How well do designer pieces hold their value?

[Vero]

What a great forum! If you guys can't help me, nobody can!

My question is the followings: I went to Vegas a few days ago. I passed Fred Leighton and I looked casually at the windows. Then I saw a chocker necklace that froze me in my place. I thought it was so perfect for me as any piece of jewlery I've ever seen or could have imagined. I tried it on and looked and felt like a princess. I never invested/spent much in jewlery but this piece I really, really want.
My husband wants to know the resale value of the piece. I know is not a science, but roughtly: How much I'd be paying, for the name only, money that I'd never get back if I resale it? I just don't want to spend $55000 just to find out most of the value is on the name and I'd never get any money back. Although I know I'd never sell this piece, I see my HB's point: he doesn't want to pay a price that no reasonable person would.
The details of the piece are:
lace style small diamonds w/ strings of beads made of black diamonds.
White gold w/white and black diamonds (that's what makes it so unique)
White diamonds: aprox. 10.13 carats
Black Diamonds aprox 64.25 carats
because is a chocker, the size has to be perfect. They need to add 1.5 inches of black diamond beading to make the lenght perfect for me.
The clasp is a dream, w/a detail of a dangling teardrop black diamond. This is not a vintage piece, but a newly designed one.

Can anybody tell me: In general, what can I expect somebody would pay (ipercentage-wise) for a Fred Leighton piece like this? Again, not that I will sell it, but my husband wants to know that we are not just buying just a name and a chocker that would be worth 1:10th of that as soon as it walks out the door.

Does anyone know if I could get this information from a profesional appraiser w/out seing the piece? How can I be sure? I attached a picture here but please don't ever ask the story for a picture and say "I've seen pictures you gave to customers" because the salesman told me that this was agianst policy and he was making a big exception for me because I was obviously a serious buyer and my HB was not there to see it.

Thank you!

 

[valeria101]

Your post definitely conveys excitement!

I have no idea what you are talking about (what does the piece look like?), but it feels lovely already....


I don''t know what to say about the value question. If none of the jewelry appraisers around here chime in, you may want to just ask one of them. Such advising service may not be free, but seriously - it should be worth it relative to the respective 50k.

It isn''t too hard to find out what signed jewelry resales for - easier for less expensive pieces, since there simply is more of them, but nevertheless. You may want to check estate sales online and off. At least on the Net, everything is one click away - no leg work needed.

Your 50% sounds realistic for many designer pieces I can think of. But what exactly the jewelry looks like (''trendy'' or classic, what it is made of... and what not) should have some important impact I can''t venture to dwell into.

About calling in professional help.... well, if it sounds half tempting, you may want to look for one of the appraisers who post frequently around here. Not that I am biased in their favor for having shared the same ''virtual'' place for quite a bit, but it seems that such pre-purchase advice is strongly related to internet sales - and it may be that not every appraiser''s shop is attuned to the right ''state of mind'' for this environment (as opposed to the rather more customary post-purchase evaluations for insurance). I''ve run into this problem and learned my lesson.

My 2c

 

[Lorelei]

Vero welcome to PS

I can't really advise you - these are just my thoughts, hopefully one of the experts will chime in, but it is a chance you take with jewellery unfortunately should you ever wish to resell it - I know that isn't your intention and that your concern is that you aren't overpaying in the first place, but a piece will only be worth what someone is willing to pay for it if it is previously owned and especially with the high end unique pieces, what might be your taste might not be that of many others, especially where serious dollars are concerned which limits the market. In any jewellery resale, it is usual to have to expect maybe 50% of what you paid for it, however with a top notch FL choker it might be very desirable indeed in the secondary market to the right buyer. I would think a professional appraiser / valuer might be your best option if you could get details on the quality of the diamonds, sizes etc plus the value of the FL name to give you a better idea of resale value and what would be a reasonable price to pay in the first place. Hope this helps a little bit and it sounds incredible!

What a fantastic dilemma too!

 

[Rod]

Just my .02 worth, and I certainly have ZERO clue what a designer piece like what you describe above would resell for, but it just seems to me that buying a piece of jewelery with an eye toward resale value is not very practical. Chances are you could find someone to buy the choker (which sounds pretty remarkable BTW) on the used market, but it''s not likely they will pay what you paid for it new. Even perfect Tiffany rings with unblemished diamonds sell for less used than when purchased new.

The pricetag for this piece is pretty high. Not many people I know could ever consider something like this, but if you can, and it is within your finances, I hope you get what will bring pleasure (you sure sound excited about this piece!) and not worry about it''s value down the road.

Probably absolutely no help to you whatsoever, but my thoughts none-the-less........

 

[Madam Bijoux]

The value of a piece like that depends on a few things: Is the piece signed? If so, who signed it? If it''s an estate piece, approximately when was it made? The demand and market can vary for Edwardian, Deco and 1940''s-1950''s pieces. Is it in a good state of repair? (The experts here can probably add more factors that would affect the value.)

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/26/2006 2:54:13 PM
Author: Vero


I''ll try to replace it for a better one, as soon as I can figure out how to remove the one attached here!

Pictures can only be deleted by the forum administrators. You can always post another linked to a different post. Can''t wait!

 

[denverappraiser]

No, an appraiser worth the name won’t give a value on a piece they haven’t seen.

As a rule, jewelry is not a very good investment for consumers and your 50% figure sounds optimistic. Certain items, notably large diamond, do better than others but pieces like you describe are notoriously difficult to sell. Customers far prefer to buy this sort of thing directly from the designer boutique rather than from a 3rd party and most manufacturers won’t generally rebuy used merchandise. This leaves you in the position of selling to pawn type dealers, secondhand shops, ebay, etc. Buy it because you love it and expect nothing from the resale market.
Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ISA NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Vero]

Date: 1/26/2006 3:35:36 PM
Author: valeria101
Pictures can only be deleted by the forum administrators. You can always post another linked to a different post.

Oh, so there isn't a way to delete the pictures....there go two hours of my like I'll never get back!

Let's see if I've got better luck this time...
Edit: I mannaged to attach the picture as a pfd file. If you click on the file attachment, you can see it. It doesn't show up here as a picture, though.

In any event, thank you so much to all the poeple that gave me advice. I found out two things today:

1) Appraisers are willing to spend a few minutes on the phone with you giving you advice for free. Or commenting here (thank you very much, Denver
Appraiser). I wish appraisers talked to lawyes, shrinks and other profesionlals and tell them that is OK to do so!

2) The unanimous answer to my questions from those in the know seem to be: Not very well at all.
For those who are interesed, this is what I learnt:
- Designer jewlery bought at a designer's retail store typically has a 40-50% markup. So right off te bat, you are losing that money.
- Items with biig, chunky diamonds will keep their value better, but unique pieces such as this one (lots of small diamonds, high value on the design, besides the carats) won't
- Is OK to purchase from a retailer pending purchase confirmation, even if the retailer is a very hoity-toity well known designer

In other order of things, when I broght it up again w/my hubby, he mentioned that after the blood bath in Wall Street last week, this is a particularly horrible time to make a purchase this large (worse time in more than two years for us). I guess I should have gotten it from the store when I was there...

So, unfortunately, given what we know know, my HB won't give me the OK for the purchase. I have to say, knowing that I'm paying 25 K to the store simply because that's how most people like to buy this kind of piece made think twice: perhaps I can get a similar piece in the third-party market for a much better value?
So, I'll embark in this quest to look around for posible alternatives, and cross my fingers that the piece isn't sold in the meantime. I'll keep you posted!

 

[mrssalvo]

vero, just report your post to the administrator and ask them to delete the picture. they will, no problem..

 

[newenglandgemlab]

Some pieces do hold value more than others. There is always more value in quality.
A very good example is the Tiffany piece bought in the 40''s for "X" amount and is now perhaps worth 5-10x+ amount.....more value in quality! Jewelry should never be sold as an investment. It is an investment in pleasure...and in making the presentation (come on guys..) you become the hero! Buy quality! Cindy

 

[widget]

Aaaargh! I still can''t see the picture, and I''m DYING to get a look at this necklace!!!

Vero...Welcome to PriceScope!

Sorry to hear that you won''t be getting the choker...think of it as one of those "if it was meant to be..." things...

I was going to add that the big auction houses (Christies, Sothebys, etc) are probably a reasonable way to sell designer pieces...but I guess that''s irrelevant now..

Anyhoo....welcome! I''m sure another treasure will pass your way eventually.

widget

 

[widget]

You know, I just re-read how this piece ''spoke'' to you....it does indeed sound special.

Maybe you should keep working on your hubby...he might relent!

widget

 

[strmrdr]

here ya go

 

[widget]

Wow....that''s just AMAZING! Definitely fit for Sothebys "Magnificent Jewels" catalog!

(Thanks, Storm!

)

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[Vero]

Yey!!!!!! The picture!!!!

How did you make it show up!!? Thanks a million!!
Dang the chocker is pretty, isn't it?
Oh, I surelly will work on it! Actually at this point it will be more working on the tech stock market than on my hubby (anyone knows a good magic chant for Wall Street?). After he saw that I did some homework on the resale value and took his questions seriously he started softening up. I also pointed out to him that in 10 years I never said "I want that" to anyhting nearly this expensive (I think the most I've ever spent in a single piece of jewlery before is under $2500, and that was two years ago). I sat on it, this is not an impulse thing. I've had in my mind for weeks now. So, considering all that, now that he is recovering from the sticker shock he'd like for me to have it, we just don't really have enough liquid assests at this point in time. I'll cross my fingers that this will change fefore the piece is sold. I do like it A LOT.

The silver lining is that since I can not purchase it today, now I can consider in the menatime alternatives without the anxiety that the chocker will get sold tomorrow and I will kick myself forever. So I will look around to see if in the third party market I can find any piece of this kind at all. Since I've never seen anything like it, it may very well be that other pieces w/the same style will appeal to me just as much for all I know. I just never saw black diamonds used like beads like that or the lacy diamond style. Is so unique.

I'm very tall and have a very long neck so It looks perfectly proportioned on me. My friend who's 5'8" but is very thin & has a small body frame tried in on, and even when she is 10 times prettier tham I (she was a quite well known model) it didn't look nearly as nice on her. It looked like a collar. Too bulky and too wide.
So, yesssssh....I'll stay close to my precious....

BTW: Does anyone seen anything of this sort somewhere in the web? And how would you call this style anyway? Sorry my questions are so basic. They should have a "Chunck of Coal" user rating here. Rough Rock is too high for me

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/27/2006 2:03:29 AM
Author: Vero

I will still, however, look around to see if in the third party market I can find things of this kind at all. I just never saw black diamonds used like beads like that.

Black chokers have been all the rage for maybe a year or so... you may find more than one designer line with some similar offering (off the top of my head - try ''La Jaretierre''). So this trendiness may also be a reason why the look seems new and exotic to you. The same may also mean that vintage pieces may not be there either (given the short life of this trend to date). Hope this hunch is wrong.

Black diamonds are not hard to find - even assuming these were of particularly fine quality. So if you wanted them used in a choker, no problem - can have them by the yard. White or yellow diamond beads and briquettes as well. However, I wouldn''t say I know where to find similar combination of diamond-set filigree plaques and black diamonds. It may take some search. Thinking of Leighton''s lace cuffs... if the diamond set parts of the choker ore or similar make (I can''t quite make that out from the picture), that isn''t going to be simple assignment either to find, or... who knows... have made.

 

[strmrdr]

Your welcome.
I took a screen shot of the pdf then croped and resized it and saved it as a jpg.

yea it is pretty kewl

 

[open culet]

Hi Vero,
I am late to this discussion. I have a suggestion for you. I would look for a vintage pearl Edwardian dog collar, which I think would hold it''s value better than this piece would. I would then have it restrung with black diamond beads or jet beads. You can always have it restrung with the pearls, which would be the best way to sell it, should you ever desire to do so.
BTW, You would probably find that you would look stunning in a pearl dog collar as well.
I think you could find an Edwardian dog collar for much less than the Fred Leighton piece, which I assume is a new piece, not vintage.
It could take some time to find just the right piece, but the chase is so much fun.

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/28/2006 5:16:00 PM
Author: open culet

I am late to this discussion. I have a suggestion for you. I would look for a vintage pearl Edwardian dog collar, which I think would hold it''s value better than this piece would.

Now that''s a pleasant thought!

Perhaps the question open in the title of this thread deserves some attention as a more general matter - not exclusively related to the Leighton piece. Sure enough - jewelry design is not always down to ''scrap value''

 

[Art Nouveau]

The FD necklace is stunning. Is the price you quoted the sticker price? I have purchased from the FD store in Vegas previously and they are willing to negotiate, especailly if you can pay in cash. I am sure you can negotiate some sort of discount. I have seen similar designs before, but not with black diamonds. The ones I have seen before were estate pieces. A friend of mine has an Edwardian seed pearl choker with a big filigree diamond clasp. I have also seen this type of choker necklaces set with emerald, ruby or sapphire beads. Open Cutlet suggestion is good, but it may not be that easy to find an Edwardian seed pearl choker with a subtantial looking filligree diamond clasp these days.

As to your question regarding resale value, I agree with the others who have answered already that jewelry should be purchased for your own enjoyment and should not be considered an investment and you will never get back what you paid for it. However, famous designer jewelry do retain more value than generic pieces. Anybody who has shopped for estate jewelry would tell you that dealers always ask more for pieces signed Tiffany, Cartier, Van Clef and Arpel etc. A single diamond worth $55,000 will resale for more than a similar priced necklace made with small diamonds. But buy what gives you pleasure, and don''t worry about resale value. If you like this FD choker necklace so much, I hope you get to own it and enjoy wearing it.

Art Nouveau

 

[windowshopper]

Date: 1/28/2006 5:16:00 PM
Author: open culet
Hi Vero,
I am late to this discussion. I have a suggestion for you. I would look for a vintage pearl Edwardian dog collar, which I think would hold it''s value better than this piece would. I would then have it restrung with black diamond beads or jet beads. You can always have it restrung with the pearls, which would be the best way to sell it, should you ever desire to do so.
BTW, You would probably find that you would look stunning in a pearl dog collar as well.
I think you could find an Edwardian dog collar for much less than the Fred Leighton piece, which I assume is a new piece, not vintage.
It could take some time to find just the right piece, but the chase is so much fun.

totally agree........................their stuff is CRAZILY priced. I live right around the corner from them and have looked many times. Furthermore chokers are very very tough! resale on a high quality everyday piece like diamond studs, or even say a tiffany schlumberger piece would be much better than something like this