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Antique Costume Jewelry

Choosing good antique costume jewelry can be a daunting task if you are not aware of what you are doing. If you are a serious buyer, there are certain steps you can take to make certain that you get what you are paying for. Preparing before you go shopping for antique costume jewelry will give you the heads up necessary to make wise decisions that will help you both save money and get the best for what you paid for. Take into consideration all of the below tips before you start shopping for antique costume jewelry.

Recognize Styles

Take the time to learn about the different jewelry styles. The style of jewelry can affect its price and therefore you should be aware of whether it is Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, or another style. Some styles are naturally worth more than others. Furthermore, take into consideration the stone or metal’s value without regard to the actual jewelry itself. Diamonds set in goal are obviously going to be worth more than diamonds set in a lesser value metal.

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Recognize Fakes

Make sure that you are capable of differentiating between an actual antique piece of jewelry and a fake reproduction. The way to doing this is reading lots of books on antique jewelry. They will provide you detailed guides on how to tell the difference. Furthermore, the added information will help keep you from being ripped off from a dishonest jeweler. You will have the knowledge necessary to inspect and analyze jewelry on your own, without having to rely on the information provided by a jeweler that is biased and wanting to sell you his or her wares. When a jeweler can tell that you do not know what you are talking about or doing, they will be tempted to try to swindle you. You do not want this to happen to you.

Recognize Marks

Familiarize yourself with the variety of different “markings” found on jewelry. All vintage jewelry is required to have a distinctive mark that identifies the piece’s maker, era, and composition. Once again, reading a couple books will give you the information necessary to do just this.

Research

Besides reading books, also take the time to surf the web. The Internet is full of a wealth of info about antique costume jewelry. You can find information on jewelry value and characteristics, as well as where to go to find reputable dealers that can be trusted. In addition, you can talk with other jewelry collectors and perhaps even setup a trade with one of them. If you intend to sell a piece online, it is wise to take a good quality photo of the piece. Most people will not even consider buying from you if you do not even have a picture posted.

Appraisal

If you are buying or selling a piece that seems especially valuable, it would be wise to seek an expert to appraise the piece. An expert can give you the detailed specifications about the piece you are wanting to deal with. They are very well versed and trained in making exact appraisals.

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