Jewelry

A NOTE ON MATERIALS + VALUE

A closer look at the materials, history, and details that shape the value of jewelry.

Not every great piece needs to be made from precious metal. Costume jewelry can be one of the best ways to collect a particular look, period, or designer without the price that comes with solid gold or sterling. In those pieces, much of the value comes from the design itself — the maker, age, construction, rarity, and how well the piece has survived.

Precious-metal jewelry is a little different because the material carries value of its own. Sterling silver and solid gold contain precious metal throughout the piece, not just at the surface. Gold and silver have been valued and traded for centuries, so part of what you are paying for is the material itself, in addition to the design, craftsmanship, and history of the object.

Gold-filled jewelry falls somewhere in between. It uses a substantial layer of gold bonded to a base metal, giving it considerably more gold content and generally more longevity than standard plating.

Gold-plated jewelry uses a much thinner layer of gold over another metal. That does not make a plated piece unworthy of collecting — some are exceptional — but its value is usually tied more closely to the design, age, and collectibility than to the amount of gold present.

At Heirloom Society, we look at the whole piece. Material matters, but so do proportion, craftsmanship, age, condition, rarity, and whether the design still feels worth wearing now.