Top Reasons to Buy Pre-loved Fine Jewelry

If you are in the market for a special piece of diamond and gold jewelry, such as an engagement ring, cocktail ring or that stunning necklace or earrings you can wear on formal occasions, you might think about going straight to your local high-end jeweler to check out what they have.

You may be disappointed.

High-end Jewelers tend to have limited inventory. Their display cases have limited space, so you will generally see what they can fit into their window display. They may carry designer label jewelry or their own branded items, but they don’t usually stock those unusual, one-of-a-kind pieces with a fascinating history and life behind them. Modern jewelry can be lovely, but it can lack character.

And, if you search online for diamond jewelry, especially if it is estate, vintage or antique, you need to be one hundred percent sure of the reseller’s credentials, professional standards and reputation. Most buyers are not jewelry experts, so it becomes a case of buyer beware.

Pre-loved Jewelry Offers Wider Choices

Pre-loved, Pre-Owned, Estate Jewelry: all very similar terms bringing us to the same conclusion: jewelry can span decades, even centuries, and Dover is a world-renowned re-seller of the highest quality pre-owned and pre-loved jewelry. Pre-loved jewelry opens up a whole new world of choices, designs and styles for the customer who appreciates the best from a bygone era.

The pieces in our collection at Dover have been assessed and evaluated by our professional jewelers for their provenance, where possible, their age, condition and quality of their diamonds, gemstones and precious metals. We carry authenticated jewelry from the Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco eras in our inventory, as well as more contemporary pieces. Whether your tastes lean towards the romantic looks of Victorian jewelry or the geometric, streamlined pieces so typical of the Art Deco era, Dover has just the right ring, watch, bracelet, necklace or earrings to set your heart racing.

In addition, Dover re-sells and re-stocks precious pre-loved pieces on a daily basis, so you are always assured of the widest variety.

Pre-Loved Jewelry Tells a Story

Many customers these days, even millennial, engaged couples, are looking for the non-traditional, opting instead for pre-loved or estate jewelry, something unique and on-trend but with a story attached to it. Customers look for pieces that they can pass on to their children, telling the story of how they bought it.

All estate jewelry has a history, and it is fascinating to think about the previous owner of your vintage or antique engagement ring. Who were they? What is their history? When did they buy this ring? What was their life like? The questions are endless and make for great cocktail circuit conversation.

Pre-Loved Jewelry is “Green”

We live in an increasingly circular economy. Jewelry is used, enjoyed and passed on to different owners, without incurring new mining of precious metals, gemstones and resources that can cause major pollution and environmental damage. When you are shopping for jewelry, think about what it takes to make a diamond ring. A vintage, antique or estate ring has already gone through the process.

Vintage jewelry is eco-friendly, with a minimal ecological footprint. You can enjoy your jewelry, conscience-free, knowing that you were not indirectly responsible for a new mining or manufacturing process. We can all agree that green is good.

Pre-Loved Jewelry Is Better Made

Vintage, pre-loved jewelry has enduring credibility, value and quality because much of it was hand-made by craftsmen who took special pride in their work. It will last many lifetimes if properly cared for. Older Georgian and Victorian pieces are completely handcrafted, and many vintage pieces are hand-finished. Modern jewelry tends to be mass-produced, without the artisanship and care taken in previous times.

Pre-Loved Jewelry Can Be a Great Investment

Finally, pre-loved jewelry can be an incredible investment. The market for all kinds of high-quality vintage and antique jewelry has soared in recent years. In 2014, Cartier paid over $27 million at Sotheby’s for an Art Deco jadeite necklace, and over $36 million was paid for the Marie-Antoinette Pear Pearl at Sotheby’s in Geneva.

These have very special provenance, of course, but there’s no doubt that with care, a good condition, professional appraisal and some degree of luck, your pre-loved jewelry can appreciate in value.

We would be happy to help you get started.

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