has held value and especially so with particular jeweler signatures.  The very old jewelry and some Old Pawn (called such because it was pawned at a pawn shop) are in a class by their self.  China has gone into the Indian jewelry manufacture.  It contains some of the feel of the American Indian style of jewelry but not the heart.  This hasn’t held any value as far as re-sale value.  Currently the style is for a strong neon lime green dyed turquoise.  Any turquoise aficionado will generally not find this color attractive.

You can get some fabulous deals on American Indian jewelry at pawn shops or estate and antique dealers.  The more current the piece, the better the price will be for you.  Other retail outlets that specialize in American Indian jewelry are a good source too but you won’t get as good of a deal.  Rule of thumb: if you see something that you like, buy it.  Most of the time if you leave and come back to it later the item will have sold.

There isn’t any style worn that can’t be enhanced by turquoise.  It doesn’t mean that it has to be set in American Indian jewelry style.  You can find it in designs of Egyptian, Indian, modern jewelry to name a few. Tiffany and Cartier have used turquoise in some of their designs.  The Victorian’s were particularly fond of turquoise and set lots of it in their gold jewelry.

Turquoise has had an understated timelessness about it.  It is a good staple in your jewelry wardrobe.  You can wear it as an accent piece.  It will always get you noticed. Cool down that hot summer heat with a great deal on turquoise set in sterling silver.  It’s not just for western wear anymore!

 

June 8, 2009

It’s A Hot Summer…..Even Hotter Summer Jewelry Deals!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Cultured Pearls, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Pearl, Platinum, Sterling, Summer, big diamonds, silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressIt’s June in South Texas and it’s HOT!  As it usually does, the weather goes from spring to Summer swelter immediately.  But what does that have to do with jewelry?  Quite a bit, actually.  Summer is usually a dead time for jewelers and is the worst time for their business.  But that means it’s a good time for YOU!  So crank up the a/c, hop in the car and do a little shopping for you, your loved one, or who ever else is on your jewelry list. 

From now till mid September, the jewelry business as a whole suffers.  Add the current economic situation into the mix and it really creates a train wreck for the local jewelers.  For you though, that equates to some serious wheeling and dealing.  Take a peek in your local shops, see what they have, make an offer on a piece and see what the jeweler offers back.  Make a real offer and not half of the price of the piece offer.  Markup’s are not what most people believe they are.  A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing as far as profit is concerned. 

August is the prime time for your wheeling and dealing.  It’s is dead in August for jewelers.  I know of one jeweler that I worked for that suggested that they bowl in the showroom it was so dead.  That’s the time for you though. 

Your best deals will still be from your Mom and Pop family owned jewelers and from estate and antique dealers.  Any of the mall owned stores or chain jewelry companies will not work to get you the best prices.  They may work with you for a tiny bit but not much because of the restrictions of their home offices.  There are others that will provide you better deals and service to go along with your piece. 

You know who to buy from.  Now you need to know what to buy.  New jewelry has new pricing attached to it and there’s not a lot of room to move.  Antique and estate are where you get your best jewelry deals.  Antique jewelry has to be 100 years old or more.  Estate jewelry can be 15 minutes old but it’s pre-owned and less than 100 years old. 

When buying antiques, go to a reputable source that knows antiques.  Look at other pieces on line from the time period for a “like-ness” or theme.  No two antique pieces will ever be alike. Your best source will be a dealer that has been in the antique business for quite some time and has a good reputation in the community. 

Estate jewelry is a little wider open for you at the moment.  You can pick up some great deals whether you are looking for a big diamond, a Rolex watch, pearls, pins or brooches, cameos, or what ever strikes your fancy.  Graduated cultured pearls are not in style but offer one of the best buys for the person with a minimal budget.  Don’t hesitate to make an offer to an antique or an estate dealer. 

Ask what’s been in the case a long time.  There’s always something that’s been there a while and the jeweler would love to get out of the inventory.  Most of these pieces may be out of style at the moment.  Maybe you’ll love the piece.  Start your own style.  Buck the trends.  You can get a fantastic deal that way. 

If you can’t pay for it all at once, ask about a lay-a-way.  Again, because of the economic climate, that tried and true old way of getting a desired piece is making its way back into common business practice.  Discuss the details with the jeweler before embarking in this area.  You may pay closer to the retail price for this because the jeweler can’t use the money as they would from an immediate cash sale.  It’s a service worth paying a little extra for and it’s a great way for you to get a new piece for yourself, a loved one or for the clever shopper, an early Christmas present. 

Even though it’s hot, hot, hot outside, you now know about the deals you can have for a piece of jewelry, where to find them, and who to buy it from.  That should make you feel cool as a cucumber with a hot deal in one hand and still keeping some of your hard earned cold cash in the other!

 

May 27, 2009

GOLD’S UP!! And It’s A Golden Opportunity To Bring Cash To YOU!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Buying Gold, Estate Jewelers, Gold Testing, Host a Gold Party, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Platinum, Selling Gold, Sterling, silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressThe Gold Party is over and I have to let you know it was very successful.  People went home quite surprised by the amount of CASH their gold brought them.  I am going to be planning another one very shortly. 

A great time was had by all.  There was a little wine, a little cheese, some great laughter, a very nice evening, and quite a few ooh’s and ah’s when it came down to weighing the gold and handing out the cash.  It was fascinating to see how much a little pile of 10kt., 14kt., or 18kt. added up to a significant amount of cash. There were some great big smiles on people’s faces. 

You won’t be pressured into selling at my gold party.  In fact, everyone wanted to go home and dig a little deeper in their jewelry boxes.  Unfortunately we were limited on time.  But I am now working with a few people to purchase their precious metals on an individual basis.  This could also work for you, if you prefer a little more privacy about selling your gold. 

What To Bring?
Bring anything and everything that you think that you want to sell, even if you aren’t sure what it is.  Don’t worry if it’s clean or if you’re not sure it’s even gold.  I will test it to be sure.  Bring single earrings, broken jewelry, gold teeth, outdated jewelry that you don’t like, old settings that have the stones out or anything that you can dig out of your jewelry box.   Bring gold, platinum and silver.  You will receive cash for all of it.

I can advise you whether to keep it or not, and tell you what it is if it’s a unique or antique item.  I can also advise you where to go to get your best price if the item is too special to be sold at a gold party for scrap. I’ve taken numerous items “on memorandum” — a type of jeweler’s loan — and sold them for clients to help get the best price because some estate pieces will bring more money than if they were simply melted.  I make a few calls to see where the pricing is in the industry and make an offer to you. 

How are Gold and Other Metals Priced? 
Rates are based on the current precious metals market for that individual day.  As an example: Gold is currently around $950.00 per ounce.  This is for bullion 100% pure gold — or 24 karat.  The gold that you’ll bring in is less than 24 karat.  But remember, your 14 karat herringbone necklace is gold combined with another metal, so the weight of your necklace is not a solid weight in pure gold so you’ll be paid on the actual amount of gold in your necklace. 

What Should You NOT Sell?
Sometimes there are some things you should just keep.  When I see something important that I think you should hold on to and take home with you, I’ll tell you.  I’ll, also, tell you if a piece should go to an auction house such as Christie’s or Sotheby’s or if you have a rare item that would only grow in value for you, for example.  You can then judge whether or not it’s in your interest to sell it.  Good jewelers and gemologists will always advise on whether you should hold on to a piece or if the cash is the better option.

It was a great party and I look forward to more.  Gold’s up!  Why not take advantage?  When’s that last time you went to a party, had fun, drank a little wine and made money????  Never! Dig deep in your jewelry box.  Take advantage of the “stuff” that’s just lying around moldering and make you some CASH!

 

May 12, 2009

Call Me To Host A Gold Party!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Buying Gold, Estate Jewelers, Gold Testing, Host a Gold Party, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Platinum, Selling Gold, silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Have been thinking about hosting your own gold party?  Let me help you understand how they work — and how you get paid.
 
Gold parties, by definition, are a small gathering of people who want to sell their old jewelry and have a fun evening while they make money.  The hostess typically recieves a commission on sales and the guests receive payment for their old, unwanted jewelry.  Guests mingle and drink wine and eat snacks and appetizers while the buyer weighs and pays an individual guest for their old gold.  It’s simple, fun, and makes you some cash from the bottom of your jewelry box!

What To Bring?
Bring anything and everything that you think that you want to sell, even if you aren’t sure what it is.  Don’t worry if it’s clean.  Bring single earrings, broken jewelry, gold teeth, outdated jewelry that you don’t like, old settings that have the stones out or anything that you can dig out of your jewelry box. 

I can advise you whether to keep it or not, and tell you what it is if it’s a unique or antique item.  I can also advise you where to go to get your best price if the item is too special to be sold at a gold party for scrap. I’ve taken items “on memorandum” — a type of jeweler’s loan — and sold them for clients to help get the best price because some estate pieces will bring more money than if they were simply melted.  A price is agreed upon at the point of memorandum.  This is most commonly done when the item is an old, unique, or special piece of jewelry. 

How Are You Paid? 
The price is based off of current gold value and is paid to you then and there at the gold party.  You leave with cash in hand — and you leave with a lot more than you would get from a mail-in or TV gold-buying service — when you sell to me.  

How are Gold and Other Metals Priced? 
Rates are based on the current precious metals market for that individual day.  As an example: Gold is currently around $900.00 per ounce.  This is for bullion 100% pure gold — or 24 karat.  The gold that you’ll bring in is less than 24 karat.  But remember, your 14 karat herringbone necklace is gold combined with another metal, so the weight of your necklace is not a solid weight in pure gold so you’ll be paid on the actual amount of gold in your necklace. 

What Should You NOT Sell?
Sometimes there are some things you should just keep.  When I see something important that I think you should hold on to, I’ll tell you.  I’ll tell you if a piece should go to an auction house such as Christie’s or Sotheby’s or if you have a rare item that would only grow in value for you, for example.  You will then be able to judge whether or not it’s in your interest to sell it.  Good jewelers will always advise on whether you should hold on to a piece or if the cash is the better option.

How Gold Parties Work?
There are services that you can contract with online but these usually don’t pay very well.  A gold party is a great idea, but you want to get the most for your gold.  That’s why an independent buyer, like me, will usually pay you the most — and pay you in CASH.  Rather than making your guests wait on a “check in the mail” (and who likes that?), I’ll pay on the spot and give you a better price than a service with high overhead and excess fees.

Why Sell to Me? 
I am a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and have been for 20+ years. The GIA is the most recognized governing body in the world for jewelers.  I have been in numerous fields within the jewelry industry in a career that spans 25+ years.  My specialty is buying jewelry.  I have been a buyer since 1989 working in New York with the big auction houses (Christie’s and Sotheby’s), on the road for buying shows, and as an in-house buyer for different jewelry companies. 

My knowledge base is extensive and my expertise is a rare and valuable commodity within the jewelry industry.   I am currently a contract buyer  and am a sought-out expert for fine metals buying and for my extensive knowledge of gemstones, antique and rare jewelry pieces, and fine estate jewelry.

 

HOST YOUR OWN GOLD PARTY — AND MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY!

Not only will you be able to help your friends leave with cash in hand, but when you host your own gold party you’ll also recieve a bonus commission off the total sales for the evening!  I pay a commission to the hostess.  You’d be amazed what dusty old jewelry adds up to! 

MORE REASONS TO HOST A GOLD PARTY

– Donate proceeds to your church (and get a tax deduction)
– Donate proceeds to your favorite charity — and deduct your donation from taxes
– Hold a gold party as a fundraiser for a local cause, friend, or as a benefit fundraiser
– To meet new friends
– To clear your jewelry box out of your past marriages, old boyfriends, and unhappy memories
– Clear clutter and to get rid of stuff you just don’t like

Gold parties are fun way to give you “found money” that you didn’t know that you had.  Everyone needs a little cash now.  Selling your gold at my party is easy (cash on the spot), safe (it’s with people only you invite), and fun (hey, you’re with friends and have wine!).  Go dig around in your old jewelry box, old hat box or glove box, and rummage around in the garage for that old silver you have too.  Bring all of your scrap gold, silver or platinum in for CASH.  Ladies and gentlemen, cash is GOOD.  Let’s get you some!

 

PS If you live in Texas, I’ll help you host your own gold party!  Do you live close to Victoria, Texas?  Email me, I am hosting a Gold Party Wednesday May 20th!

 

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