How to Spot Fine Jewelry When Shopping Consignment

Are you thinking of upgrading your jewelry collection? Are you looking to add a touch of refinement and elegance to your everyday outfits? Fine jewelry can revolutionize your wardrobe and glow-up your style. With the right piece of fine jewelry, even your jeans and white tee will look stunning and purposeful.

Upgrading to fine jewelry can be the perfect way to take your style to the next level. But shopping for fine jewelry online, especially shopping on consignment, can be daunting. How do you know if you’re buying authentic, high-quality jewelry? In this article, I’ll help you learn how to spot authentic fine jewelry online, so you can feel confident in your purchases. 

What is fine jewelry?

Fine jewelry is made from precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. These pieces may also have natural or lab-made gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Fine jewelry is high-quality, high-value, and built to last.

Fashion jewelry or costume jewelry is made from base metals like brass, copper, and aluminum. These base metals may then be plated with precious metals (like “gold-plated”), giving the illusion of quality. The gemstones on costume jewelry are usually fake, made from plastic, glass, or faux crystal. Sadly, although the price of fashion jewelry is attractive, it tends to tarnish over time and will not last as long as fine jewelry. 

Why buy fine jewelry

Investing in fine jewelry will completely change your wardrobe. Many women wonder if buying expensive jewelry is worth it, and I'm here to tell you it is worth it every time. Here are my top nine reasons to choose high-quality, fine jewelry instead of costume jewelry.

• Fine jewelry is durable. Real metals don’t break, corrode, or wear down with normal wear. With proper care and occasional repairs, you can keep your fine jewelry for decades (or longer). And you can wear your favorite pieces every day and not worry they will lose their shine.
• Fine jewelry is more sustainable. Once fashion jewelry tarnishes, it can’t be refurbished – and it will usually just end up in a landfill. Fine jewelry, though, won’t tarnish, can be repaired, and can often be resold on consignment. Check out these trends in sustainable fashion to learn more.
• Quality metals can be resized to better fit you. This means you don’t have uncomfortable rings that fall off, necklaces that sit wrong, or bracelets that itch your arm. Like clothes, well-fitting jewelry is a critical part of a classy and polished
• Do you ever find that your ears hurt after wearing cheap earrings? Or your finger turns green when you wear a low-quality ring? You may have a metal sensitivity to the base metals in low-quality jewelry (brass, copper, aluminum). This is much less likely to occur with fine jewelry, which is made of high-quality metals (gold, silver, platinum) that cause fewer reactions.
• Expensive jewelry looks better. Low-quality jewelry generally looks There’s no matching the natural beauty of quality diamonds, gemstones, or platinum. If you want to have high-end style, you need high-end pieces.
• While fashion jewelry is trendy, fine jewelry is classic. Costume jewelry, like fast fashion, goes through cycles and fads, while fine jewelry persists through time. The fine jewelry you buy today will last decades, while costume jewelry likely won’t make it to see next year.
• Expensive jewelry is valuable. Buying $1,000 worth of fashion jewelry doesn’t hold any economic value. You’re throwing your money away on pieces that will tarnish, break, and end up in the trash. But $1,000 of fine jewelry – with high-quality metals and gemstones – can actually be a form of currency.
• Because fine jewelry is durable and valuable, it can become a family heirloom. There is something so beautiful about the tradition of handing down jewelry. Your kids, grandkids and great-grandkids will be thrilled to have your favorite necklace or ring for years to come.
• Fine jewelry makes you feel classy, elegant, and beautiful. There’s a reason “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” High-quality jewelry can help you feel confident and powerful. What we wear impacts our psychology, so investing in quality jewelry is investing in yourself.

How to identify high-quality metals when shopping online

Shopping for jewelry online can be a challenge. When buying jewelry in person, you can inspect its weight, color, prongs, construction, and more. But when shopping online, it’s hard to figure out which jewelry is worth it.  

When shopping for jewelry online, here are some ways to ensure you’re buying high-quality pieces.

1. Hallmark

Fine jewelry should have a “hallmark” (unless it’s older than 100 years or the original hallmark has worn away). This hallmark demonstrates the metal from which the jewelry is made. The hallmark will be etched into the jewelry, and the online seller will proudly display this mark on their website listings.

• 22K, 18K, 14K, 10K, 916, 750, 585, and 375 indicate gold’s purity.
• Platinum is hallmarked with 950, 900, PLATINUM, PLAT, or PLAT 925.
• Real silver will be marked as sterling silver, silver 925, or silver 800.
• Diamonds should come with a certification of authenticity. After purchasing, do some at-home tests to ensure your diamond is real.

Psst… If you see the word “plated,” it’s costume jewelry. Gold-plated jewelry means the piece is made of a base metal like copper, then covered in a thin layer of gold to make it look better. However, the gold plating will soon wear away, leaving you with a copper piece worth only pennies.

2. Brand

Get to know different jewelry brands. There are clear distinctions between fine jewelry brands, mid-tier jewelry options, and costume jewelry. 

What are some fine jewelry brands?

• Tiffany & Co.
• David Yurman
• Cartier
• Mikimoto
• Bulgari
• Harry Winston
• Hermès
• Chopard
• Van Cleef & Arpels

Which brands are considered mid-tier jewelry?

• Kendra Scott
• Alexis Bittar
• Kate Spade
• Coach
• Marc Jacobs
• Michael Kors
• Tory Burch
• Henri Bendel

Costume jewelry is sold at most fast fashion stores, like H&M and Zara. You are unlikely to get high-quality jewelry from these kinds of stores.

Pro-tip: When shopping in-store, if the jewelry is out on a display rack at a fast fashion store or boutique, it’s likely costume jewelry. Fine jewelry will almost always be behind glass or in a case, and mid-tier jewelry will often have a few display pieces, with the rest stored away for safekeeping.

3. Authenticity

Make sure the jewelry piece comes with an authentication certification, especially when buying online. This will help you avoid counterfeit products. 

We have an authenticity promise at Current Boutique. We only resell the highest quality pieces. Each item goes through a rigorous inspection process by top-notch buyers before hitting our racks and website. You can shop with confidence at Current Boutique because each item we sell is guaranteed authentic or your money back.

4. Keywords

It can be hard to tell if jewelry is as good as it seems online. Photos can be altered, descriptions can be distorted, and you can’t inspect the piece firsthand before buying. So here are some phrases to look for in the product description that can help determine the quality of the piece:

• “Made in” (where it’s made can tell you a lot about the quality)
• Type of hardware and closure
• Whether or not a storage pouch/box is included
• Weight and length (genuine metals weigh more than cheap imitations)
• True color
• Dents, scratches, or faults (discoloration, for example, is indicative of cheap metals) 

Ultimately, if a brand does not proudly promise or promote the quality of their jewelry, chances are it is low-quality costume jewelry. Do not use price to determine quality; plenty of brands that overcharge for cheap pieces.  

Should I buy fine jewelry?

One study found that more than half of women use expensive jewelry as a “reward” or “treat.” But fine jewelry shouldn’t have to be a reward. Stop waiting for someone to gift you fine jewelry. You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to buy fine jewelry… And you definitely don’t need to wait for a special occasion to wear fine jewelry. You deserve gorgeous, high-quality pieces that accentuate your natural beauty and bring out your unique style. Investing in fine jewelry is investing in yourself because it can help you feel more confident, radiant, and special – which you are!

Start browsing our collection of authenticated high-end jewelry here. From Tiffany earrings to Chanel necklaces, we have stunning preloved pieces at a fraction of their original price, making them the perfect addition to your jewelry chest.