Jewelry Trends

Is jewelry an asset? Buying fine jewelry and precious metals as an investment

Dustin Lemick

Author

Dustin Lemick

Are you looking for an investment opportunity that’s both a safe bet and allows you to enjoy your investment while it grows in value? If so, you may want to forgo buying that beach house and, instead, go for a jewelry investment. 

Like every investment opportunity, though, from mutual funds to the stock market, investing in jewelry and precious gems requires a fair amount of know-how. Invest in the wrong pieces, gems, or metals, and you may realize too late that you could’ve found more value elsewhere. 

Here’s what you need to know.

Keep Reading to Find Out

What You Will Learn

What Type of Jewelry Makes the Best Investment?

If you’re considering using jewelry as an asset to add to your overall net worth, you’ll want to shop with this end goal in mind. Don’t just buy whatever is prettiest or whatever catches your eye on any given day. Instead, look for jewelry that will amass great value over time.

Experts agree that there are a few things that will make some pieces of jewelry more valuable over time than others, including:

  • Status as vintage or antique
  • No damage and pristine condition
  • A manufacturer’s signature from a well-known brand

If you’re confident that your piece matches all three of these requirements, you can rest easy knowing that piece will only increase in value as the years go on.

Beyond this, though, certain manufacturers/brands tend to retain their value better than others. As a good rule of thumb, if you know that the brand is reputable, well-known, and luxurious, it’s probably one that will hold its value and increase in value over the decades. Think of brands such as Tiffany & Co. or Cartier.

Additionally, jewelry from specific eras will be more or less in demand as the trends dictate. For example, Art Deco jewelry is currently en vogue, which means that Art Deco pieces are fetching higher prices now than they might’ve several decades ago.

is jewelry an asset

Don’t Overlook What’s Already in Your Jewelry Box!

However, you don’t necessarily need to shop for a new piece of jewelry to count jewelry among your assets. Ensure you’ve thoroughly considered what’s already in your jewelry box and the value those pieces could hold. Suppose you received a particularly noteworthy piece of antique jewelry or vintage jewelry from a relative. In that case, you might be sleeping on a fantastic jewelry investment hidden in plain sight!

Antique jewelry and vintage jewelry, as well as family heirloom jewelry, make perfect investment pieces, as they are often difficult to find due to their age, increasing their value.

What is the difference between antique jewelry and vintage jewelry? Vintage jewelry is considered any piece between 20 and 100 years old. Antique jewelry is considered anything older than 100 years old.

Quote

The Importance of Authentication

Whether you’re relying on a piece you already own or you’re shopping around for a new jewelry investment, before you count any piece of jewelry among your assets, be sure to authenticate them and, ideally, collect all the necessary documentation for obtaining an appraisal to determine your pieces’ intrinsic value.

This documentation might include original purchase paperwork, a GIA certificate, or proof that the jewelry was once worn or owned by someone notable, like a celebrity.

Is Jewelry an Asset? FAQs

Have more questions about increasing your net worth via your next jewelry purchase? We have some answers.

What’s a Better Asset: Gold or Diamonds?

Two of the most popular investment options regarding precious gemstones and metals? Gold and diamonds. If you have to choose one or the other, what’s your best bet for the highest-value investment?

If you have a gold necklace sitting in your jewelry box, that necklace could be considered a very safe, stable investment. When looking at potential investment opportunities and portfolio diversification strategies for 2023, experts pointed to gold as a smart choice.

Quote

That’s not to say that diamonds are a lousy investment, however. They just might not be a stable investment. Diamond prices heavily rely on grading; depending on specifics, diamonds can lose value over time.

What are Some of the Most Important Things to Consider When Buying Jewelry as an Asset?

Unless you want to go the super-easy, stable investment route and simply buy gold, if you’re shopping for other jewelry, precious metals, or gemstones, you’ll want to consider two key things: rarity and demand.

For your best chances at achieving a high resale value, opt for pieces in short supply and high demand — like vintage jewelry or antique jewelry from well-known, famous designers.

Can You Wear Jewelry Purchased as an Asset?

Yes! That’s one of the best parts of jewelry investing — you enjoy your investment while it appreciates! This is also why deciding how to invest in jewelry is essential to consider your preferences, likes, and dislikes. Since you usually have to hold on to jewelry assets for quite a while to see a high return, do you want multiple pieces that you don’t care for taking up space in your jewelry box?

Just be sure that, if you wear your investment pieces, you take proper care of them, including regularly inspecting them, only cleaning them as is appropriate for the piece’s precious metals and or gemstones, and storing them correctly.

Protect Your Assets

Like you protect many assets via a robust insurance policy, you should do the same with your fine jewelry. Luckily, while hunting down that perfect jewelry asset can be challenging, getting the necessary insurance is not. See how you can get an online jewelry appraisal valuation suitable for securing jewelry insurance right now.

Once you have your appraisal, you can purchase the right insurance for your needs, like BriteCo’s fine jewelry insurance that steps in to cover your high-end and fine jewelry when your other insurance (like homeowners or renters insurance) won’t. Getting insured is easy, too, thanks to BriteCo’s convenient payment options, quick quotes, and world-class customer service.

Also Check:

What to Do with Old Jewelry: 4 Creative DIY Ideas
How long does permanent jewelry last?
Mother’s Day Jewelry Ideas | BriteCo Jewelry Insurance
What is Permanent Jewelry?

Get a Quote:

The Easy Way to Insure Your Jewelry - and Save Money!

GET YOUR FREE QUOTE TODAY

Share

UP NEXT: Types of Chains

Dustin Lemick

Author

Dustin Lemick

Dustin Lemick is the Founder and CEO of BriteCo and a third-generation jeweler with over thirteen years of retail jewelry experience. He holds a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and has in-depth knowledge and expertise in appraisal systems, diamond and gemstone markets, retail pricing models, insurance replacement models, and jewelry quotation pricing systems.