Spot Authentic Deals at Jewelry Auctions

For buyers attending a jewelry sale at auction, it can be difficult to gauge a smart bidding price by just looking at a piece of jewelry, unless they know for sure what they are bidding on – including what

gems they are buying (authentic or not), what precious metals or other stones are in the piece,

and what the overall worth of the jewelry item is prior to bidding.

Making an Informed BidSome buyers may not particularly care whether an item is authentic, but just catches their eye due to the look and design. However, knowing what you are bidding on can be critical, in order to help ensure you get a fair deal and pay a fair price for what you are getting. If you are bidding for real gems on a piece of costume jewelry, then you are obviously bidding very high for that item!

Use Some Simple TricksA few simple tricks can help you try to spot fake gems or metal at a jewelry auction, including the following:

The Breath Test: if you breathe on a real diamond, nothing will happen. This is because real diamonds do not retain heat. Conversely, a ‘fake diamond’ will become foggy if you breathe on it, as it can retain heat.

Look for Flakes: Cheap metals tend to flake off or corrode over time. If you spot any signs of corrosion or flaking, then chances are that you may not be eyeing a precious metal.

Check for Magnetic Attraction: Real precious metals are not magnetic, and therefore will not be drawn toward a magnet or magnetic force. If a metal gravitates toward a magnet, it is most likely not a precious metal.

Keep the “3 C’s” in Mind

Gems can be evaluated using criteria that begin with the letter “C”, including: Cut, Clarity and Color. (For diamonds and some other gems, another C factor — carat weight — is often included.)

CUTCut is the manner in which a stone is cut, which can affect its appearance, and how it reflects light.

COLORColor refers to the general hue of a gem, as well as the shade within color families.

ClarityClarity denotes the presence or lack of presence of imperfections in a gemstone. Flawless gems are rare, but do occur. Therefore, the type and size of an imperfection or imperfections make a difference when evaluating a gem.

There are a number of tools that can help you assess a piece of jewelry at an auction or otherwise. One tool is an application for your mobile phone, the Gemological Institute of America’s cut

estimator tool, which can be found at:

www.gia.edu/facetware-mobile

Take Advantage of High-Tech Tools

Get more tips on spotting the real deals on jewelry at auctions by checking out American Auction Co.’s new infographic for an easy, fun way to remember what is important when looking at a gem or metal jewelry piece to decide how much you want to bid

or pay for the item, and its value.

Visit www.resources.americanauction.com

to download your copy today.

New Infographic Now Available

American Auction Company is the Southwest’s most active auction and appraisal company, hosting live, online and

simulcast auctions. The firm also offers both appraisal and auction services for Police confiscated personal and stolen

property, government surplus, cars, tools, electronics, firearms, jewelry, art, sporting goods, coins and surplus, as well as

commercial and heavy equipment, real estate, antiques, estate and business liquidations, and bankruptcies.

About American Auction Company

Based in Phoenix, AZ and an INC. 5000 company, American Auction Company is one of the fastest growing privately held companies within the United States. Additionally, American Auction Company is an ICIC INC. 100 company. In 2015, the

company’s CEO, Deb Weidenhamer, was ranked within the Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs in America by Inc. 5000 magazine. American Auction Co. is also a global real estate auction

marketplace; and is headquarters for global auction marketplaces based in Shanghai, China and San Diego, CA.

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American Auction Company can be found on the web at www.americanauctionco.com