Written by: Vintage Jewelry Editorial Team
Posted on: July 11, 2026
Jewelry Value Guide: What Actually Drives Price
Whether you’re holding solid gold, sterling silver, or well-made costume jewelry, the same core factors determine value — composition, gemstone value, maker, rarity, condition, and completeness — even though the weight each factor carries shifts considerably depending on what you actually have. Composition Sets the…
Written by: Vintage Jewelry Editorial Team
Posted on: July 11, 2026
Gold Melt Value Explained
“14K” isn’t a value — it’s shorthand for a fraction. Specifically, 14K gold is 58.3% pure gold by weight, and that fraction, not the karat number itself, is what actually converts into melt value against the spot price. The second thing most people miss: the…
Written by: Vintage Jewelry Editorial Team
Posted on: July 11, 2026
When to Melt vs. Sell Gold Jewelry Intact
A gemstone is worth nothing to a refiner. Their process pays for the gold they can recover, full stop — a diamond or colored stone sitting in a piece headed for the melting pot has no role in what they’re being paid to extract, and…
Written by: Vintage Jewelry Editorial Team
Posted on: July 11, 2026
Jewelry Appraisal: When and How to Get One
Before you pay anyone to tell you what a piece is worth, read the stamp. It takes ten seconds with a loupe, it’s free, and for a large share of jewelry it answers the only question that actually matters: is this solid gold, gold-filled, or…