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How to Buy Jewelry at Auction. Great fine jewelry and costume pieces for the avid collector
can be found at estate and online auctions. But it pays to do your homework first. You
will need Internet access Auction catalog Research Appraisal Willpower and paypal account
or credit card (optional). Step 1. Preview auction items and check the auction estimate
of the piece you're considering. If it's fairly modern, the jewelry manufacturer may be able
to provide its retail price. If it's an older piece, look at recent prices for similar designs.
Step 2. Look at the quality and materials of the piece. Consider the size and value
of each component, especially the metal and the stones, as well as the piece's maker.
Read the documentation and terms carefully, especially the fine print, before you bid.
Consider paying with PayPal or a credit card rather than cash. Step 3. Contact the auctioneer
to ask questions. Ask for photos of any signatures or markings that will help establish the piece's
authenticity. Step 4. Consider paying for an appraisal, especially if you're bidding
online and you can't see or touch what you're buying. Use an independent gemologist who
is also an appraiser, and ask the seller or their representative for a sales receipts
with details in writing. Step 5. Decide how much you are willing to bid and abide by it.
Resist getting caught up in a bidding war, unless, of course, you absolutely have to
have it. Did you know The Hope Diamond, displayed at Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.,
is 45.52 carats and was discovered in India in the 1600s.