Know What You Have

A guide for selling to Perry’s

We understand your time and gas money are precious, so we are providing you with a list of easy tale tells signs (below) to determine if what you have is something we can buy.
However, please keep in mind,
THE ONLY FULL PROOF WAY TO KNOW
WHAT YOU HAVE AND HOW MUCH IT IS WORTH,
… let us look at it, weight it, test it and give you a quote.

Simple ways to tell that it is NOT gold, silver or platinum:

  • Inspect for discoloration. If an item is plated, high-friction areas (such as clasps and shanks) will typically show where the plating is beginning to rub off. Discoloration proves that the gold is not solid, and therefore, something we cannot purchase. However, the absence of discoloration doesn’t necessarily prove that the gold is real.
  • Hold it up to a magnet. Gold is not magnetic, but many base metals are. If it sticks to, or pulls toward the magnet, it’s fake. If it doesn’t react to the magnet, however, it could still be made of a base metal, just made from a non-magnetic material.
  • Look for markings. If it is stamped “A1” or has the word “plate” or some variation like “quadruple plate” then it is plated. “EP” stands for electroplate and is another tale tell sign it is plated. We cannot purchase items that are plated with precious metal; they must be solid.

Some ways to determine that is IS gold, silver or platinum:

  • You might check for an inscription somewhere on the piece that tells you what it is. However, keep in mind that sometimes these inscriptions have worn with age, been removed during a repair process (such as ring sizing) or covered with tarnish (as happens with dirty silver). If you are uncertain about what you have, or cannot see a stamp, we will test it for you. Many times these stamps are very tiny and require a magnifying glass to be seen. They can also be in very indiscrete places (like the inside of a jump ring or clasp on a necklace). Also note that gold markings can be on a white-colored piece of jewelry; this is white gold.
  • Conversely, please also know that sometimes just because the piece is stamped, does NOT mean it is genuine solid precious metal. It could mean that only a small portion of the jewelry is a genuine; such as a clasp or tag. Unfortunately, stamps are also sometimes placed on jewelry for the deceptive purpose to sell it as something it is not . Any piece in question can and will be tested.

Some common markings include:

925, SS Sterling silver
800 800 Grade Silver
850 85% Platinum
900, PLAT, PL 90% Platinum
950 Pure Platinum
375 9K  or 9kt Gold
585 14K or 14kt Gold
750 18K or 18kt Gold
916 22K or 22kt Gold

The karat weight (signified by K or kt) determine the purity, and hence the value, of the gold. For example, a gold chain stamped with “375″ would be 37.5% precious metal, or 9K. That will not be as valuable as 14K. The higher the numerical value, the higher the gold content (24K being the highest) and therefore, the more valuable the metal.With gemstones, diamonds, antique jewelry, etc, it is much more difficult to determine whether or not they are natural and/or genuine, and their resale value. Gemstones and diamonds must be viewed by the trained eye, and often with the use of a loop or microscope. We also have diamond testing devices as well.

There are many forms of counterfeit gemstones, including (but not limited to):

  • Plastic
  • Glass
  • Composites/Doublets – where a small sliver of authentic gem is sandwiched in between or combined with other materials such as plastic, glass or foil.
  • Imitations  – such as lab created cubic zirconias (commonly called CZs)

Not all natural or genuine gemstones are valuable. Small to large gemstones of poor quality (as determined by hue, color saturation, clarity, cut and other factors) are common and often considered mining castaways. As a dealer of fine quality jewelry, we are not able to purchase such gemstones because we cannot resell them.

The value of gemstone, diamond and antique jewelry, for our purposes, is based on many factors including:

  • If the jewelry (including gemstones, metals, markings,etc) is natural and/or genuine
  • The quality of the gemstones/diamonds, workmanship, metals, etc.
  • The weight of the gemstones, diamonds and metals
  • The condition of the jewelry
  • If the jewelry has been altered in a desirable or undesirable fashion
  • The market value
  • If we think we can sell it
  • What we believe we can sell it for
  • Whether or not designer pieces are authentic, have been altered in some way, and if they are accompanied by the original paperwork and/or boxes.
  • Our estate inventory status at the time of your visit. For example, if we have several strands of pearls in our inventory, we cannot accept more until we sell what we have, unless it’s a very unique, rare or designer piece.