In this week’s antiques column, Charles Hanson of Hansons Newark outlines how to establish the value of your gold…
With the value of gold rarely far from the headlines, many people are taking a fresh look inside jewellery boxes, drawers and cupboards and wondering whether now might be the time to sell.
But before accepting a cash-for-gold price, there is another question worth asking: is the value of your item really just the weight of its gold?
At Hansons Newark, we regularly meet people who arrive with jewellery, watches, coins and other precious objects expecting them to be valued principally for their metal content. Sometimes, however, there is much more to the story.
A piece may have age, an interesting maker, beautiful craftsmanship, desirable gemstones or simply a design that collectors want to own. A sovereign may appeal to a numismatist, while a period ring or vintage watch can attract buyers for reasons that have little to do with its scrap value.
That is where auction offers something rather different.
It starts with a conversation. Our valuers take time to look at an item, explain what they see and advise on its potential at auction, with no obligation to sell. For family jewellery and inherited possessions in particular, we understand these objects can carry memories as well as monetary value.
If an item is consigned, it is catalogued and presented to the market before being offered to bidders. Today, that audience extends far beyond the auction room. Buyers can compete online from across the UK and around the world, alongside those bidding in the room, by telephone or through commission bids.
And competition can be a powerful thing. Rather than one buyer deciding what they are prepared to pay, an auction allows multiple interested bidders to determine the final price. When two collectors both want the same object, the result can sometimes exceed expectations.
Of course, not every piece of gold is a hidden masterpiece. But whether you have one unwanted ring, a watch, sovereigns, silver, a box of inherited jewellery or an entire collection, it is worth understanding exactly what you have before deciding what to do with it.
Hansons Newark offers free, no-obligation valuations at The Auction Room, 17 Northgate, Newark, together with regular local valuation events and free home visits for suitable collections.
For advice, call 01636 605905 or email enquiries@hansonsnewark.co.uk
