Whether you picked up a gem at a yard sale, or someone gifted you a beautiful necklace, it is often hard to tell what your items are really worth or whether they are even real. However, there are a few easy methods that will help you to distinguish your jewelry from their imitation counterparts.
- Look for brand or logos – Premier bands, such as Tiffany & Co, have their brand name stamped on the jewelry on the inside of the shanks of rings, posts of earrings or clasps of necklaces and bracelets. Also look out for any misspelling of brand names, or varying fonts, both of which are tell-tale signs that your jewelry may be fake.
- Find hallmarks – Check your jewelry for stamps or hallmarks, most commonly found on the inside or reverse of jewelry. Official hallmarking is the most trusted way to guarantee that you are getting the correct purity of precious metals in your jewelry. Some common hallmarks for gold are; 14k, 18k, 585, 750. Platinum hallmarks include; PLAT, Platinum, 950, 90, 10% iridium. Finally, silver should be marked; 925, Silver, 800 and Sterling.
- Diamond Certificates – Most people are always aware of the 4 C’s when buying a diamond: color, cut, clarity and carat. But the most important C is something that is commonly forgotten – ‘Certificate’. Authentic jewelry often comes with a certificate. This means they have been scientifically measured and graded by laboratories such as; GIA, EGL, IGI, GSI among others. This is a sure way to tell that your jewelry is authentic.
- Have your jewelry appraised – If you are still having doubts about your jewelry’s authenticity, you should have it appraised to put your mind at ease. Many jewelers will offer an appraisal service for a small fee.
If you are looking to sell your jewelry, book an appointment with us today. At PMR, you’ll find that our expert staff will price your items accurately and offer you more than any other comparable vendor.