Buying Antique Jewellery on eBay – Don’t Get Duped!
Tried searching for antique jewellery to buy on eBay lately? Have you been higher than a little suspicious on the sheer quantity of items available at rock bottom prices? Don’t some of those bargains look just too good to be true? OF COURSE they do!
Just a couple of clicks of the mouse into eBay’s jewellery category and you’re confronted by an ever increasing, bewildering array of ‘rare’ ‘estate’ jewellery propping up the ‘genuine antiques’ section which have probably fallen off the back of a Chinese factory assembly line to be there.
But how will you separate the good from the bad; the newest from the old; the actual from the fake; the bling from the bong, etc..? Below are a few top tips from one antique jewellery seller trying hard to prevent being tarred with the same phony brush:
See the wording very carefully: Common phrases to look out for are ‘vintage inspired’ and ‘antique style’ which will mean they’re about as old as Hugh Hefner’s latest acquisition. lakshmi hara Currently you can find at the least two successful UK based eBay sellers which advertise their jewellery internationally in the ‘genuine antiques’ category under titles such as for instance ‘Rare estate’ or ‘English estate’ jewellery. It takes lots of meticulous reading to spot the ‘antique/Victorian style’ giveaway clue that, despite the attractiveness of the pieces, nevertheless means they’re totally new. A fast email to each seller confirmed this. ‘Gold filled’, ‘GF’, ‘GP’ or ‘rolled gold’ also signify that is not given of solid gold, though it could still be an antique. ‘Simulated’ is another term useful for fake gems, such as for instance diamonds, which are unlikely to b found in authentic antique jewellery.
Have a consider the seller’s other items: If they’re selling a lot of uncannily similar items then a one you’ve taken a shine to is unlikely to be the one-off piece that the genuine antique should be.
Check the precise location of the item: If it’s Thailand then a chances are it’s not going to be a priceless Lalique. Remember if that is found overseas, you run a larger risk of it being lost or damaged in the post. Plus, with respect to the country it’s originating from, you might not be able to get a reimbursement if you’re unhappy with it.
Does owner offer returns? If an item works out to be never as described, you ought to be entitled to come back it for a reimbursement anyway. But when they give you a cooling off period then not just are they obviously keen to maintain good customer relations, but they’re probably quite certain that you’ll enjoy a the purchase
Most importantly, check the seller’s legitimacy: Look at the details of these feedback comments – are they mainly buyer or seller comments? If there aren’t many comments it could be because owner hasn’t been established on eBay for very long. That may either mean that they have had to start over with a brand new eBay take into account dubious reasons or it might simply signify this can be a new venture – by which case they will be keen to earn an excellent feedback rating. If they display links for their website then, even if they are not yet an established business, they at the least have nothing to hide.
Email owner if you still aren’t sure: They’re required by eBay to give an exact description of these items for sale. So ask owner how old the piece is; if you can find any scratches or flaws; if the stones or gems are real or simulated; whether you can find any hallmarks (although many genuine antiques aren’t hallmarked) and, if not, how they can tell that that is the age they say it is.