Some of the ideal locations to come across excellent vintage costume jewelry are thrift shops. You've observed the big stores - Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers...and then there are the charity shops run by churches and non-profits. All of them receive donated jewelry, and I have found some amazing pieces in thrift shops. It seems to me that the larger chain shops have far better costs than the smaller charity shops, but it seriously depends on who is pricing the jewelry when they put it out for sale. Some shop workers are rather savvy about values, but some are not and they sometimes cost jewelry especially low. Maybe they figure that if it is not genuine gold it isn't worth a lot. Very good for us!
Thrift shop shopping has lost the stigma of being just junk shops or locations where the down-and-out shop.
A outstanding tip is to become friendly with the staff of the shops that you check out. One clerk lets me rummage by way of the jewelry bins prior to she costs them and puts them out on the floor. Another lets me know when they get a large amount of jewelry donated.
Get out when the shop has their specials. One store in my town has a 30% Senior discount on Wednesdays. Guess which day is my shopping day!
Oftentimes the shop management will put a substantial amount of jewelry in a plastic bag and sell the bag for a fixed cost. If you uncover these, examine the bag as closely as you can - you won't be allowed to open it, and there is lots of junk in there, mostly stuff that didn't sell, and frequently lots of plastic Mardi Gras beads. I bought these bags a few times, and it was enjoyable sorting by means of every thing, but I wound up donating most of it to a nursing dwelling for crafts projects. I have located a couple of honestly good pieces this way, but I don't think it was honestly worth the time and trouble.
Most thrift shops have a glass case where they keep the much better stuff. Ask to see pieces that interest you, and examine them closely. Look closely at the racks exactly where they generally hang the cheaper stuff. I located a sterling silver Native American belt buckle, with a turquoise stone in it and signed by the artist, hanging in a zip lock bag on a rack. I purchased it for $2.80 and sold it on eBay for $52! It was badly tarnished, but I polished it up and it was fabulous.
There generally seem to be lots of watches in those cases. Beware of copies of well-known makes, and get only name brands that you recognize. Make positive the band is in very good condition and that there are no scratches on the crystal. The watch most likely won't be working, so program to invest $five to $7 for a battery. If you're getting for resale, be certain to incorporate the expense of a battery to see if the watch is worth buying. You're taking a opportunity there - it may well not function even immediately after a new battery is installed.
No matter whether you are obtaining jewelry for your own collection or for resale, there are numerous issues to look for when examining thrift shop jewelry.
Condition, condition, condition: You are going to come across all kinds of jewelry in all kinds of condition. Appear for broken clasps, missing stones, worn metal finishes, and any green material on gold tone jewelry. The green stuff is corrosion, and it can't be cleaned off. Pass on that 1. Check that stone settings are tight, and if they are not, be careful with the piece - you must be able to tighten them. If the piece is dirty you can clean it. Bring a jeweler's loupe or strong magnifying glass so you can examine the piece closely.
Is the piece signed? The name on the back of a pin or earring, on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, or on an earring clip is the "signature" of the designer. Signed pieces can be additional beneficial than unsigned, but there are also several many "unsigned beauties" out there. Look for the name, and if there is a copyright symbol ©, that means the piece was made immediately after about 1955. No symbol - you possibly have a real vintage piece. Look for the numbers 925 on silver jewelry - that indicates it's sterling silver, and if the price is right, you've got a steal.
Price: It's tough to put a cost on thrift shop jewelry - the more affordable, the greater, of course! I try not to invest more than $3 for a pin, bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings. You could possibly come across some thing honestly spectacular that expenses extra, and if you believe you can profit from it, or you want it for your self, go ahead and purchase it. A good rule of thumb when shopping thrift shops is this: If you like it but are not positive, set your self a limit, say $5. If it turns out to be not so awesome, you are not out that a lot. As mentioned, some thrift shop workers know a lot more about jewelry, and will cost some pieces too high for you to sell and make a profit. But there appears to be fairly a bit of employee turnover in these shops, so the next person pricing jewelry may not be as knowledgeable.
Soon after Christmas is a good time to pick up Christmas jewelry. Some shops will mark down holiday items to get rid of them, other shops just store them away for next year.
I love shopping at thrift shops - just like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you by no means know what you are going to get. Each trip is a treasure hunt. Some days are slim pickin's, but some days are extremely rewarding. Just yesterday I got 10 pieces for $15 - various are sterling silver, and one piece may well be jade - I'm still not certain.
Be consistent in your thrift shop shopping. Try to go out every week, and get out when the shops have their special promotions. Most of the large chain shops put out new merchandise all day lengthy, some other shops restock on particular days. Acquire out when those are, and get there early.
Read books about costume jewelry, and become knowledgeable, so when you shop the thrift shops you will be armed with details. Have fun with it, get to know the thrift shop staff, and you will come home with some fabulous jewelry at fabulous costs.
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