| Over the past 35 years I have collected antique and | | | | auction preview at a low box lot price. |
| vintage signed and unsigned costume and fine | | | | The second secret is to align yourself with pawn |
| jewelry and through this experience I have found | | | | shop owners. They do not sell costume jewelry |
| many ways to find and acquire the most amazing | | | | which to them has really no intrinsic value but will |
| and collectible pieces, having values far higher than | | | | offer a bulk price for costume jewelry brought in by |
| what I paid. | | | | folks and for a small profit sell it to me. I have |
| My tried and true secrets have worked and as a | | | | acquired the most amazing pieces this way. A person |
| result I own an extraordinary collection of mostly | | | | has unfortunately hit a rough spot and needs cash |
| signed and book pieces dating from the late 1800's | | | | and will usually clean out all of their drawers which |
| up tio the present. I have acquired signed and | | | | may include a lot of fine but most likely more |
| unsigned Miriam Haskell (some of which were | | | | costume jewelry. The pawnbroker knows they have |
| developed for Coco Chanel and have even been | | | | an instant sale to me of any and all costume jewelry |
| featured in Chanel print ads from the late 1930's and | | | | and most likely sell it to me as a box lot. The person |
| 40's),Schiaparelli, Pennino, McClelland-Barclay, Alfred | | | | needing the money wins, the pawnbroker wins and I |
| Philippe for Trifari, DeMario, and more of the most | | | | really win, because many of the items have been in |
| sought after names in the antique and vintage | | | | the family for years and may date to the late 30's or |
| jewelry genre. | | | | older. Some may be trash but there is always at |
| There are three secrets I employ to acquire such | | | | least one or two pieces that made the transaction a |
| desirable pieces. | | | | success. |
| The first secret is aligning myself with the companies | | | | The third secret and one that takes tact and |
| that sell out estates from the home of the | | | | sensitivity is when a widower or children of a |
| deceased. I create relationships with the owners of | | | | recently deceased family member is trying to move |
| these companies and ask if I can inspect all jewelry | | | | on and feels the need to donate or "clean out" their |
| (whether costume or fine)prior to the estate sale | | | | belongings and personal affects. The family hears of |
| dates. In exchange I help publicize their upcoming sale | | | | me through an ad I run in the local newspaper or |
| by notifying antique dealers, shop owners and | | | | "Pennysaver magazine" stating that I pay cash for |
| specialty store retailers who may be in the market | | | | any costume jewelry. The family will call and I always |
| for great furniture, rugs and accessories. To the | | | | give them a more than fair price for the items they |
| estate disposal companies this help is invaluable as it | | | | have and they are pleased and I have found more |
| raises their chances of getting better than fair | | | | wonderful treasures to add to my collection. |
| market value as they are going to be selling to | | | | All in all, after a few years of using the above |
| resellers. There is a second part to this secret and | | | | secrets people will just come to know you as the |
| that is that it also works with auctioneers who do | | | | "jewelry lady" and the calls will consistently come and |
| general auctions of household and personal items. | | | | the jewelry selections will continue to get better and |
| Once you have developed these relationships, they | | | | better. |
| will call prior to an auction and sell to you before the | | | | |