Estate jewelry can be a fantastic way to find a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry for a great price. But of course there’s a “buyer beware” aspect any shopper needs to be heed. Here are a few points from Christie Romero, a respected jewelry historian, gemologist, collector, and author of Warman’s Jewelry, a guide to 18th – 20th century jewelry.

What are the most important things to consider when buying estate jewelry?

I call it the seven criteria: condition, craftsmanship, color, design, demand, scarcity and size. Condition is huge and affects value a great deal. That’s why using a loupe is so important. The first thing I teach people in my workshops is how to use a loupe. Sometimes you can overlook things without magnification. Look for damage and to see if parts are original or if they need repair. Lead solder on precious metal is a bad thing. You have to train your eye to notice these things and anyone can do that. You don’t need special training, it’s just matter of training your eye.

Read more about buying estate jewelry.

 

	Style 102095 Estate Platinum Diamond Pear Shape Ring Starting from $5,995.00
Style 102097 Estate gents diamond and sapphire ring   Starting from $1,495.00	Style 102096 Estate Platinum Diamond Pear Shape Ring Starting from $1,995.00

Jennifer Centola is a proud part of the Schubach family. And now it looks like we have a dazzling new gem!

Jennifer gave birth to Ella on August 21st and we’d like to send her and her family our sparkling wishes.

Congratulations, Jennifer and family!

Aria, Jennifer’s first daughter, holding the new bundle of joy.

Baby Ella at 8lbs 10oz and 22 inches long.

Proud papa Dom

Proud mama Jennifer.

This ring was created in honor of Jennifer’s firstborn, Aria, and has since become very popular.

Babies are such a nice way to start people.
– Don Herrold

In light of Lindsay Lohan’s recent theft charges (she was at a party where the owner’s jewelry went missing), we wanted to impart some advice regarding keeping your jewelry safe. Some of the tips are as simple as taking a photograph:

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The comfort of jewelry is often drastically overlooked. That’s because jewelry captivates us. It’s that dazzling, pretty eye-catcher that defies logic. But anyone who has spent time with that magical little piece realizes quickly that it has some real life consequences.

Clasps can repeatedly catch on hair, earrings can be too heavy, necklaces can be hard to put on by yourself, sturdier rings can bang and break delicate items…and of course, there is ring fit; a critical component in its wearability.

Feel free to wear the piece prior to purchase and wear it around the store for a while. For a higher end purchase, this is imperative. Generally speaking, a piece of jewelry will not show its problematic side at first, but only after some wear. Buying jewelry is an investment; take the time to look beyond the dazzle!

Style 6860WB 14kt Yellow Gold Comfort Fit Ring, Satin Finish With High Polished Edges 14kt yellow gold comfort fit wedding band, satin finished with high polished edges, 6mm wide. Trade Up Our Guarantee