April 13, 2010

What About Jewelry For You Hair?????

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Antique Jewelry, big diamonds, Buying Gold, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, gold, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Platinum, silver, Silver Plate, Silver Plated Flatware, Sterling, Sterling Silver, Summer | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Have you ever thought about jewelry for your hair? Or, rather, jewelry in your hair? Yes! There are some fun cheap things that you can buy in any department store or other retailer. But have you rummaged through your jewelry box? Do you have some really wonderful old brooches that you don’t know what to do with? This is an “Ahhh-Ha” moment for you!

Many times there are beautiful antique combs that are put in front of me or I see them in garage sales. Ladies just don’t know what to do with them. Well, SNAP THEM UP!!! Don’t pass them by. Some are sterling too. Make sure they are in excellent to good condition.

I have old combs and wear them in my hair when the either match or clash with what I have on. Clashing just makes a cool statement. One is a big Art Deco pierced celluloid peacock tail shape with sparkly green rhinestone in it. It’s usually buried at an angle in a French twist and left to peek around the side of my head. There are SO many ways to wear it. Another way is to make a low chignon off to one side and have it peeking out the side. The ways to use it are unlimited.

Bar pins, whether real or not, are another great piece. Pin it in your hair. Real gold, platinum and real stones flip out people because it’s so unexpected. Here, again, the French twist is great for a bar pin. If you’re worried about it coming off, just add a couple of bobby pins on the pin stem and make sure to point the pin clasp end downward. It just makes your hair look fabulous! I’ve had some real ooooo’s and ahhhh’s from a platinum and diamond Art Deco bar pin in my hair. It’s really a sparkler in dark auburn hair and I’ve ALWAYS been asked where I got it.  It’s been fun to say “Out of my jewelry box.”

Got clip earrings with lots of rhinestones? Use those in your hair. Be careful about pulling them out so you don’t pull your hair out. They don’t have to match. Remember to use and odd number of items. And if you don’t use them in your hair, clip them to your plain pumps or ballet flats to dress them up. So don’t forget your toes for a little bling.

What to do with a pony tail? Set your hair how you like it, slick it back and pin a HUGE rhinestone brooch over the top of the elastic or plain bar barrette. That brings up the WOW factor in a hurry! Or clip in some clip earrings on the elastic. They don’t have to be a set, just complimentary together. I have some clip button earrings that have several strands of variegated brown beads falling that have been clipped to the top of a hair elastic. It was a great look.

For you short hair ladies, just clip the clip earrings to a small plain headband of your choice. Here again, an odd number is the best. Don’t set the earrings in the center of the headband, set them off center. Big 60’s paisley earrings are fun. You might just need only one earring if it’s really big.

A Victorian collectible is the hair twist. You see them now put out by Goody. It’s just a little thing set with rhinestones on top with a spiral of wire that’s twisted into the hair. The Victorian Gibson Girls really had something there. This is an old notion with a modern twist….ha ha on the twist. Occasionally, you can find the antique ones. They don’t look like much of anything on their own. But together, they really make an up-do. I have numerous of them. They are one of the obscure things that I collect. Quite a few of them have diamonds, amethysts, zircons and one with a signature of Mauboussin in 18kt gold

Dig into your jewelry box, your Mom’s or better yet your Grandmother’s. Look in garage sales for sweet finds. Check out the local antique mall or resale shop. There are combs, earrings and brooches that are out there just waiting to help bring a little bling to your hair and add a little more sparkle than just your eyes. Sparkles to everyone!

 

March 14, 2010

What’s Up, What’s Down, What’s Stable, What’s Good To Buy?

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Antique Jewelry, big diamonds, Cultured Pearls, Diamond Sales, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, gold, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Pearl, silver, Sterling, Sterling Silver | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Our economy has had some serious ups and downs. It’s also reflected within the jewelry industry too and disastrously so. Pearls are still down. Gold’s see-sawing daily but for the most part staying in a range. Diamonds are in their own league by themselves. What’s going on? The experts don’t really know either. I’m certainly not an expert.

What I can tell you is that diamonds, certain cuts, seem to have stabilized. Rounds and Princess cuts are still hot and lead the pack in desirability and price. Pear shape, Marquise, and Heart shapes are still the bottom of the desirability scale. This’s still the deal for you and I would still recommend buying one of those shapes. The primo or good stones of any shape will always sell no matter what. The middle of the road clarity and color and the not so nice stuff just is not selling. That’s where the mass majority of the retail public is. The majority isn’t buying at the moment and hasn’t for about the past year and half.

Gold prices are up, they’re down, they’re up and then they’re about the same. The prices seem to be hovering around the $1100.00 +/-. People are still selling. There’s still a wide variety of people selling too. The reasons for selling range from a little extra cash to acts of desperation trying to pay a mortgage, medical expense, or a utility. Some people selling have been bank executives that have lost everything, a young couple trying to make ends meet, or an older couple selling for medical reasons to name a very few.

As high as gold prices are, the silver prices seem attainable for the average consumer. It’s much, much less expensive. The only thing that makes silver expensive is the labor to make it into a desirable piece of jewelry. Just like putting a thermostat in your car that costs about $10-$15, the labor to put the thermostat in will be around $100. The same thing holds true here.  Silver’s cheap but the labor to work it isn’t.

Pearls are just down, down, down, and down some more. Perhaps the flood of all the cultured freshwaters has been a contributing factor. Who knows though? But pearls remain something that I simply can’t buy cheap enough. There just aren’t any buyers for them. But on the upside, if you as an individual needs, wants, has to have a strand or something pearl, now’s THE time to buy and score a deal for yourself or a loved one.

During World War II the period of Retro jewelry was “it”. Those who were anyone were wearing very large, very chunky, bold jewelry. Times were very difficult then and the jewelry made a statement. The jewels that were mostly used were large inexpensive single stones with an accent of diamonds and other smaller stones. The styles were asymmetrical and architectural in feel. Big shoulder pads were in style for the ladies. Well we’re in a similar style mode and similar difficulty economically too. Shoulder pads for ladies are coming back and large, chunky, bold jewelry is in style. See the similarity here.

Costume is was hot in the ‘40’s and it’s hot again. Even good jewelers now are bringing in good costume lines in order to just get traffic into their stores. The trends follow the Lipstick Theory. The theory is that a woman may not be able to afford shopping excursions for clothing but to augment the wardrobe a woman will go buy a lipstick. A lipstick is by far cheaper than going to purchase clothing. It is a closely watched trend. The prohibitive price of gold is what’s driving the costume trend. Older good costume jewelry was quite often made from sterling. I buy quite a bit of it and tell people that if they have costume to bring it in. It’s always a pleasure to find vintage sterling costume jewelry and tell people they will have more cash in their hand because of it. Check out your Grandmother’s and Mother’s jewelry box for a few chic and trendy items for yourself.

What’s in, what’s out, what’s up, what’s down is ultimately an individual’s expression from their purchasing power as a group. Estate and Antique dealers are still going to be the best bet to find the best deals because of negotiations abilities not available to major chain stores. So, if there’s a little bit of bling that’s a necessary item from your future, you know where and what to look for.

 

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 and Estate Jewelry, Antique Jewelry, Cultured Pearls, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, gold, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Pearl, Platinum | 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.

 

September 6, 2009

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

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique and Estate Jewelry, Antique Jewelry, Buying Gold, Diamond Sales, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, Jessica Kendrick, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, silver, Sterling, Sterling 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!

 

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, big diamonds, Cultured Pearls, Diamonds, Estate Jewelers, Jessica Kendrick G G, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales, Pearl, Platinum, silver, Sterling, Summer | 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!

 

April 21, 2009

Diamond Prices Continue To Fall Like A ROCK!!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under Antique and Estate Jewelry, big diamonds, Diamond Sales, Diamonds, Jewelry, Jewelry Sales | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressMy last blog title was “Diamonds are Down in Price……EVEN FURTHER!” but diamond prices are at a record low now.  It’s now making headline news on TV.  When was the last time anyone has heard of DeBeers closing a mine….let alone 2?!  This just happens to be a first.  There is a huge glut of diamonds in the world wide market.  If you ever wondered if we are in a global economy, this is your supreme example of it and wonder no more. 

 

DeBeers is a boy big and can afford to take the hit.  The unfortunate situation is that the employees of DeBeers, cutters, site holders, diamond dealers, finished wholesale goods, and your local Mom and Pop and estate dealers are hit the hardest.  The ripple effect is gigantic and it affects everyone everywhere down to the local people in your community like the waitress that is waiting tables for tips.  

 

How does this help you as a retail customer?  It is the BEST, I repeat, the BEST time to buy a diamond.  Some diamonds are reported to be up to 60% off of the Rapaport Diamond Report list price.  Imagine getting 60% off of the Kelly Blue Book for that favorite recent loaded model of a boss Mustang.  You’d think seriously about buying that wouldn’t you?  It all adds up to an extremely profitable situation for the retail consumer.  When was the last time the retail consumer got such a deal in the diamond industry?  Never!  BUY, BUY, BUY is all I can say.  And hurry up cause it’s not going to last!

 

My first word of caution has always and will always be not to sacrifice color, clarity, make, proportions, fluorescence and thickness of girdle just for carat size.  You have to have it all.  Otherwise, it’s just a bad buy.  A sizeable bad buy now will be forever a bad buy.  Diamonds are not an investment.  But in this market you might just be able to make a truly lucky score.

 

Go for the diamond shapes that are NOT in style.  You really can get a sizeable piece of ice for your finger, neck, ears or where ever you want to put it. The shapes least favored are Marquise, Heart, Pear, Emerald and then comes all the funky recent fancy cuts like Tycoons and Hearts and Arrows.  Stay with the traditional cuts and you will be safer.  

 

If your local jeweler or estate dealer has a diamond in for you in memo (short for memorandum – on loan) then the price is usually set.  Know that you can always ask for a discount and the jeweler may go back to the diamond dealer to get a bit of a discount.  Everyone is asking for discounts now.  It never hurts and all that they can say is no.  They may not have any wiggle room on the price.  A little bit of something to a jeweler is better than a whole lot of nothing.  If it was a diamond that was able to be purchased straight out from a private then there may be some real room to negotiate.  The jeweler may tell you straight out or they may not.

 

Put your shopping hat on, get out there, and go buy a diamond.  It’s a fantastic time to buy for the retail consumer.  And believe it or not your buy will eke it’s way into the economy and help everyone out.  After all, you, the consumer, are the humble beginnings of the world wide global economy.  So start the ripple effect, do a good deed, and get your self a bonus of a big honker diamond!

 

PS I am leaving for Hong Kong early in the a.m.  I will be writing about the pearl market.  Pearls are another great deal right now.  Next blog, you will know how to buy pearls for deep discounts.  Pearls are for any and EVERY girl.

 

April 8, 2009

Diamonds are Down in Price……EVEN FURTHER!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Diamonds, Jewelry | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressDo you want a diamond?  Have you ever wished you could have an upgrade big honker on that all important third finger of the left hand?   Are you in the market to buy your engagement ring?  Well, let me tell you there are some DEALS out there!  Buy it NOW!!

I was in Ft. Worth on a buy last week and because diamonds are not being sold, the prices for diamonds are continuing to fall.  The prices are falling steeply.  Why you ask?  Well, is it more important to have gas in your car, groceries, pay a mortgage or those things?  These are the issues that are near and dear to most people at the moment.  Diamonds are not a necessity therefore they are not selling.  If they are not selling then the price has to go down from the sellers.

As I asked earlier, do you want a big honker diamond?  Well take into consideration the cuts that are not “in fashion” or “in style”.  All cuts go through there highs and lows of demands.  Cuts that are “in style” right at this moment are rounds and princess cuts.  The worst and most out of style are the heart shape and the marquise shape.  Think along those lines.  Start YOUR own trend.  These are deeply discounted.

Heart shaped is difficult to move and really doesn’t look quite right on the hand. Does the heart face you or away from you is a normal question?  It makes the best statement as a pendant.  They can be lovely and very sweetly feminine pendants.  Make sure that it has the correct outline of a heart shape.  You will know it when you look at it upside down or table down.  Does it look symmetrical?  Or fat and stubby?  Or thin like a contact lense?

Marquise can be bought for such good deals.  Simply no one wants them.  If you have to have what’s “in style”, then by all means do it.  But if you want to go for SIZE on the hand, then marquise is THE way to go.  They were very, very popular in the 90’s and everything that is popular only has a short life span.  It will be saturated in the market places to the point that everyone will have one and then the popularity quickly goes down the steeply.  You can profit in this by choosing a diamond shape that is unpopular.

Think about size this way.  Would you like to have a 1.00ct princess cut with a premium price or would you rather have a double-ish the sized marquise cut diamond with a discounted price?  This is with similar colors, clarities, etc.  This can possibly be a very do-able situation.  My money would be on the marquise if the choice was to go for size.   You will have to hunt for your deals.  An estate dealer that buys from the public will give you the best deals.  

Do know, you’ve got to find a well cut marquise.  It will look similar to a football shape.  Here again, do your homework.  Have a dealer or your gemologist show you what a well made marquise cut diamond looks like.  Make sure you look at it loose.  Place the diamond upside down on the table or flat side.  This is the easiest way to look at a marquise for a lay person.  Not short and stout, not long and narrow, not thin or thick in depth but you want a shape similar to a football.  Once you’ve seen one you will understand what I am saying.

This is information that public just doesn’t have access to and you now do.  Choose the best color, clarity, make and proportions, little fluorescence.   If you can afford to go buy a diamond now, go buy it now.  Don’t delay.  There are deals to be had. 

P.S. I am in Frisco Hilton Garden Inn on Gaylord at a buy show.  Come see me.

 

March 19, 2009

I am in Amarillo, TX…..Buying…..Everything!

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Buying Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry, Selling Gold | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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february-09-041wordpressI work for a company that sends me out on buying trips and currently, am in Amarillo, TX at the Ambassador Hotel buying….. everything!  Everything equates to: gold, silver, coins, diamonds, scrap, flatware, and certain collectibles. It is a great company to work for. The prices paid are fair to the individual and people leave happy with cash in their hands! I will be in Amarillo until Saturday evening when the show closes.

 

What to bring? Bring everything that you think you would like to sell, even if you don’t know what it is or anything about it. I can tell you what it is or what it isn’t. I have over 25+ years in the business buying, with a substantial amount of time on the road doing just this. There is no charge to do this. It is easy, comfortable to do, fun, safe and in no way are you pressured to sell. There is always “found” money in old jewelry boxes that you don’t know that you have.

How it works. Bring your item(s) in. They are identified and then priced. The better the piece you have, the better the price you will receive. You will have fun identifying what you have. You will be shown the procedures of how to identify different karats of gold and silver. This is not normally shown to people selling their merchandise. You will be shown the inclusions in your diamonds so that you can better understand the grades. You will have the power of information that you didn’t have when you came through the doors.

Once a price is agreed upon, your information is taken, and then you will receive a cash payment. You must supply a driver’s license or other valid identification in order to receive payment. Then you are done. I have had numerous people come back numerous times. We have had fun transacting business. Just think, when was the last time you had fun in a business transaction?

So bring in your items for sale. It’s your own personal treasure hunt! If I am not available, there are others who are knowledgeable, ready, willing and happy to help you.

P.S.  I will be in Ft. Worth at the Fossil Creek Courtyard Monday 3/30 to Saturday 4/4.  Come see me.

 


Others to recommend besides me:
 

For sales and purchases of your fine and antique silver

 

Beverly Bremer Silver Shop

3134 Peachtree Road

Atlanta, GA  30305

800-270-4009

404-261-4009

http://www.beverlybremer.com

 

For sales and purchases of your fine and antique jewelry, diamonds, watches, scrap, etc.

 

Elena Acquadro

579 5th Ave., Suite 3414

New York, NY  10017

917-670-9386

Email:  elena2000nyc@yahoo.com

 

The Estate Jewelry Center

Joel Conte

367 Highland Ave

Augusta, GA  30909

706-364-4111

Email:  tejc@knology.net

 

A. Tiffaney & Son

Kirk Weisman

Northern Trust Bldg.

1515 Ringling Blvd., Suite 990

Sarasota, FL  34236

941-366-1014

http://www.webuyyourjewelry.com

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer:  This is an opinion of a Graduate Gemologist.  Use your best judgment.  It is your responsibility of due diligence for your purchase(s) and/or sales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 10, 2009

Buy Big Diamonds – The Market’s Down

Posted by Jessica Kendrick, G.G. under About Jessica, Antique and Estate Jewelry, Buying Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry, Selling Gold | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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 february-09-041wordpressRight now we have a volatile financial market.  Should we hide money in the mattress like our grandparents and great grandparents did?  Is there going to be a run on the banks with so many failing?  You can’t put your money in stocks or gold either.  But now is the BEST time to invest in large diamonds – especially large stones from 1.5 carats and up. 

 

 

Have you heard of the story about a gentleman during the Great Depression that hocked everything that he owned to buy land and came out a very, very rich man once it was over?  We are close to the same position as the Great Depression. 

 

In recent times when the stock market dropped down to dangerous levels, everyone who had money invested in large diamonds instead of the stock market.   Now, no one is investing in diamonds.  Currently, the diamond market is dropping.  Rapaport Diamond Sheet, the “Kelly Blue Book” and jewelry industry pricing guide for diamonds, has dropped prices on diamonds because no one is buying larger diamonds in the current recessionary market. 

 

 

Buy Diamonds here. There are several places to go to buy a diamond.  Your best deals are going to be the ones that you have to work for.  Do your homework, shop, compare and do your homework again.  Look online too.  Blue Nile.com and Amazon.com have good online reputations.  Estate and second hand dealers are going to give the best prices.  They usually sell their merchandise quicker.  Therefore, the savings can be greater. 

 

Certified is best. If you can, get a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified diamond.   Do know that you will pay a bit more for a GIA certified diamond but the information contained in current certificates is rarely disputed.  Or, have a reliable GIA Graduate Gemologist and/or jewelry professional that you trust in your corner to counsel you about your purchase and make sure the certificate or other information you have received are one and the same.  If the diamond does not correlate exactly to the certificate or the information given to you from the Seller, make sure that you can return the diamond.  Be careful and check the return policy before you plunk down your hard earned cash. 

 

  A jewelry professional that is not employed by the Seller is your safety net.  Gemological services come with a price and possibly less of a price for verbal services.  

 

Shape is an important factor.  Round is the best shape to purchase as it always trades well. Currently, Princess cuts are in fashion.  Marquis and heart shaped cuts are trading with deep discounts.  Know that all fancy shapes go through trends with the exception of round.  Round is the shape that is always in fashion.  The Rapaport Diamond Report devotes a pricing sheet specifically to round diamonds. 

 

What size to buy? Buy a minimum of a 1.00ct.  2.00cts. is better.  Bigger is better.  But do not sacrifice color, clarity, make, proportions and fluorescence just to get a big diamond.  As an example, you would be best to buy a 1.00ct., G color, VS2 clarity, Good make and proportions with faint blue fluorescence rather than buy a 2.50ct., K color, I1 clarity, poor make and proportions and strong yellow fluorescence.  Go smaller and keep all of the best colors, clarities, makes, proportions and fluorescence that you can.  Just don’t go under 1.00ct.  When you buy the best, it will provide you the best cash in hand later.  

 

Tempus fugit.  Know this market is fleeting and the sale won’t be a quick flip.  If I had a crystal ball to tell you when market would end and when for you to sell, I would be a very rich woman.  But just like anything else, it’s timing and NOW is the time!  Buy and buy big! 

 

 

Disclaimer:  This is an opinion of a Graduate Gemologist.  Use your best judgment.  It is your responsibility of due diligence for your purchase and/or purchases.

 

 

 

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