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Jewelry Reselling Guide

Jewelry offers incredible profit margins—if you know what you're doing. Learn to identify valuable pieces and avoid costly mistakes.

Types of Jewelry

Type	Materials	Value Driver
Fine Jewelry	Gold, platinum, precious gems	Metal/gem value + craftsmanship
Designer	Varies (Tiffany, Cartier, etc.)	Brand name premium
Vintage Costume	Base metals, rhinestones, glass	Age, brand, style
Fashion/Modern Costume	Plated metals, synthetic gems	Usually low value
Sterling Silver	92.5% silver	Silver weight + design

Testing & Identification

Hallmarks to Know

10K, 14K, 18K, 24K: Gold karat (purity)
585: 14K gold (European marking)
750: 18K gold
925, Sterling: Sterling silver
Plat, PT950: Platinum
GF, 1/20 14K: Gold filled (not solid)
GP, HGE: Gold plated (low value)

Testing Tools

Loupe (10x): See hallmarks, quality indicators
Magnet: Gold/silver are NOT magnetic
Acid test kit: Definitive karat test
Digital scale: Weigh for scrap calculations
XRF machine: Pro-level, non-destructive testing

Pricing Strategies

Scrap Value Calculation

Gold scrap = Weight × Karat purity × Spot price × 70-80%

Example: 10g of 14K gold at $60/gram spot = 10 × 0.585 × $60 × 0.75 = $263

Designer Premium

Tiffany & Co: 2-5x+ over metal value
Cartier: 3-10x+ for iconic pieces
David Yurman: Strong secondary market
Pandora: Limited premium, high volume

Vintage Costume Brands

Miriam Haskell: $50-500+
Weiss: $30-200+
Eisenberg: $50-300+
Trifari: $20-200+
Coro: $10-100+
Monet: $5-50+ (common)

Where to Source

Estate sales: Often underpriced, check jewelry cases
Thrift stores: Hit or miss, check everything
Garage sales: People don't know values
Pawn shops: Buy below retail, sell higher online
Auctions: Estate auctions, storage units
Jewelry lots: Liquidation lots online

💡 Pro Tip: Always test EVERYTHING. That "gold" ring could be plated. That "diamond" could be CZ. Testing takes seconds and saves money.

Where to Sell

eBay: Largest market, authentication available
Poshmark: Good for fashion jewelry, lower fees
Etsy: Vintage jewelry (20+ years), handmade
The RealReal: Luxury designer pieces
Ruby Lane: Vintage and antique focus
Scrap buyers: For broken/damaged gold/silver
Local jewelers: May buy or consign quality pieces

Red Flags

Green skin marks: Indicates copper/cheap metal
Magnetic: Not gold or silver
Too cheap: If deal seems too good, it's fake
No hallmarks: Could still be real, but test carefully
Worn plating: Shows base metal underneath