Finding out if jewellery is real. Auction?

swingaloo

Has anyone any experience of taking items of costume jewellery to an auction.

I have a lot of costume jewellery Ive picked up at various charity shops and also boxes of stuff I have been left by an aunt.

None of it is to my taste but I'm reluctant to just give it away or Ebay it as I'm not sure if any of it is worth anything.

What's the best way to find out? If I take it to a jeweller I believe they charge per item to test and value an I have 'Loads' so that's not really an option.

If I took it as a job lot to a local auction would the auctioneers heck through it first and give you an idea of a valuation or do they simply chuck it in a box and let people hope for the best?

The other option is to go to one of these pawnbroker style places but is that advisable?

Can anyone suggest the best way to check what Ive got please.

sarah1972

swingaloo wrote: »

Has anyone any experience of taking items of costume jewellery to an auction.

I have a lot of costume jewellery Ive picked up at various charity shops and also boxes of stuff I have been left by an aunt.

None of it is to my taste but I'm reluctant to just give it away or Ebay it as I'm not sure if any of it is worth anything.

What's the best way to find out? If I take it to a jeweller I believe they charge per item to test and value an I have 'Loads' so that's not really an option.

If I took it as a job lot to a local auction would the auctioneers heck through it first and give you an idea of a valuation or do they simply chuck it in a box and let people hope for the best?

The other option is to go to one of these pawnbroker style places but is that advisable?

Can anyone suggest the best way to check what Ive got please.

I was in exactly the same boat as I was left a full jewellery box by my step nan.

I took the box to a local independent jewellers who went through each piece for free, separated the real from costume and the 9 carat from 18. Explained each bit for me and then at the end weighed the real gold and offered me a no obligation price.

Auctioneers will charge a valuation fee and then if you sell at auction you will also have a selling fee.