by Jesús Zabala - 5 min read

Jewelry Appraisal vs Selling Price

Jewelry has sentimental and monetary value. While the sentimental value can't be measured, the monetary value can. Regarding the monetary aspects of jewelry, people aren’t aware of the jewelry appraisal vs selling price difference.

If you are planning on getting your jewelry valued regardless of the reason or want to find out the resale value, we have the most helpful insights for you. We will explain how the selling price of jewelry differs from a jewelry appraisal so you can be informed and have realistic expectations.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: LightField Studios

What Is Jewelry Appraisal?

A jewelry appraisal is a process in which a monetary value is assigned to a piece of jewelry according to its current condition. An expert gemologist or appraiser carefully analyzes the jewelry, assessing its quality by visually inspecting and measuring it.

When you do a jewelry appraisal, you will get a document with the following things:

Quality and condition of the jewelry
Characteristics of the gemstones, if applicable
Type of material the jewelry is made of
Weight of the metal and jewelry
Description of the jewelry
Photos of the jewelry piece
Purpose of the jewelry appraisal
Statement of the jewelry value
Distinguishing features
Signature and stamp from the appraiser
Sales tax

To get jewelry appraised, you typically need to pay a fee. Depending on the place where you will bring your jewelry, you can be either charged a flat fee rate per piece or will have to pay for the services by the hour.

You should know that the jewelry value fluctuates constantly. The inflation and demand for certain materials for making jewelry can greatly impact the value of your piece. Hence, we recommend getting your jewelry appraised every two to three years.

Types of jewelry appraisal

There are different jewelry appraisals depending on the purpose. The most common jewelry appraisal types are:

Jewelry appraisals for insurance purposes (also known as replacement value appraisals)
Fair market value
Immediate liquidation value appraisals

Factors influencing appraisal value

An appraiser will take into consideration a wide set of factors to determine the value of your jewelry piece. Some of the highly important factors include:

Craftsmanship
Materials and their purity
Design of the jewelry
Rarity and uniqueness
Overall condition
Repairs and restorations
Jewelry brand
Demand for the jewelry piece

So what does a jewelry appraisal look like? Suppose you have an Aji XL Chain Link Necklace, and you take it to a pawnbroker or an appraiser. Firstly, the appraiser will look for the markings we have engraved on the necklace. Once they ensure it is sterling silver, they will weigh it.

Furthermore, the appraiser will continue with a visual inspection of the necklace. They will look for any signs of damages and repairs such as clasps replacements, polishing, etc. When they weigh and inspect the entire necklace, the jeweler or appraiser will start preparing the appraisal document and determine the value of the necklace.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: New Africa

Jewelry selling price

The jewelry selling price is a realistic monetary value of a jewelry piece according to the current market. In other words, the selling price of your jewelry is what you can actually get if you decide to sell it.

The selling price of the jewelry is generally determined by market trends, supply, and demand. The condition of the jewelry piece is also a vital factor for calculating the selling price. Most importantly, the selling price may be influenced by the negotiation skills of the buyer and seller and the timing, such as market conditions, economic trends, or urgency of either party.

Did you know that the place you choose to sell your jewelry can make a significant difference in the selling price?

Auction houses are best for selling your valuable jewelry collections and jewelry you have kept original receipts and packaging for
Local jewelry stores are excellent if you want to sell your jewelry as it is or get a melt value of the precious metals
Go to a local consignment boutique if you want them to try and sell the jewelry for you; there are also online consignment platforms that offer the same
Use online marketplaces if you want to sell your jewelry to a private person and get a good deal
Pawnshops are also a popular way to sell your jewelry, but we wouldn’t recommend them because they typically offer the lowest price

Selling price for new jewelry

Often people think that they can sell their old jewelry at the same price as they bought it. Sadly, that rarely happens because we, as jewelry makers, determine the price differently.

When you are buying a new piece of jewelry, the price tag will be affected by the following factors:

Supplies we use for making the jewelry
Overhead expenses
The time needed to design and make the jewelry
Cost of packaging
Marketing expenses
Labor costs

In addition to the basic factors, we always adjust our selling jewelry prices according to market changes. Having all of this in mind, we calculate two types of selling prices – wholesale and retail. The wholesale prices are generally lower because we offer them to retailers. On the other hand, the retail price is what you, as an average customer, should pay for our jewelry.

Jewelry Appraisal vs Selling Price

There is one crucial difference between jewelry appraisal vs selling price. The jewelry appraisal reflects the actual or original value of your jewelry. On the other hand, the selling price represents a realistic monetary value you can sell your jewelry.

Generally, the appraisal value of jewelry is higher than the selling price. In certain cases, the selling price may be half the value of the appraisal.

Appraisal vs. market value of jewelry

Looking at the jewelry market, you will notice that the market value is determined by the demand. As the demand for a certain piece of jewelry changes, so will the market value. That’s why, sometimes, it might be good to wait for the right moment to sell your jewelry.

If we compare the market value with the jewelry appraisal, we will notice that, again, the appraised value is higher. Besides, the appraised value of jewelry is not influenced by the demand.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Banjong Khanyai

Appraisal vs. resale value of jewelry

The jewelry valuation vs sale price difference is similar. The amount your appraiser values your jewelry is higher than the sale price you can get for the same piece. The appraisal is typically done for insurance purposes.

Consequently, the appraisal will determine the amount of money you will need to replace the jewelry with a new one if it gets stolen or lost. In addition, the insurance company must know the value of the jewelry piece that is being insured so it can repair it if it is damaged.

The price difference is mainly because the jewelry resale value is determined by many factors that are not related to the jewelry itself, such as market fluctuations, negotiation factors, buyer sentiment, and similar.

Conclusion

Knowing the jewelry appraisal vs selling price is extremely important for every jewelry owner. As your trusted jewelry shop, we want you to have realistic expectations when you are selling your jewelry and know your jewelry's worth so you can get a fair price. And if you want to add a new, unique, and handmade piece of jewelry to your collection, check out our best sellers and order while they are still in stock.