Reselling Luxury Jewelry: A Guide to Authenticity, Valuation, and Market Trends

Luxury jewelry holds a unique allure in the resale market. Unlike fast-fashion accessories, designer jewelry combines exceptional craftsmanship and enduring style—qualities that make it a timeless investment. When combined with valuable materials like platinum and gemstones, these intricate pieces can be handed down from generation to generation.

If you’re thinking about reselling luxury jewelry, it’s not as simple as listing it online and collecting a profit. Authenticity is paramount, accurate valuation is critical and staying aware of market trends can make all the difference in getting the best price. Let’s take a closer look at the luxury jewelry resale market, trends and how you can be sure that you’re buying and selling only genuine items.

Most In-Demand Jewelry Brands in the Resale Market

The resale market is teeming with interest in iconic brands and styles. If you have any of the following brands in your jewelry collection, you could see a premium return when reselling luxury jewelry.

• Cartier: Cartier’s designs are timeless and versatile, appealing to both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers. The Love bracelet, with its iconic screw motif, symbolizes enduring love and is often gifted for anniversaries or milestones. The Juste un Clou collection, featuring rings and bracelets shaped like a nail, offers a modern twist on luxury, while the Panthere collection combines bold design with artistic flair, featuring the panther as a symbol of strength and elegance. Cartier pieces are known for holding their value exceptionally well even compared to other designer jewelry brands, making them a favorite for fashion investors.
• Tiffany & Co.: A designer that’s become synonymous with romance and elegance, girls around the globe dream of being gifted a Tiffany piece. Its diamond engagement rings are world-renowned, featuring flawless diamonds in classic settings. The Elsa Peretti Bean collection is a minimalist favorite, with its simple yet symbolic design representing new beginnings. Another resale market favorite is the Atlas collection, which blends modern sophistication with historical influence. The Tiffany name alone commands trust and admiration, making its pieces highly desirable. The iconic blue box and authenticity certificates also add significant resale value—so hang onto them if you can when shopping.
• Van Cleef & Arpels: Van Cleef & Arpels is celebrated for its intricate craftsmanship and whimsical designs, coming into prominence as a social media darling in 2024. In particular, the Alhambra collection, with its clover-shaped motifs, has become a status symbol in both its large and mini sizes.
• Bvlgari: Known for bold, daring designs, Bvlgari is perfect for buyers who want to make a statement. The Serpenti collection, inspired by the snake, is iconic for its sensual and flexible design that wraps elegantly around the wrist or neck. The brand is also well-known for its creative use of gemstones, with colorful pieces commanding higher resale value thanks to the iconic designs.

Other top jewelry designs gaining traction on the resale market include Mikimoto pearls, Hermès enamel rings and bracelets and braided silver pieces from David Yurman.

Tips for Authenticating Designer Jewelry

When reselling luxury jewelry, authenticity is non-negotiable. Buyers want assurance that they’re investing in the real deal, which makes it exceptionally important to know what to look for when shopping for pre-loved items.

• Look for brand-specific hallmarks: Every luxury jewelry brand has unique identifiers that set it apart from competitors and fraudsters. For example, when shopping for Cartier pieces, look for precise engravings that include the brand name, metal type, and serial number. Counterfeit items often have uneven or misspelled markings. For Tiffany pieces, check for clean, sharp engravings of the logo and 925 or .925 for sterling silver items—fake items feature rushed production that can make engravings sloppy. The RealReal’s blog is full of great resources you can use to learn about distinct brand markings.
• Verify certifications: Original documentation like certificates of authenticity, receipts and branded packaging can significantly increase buyer confidence and resale value. If you don’t have these, consider having the piece appraised by a professional after purchase to make sure you’ve got the real deal.
• Keep your eyes peeled for red flags: Many fakes can be avoided if you know what red flags to look for. One of the most common signs of fake jewelry is gemstones that appear to be glued to the piece rather than professionally set in place. Other common signs that a piece might not be authentic include the quality of the materials (cheap-looking claps are a dead giveaway) and misaligned engravings.

Shopping for expensive pieces like luxury jewelry outside of official designer boutiques requires the utmost authentication care. Limit purchases to sources that focus on thorough, professional authentication before listing pre-loved items.

Factors Affecting Resale Price

In the eyes of the resale market, not all pieces are created equal. Some key factors that influence what buyers will pay for pre-loved jewelry include:

• Brand: Big names like Cartier and Van Cleef command premium prices on the resale market thanks to their notoriety, cultivated over decades-long histories. Their timeless designs and strong reputations for quality mean buyers trust that these pieces retain value. While unbranded jewelry pieces may have more character, they must be made of top-quality materials like 14K gold or higher to compete on the resale market in terms of price.
• Condition: Jewelry in excellent condition fetches the highest resale prices. Before listing jewelry for resale, assess its condition by carefully dusting and examining metal and gemstones using a magnifying glass. Scratches, tarnish or missing stones can significantly lower the value of your pieces—though these issues can sometimes be repaired.
• Material quality: The quality of materials also plays a significant factor in your jewelry’s resale value. You can judge the purity of gold by looking at its karat number—most jewelry is crafted from 10K to 18K gold, with more karats representing higher purity. Certified diamonds or rare gemstones like Colombian emeralds or Burmese rubies are always in demand and increase the value of each piece—especially if gemstones are certified in terms of cut or clarity.

Investing in Sustainable Elegance

Designer jewelry is made from more durable, higher-quality materials and is designed to represent timeless elegance.  If you’re looking to invest in a signature piece while saving up to 90% off the retail price, shop pre-loved, authenticated jewelry with The RealReal.