Somebody's Gotta Buy This Piece!

[newtojewels]

I think this bracelet is super fun! All 18k gold, weighs 20g with 10 small diamonds for $1516. They say 6.75" circumference but of course who knows with TRR measurements.

https://www.therealreal.com/products/jewelry/bracelets/link/lisa-des-camps-diamond-teardrop-link-bracelet-k788o

 

[Grymera]

@Lookinagain @Dreamer_D - Fair points, I'm sensitive to chips. It's just not mind clean to me.

Ok, someone please buy this. It retails for 2-3k I believe. Can't speak to authenticity but it looks gorgeous. WATCH that I think it's actually a size 4 US and not 6.5 (JPN size, I believe.

GRAFF spiral band ring K18WG #665 | eBay

Material: K18WG. Ring size is an approximation based on world standards. This product page uses Google translation. ã»It is in good condition with only a few scratches.

www.ebay.com

 

[JPie]

I keep torturing myself over this ring so I’m going to post it here in case someone else wants to get it and put me out of my indecision misery lol

Is something like this rare to come across? Should I be trying to be talked into to?

Antique Old Mine Cut Diamond 7 Stone Half Hoop Ring - Etsy

This Wedding Bands item by MelissaJayeJewelry has 37 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Wayne, NJ. Listed on Apr 11, 2024

www.etsy.com

An IG dealer just shared a ring in this style in her stories. I sent you a DM so you can ask her for the price!

Also, to answer your other question, this isn’t a rare style. I see them pop up every couple of months.

 

[lavenderdragonfly23]

@Mjay

Thought of you!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Mjay]

@Mjay

Thought of you!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Thank you! I’ve been watching this video over and over again. I’m so tempted but I feel like I want more of an open culet vs a long culet. It’s soooo close and great price but I just don’t think it’s my stone. I’m really trying to save for my marquise/moval anyways.

 

[lavenderdragonfly23]

Thank you! I’ve been watching this video over and over again. I’m so tempted but I feel like I want more of an open culet vs a long culet. It’s soooo close and great price but I just don’t think it’s my stone. I’m really trying to save for my marquise/moval anyways.

I hear you! I will keep looking for you!

 

[lavenderdragonfly23]

The pin arrived! It’s definitely missing a diamond and looks like had snapped in the middle at some point and the pin in the back is a replacement. Still, I think it’s gorgeous.

I wanna say a mix of oec, transitional, single cuts and rose cuts? Quite a mix

SO pretty!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

The pin arrived! It’s definitely missing a diamond and looks like had snapped in the middle at some point and the pin in the back is a replacement. Still, I think it’s gorgeous.

I wanna say a mix of oec, transitional, single cuts and rose cuts? Quite a mix

I’m realizing the pin is quite dirty hahah I’ll wash it and start a thread tomorrow

 

[PastryGirl]

Stunning Victorian Old-Cut Diamond Fringe Tiara Convertible to Necklace Bracelet For Sale at 1stDibs | tiara for sale, real tiaras for sale, tiara necklace convertible

For Sale on 1stDibs - A stunning antique diamond tiara convertible to a necklace, c.1880s, the tiara designed as a relatively short compact fringe which almost gives the impression

www.1stdibs.com

I just stumbled across these tiaras on 1stDibs... OOOF!!!

 

[PastryGirl]

Archaeological-Revival Coral and Gold Spartan Diadem For Sale at 1stDibs | coral diadem, gold diadem, diadem gold

For Sale on 1stDibs - An archaeological-revival coral and gold Spartan diadem, in the form of a gold band with seven concave discs each set with a cabochon coral, alternating

www.1stdibs.com

 

[lovedogs]

This is so sweet

Antique 6 prong Old European Diamond Engagement Ring | eBay

I estimate the diamond to be 0.60 carats.

www.ebay.com

 

[Dreamer_D]

This is so sweet

Antique 6 prong Old European Diamond Engagement Ring | eBay

I estimate the diamond to be 0.60 carats.

www.ebay.com

It’s beautiful! The cut is perfection.

The pricing on eBay is all over the place. My benchmark for a deal on a diamond this size is about $400-500, and I’ve seen similar sized diamond in rings for $800. But this price seems like retail.

 

[Grymera]

It’s beautiful! The cut is perfection.

The pricing on eBay is all over the place. My benchmark for a deal on a diamond this size is about $400-500, and I’ve seen similar sized diamond in rings for $800. But this price seems like retail.

@Dreamer_D I think this is well priced for a whole ring. Plus it’s yellow gold which is more on trend now - you won’t see many OECs in yellow vs platinum just due to the trends at the time. IMO this isn’t original to the diamond, maybe a 1950s reset? Anyone else want to speculate? 2k+ would be fair/regular retail IMO. I would be happy with this price. You are right about component parts if you want to do comps with Ivy and Rose but I think you’d end up paying this price to recreate with gold prices being the way they are.

Edit - D’oh. Didn’t read that little slip of paper with the ring. That providence is wonderful.

 

[lovedogs]

I honestly think the price is ok. I'd likely offer 1200 or something if I were going to make an offer.

 

[Dreamer_D]

The value depends a lot on whether you like the setting, it’s true.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I feel like comps are so hard for me to understand in the antique world because I don't know how to factor in things like rarity or uniqueness, not like MRBs that are relatively available (assuming you aren't looking for something with very specific specs).

Like when I went to the antique show I had no idea what to think when the vendor quoted me the price for my enamel pin (it was 750$). I've never bought a pin before, and it basically didn't have any gemstones to speak of. It was basically a piece of gold that was painted 120 years ago haha. But I didn't expect it to be priced at the cost of the 5g of 14k gold. I literally took her card and a picture the brooch so I knew where to find it, and then went off to a corner to do some hasty googling about Krementz to figure out if it was a fair price or not. The prices were all over! $250 for smaller and more worn down ones to 4k for bigger ones. I found its less well preserved twin online for 1800$! I decided in the end it was simply worth at least 750$ to me to own this object that I found beautiful and precious that had traveled through time to me.

I still have no idea of what to think about prices and antique pieces. I have no yard stick cause I just don't have a good enough gestalt of what's out there for how much. I imagine if I spend enough time at shows and shopping online I'll build up a better instinct though! Until then I depend on you guys to help me!

 

[RRfromR]

I saw an unicorn cartier, 1935. The cut!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[JPie]

I feel like comps are so hard for me to understand in the antique world because I don't know how to factor in things like rarity or uniqueness, not like MRBs that are relatively available (assuming you aren't looking for something with very specific specs).

Like when I went to the antique show I had no idea what to think when the vendor quoted me the price for my enamel pin (it was 750$). I've never bought a pin before, and it basically didn't have any gemstones to speak of. It was basically a piece of gold that was painted 120 years ago haha. But I didn't expect it to be priced at the cost of the 5g of 14k gold. I literally took her card and a picture the brooch so I knew where to find it, and then went off to a corner to do some hasty googling about Krementz to figure out if it was a fair price or not. The prices were all over! $250 for smaller and more worn down ones to 4k for bigger ones. I found its less well preserved twin online for 1800$! I decided in the end it was simply worth at least 750$ to me to own this object that I found beautiful and precious that had traveled through time to me.

I still have no idea of what to think about prices and antique pieces. I have no yard stick cause I just don't have a good enough gestalt of what's out there for how much. I imagine if I spend enough time at shows and shopping online I'll build up a better instinct though! Until then I depend on you guys to help me!

Antique jewelery prices have gone up and up in the past few years, and truly exceptional pieces are getting harder and more expensive to come by.

Classicalgemhunter, rowanandrowan, and peterszuhay are IG dealers who generally have some of the more rare and collectible pieces, and their prices reflect that.

It’s a little easier to pull comps for archetypal pieces like Victorian diamond 5 or 7-stone rings, Georgian 3-stones, etc.

But you’re right - the longer you collect, the better your sense of fair pricing will be.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Antique jewelery prices have gone up and up in the past few years, and truly exceptional pieces are getting harder and more expensive to come by.

Classicalgemhunter, rowanandrowan, and peterszuhay are IG dealers who generally have some of the more rare and collectible pieces, and their prices reflect that.

It’s a little easier to pull comps for archetypal pieces like Victorian diamond 5 or 7-stone rings, Georgian 3-stones, etc.

But you’re right - the longer you collect, the better your sense of fair pricing will be.

And this is why we should all go to some antique shows together! Mwahahahaha. I need absorb some wisdom stat so I can acquire some of these beauties!

 

[JPie]

And this is why we should all go to some antique shows together! Mwahahahaha. I need absorb some wisdom stat so I can acquire some of these beauties!

Oh yes, I’ve been looking at hotels for NYC in October…

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Oh yes, I’ve been looking at hotels for NYC in October…

I heard there's also a show in November?

 

[JPie]

I heard there's also a show in November?

I might be out of the country then. Not sure yet but October is a safe bet and the weather is usually good.

 

[Grymera]

I think it's hard because jewelry inherently has 5 prices where most products don't.

Let's use that 1950s gold ring:
1) Scrap - price of the components taken apart, the lowest price (i.e. gram weight of gold and the diamond) - (let's say 3.5 grams 18k gold at full spot and $200 for the diamond) = $495
2) Resale/secondhand price - usually the second lowest price of a piece, this can be 50-80% off retail = let's say seller accepts $1250
3) Replacement cost - the cost of recreating that piece (without 1950s providence) - picking this .61 J OEC and similar settings (adding $150 to add 2 prongs and change the head) = $1470
4) Full retail - I'm not searching forever for a 6 prong, picking this 1950s mens .59 transitional at $3000
5) Appraised value, typically 1.5-2x retail or similarly bananas - $5000

Personally, I don't think it's in the spirit of this thread to zone in on the scrap value of pieces. Obviously that's the dream, but it's discounting the providence, artistry and specialness of each piece. Plus, it's discounting the skill of many sellers we've talked about before that do excellent work of finding, selecting and reselling vintage pieces with an eye for the exceptional.

Jewelry buying is very personal and I fully support springing for the right pieces in one's collection. I'm always inspired by @mrs-b and her collection of beautiful, exceptional quality pieces.

I almost had a heart attack recently buying my white whale, truly a holy grail piece. But I'm so glad I did, 3 months later. I would've never seen it again.

 

[lulu_ma]

I saw an unicorn cartier, 1935. The cut!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I got to try this ring on in December!