Selling Vintage Native American Turquoise & Sterling Silver Jewelry in Orange CountyOlder turquoise and sterling silver jewelry has a look that is difficult to mistake. Large silver necklaces, turquoise pendants, cuffs, rings, earrings, and handcrafted pieces have been collected and worn for generations. Some were purchased while traveling through the Southwest, some came from galleries or trading posts, and others have simply remained in family jewelry boxes for many years. If you have a vintage turquoise and silver necklace or a group of older Southwestern-style jewelry that you no longer wear, you may eventually decide that it is time to sell. The difficulty is that these pieces can be very different from modern jewelry, and sellers often are not sure what information is important or where they should begin. At The Vintage Jewelry Buyer in Laguna Hills, we purchase select vintage jewelry, older sterling silver jewelry, inherited pieces, and larger jewelry collections from individuals and families throughout Orange County. You do not need to become an expert on turquoise or research every piece before contacting us. Why Older Turquoise and Silver Jewelry Gets AttentionVintage turquoise jewelry can be interesting for several reasons. Some pieces were individually handcrafted, while others were made in small groups or produced for the Southwestern jewelry market. Age, construction, design, condition, materials, workmanship, signatures, and the overall appearance of a piece can all play a role in how it is viewed today. A large necklace may immediately stand out, but smaller pieces should not automatically be overlooked. A jewelry box might contain a turquoise ring, a silver cuff, an older pendant, earrings, or several matching pieces that originally belonged together. This is one reason we recommend keeping older jewelry together until it has been reviewed. Separating a collection too quickly or donating pieces that appear less important can make it harder to understand the collection as a whole. Is All Vintage Turquoise Jewelry Native American?No. Turquoise and silver jewelry has been produced by Native American artists as well as many other jewelry makers and manufacturers. Southwestern-inspired jewelry has also been made in different parts of the United States and outside the United States. Without supporting information, it can be difficult for the average owner to know exactly who made an older piece. Family stories are helpful, but memories can change over several generations. A necklace remembered as having been purchased in Arizona or New Mexico does not automatically identify its maker or origin. You do not have to solve those questions before deciding to sell. If you have old receipts, original boxes, notes, photographs, or other information that came with the jewelry, keep those items with it. Otherwise, it is usually best to leave the jewelry as you found it rather than trying to create an identification based on information found online. What Types of Turquoise and Silver Jewelry Can You Bring In?We may consider a variety of older turquoise and sterling silver jewelry, including:
We also purchase other types of older silver jewelry. If turquoise pieces are only one part of what you have, you can learn more about how we buy vintage sterling silver jewelry in Orange County. You Do Not Need to Identify Every Stone or MakerOne of the biggest mistakes sellers can make is believing they need to spend hours researching jewelry before speaking with a buyer. Online information can be confusing, especially with older turquoise jewelry. Pieces that look similar in photographs may have completely different histories. There are also reproductions, later pieces, unsigned pieces, regional styles, and jewelry inspired by earlier designs. Trying to identify a necklace from one photograph or one mark can easily lead to incorrect conclusions. For someone whose main goal is simply to sell jewelry that is no longer being worn, extensive research may not be necessary. Bring the jewelry together, keep any information that belongs with it, and allow the pieces to be considered as part of the overall collection. Inherited Turquoise Jewelry Is Often Part of a Much Larger CollectionWe often meet people who did not intentionally collect turquoise jewelry themselves. Instead, they inherited a necklace, bracelet, ring, or jewelry box from a parent, grandparent, aunt, or other relative. The turquoise jewelry may be mixed with costume jewelry, sterling silver, brooches, vintage necklaces, clip-on earrings, watches, and other pieces accumulated over several decades. In situations like this, you do not necessarily need to separate everything into different categories before making an appointment. In fact, we purchase many types of older jewelry. If you have more than a few individual pieces, our page about how to sell a vintage jewelry collection in Orange County explains more about the types of collections we consider. Should You Clean Vintage Silver Before Selling It?Usually, there is no reason to aggressively clean older jewelry before bringing it to us. Silver naturally changes appearance over time, and older jewelry may have surface characteristics that are part of its age and history. Strong polishing, chemical cleaners, abrasive products, and home cleaning methods can sometimes change the appearance of an older piece. Stones can also react differently to cleaning methods. If the jewelry has been sitting untouched in a drawer for twenty or thirty years, that is fine. You do not need to make it look new before scheduling an appointment. What If You Have an Entire Jewelry Box?Bring the bigger picture. If a turquoise necklace came from a jewelry box containing many other older pieces, there may be no benefit to deciding on your own which items should be shown and which should be discarded. Older costume jewelry, sterling silver, unusual necklaces, signed jewelry, bracelets, brooches, watches, and pieces that do not appear expensive at first glance may still fall within categories we purchase. This is particularly helpful when handling a parent's collection, cleaning out a home, settling an estate, or downsizing. The goal is to make the process manageable rather than turning every piece into a research project. Selling Vintage Turquoise and Silver Jewelry in Orange CountyThe Vintage Jewelry Buyer offers private appointments for people looking to sell select vintage and older jewelry in Orange County. Our office is located in Laguna Hills at Moulton Plaza, convenient to Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, and surrounding South Orange County communities. Whether you have one substantial vintage turquoise necklace or an entire collection containing silver and turquoise jewelry, the first step can be simple. You do not need to know the mine where a stone originated, identify a particular style, determine the age yourself, or spend weeks researching makers online. Keep the jewelry together, save any information that came with it, and contact us to discuss what you have. Appointments are private and scheduled in advance. For suitable larger collections, mobile appointment options may also be considered depending on the collection and location. If you are ready to discuss vintage turquoise jewelry, older sterling silver, or a mixed family jewelry collection, you can schedule a private vintage jewelry appointment with The Vintage Jewelry Buyer. The Vintage Jewelry Buyer
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