Everything You Need to Know About Selling Tiffany Jewelry
If you're a proud owner of Tiffany jewelry and want to sell it for a good price, then you're in the right place. Selling Tiffany jewelry can be a daunting task, but with the right information, you can get the best value for your jewelry. In this guide, we'll cover everything from the best place to sell Tiffany jewelry to how to prepare it for sale. Let's get started.
Preparing Tiffany Jewelry for Sale
Before you sell your Tiffany jewelry, it's important to prepare it properly. Here are two essential steps:
Locate the Blue Box and Any Accompanying Documentation: Appraisers and buyers want to see proof of purchase and authentication to ensure the jewelry is genuine.
Clean Your Jewelry: Unclean jewelry may affect its resale value, so be sure to clean your piece before selling it.
Remember, any damage to the jewelry will decrease its value, so always take good care of your Tiffany jewelry.
Collecting Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. has been synonymous with high quality and high style jewelry for years. The flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, which sells Tiffany jewelry, began its walk of fame in 1961 with the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The store becomes a sort of refuge for Audrey Hepburn's character in the movie. She describes it as “The quietness and the proud look of it… Nothing very bad could happen to you there.”
Tiffany Beginnings
The company was founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John P. Young, who opened a “fancy goods” store on Broadway. Soon after, they added jewelry and silver to the mix. In 1853, Tiffany took over, and the newly-dubbed Tiffany & Co. showcased its exquisite pieces at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York. Tiffany jewelry was met with rave remarks. From the beginning, Tiffany & Co. goods embodied three distinct characteristics: inspiration from nature or the art of other cultures, innovative technique, and a reliance on unusual gemstones and metals.
Edward C. Moore
Tiffany’s first chief designer, Edward C. Moore, set the design standard for the company. He toured silver-making workshops throughout Europe, pulling motifs from Islamic, Hindu, Persian, Japanese, Native American, and Celtic art. Moore left his mark most on tableware designs, and he played a major role in refining the store’s use of enameling on metals, something that has become a distinguished signature of Tiffany jewels.
G. Paulding Farnham
Under Moore’s mentorship, George Paulding Furnham became Tiffany’s first celebrity designer. Furnham dedicated his craftsmanship to creating elegant floral designs and enameled orchids. In 1889, Furnham made 24 life-size orchids with pearls, silver, gold, and precious gemstones for the Exposition Universelle in Paris. The collection earned Furnham a gold medal and wide jewelry acclaim forever more.
George Frederick Kunz: The Pioneer of Unique Gemstone Selection
George Frederick Kunz was the chief gemologist for Tiffany & Co. at the turn of the 20th century. He played a significant role in taking the company's gemstone selection beyond the conventional diamonds and pearls. Kunz traveled the world in search of rare gemstones and brought them to Tiffany, giving the brand a unique edge in the market. Kunz sourced Australian opals, aquamarine, and other colored stones and even collected gems mined Stateside. Tiffany & Co.'s jewelry became instantly recognizable for its unusual and rare gemstones.
Paloma Picasso: The Designer with a Bold Italian Style
Paloma Picasso is a French fashion designer and businesswoman known for her bold Italian-style jewelry designs. Her unique style brings together bold shapes and colors, including pink tourmaline, citrine, amethyst, and aquamarine, mounted in gold. Her designs are delicate yet powerful, making them stand out in Tiffany & Co.'s contemporary collections. Picasso began her career designing jewelry, and later she developed a fragrance line for L'Oreal called Paloma. This success encouraged her to form a cosmetics and bath line, including soap, shower gel, and body lotion.
Elsa Peretti: The Designer of Sleek, Modern Forms
Elsa Peretti is a prominent designer of sleek, modern forms crafted in sterling silver. She has been a central figure among Tiffany & Co.'s contemporary designers since the '60s and '70s. Her Bone Cuffs were a perfect match with a simple, form-fitting Halston frock in the 1970s, and they continue to look great today. Peretti moved to New York to pursue modeling, but soon switched over to creating jewelry for fashion designers. By the time she became an independent designer for Tiffany & Co., she had already received the 1971 Coty Award for American Fashion. The Peretti and Tiffany & Co. partnership lasted for over 20 years.
The Tiffany Mark: The Hallmark of Authenticity
Tiffany & Co.'s jewelry is easily recognizable for its unique characteristics. The company sends all its jewelry to London to be inspected and stamped by the British assay office since the U.S. does not have an assay system. Tiffany & Co. is one of the few U.S.-based jewelry houses that produces hallmarked pieces. The hallmark ensures the authenticity of each piece of Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Additionally, all authentic Tiffany & Co. jewelry comes in a Tiffany Blue Box, which has become synonymous with the brand.
Selling Tiffany & Co. Jewelry: Tips and Tricks
Selling Tiffany & Co. jewelry can be a breeze if you follow some essential tips. When selling Tiffany & Co. jewelry, ensure that the brand is visibly etched onto the piece, as that is the first thing buyers look for. The name "Tiffany" is etched onto every piece of jewelry to mark its authenticity. Thanks to the brand's prestige, it is not particularly difficult to resell Tiffany jewelry, and the resale value is always high. However, before making a sale, it is essential to get the best deal possible for selling Tiffany jewelry. Look for reputable jewelry buyers like Gold Knox Jewelry.