Selling Your Jewelry on Consignment

These are troubled times, and many people want to sell some of their more flamboyant jewelry to cover the cost of living. The safest, but not necessarily fastest, way to do this is by selling your jewelry on consignment.

The first thing you have to do is to get it appraised by a professional. You may have received an appraisal with the item when it was purchased. Having that piece of paper will give you strong bargaining power when you begin your negotiations.

You will need to set the minimum amount you will accept for the sale of your jewelry. This is the bottom line amount…after the seller has taken his commission. You need to have agreed on his percentage before you sign a contract. He will then price the object at whatever price he thinks he can get for it, and barter down to the minimum you have set.

Once you have shopped for and found a jewelry shop that is interested in selling your piece, bring it, and the appraisal in for their examination. Get all terms and conditions in writing. As in all things, you need to check out several shops and pick the one that can handle your needs. Look for:

· A shop in an area with good traffic, a name that is known, and active business.

· Retail and consignment sales need to be on the same value level as the pieces you are selling. Shoppers don’t go into a fancy jewelry shop to buy costume jewelry. Nor do they go into a low-price shop to buy your heirlooms.

· You don’t want your jewelry thrown in a case, poorly displayed, and rarely shown. Check back now and then!