While there are countless pieces of beautiful jewelry, not all hold the same value. Fine vintage jewelry produced by skilled craftsmen will carry more value than modern pieces or costume jewelry. However, it’s not always easy to tell if something in your collection holds strong monetary value. Fortunately, with a little investigating, you can identify the following factors and determine if your piece will fetch a fair price from a pawn shop or collector.

How to Determine If Jewelry Is Valuable

1. Refer to Certification Paperwork

Many pieces of jewelry—such as estate, vintage, and antique items—are made instantly valuable with a Certificate of Authenticity or appraisal card. This documentation will establish the origin of the accessory, as well as the appraised value of its metal and stone components.

2. Locate Hallmarks

When pawn shops and appraisers assess jewelry without paperwork, they start by looking for hallmarks or stamps on the pieces. These imprints can identify the metal type and purity, as well as when the item was made and who produced it.

Very old accessories may have once had hallmarks that have since worn away. In most cases, however, items without hallmarks are likely costume jewelry.

3. Assess the Weight

The weight of jewelry can help give you a rough estimate of whether its metals are valuable or not. Heavier items are more likely to demand a higher price. Solid gold jewelry is heavy and smooth.

Lighter chains and bangles, for instance, may only be plated with gold or silver. If the surface starts to wear away and a dark or silver color is shining through, you’re likely dealing with plated jewelry.

4. Inspect the Stone Setting

When a ring, necklace, bracelet, or brooch has a stone, look at how the gem is set in the piece. If it’s glued on, the piece is likely valueless costume jewelry. Stones held in place by prongs tend to be more legitimate and valuable.

5. Consider Fastener Type

Earrings, bracelets, and brooches will typically have fasteners that can identify which period the piece came from. If an item has a lobster clasp, for instance, it is likely recently produced and may not carry a high value. Vintage ring or trombone clasps point to an older accessory that may be worth more.

If you’re want to exchange jewelry for cash, bring your pieces to Collector’s Palace Coins & Jewelry in Streetsboro, OH. This licensed and family-owned pawn shop is staffed by trained professionals who will fairly assess the value of different items, such as vintage or gold jewelry pieces. This team is also equipped to provide restorations that will give your older keepsakes new life. To learn more about the items they buy, sell, and restore, visit them online or call (330) 626-2464.