- Joined
- Jun 30, 2014
- Messages
- 2,397
New to this part of the PS and sorry if this has been asked before (my computer is on its last legs and hard to search on a phone).
A friend of mine sent some of his mom's jewelry he is looking to liquidate at fair secondary market prices. In the box, was a long (about 34") strand of pearls with a nice 14k gold clasp. I took the strand to two pearl vendors and my jeweler. All immediately said they were very nice 6mm Japanese cultured saltwater akoyas. They are white..not the pink overtone...one vendor called it "champagne" (is that the same as ivory?). I was told that the wholesale price with the clasp factored in was about $400 and that if I priced a bit lower someone would grab them. So I was thinking $300 if I could sell in person, $350 if I had to cover paypal/US postage.
But my jeweler who buys used jewelry said he doesn't buy pearls this size because they don't sell. Folks want larger pearls and those going for the classic strands usually want them back off when they see how inexpensive they can get man-made or close to round freshwater. Likewise, one of my pearl vendors (who is a friend of my neighbor's) said she would buy them but she already has too many. I thought about breaking it up into two more classic length strands to sell as they would make a perfect first set of real pearls for someone starting. But the cost of another 14kt clasp and a couple of more pearls to match probably doesn't make sense.
Likewise, most I know already have these from back in the day as do I...and most of us admit we seldom wear ours.
What is the best way to sell these at a fair secondary market price? I thought of posting on LT/DB or ebay but given I am not a usual seller and have no papers, I figure people would be wary. I had been hoping to sell to someone who can see but that hasn't worked - they all agree on the value, just that they don't need.
I've already told him that this is something better worth keeping and passing on, but there is no sentimental value and my friend doesn't have anyone to pass them on to. Suggestions?
A friend of mine sent some of his mom's jewelry he is looking to liquidate at fair secondary market prices. In the box, was a long (about 34") strand of pearls with a nice 14k gold clasp. I took the strand to two pearl vendors and my jeweler. All immediately said they were very nice 6mm Japanese cultured saltwater akoyas. They are white..not the pink overtone...one vendor called it "champagne" (is that the same as ivory?). I was told that the wholesale price with the clasp factored in was about $400 and that if I priced a bit lower someone would grab them. So I was thinking $300 if I could sell in person, $350 if I had to cover paypal/US postage.
But my jeweler who buys used jewelry said he doesn't buy pearls this size because they don't sell. Folks want larger pearls and those going for the classic strands usually want them back off when they see how inexpensive they can get man-made or close to round freshwater. Likewise, one of my pearl vendors (who is a friend of my neighbor's) said she would buy them but she already has too many. I thought about breaking it up into two more classic length strands to sell as they would make a perfect first set of real pearls for someone starting. But the cost of another 14kt clasp and a couple of more pearls to match probably doesn't make sense.
Likewise, most I know already have these from back in the day as do I...and most of us admit we seldom wear ours.
What is the best way to sell these at a fair secondary market price? I thought of posting on LT/DB or ebay but given I am not a usual seller and have no papers, I figure people would be wary. I had been hoping to sell to someone who can see but that hasn't worked - they all agree on the value, just that they don't need.
I've already told him that this is something better worth keeping and passing on, but there is no sentimental value and my friend doesn't have anyone to pass them on to. Suggestions?