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● Diamond District, NYC · Estate & Antique SpecialistsSell Antique & Estate
Sell Antique & Estate
Jewelry in NYC.
We buy Victorian, Art Deco, Edwardian, and Art Nouveau jewelry. Signed designer pieces, inherited collections, and fine estate jewelry of all periods. GIA-certified appraisers. Cash same day.
Victorian| Art Deco| Edwardian| Cartier| Van Cleef| Tiffany
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Fourth Generation Jewelry Experts 100+ years combined experience. GIA-certified appraisers evaluate every piece for metal, gem, craftsmanship, and designer value.
Jewelry Periods We Buy
Every Era of Fine Antique & Vintage Jewelry
Each jewelry period has its own design language, materials, and collector market. Our appraisers have deep knowledge of every period — from Georgian to Retro — and pay accordingly.
Georgian 1714–1837
The oldest and rarest collectible jewelry period. Handmade in gold, silver, and pinchbeck. Common motifs: nature, sentimentality, mourning, royalty. Gemstones cut by hand with rose-cut and table-cut diamonds. Hairwork jewelry, seed pearls, and enamel common. Foil-backed stones typical — closed-back settings to enhance brilliance.
Georgian jewelry is exceptionally rare in authentic form. Most pieces have passed through many hands. Provenance and documentation significantly increase value. We pay premiums for documented Georgian pieces.
Victorian 1837–1901
Named for Queen Victoria’s reign. Three sub-periods: Early/Romantic (1837–1855) with sentimental motifs; Mid/Grand (1856–1880) with bold colors and archaeological revival styles; Late/Aesthetic (1880–1901) with Japanese influence and lighter designs. Gold (yellow predominates), seed pearls, jet, coral, garnet, turquoise, and diamonds common. Mourning jewelry in jet and onyx from the Grand period.
Victorian jewelry is among the most actively collected antique jewelry today. Signed pieces by major makers (Castellani, Carlo Giuliano) command significant premiums. Mourning jewelry and sentimental lockets have strong collector demand.
Art Nouveau 1890–1910
Organic, nature-inspired forms. Sinuous lines, flowing curves, botanical and insect motifs — dragonflies, butterflies, orchids, irises. Plique-à-jour enamel (translucent, backless cloisonné) is the signature technique. Gold, silver, enamel, freshwater pearls, moonstones, opals, and semi-precious stones. René Lalique is the most celebrated Art Nouveau jeweler. Masriera of Barcelona also highly prized.
Signed Lalique pieces are museum-quality and can be worth tens of thousands. Unsigned high-quality plique-à-jour enamel pieces also command significant premiums. The female figure as motif is the most recognizable and sought-after Art Nouveau design.
Edwardian 1901–1915
Light, lacy, feminine aesthetic enabled by the newly developed platinum setting. Garland style — delicate swags, bows, wreaths, and tassels. Diamonds dominant (old European and old mine cuts), combined with pearls and pale stones. White-on-white palette of platinum and diamonds. Cartier’s garland style defined this period. Milgràin edging, knife-wire settings, and open filigree work are signatures.
Edwardian platinum and diamond pieces remain among the most wearable and desirable of all antique jewelry. Cartier and other major house pieces from this period command extraordinary premiums. The light, airy aesthetic translates beautifully to modern sensibilities.
Art Deco 1915–1935
Bold geometric forms, strong color contrasts, symmetry, and modernist influences from Cubism, Futurism, and ancient Egyptian revival (post-Tutankhamun 1922). Platinum dominant. Diamonds with calibré-cut colored stones — onyx, coral, emerald, sapphire, ruby — in precise geometric settings. Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, and Mauboussin defined this period. Japanese and Persian motifs also appear.
Art Deco jewelry is the most actively traded of all antique jewelry periods. Signed pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef, and other major houses regularly appear at Christie’s and Sotheby’s for significant sums. High-quality unsigned Art Deco pieces also have strong collector demand.
Retro & Mid-Century 1935–1960
Bold, sculptural, Hollywood-glamour aesthetic. Yellow and rose gold (platinum restricted during WWII). Large gemstones, bows, scrolls, ribbons, flowers, and fan motifs. Aquamarines, citrines, and tourmalines popular due to wartime gemstone restrictions. Cartier’s “tutti frutti” style from the late 1920s–1930s bridges Art Deco and Retro. Paloma Picasso and Elsa Peretti for Tiffany define mid-century modern.
Retro gold pieces have experienced strong collector demand in recent years as gold prices have risen. Large, bold pieces in 14k and 18k rose gold with colorful stones are particularly sought after. Signed Retro pieces from Cartier, Verdura, and Trabert & Hoeffer command strong premiums.
Signed Designer Pieces
Designer Signatures Add Significant Value
A signed piece from a major jewelry house can be worth 3–10x the same piece unsigned. We identify maker’s marks, hallmarks, and signatures and pay the full designer premium.
Cartier Paris · Est. 1847 The most recognized jewelry house in the world. Love bracelet, Trinity ring, Panthère, Juste un Clou. All periods from Edwardian through contemporary. Signatures, serial numbers, and metal marks verified.
Van Cleef & Arpels Paris · Est. 1896 Alhambra, Mystery Set diamonds, Zip necklace, Frivole. Invisible setting (Mystery Set) is one of the most technically demanding techniques in jewelry and commands extraordinary premiums.
Tiffany & Co. New York · Est. 1837 Tiffany Setting engagement rings, Jean Schlumberger enamel pieces, Paloma Picasso, Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff and Bean. All signed Tiffany assessed for period and designer premium above metal value.
Harry Winston New York · Est. 1932 The King of Diamonds. Cluster settings, extraordinary colored stones, and exceptional quality throughout. Winston pieces routinely appear at major auction houses for significant sums.
Bvlgari Rome · Est. 1884 Serpenti, B.zero1, Diva’s Dream. Bold colorful stones in yellow gold. 1960s–70s vintage Bvlgari with cabochon colored stones and classical coin motifs especially sought by collectors.
Boucheron Paris · Est. 1858 Place Vendôme maison since 1893. Quatre collection, Serpent Bohème, Reflet. Art Deco and Belle Epoque signed Boucheron pieces are highly prized by collectors of signed French jewelry.
David Webb New York · Est. 1948 Bold, sculptural American jewelry. Enamel animal motifs — frogs, rams, horses. Gold, platinum, and striking colored stones. 1960s–70s pieces have seen extraordinary collector demand in recent years.
Other Major Houses All Origins René Lalique, Verdura, Jar, Graff, Chaumet, Mauboussin, Mellerio, Fabergé, Marcus & Co., Paulding Farnham, and all other signed fine jewelry assessed for full maker premium.
What We Buy
Every Type of Antique & Estate Jewelry.
Inherited, collected, or no longer worn — we evaluate and purchase all fine antique and estate jewelry.
Antique rings
Estate necklaces
Vintage bracelets
Antique earrings
Brooch & pins
Mourning jewelry
Cameos
Lockets & pendants
Parure & demi-parure
Art Deco bracelets
Platinum pieces
Rose gold pieces
Enamel jewelry
Micromosaic
Pietra dura
Signed designer
Inherited collections
Estate lots
Single statement pieces
Costume & signed
Our Expertise
Fourth Generation Antique Jewelry Specialists
Antique and estate jewelry requires a completely different knowledge set than modern jewelry. Understanding the design conventions of a Georgian mourning ring, identifying a genuine Edwardian platinum piece versus a later reproduction, or recognizing an unsigned Cartier Art Deco bracelet by its distinctive calibré-cut stones and milgràin edging — this level of expertise comes from decades of handling thousands of pieces.
At Buyers of New York, our appraisers include fourth-generation jewelry experts with over 100 years of combined experience. We have GIA-certified gemologists who evaluate the stones, and period specialists who assess the historical and aesthetic significance of every piece. We look at the whole picture — metal value, gem value, maker value, period rarity, and current collector demand.
For significant pieces, we reference recent auction results from Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Bonhams, and Phillips to ensure our offers reflect what the piece would actually bring in today’s market. You receive a fair, market-accurate offer — not just scrap metal value on a piece that might be worth significantly more.
Get a Free Estate Jewelry Offer
The Process
Sell Your Estate Jewelry in 4 Simple Steps
Private, professional, and pressure-free. Most evaluations complete in 15–20 minutes.
1
Walk In
30 W. 47th St., 8th Floor. Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm. Call ahead for significant collections or estate lots.
2
Expert Appraisal
Period identification, maker attribution, gem grading, metal testing — all done in front of you by our specialists. We explain every factor.
3
Market-Based Offer
Offer based on current collector market, auction comparables for signed pieces, metal and gem value — the complete picture.
4
Cash in Hand
Accept and receive cash immediately. Same day, no delays. Private, discreet, and straightforward.
Why Buyers of New York
The Antique Jewelry Specialists in NYC
Period Expertise
We identify Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Retro jewelry by design conventions, construction techniques, and period-appropriate materials — not just by visual inspection.
Designer Attribution
We know maker’s marks, hallmarks, and signatures for all major houses — Cartier, Van Cleef, Tiffany, Bvlgari, David Webb, and more. A signature we recognize is money in your pocket.
Auction Market Knowledge
For significant pieces, we pull recent comparable auction results. Your offer reflects what the piece would actually bring today — not a discounted estimate from an outdated price guide.
Metal & Gem Evaluation
GIA-certified gemologists grade every stone. Metal tested and weighed. You receive a complete picture — gem value, metal value, and historical/designer premium all assessed separately.
Private & Discreet
Estate sales, inheritance situations, divorce, and personal collections — all handled with complete confidentiality. No social media posting, no public listings, no intrusive questions.
No Pressure, Ever
We evaluate your piece, explain our findings in full, and make our best offer. You decide. Many clients come just to understand what they have. Free evaluation, no obligation.
GIA Certified Period Jewelry Specialist 4th Generation Experts NYSA Member JVC Member Licensed & Bonded Diamond District Since 1993
★★★★★
“I inherited a collection of jewelry from my grandmother and had no idea what I had. The appraisers identified pieces from the Victorian and Art Deco periods, found a signed Cartier bracelet I didn’t even know was Cartier, and gave me a detailed explanation of every piece before making an offer. I walked out with far more than I expected and complete confidence in the process.”
Verified Google Review · Diamond District, Manhattan
The Estate Jewelry Selling Guide
What You Need to Know Before Selling Antique Jewelry in NYC
Antique and estate jewelry represents one of the most complex and rewarding categories in the decorative arts market. Unlike modern jewelry, where value is driven primarily by metal weight and stone quality, antique jewelry is assessed through a multidimensional lens where historical period, craftsmanship, rarity, and maker attribution all contribute significantly to the final value.
What Is the Difference Between Antique and Estate Jewelry?
Antique jewelry is technically defined as pieces that are at least 100 years old — meaning anything made before 1925 currently qualifies. Estate jewelry refers more broadly to any previously owned jewelry, regardless of age. In practice, the terms are used interchangeably in the trade. At Buyers of New York, we buy both — from Georgian pieces made in the 1820s to mid-century modern pieces from the 1950s and beyond.
How Is Antique Jewelry Different From Modern Jewelry in Terms of Value?
Modern jewelry is valued primarily on metal weight and stone quality. Antique jewelry adds additional layers: the historical period, the quality of hand craftsmanship (which often cannot be replicated mechanically), the rarity of the design, and most significantly, maker attribution. An unsigned Art Deco bracelet might be worth $2,000 for its platinum and diamonds. The same bracelet signed by Cartier might be worth $20,000. The signature is everything.
How Do You Identify Antique Jewelry Periods?
Period identification requires knowledge of construction techniques, period-appropriate materials, design conventions, and hallmarking systems. Georgian jewelry is handmade with closed-back settings and foil-backed stones. Victorian pieces show sentimental motifs and yellow gold. Edwardian pieces are distinctively light and lacy in platinum. Art Deco shows geometric forms and calibré-cut stones. Our specialists have spent decades learning to identify period jewelry correctly — and the difference in valuation can be substantial.
Should I Get a Retail Appraisal Before Selling?
A retail insurance appraisal (the document your insurance company uses) reflects replacement cost at retail — typically 2–4x what the piece would sell for wholesale. It is not a useful guide to resale value. We provide our own professional evaluation at no charge, and we explain every factor in our assessment so you understand exactly what your piece is worth in today’s actual market.
What About Jewelry From Estate Sales and Inheritances?
Estate and inherited jewelry is one of the most common situations we handle. Many people inherit pieces with no knowledge of what they are, what period they’re from, or whether they might have significant value beyond the metal. We treat every inherited collection with care and respect, take the time to properly evaluate every piece, and explain what we find. There is no pressure to sell and no fee for the evaluation.
FAQ
Common Questions About Selling Antique Jewelry in NYC
We assess four things: the metal value (gold, silver, or platinum content and weight), the gem value (graded by our GIA-certified gemologists), the period and craftsmanship premium (how rare and desirable is this specific type of piece), and the maker/designer premium (is it signed, and if so by whom). All four factors together determine the offer.
Significantly. A signed Cartier, Van Cleef, Tiffany, or other major house piece can be worth 3–10x the same piece unsigned. We identify maker’s marks, hallmarks, and signatures for all major houses and pay the full designer premium. If you think something might be signed, bring it in — we will find the mark if it exists.
Genuinely antique jewelry shows specific construction characteristics — hand-set stones, hand-engraved details, period-appropriate hallmarks, and age-consistent wear patterns. Reproductions often use modern casting techniques visible under magnification. Our specialists identify originals from reproductions through hands-on examination. Bring it in — there is no charge for the identification.
Yes. Victorian mourning jewelry — jet brooches, hairwork lockets, onyx pieces, memorial rings — has a strong and active collector market. Whitby jet (authentic) is worth significantly more than French jet (black glass). We identify the material and pay market value for authentic Victorian mourning pieces.
No. Cleaning antique jewelry can remove original patina that collectors value, and restoration can destroy evidence of period manufacture. Bring pieces exactly as they are. For antique jewelry especially, original surface condition — even with tarnish or minor wear — is preferred over cleaned or restored examples.
We buy signed costume jewelry from major makers — Miriam Haskell, Schiaparelli, Coro Duette, Eisenberg, Trifari, Hattie Carnegie, and others — which has a dedicated collector market and can be quite valuable. Unsigned costume jewelry in base metal is generally not purchased.
Same day. Accept the offer and receive cash immediately. For significant estate lots, we can also arrange same-day wire transfer. Most evaluations complete in 15–20 minutes for individual pieces; estate collections may take longer for thorough assessment.
Visit Us
Midtown Manhattan — Diamond District
One block from Rockefeller Center. Walk-ins welcome Monday through Friday.
Buyers of New York
30 W. 47th Street, Suite 8006New York, NY 10036
Elevator to 8th Floor
Monday – Friday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
☎ 212-642-4345Ready to Sell Your Antique or Estate Jewelry?
Free, no-obligation evaluation. Walk in or get a quote online. Cash paid same day.