- Estate, Vintage and Antique Jewelry -
What is estate jewelry? Technically any jewelry that has been previously owned can be categorized as ‘estate jewelry’. An estate ring could be 200 years old, or it could ony be two months old. Some jewelers regard previously owned jewelry as “undesirable.” Makes you kind of wonder about their opinion of the jewelry they sold to you, doesn’t it?
Here at Big Sky Gold and Diamond, we’ve always had a nice selection of estate jewelry. We always disclose when an item has been previously owned, along with a comparison of the savings you may accrue from choosing your fine jewelry from what is termed “the secondary market”.
Estate jewelry that reaches a certain age is called “Vintage Jewelry.” Some of the pieces from the 1960′s are already coveted by certain collectors. Jewelry from the ’40′s passes in and out of style according to the fashion of the day, though its value has been slowing ticking upwards. The “good stuff” tends to be pre-1932 or so. We call jewelry that pre-dates the early ’30′s ‘antique jewelry’ to distinguish it from newer styles.
- Pearls: Full Moon Over Montana -
There are many different types of pearls…Freshwater, Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, Keshi, Mabe, and some pearls are so rare that only a few are known to exist.
I love pearls. Here in Montana, they can be difficult to sell…but once you acquire an appreciation for pearls, it never fades. Let us teach you the finer points of pearls.
Lustre: This is the ‘glow’ of a pearl. A fine pearl has a crisp mirror-like reflection, and appears illuminated from within. Often the best way to understand lustre is to look at several very nice strands or pearls, and compare how light reacts with them.
Surface, or Blemishes: Surface imperfections, marks or indentations should be considered. The smoother the surface, the finer the pearl.
Shape: Perfectly round pearls are rare and valuable. Many pearls appear to be round, but when rolled on a flat surface, their shape becomes more obvious. Baroque pearls can have a lot of character, and are less costly than rounds.
Size: Larger pearls of the same variety are more valuable than smaller ones, if all other variables are equal.
Color: Pearls come in so many colors. Some are natural, some are dyed. And many pearls have secondary hues. White pearls may have a tint of pink (called rose), black pearls may have aubergine, teal, or even violet or gold highlights. Melo pearls are naturally orange!
Matching: If you are considering a strand, open the clasp and gently hold the necklace taut between your hands. Look “down” the strand to get an idea of how well they match. You’ll also pick up secondary hues, and you may make a salesperson nervous: it is becoming obvious to him or her that you know more about pearls than he or she does!
Pearls are approachable for nearly everyone. A simple pendant is very reasonably priced, and a full strand of white South Sea Pearls, which has taken years to match, can cost from $5,000 to more than $30,000 (add more for the diamond clasp).
Nearly all pearls are ‘cultured’: we have learned how to introduce an irritant onto which the oyster deposits its nacre. True natural round pearls are incredibly rare and valuable. Don’t compare fine Akoya pearls to Freshwater pearls, or dyed pearls or natural colors.
Call or e-mail us and we’ll show you our world-class selection of pearls and pearl jewelry.
- Watch Out -
Is this what they had in mind when they called Montana “The Treasure State”? We know Montana has impressive mineral resources – gold, silver, copper, platinum, molybdenum, sapphires, and more! If you dig just a little deeper, you’ll see Big Sky Gold’s unexpected treasures: these fine pre-owned watches.
Because these are so few watch collectors in our sparsely populated state, it doesn’t make sense for us to be authorized dealers…we obtain fine timepieces from reputable resources worldwide, and provide standard warranties on nearly every watch we sell. Unlike official watch dealers, we can access many brands…please let us know what timepiece suits your needs. We specialize in higher end Swiss watches.
Please have a model number in mind if you are looking for a specific watch. We are not authorized representatives of Rolex, Patek, Breitling, Cartier, Mueller, or other fine watch manufacturers. We are independent dealers of secondary market watches, which may or may not have been worn, and must be represented as ‘pre-owned’.
Anniversary ring