A Guide to Buying Second-Hand Jewellery

Why Buy Second-Hand Jewellery?

Buying second-hand jewellery is a popular option due to various reasons. Here are some factors that make buying second-hand jewellery a great choice:

How to Check the Authenticity of Second-Hand Jewellery

When you're buying second-hand jewellery, it's important that you are buying a real piece and getting good value for money. So, before you make a purchase, be sure to consider the following:

Do Plenty of Research

If you're looking for a certain brand or design, do plenty of research on the pieces of jewellery. This way, you'll know what to look for, get a feel of the market and have an idea of how much you should expect to pay.

Whether you know the brand or style you are looking to purchase or not, you should always research the place you are looking to buy used jewellery from. Check the reputation of the seller and the reviews. Make sure you are able to see the piece of jewellery before you buy it and ensure there is a fair returns policy. If you are buying online and can't physically see the piece of jewellery, look for detailed descriptions of the jewellery and high-quality photos. When buying online, the returns policy is especially important.

Look for Hallmarks

Genuine jewellery will often have hallmarks. These hallmarks will tell you the metal content and sometimes the origin of the piece. Knowing the hallmarks will allow you to assess the jewellery you are buying, the metal purity and composition.

Find out about UK hallmarks in our Hallmarks Guide.

Designer jewellery will often have a brand hallmark too. For example, Cartier jewellery will have a "C" next to the purity mark. So, if you're looking for a piece of second-hand jewellery from a certain brand, ensure you know their hallmark and where this is found too.

However, used jewellery that pre-dates 1973 may not have a hallmark as the process wasn't standardised until then, so you may have to look for other indications of authenticity.

Check the 4-C's

If the used jewellery you are looking at purchasing has gemstones, be sure to check the 4 Cs. It is especially important to check the 4 Cs of diamonds, but it's also important to check this with other gemstones too.

The 4 Cs refer to clarity, carat, cut and colour. These will affect the look of the jewellery piece, as it can affect how the gem shines and reflects light. The seller should be able to tell you about the 4-Cs of the item you are buying.

Assess the Condition

When you're buying second-hand jewellery, you should expect some wear and tear. However, excessive damage or signs of poor maintenance can indicate a lack of authenticity. If you are buying from a reputable second-hand jewellery specialist, they will restore any used jewellery and clean it to a high standard.

You should inspect the item of jewellery closely, look at the images online or see the jewellery in person before buying. Also, don’t be shy about asking the seller for more information on the jewellery and its condition.

Check the Documentation

Second-hand jewellery can come with authentication certificates and original packaging, especially if it is a designer piece. Even if the jewellery has documentation, check for spelling errors or mistakes, which can be a sign of fake certification.

However, don't just depend on certification – these can easily be lost over time, especially if the jewellery has had several owners.

Ask Plenty of Questions

When looking at used jewellery, be sure to ask plenty of questions about the piece. A reputable seller will be happy to answer all the questions you have to the best of their ability. Ask about the history of the piece and the previous owners. Although all this might not be known by the seller, they should be happy to tell you that the history isn't known.

Is it Worth Buying Second-Hand Jewellery?

It is definitely worth buying second-hand jewellery. Old jewellery has the same quality gemstones and metals as new pieces and has already shown that they can stand the test of time. Used jewellery is often cheaper than new, and as it has the intrinsic value of the materials, it won't depreciate further. In fact, some rare and antique jewellery may become more valuable with time. Not only that, but you'll often find unique and timeless pieces when looking at used jewellery.

Find out how to tell if your old jewellery is valuable.

Second-Hand Jewellery with Ramsdens

Here at Ramsdens, we have a wide range of second-hand jewellery in stock. We're experts in pre-owned jewellery, so you can buy with confidence from us. All used jewellery that comes to us is checked by our experts to ensure it is genuine. If you want to see any of our second-hand jewellery in person, you can have it delivered to any of our jewellery stores free of charge.

For more information on jewellery, check out our jewellery guides.